As the end-of-year holiday season approaches (Monday, December 23, 2024, to Wednesday, January 8, 2025), many families at Footprints International School are looking forward to a well-deserved break. This time offers an opportunity to bond with your children and create lasting memories. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the holiday season:

Balance Rest and Engagement

While rest is essential, maintaining a flexible routine can help strike the right balance. Let your children sleep in, but try to keep a consistent bedtime. Mix relaxation with stimulating activities, and use a simple calendar or countdown to build excitement for upcoming events, including holiday celebrations.

Embrace New Traditions

The holiday break is the perfect time to introduce new family traditions. Explore local landmarks or take a walk in nearby parks and nature reserves. You could also cook together as a family, experiment with new recipes, or make your favourite holiday treats.

Encourage Learning Through Fun

Learning doesn’t have to stop during the break! Engage your children in hands-on activities like science experiments, puzzles, or building projects that foster creativity and critical thinking. Practice math skills while cooking together or shopping for groceries. Consider working on a DIY project, such as repairing or refurbishing household items or creating something imaginative.

Foster Creativity and Exploration

Encourage your children’s imagination with activities that promote creativity. Set up an art station with diverse materials, create a cosy reading nook with books that capture their interest, and explore new hobbies together, whether it’s drawing, music, or photography.

Give Back to the Community

Use this time to teach your children the value of kindness and helping others. Volunteer at a local charity or organise a donation drive for those in need. Small acts of kindness, like helping a neighbour or performing random acts of goodwill, can make a big impact and help your children understand the importance of giving back.

Prepare for Going Back to School

As the holiday break comes to a close, it’s time to begin preparing for school. Review what your children have learned over the break, and introduce fun ways to ease back into their study routines. Organise school supplies, create a back-to-school checklist and discuss the exciting activities they’ll look forward to in the upcoming semester.

This holiday break is an opportunity for relaxation, learning, adventure, and reflection. Balance downtime with enriching activities that strengthen family connections, support your child’s growth, and create cherished memories. Enjoy the holidays!

From Monday, October 7th to Friday, October 11th, our Academic Leadership Team took part in an intensive professional development programme focused on Trust-Based Observation (TBO) practices. Led by renowned experts Craig Randall, author of the acclaimed book on TBO, and Kate O’Connell, MA.Ed, a respected facilitator of professional growth, this training was a significant step in enhancing leadership practices at our school.

TBO is an approach designed to build trust between academic leaders and faculty members during classroom observations. Unlike traditional observation methods that can feel evaluative and detached, TBO emphasises frequent, informal visits and supportive, reflective conversations. The goal is to create a nurturing environment where teachers feel acknowledged for their strengths and supported in areas for growth. This method fosters open dialogue, increases trust, and ultimately leads to improved teaching and learning outcomes.

During the training, our Principals, Vice-Principals, Instructional Coach and Programme Coordinators engaged in hands-on sessions that included observing real classroom environments and participating in reflective feedback discussions. This training will equip our leadership team to implement TBO practices effectively, which is crucial for creating a culture of continuous improvement within the school. It is important to note that while this training was for our leadership team, its benefits will eventually ripple throughout the entire academic community.

As we move forward, our leadership team is excited to apply these practices in a way that supports our mission of fostering academic excellence while nurturing a positive and collaborative school culture. We believe this training will have long-lasting benefits, strengthening the relationships between our leadership and teaching staff, and ultimately benefiting the students we serve.

At Footprints International School, we understand the critical role mental health plays in the overall development and success of our students. 

From October 7th to 11th, 2024, the Centre for Wellbeing and Career Excellence (CWCE) will lead our Mental Health Awareness Week, focusing on mental wellbeing.

What is Mental Health?

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It is a state of wellbeing where individuals realise their potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community. Mental health is essential for our collective and individual capacity to function, think, and form meaningful relationships.

Why We Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week

At Footprints, we believe that fostering mental health is just as important as academic achievement. Events like Mental Health Awareness Week encourage students, teachers, and parents to actively engage in discussions and activities that promote emotional resilience, social skills, and overall wellbeing. By addressing mental health openly, we create a supportive environment that empowers our students to thrive, both in school and beyond.

Tips for Parents to Support Their Child’s Mental Wellbeing

Parents play an essential role in nurturing their child’s mental health. Here are a few practical ways you can help:

1. Be Available and Listen: Make it a habit to regularly check in with your child, asking how they feel and encouraging them to talk about their experiences. Creating an open and trusting environment can help them feel comfortable sharing their emotions, which is vital for emotional health.
2. Support Them Through Difficulties: Pay attention to changes in your child’s behaviour or mood and offer guidance when they face difficulties, such as school stress or social issues. Be a supportive figure they can rely on to navigate these hurdles.
3. Encourage Their Interests: Involvement in activities like sports, arts, or other hobbies can provide an emotional outlet, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem. Encourage your child to pursue what excites them, as it can significantly boost their mental health.
4. Build Positive Routines: A consistent routine, including regular sleep, balanced meals, and physical exercise, supports mental and physical health. Prioritise a healthy lifestyle to help your child maintain stability.
5. Model Positive Behaviour: Children learn by observing, and will often imitate their parent’s behaviour. Show them healthy ways to manage stress, navigate emotions, and balance responsibilities.
6. Provide Structure and Boundaries: Clear rules and consistent expectations provide a sense of security, helping children feel safe and understood. Structure also helps them manage their day and responsibilities effectively.
7. Encourage Social Connections: Friendships are key for emotional development. Help your child build and maintain positive relationships with peers.
8. Seek Professional Help When Needed: If you notice significant changes in your child’s behaviour or emotional state, consider seeking help. Parents and students at Footprints International School can reach out to the Centre for Wellbeing and Career Excellence (CWCE) or consult a medical professional of their choice. 

Together, let’s make mental health a priority!

Resources for Additional Reading:

Khmer:

• TPO Cambodia (Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Cambodia) offers mental health support and services in Khmer, including community-based programmes to improve mental wellbeing. You can explore more at their website: TPO Cambodia​.
• The Bamboo Centre provides psychological services in both Khmer and English, catering to children, adolescents, and adults. They offer online and in-person therapy for various mental health concerns: The Bamboo Centre

English: 

• World Health Organization (WHO) – Mental Health: This page offers an overview of mental health, key factors affecting it, and global strategies for promoting mental wellbeing.
• Mental Health Foundation – Tips for Supporting Mental Wellbeing: Includes publications and tips for maintaining and promoting good mental health, relevant to both individuals and families.

សប្តាហ៍នៃចំណេះដឹងអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តនៅសាលាហ៊្វូតព្រីនអន្តរជាតិ៖ ថ្ងៃទី៧ ដល់ថ្ងៃទី១១ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ២០២៤

នៅសាលាហ៊្វូតព្រីនអន្តរជាតិ យើងខ្ញុំយល់ច្បាស់ថាសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តដើរតួនាទីយ៉ាងសំខាន់នៅ ក្នុងការអភិវឌ្ឍគ្រប់ជ្រុងជ្រោយ និងភាពជោគជ័យរបស់សិស្សានុសិស្សរបស់យើង។

ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៧ ដល់ថ្ងៃទី១១ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ២០២៤ មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសុខុមាលភាព និងឧត្តមភាពការងារ (CWCE) នឹងរៀបចំដឹកនាំកម្មវិធីសប្តាហ៍នៃចំណេះដឹងអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត ដែលផ្តោតលើសុខុមាលភាព ផ្លូវចិត្តជាចម្បង។

តើសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តគឺជាអ្វី?

យោងតាមអង្គការសុខភាពពិភពលោក សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តគឺលើសពីការមិនមានជំងឺផ្លូវចិត្ត។ វាគឺជា ស្ថានភាពដែលបុគ្គលគ្រប់រូបយល់ពីសក្តានុពលរបស់ខ្លួនឯង អត់ធន់ជាមួយនឹងភាពតានតឹងនៃជីវិត ធ្វើកិច្ចការងារប្រកបដោយប្រសិទ្ធភាព និងផ្តល់ការចែករំលែកទៅកាន់សហគមន៍របស់ពួកគេ។ សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តមានសារៈសំខាន់សម្រាប់សមត្ថភាពបុគ្គល និងជារួមក្នុងការបំពេញកិច្ចការងារ គិត និងបង្កើតទំនាក់ទំនងប្រកបដោយអត្ថន័យ។

ហេតុអ្វីបានជាយើងប្រារព្ធកម្មវិធីសប្តាហ៍នៃចំណេះដឹងអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត?

នៅសាលាហ៊្វូតព្រីន យើងខ្ញុំជឿជាក់ថាការបណ្តុះឱ្យមានសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តគឺពិតជាមានសារៈសំខាន់ដូចទៅ នឹងភាពជោគជ័យក្នុងការសិក្សាដូច្នោះដែរ។ កម្មវិធីសប្តាហ៍នៃចំណេះដឹងអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យសិស្សានុសិស្ស លោកគ្រូអ្នកគ្រូ និងមាតាបិតាសិស្សចូលរួមយ៉ាងសកម្មក្នុងការពិភាក្សា និងក្នុងសកម្មភាពលើកកម្ពស់ភាពធន់លើផ្លូវចិត្ត ជំនាញក្នុងការទាក់ទង និងសុខុមាលភាពទាំងមូល។ ការលើកឡើងអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តដោយបើកចំហ ធ្វើឱ្យយើងបង្កើតបាននូវបរិយាកាសដែលប្រកបដោយការគាំទ្រ ហើយផ្តល់ថាមពលដល់សិស្សានុសិស្សរបស់យើងឱ្យកាន់តែរីកចម្រើនទាំងនៅក្នុងសាលារៀន និងពិភពខាងក្រៅ។

គន្លឹះសម្រាប់មាតាបិតាសិស្សក្នុងការជួយដល់សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តរបស់បុត្រធីតារបស់ខ្លួន

មាតាបិតាដើរតួនាទីយ៉ាងសំខាន់ក្នុងការបណ្តុះសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តរបស់បុត្រធីតារបស់ខ្លួន។ ខាងក្រោមនេះគឺជាវិធីសាស្រ្តមួយចំនួនដែលលោកអ្នកអាចធ្វើបាន៖

១. ចំណាយពេលក្នុងការស្តាប់៖ បង្កើតទម្លាប់ក្នុងការនិយាយជាមួយបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកជាប្រចាំ សាកសួរពីអារម្មណ៍របស់ពួកគេ និងលើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យពួកគេនិយាយអំពីអ្វីដែលពួកគេជួបប្រទះ។ បង្កើតបរិយាកាសដែលបើកចំហ និងពោរពេញដោយទំនុកចិត្ត អាចជួយដល់ពួកគេឱ្យមានផាសុកភាព ក្នុងការបង្ហាញនូវអារម្មណ៍របស់ពួកគេ ដែលវាពិតជាមានសារៈសំខាន់សម្រាប់សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត។ 

២. ជួយគាំទ្រដល់ពួកគេពេលដែលជួបការលំបាក៖ យកចិត្តទុកដាក់លើការផ្លាស់ប្តូរអាកប្បកិរិយា ឬអារម្មណ៍របស់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក ហើយផ្តល់ការណែនាំនៅពេលដែលពួកគេជួបការលំបាក ដូចជា ភាពតានតឹងនៅសាលារៀន ឬបញ្ហាទំនាក់ទំនងផ្សេងៗ។ ធ្វើជាបុគ្គលដែលផ្តល់ការគាំទ្រ ដែលពួកគេអាចពឹកពាក់បានក្នុងការឆ្លងកាត់បញ្ហាទាំងនេះ។ 

៣. លើកទឹកចិត្តដល់ចំណង់ចំណូលចិត្តរបស់ពួកគេ៖ ការចូលរួមក្នុងសកម្មភាពដូចជា កីឡា សិល្បៈ ឬចំណង់ចំណូលចិត្តផ្សេងៗ អាចផ្តល់ឱ្យនូវអារម្មណ៍ស្រស់ស្រាយ កាត់បន្ថយភាពតានតឹង និងបង្កើនទំនុកចិត្តលើខ្លួនឯង។ លើកទឹកចិត្តបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកឱ្យធ្វើតាមអ្វីដែលធ្វើឱ្យពួកគេរំភើប ដោយការធ្វើបែបនេះអាចជួយជំរុញសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តរបស់ពួកគេកាន់តែកើនឡើង។

៤. បង្កើតនូវទម្លាប់វិជ្ជមាន៖ ទម្លាប់ជាប្រចាំ រួមមានការចូលគេងទៀងទាត់ពេលវេលា ការញ៉ាំអាហារដែលមានតុល្យភាព និងការធ្វើលំហាត់ប្រាណ ជួយដល់សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត និងរូបរាងកាយ។ ជួយឱ្យបុត្រធីតារបស់លោកអ្នករក្សាបាននូវសុខុមាលភាព ដោយការលើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានទម្លាប់ល្អក្នុងការរស់នៅ។ 

៥. ធ្វើជាគំរូដោយការបង្ហាញឥរិយាបថវិជ្ជមាន៖ កុមាររៀនតាមរយៈការសង្កេត ហើយជារឿយៗ ពួកគេនឹងធ្វើត្រាប់តាមឥរិយាបថរបស់ឪពុកម្តាយ។ បង្ហាញពួកគេពីវិធីសាស្ត្រវិជ្ជមានក្នុងការគ្រប់គ្រង ភាពតានតឹង សម្រួលអារម្មណ៍ និងរក្សាតុល្យភាពនៃទំនួលខុសត្រូវ។ 

៦. ផ្តល់កាលវិភាគ និងព្រំដែន៖ វិន័យដែលច្បាស់លាស់ និងការរំពឹងទុកដែលមិនងាករេនឹងផ្តល់នូវអារម្មណ៍សុវត្ថិភាពដល់កុមារ និងធ្វើឱ្យពួកគេកាន់តែយល់។ កាលវិភាគក៏ជួយពួកគេក្នុងការធ្វើកិច្ចការ និងទំនួលខុសត្រូវប្រចាំថ្ងៃដោយមានប្រសិទ្ធភាព។ 

៧. លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានទំនាក់ទំនងនៅក្នុងសង្គម៖ មិត្តភាពគឺជាគន្លឹះក្នុងការអភិវឌ្ឍនូវអារម្មណ៍។ ជួយដល់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកបង្កើត និងរក្សាទំនាក់ទំនងជាមួយមិត្តភក្តិ។ 

៨. ស្វែងរកជំនួយពីអ្នកជំនាញនៅពេលដែលចាំបាច់៖ ប្រសិនបើលោកអ្នកសង្កេតឃើញពីការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ ដែលគួរឱ្យកត់សម្គាល់ណាមួយលើអាកប្បកិរិយា ឬស្ថានភាពផ្លូវចិត្តរបស់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក សូមពិចារណាក្នុងការស្វែងរកជំនួយ។ មាតាបិតា និងសិស្សានុសិស្សនៃសាលាហ៊្វូតព្រីនអន្តរជាតិអាច ទាក់ទងមកកាន់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសុខុមាលភាព និងឧត្តមភាពការងារ (CWCE) ឬពិគ្រោះជាមួយវេជ្ជបណ្ឌិតជំនាញទៅតាមជម្រើសរបស់ខ្លួន។  

យើងរួមគ្នាចាត់ទុកសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តជាអាទិភាពសំខាន់ជាមួយគ្នា!

ឯកសារសម្រាប់ការអានបន្ថែម៖

ជាភាសាខ្មែរ៖

• TPO Cambodia (អង្គការចិត្តសង្គម អន្តរវប្បធម៌កម្ពុជា) ផ្តល់ជូននូវជំនួយ និងសេវាកម្មលើសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តជាភាសាខ្មែរដែលរួមមាន កម្មវិធីសហគមន៍ក្នុងការ អភិវឌ្ឍសុខុមាលភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត។ លោកអ្នកអាចស្វែងយល់បន្ថែមតាមរយៈគេហទំព័ររបស់អង្គការ៖TPO Cambodia​។
• The Bamboo Centre (មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលឬស្សី) ផ្តល់សេវាប្រឹក្សាផ្លូវចិត្តជាភាសាខ្មែរ និងភាសាអង់គ្លេសសម្រាប់កុមារ ក្មេងជំទង់ និងមនុស្សពេញវ័យ។ មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលឬស្សី ផ្តល់ជូនការព្យាបាលតាមអនឡាញ និងដោយផ្ទាល់សម្រាប់កង្វល់ផ្សេងៗអំពីសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត៖ The Bamboo Centre ។

ជាភាសារអង់គ្លេស៖ 

• អង្គការសុខភាពពិភពលោក (WHO) – Mental Health: គេហទំព័រនេះផ្តល់ព័ត៌មានអំពីទិដ្ឋភាពទូទៅនៃសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត កត្តាសំខាន់ៗដែលប៉ះពាល់ដល់សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត និងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រសកលសម្រាប់ការលើកកម្ពស់សុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត។
• មូលនិធិសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត– គន្លឹះសម្រាប់ការជួយដល់សុខុមាលភាពផ្លូវចិត្ត៖ រួមមានឯកសារ និងគន្លឹះសម្រាប់រក្សា និងលើកកម្ពស់ឱ្យមានសុខុមាលភាពផ្លូវចិត្តល្អ ដែលចាំបាច់សម្រាប់បុគ្គល និងក្រុមគ្រួសារ។ 

As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all our students, Footprints International School and the Centre for Wellbeing and Career Excellence  is proud to participate in Anti-Bullying Week 2024, themed “Choose Respect.” This global campaign, which our school will celebrate from September 2nd to Friday, September 6th, 2024, encourages everyone—students, parents, and educators alike—to focus on respect in all interactions to help combat bullying. This is a crucial topic, and understanding it better can empower our community to take meaningful steps to prevent and stop bullying.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is a repetitive and intentional behaviour where one person exerts power over another, causing harm, fear, or distress. It can take many forms, including physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying. The impacts of bullying can be devastating, leading to long-term emotional and psychological issues for those involved, whether they are the target, the bully, or even a bystander.

According to UNICEF, bullying is not just a childhood issue but a societal one, with deep-rooted effects that can follow individuals into adulthood. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasises the importance of addressing bullying early, noting that the emotional scars can last a lifetime.

The Role of Awareness

Raising awareness about bullying is crucial in preventing and addressing it. When students, parents, and educators understand what bullying is and recognise the signs, they are better equipped to take action. Awareness also helps to create a culture of empathy and respect, where bullying behaviours are less likely to thrive.

During Anti-Bullying Week at Footprints International School, we will engage our students in activities and discussions that highlight the importance of kindness and inclusion. By fostering an environment where students feel valued and supported, we can reduce the likelihood of bullying occurring. At the heart of our efforts, we remind everyone that “My Words and Actions Matter“, underscoring the powerful impact each person can have in creating a positive school culture.

How Students Can Help Stop Bullying

• Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander: Students are encouraged to speak up when they see someone being bullied. Supporting the victim, either by intervening directly if it’s safe or by seeking help from an adult, can make a significant difference.
• Practice Kindness, Inclusion and Respect: Being a buddy, not a bully, means reaching out to others, especially those who might feel left out. Small acts of kindness and respect can go a long way in making everyone feel welcome.
• Understand and Manage Emotions: It’s important for students to recognize their own feelings and learn how to express them in healthy ways. This self-awareness can prevent negative behaviours from escalating into bullying.

How Parents Can Help Stop Bullying

• Talk to Your Child: Regular conversations about school life can help parents identify any issues early on. If your child mentions that they or someone they know is being bullied, take it seriously and discuss how to address it.
• Model Positive Behaviour: Children learn from their parents. Demonstrating empathy, kindness, and respect in your own interactions sets a powerful example for your child.
• Stay Informed: Understanding the different forms of bullying and the signs to look for can help parents recognise when their child might be involved in bullying, whether as a victim, perpetrator, or bystander. The UNICEF article “Bullying: What is it and how to stop it” as well as articles from organisations like the Anti-Bullying Alliance are valuable resources for parents looking to learn more about this issue.
• Work with the School: If you suspect your child is being bullied, or if they are bullying others, communicate with the school. Working together with teachers and administrators ensures a coordinated and effective response.

Raising awareness about bullying is not just about recognizing the problem—it’s about taking concrete steps to address it. At Footprints International School, we believe that every student has the right to feel safe and respected. By working together and remembering that “My Words and Actions Matter,” we can create a culture of kindness and respect that makes our school a welcoming place for all.

We hope you join us in this important effort during Anti-Bullying Week 2024. Together, let’s “Choose Respect” and make a difference in the lives of our students.

• UNICEF: Bullying – What is it and How to Stop it
• American Psychological Association: Bullying
• Anti-Bullying Alliance: Understanding Bullying