Despite extraordinary challenges faced by schools over the past 12 months, students and teachers across the country have showcased their commitment and determination to promoting positive mental health, with over 50 applications across the country entering their mental health and wellbeing initiatives into the Walk in My Shoes’ annual Mission Possible School Achievement Awards.
Walk in My Shoes, the flagship awareness-raising and education campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, has been running the Mission Possible awards since 2017 to celebrate schools that promote positive mental health and wellbeing. All entries were uploaded to the Walk in My Shoes’ School online portal, which has nearly 300 schools registered, so that other teachers could take inspiration and implement new ideas in their classrooms and with their students.
RTE Broadcaster and Home School Hub Múinteoir, Emer O’Neill, joined Paul Gilligan, CEO, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services; and Tamara Nolan, Director of Communications and Advocacy, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services as a judge for this year’s awards, and competition was tougher than ever.
Winning schools were announced at a live online ceremony with three primary schools and three secondary schools winning first-place prizes in the following categories: Best Programme Activity; Best Standalone Project; and Most Creative idea.
Highlights from this year’s winning entries included a feelings chart; a pay it forward campaign; digital detox; a kind wall; virtual check-ins, wellbeing Wednesdays, a companionship project, an LGBTQ and mentoring programme and a sensory garden.
Speaking about the awards, broadcaster and Múinteoir Emer O’Neill said: “I was delighted to sit on the judging panel for this year’s Mission Possible School Achievement Awards and witness all the fantastic work being done by schools to promote wellbeing across the country.
Coming from a teaching background, I know how important it is for students to learn about different ways to mind their mental health, especially in the current climate. It’s great to see that so much emphasis is being placed on wellbeing – not only by teachers but by students too. These awards are a platform to recognise this hard work, and are an important resource for influencing wellbeing initiatives in schools nationwide.”
Amanda McArdle, Walk in My Shoes Project Manager, said: “Over the past five years of this competition, we have seen the dedication of schools in promoting positive mental health and this commitment has not faltered despite disruptions caused by the pandemic. All 53 entries were of the highest standard, and have been uploaded to the WIMS School Portal which is shared with almost 300 schools across Ireland, providing inspiration and resources to teachers that wish to promote wellbeing amongst their students.
I would like to congratulate and commend all of the schools who entered this year for their relentless commitment to promoting and prioritising the mental health of our young people.”
All participating schools received a Certificate of Achievement. The following schools will receive prizes for coming first place in these categories:
Mission Possible Winners 2021
Primary School:
- Best Programme Activity: St Colman’s National School, Cloyne Co Cork
- Best Standalone Project: Scoil Treasa Naofa, Dublin 8
- Most Creative Idea: St Oliver’s National School, Carlingford, Co Louth
Secondary School:
- Best Programme Activity: St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School, Co Dublin
- Best Standalone Project: St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Co Clare
- Most Creative Idea: Kildare Town Community School
For more information or to access Walk in My Shoes wellbeing resources, please visit www.walkinmyshoes.ie.
