Physical and Mental Health

Physical and Mental Health

Objectives

In Peicai, we aim to develop in our students a holistic approach to supporting their well-being, covering physical health, social and emotional development and psychological support when necessary.

Curriculum

• We strengthen students’ mental health through lessons on Character and Citizenship, Form Teacher Time and Physical Education.

• We build character in students through experiential learning platforms such as Co-Curricular Activities, Values-in-Action programme and outdoor education.

• We teach students social and emotional competencies such as relationship management, stress management and help-seeking skills, which are then put into practice when students engage in various school activities.

Teachers monitor the well-being of students and work closely with parents and school counsellors to render additional support to those who need it. Schools also work with partners such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), mental health professionals and Family Service Centres to support students and their families within the community.

World Sleep Day Commemoration

World sleep day is commemorated on the 14th of March.  It is an annual event held by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society, since 2008. The goal of World Sleep Day is to celebrate the benefits of good sleeping habits and to promote the prevention of management of sleep disorders.

Four fun facts about World Sleep Day:

• Studies show that students who get enough rest perform better in school.

• The world record for the longest time without sleep is 11 days, however, experts warn against sleep deprivation.

• The longest and most vivid dreams happen during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep stage.

• Taking a 20-minutes short nap can boost alertness, mood and creativity

Signs that you are not getting enough sleep:

• Slow reaction time

• Trouble paying attention

• Difficulty thinking and being logical

• Mood change, irritability

• Anxiety or Depression

• Poor judgement

• Reduced social activity due to tiredness

How to start healthy sleep habits?

• No screens an hour before bed: If you are aiming for a 10pm bedtime, aim to switch off the TV and turn your phone on Do Not Disturb at 9pm.

• Automated timers: Set your phone to ‘night shift’ mode after dinner, to limit your blue light exposure.

• Wind down your body: A quick five-minute stretching session can relieve stress and improve your sleep quality

• Set an alarm for sleep: Most adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to truly reset. Set a daily alarm to remind you it is time for bed at a reasonable hour.

• Eat early: Try not to eat large meals an hour before bed. This leads to more awakenings and lower sleep quality

'Better Sleep, Better You! Useful Tips for a Restful Night!'

Rest Well, Do Well! Students Share Insights on Healthy Sleep Habits!

To conclude our World Sleep Day commemoration, we launched a challenge inviting Peicaians to share their best practical sleep tips. Our goal was to create a peer-to-peer learning platform where students could learn from their schoolmates' effective sleep habits. We received numerous insightful submissions and selected a set of entries. These winning tips were then compiled into an informative poster to inspire the broader school community.

Character and Citizenship Education 2021

The refreshed Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum has been progressively implemented in schools since 2021.

Mental Health Education is one of the key features of the CCE curriculum. Through these lessons, students are equipped with knowledge and skills to build their resilience, strengthen their mental well-being and resolve their challenges.

For example, students learn to differentiate normal stress from distress and mental illness. They learn to break negative thinking patterns, overcome social emotional problems and seek help when they need to. Students are also taught to stand up against stigma around mental health issues.

National Goalball Athlete, Ms Joan Hung, giving our students an assembly talk on Resilience.	Building resilience, teamwork and self-confidence during Sports Challenge
Our Secondary 3 students at Outward Bound School – definitely a test of physical and mental strength.	our Secondary 2 students push their limits—both physically and mentally.