What is the Amber Flag?

​​​The Amber Flag is an initiative run by Pieta House which recognises the individual efforts of primary schools and other organisations that support mental wellbeing.
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In order to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in Virgin Mary’s GNS, we are taking part in the Amber Flag Initiative.  We were delighted to receive our first Flag last year in 2022-2023 and are working towards renewing our flag again this school year.

Amber Flag Committee 2023-2024

​Our Amber Flag Committee
Staff Representatives:
      Ms. Rattigan, Ms. Gallinagh and Pamela Beirne
      Marceila Maughan
      Mary Theresa Reilly
      Ashling Tagiso
      Aoife Darcy

​​Our aims and objectives are: 

• To hold a ‘Wellbeing Week’ to promote positive mental health in our school
• To create a ‘Healthy Eating Awareness Day' to remind everyone in our school the importance of Healthy Eating and reinforce our updated Healthy Eating Policy.
• To hold a ‘Design a Poster’ competition within the school to raise awareness of positive mental health strategies.

                                            

Wellbeing Week 
April 15th-19th 2024

​Wellbeing Week 2024
The Amber Flag Committee hosted a ‘Wellbeing Week’ in our school from April 15th-19th. 
Each school day during the week will have a theme that highlights an aspect of healthy living and well-being.  We would encourage parents and guardians to have conversations with their children about the different themes and about wellness in general. The themes for the week included:
 
Monday, 15th April – Mindful Monday
Tuesday, 16th April – Thankful Tuesday
Wednesday, 17th April – Wellbeing Wednesday
Thursday, 18th April- Thoughtful Thursday
Friday, 19th April – Friendship Friday
 
As part of Wellbeing Week, the children engaged in Wellbeing activities including Buddy reading in the school library and Buddy friendship bracelets, making friendship bracelets with another class.
The girls enjoyed listening to the story of ‘The Bucket Fillet’ and enjoyed filling their classroom buckets with pompoms when engaging in random acts of kindness.  
 
 
Art Competition- April 2024

​Congratulations to our prize winners above in the Art competition on mindfulness, wellbeing and promoting positive mental health strategies.​