School community shows power of support and connection
Tom Price Senior High School (TPSHS) is located in Tom Price, 1400kms from Perth, Western Australia. The 320-student school, as well as the local community, have been impacted by suicide and wanted to make a difference by taking part in R U OK?Day activities in 2022.
What activities did your school community participate in to recognise R U OK? in 2022?
TPSHS utilised the resources from the R U OK? Website for Secondary Schools. The Student Services team prepared packs for teachers to use during our weekly session on the Wednesday prior to R U OK?Day as this helped get the conversations going before the actual day.
Our Year 7 English classes participated in a R U OK? Poem competition and the Year 8 English classes participated in a poster competition. These were judged and displayed on R U OK?Day.
Oszkar's R U OK? poem
Shaela's R U OK? poem
On the morning of R U OK?Day staff and students shared a yellow pancake breakfast, staff face-painted the R U OK? symbol onto students’ hands and faces; and merchandise was given out to the students. During this time staff and students were heard talking about the importance of connection and supporting others. At lunchtime students were given a yellow iced cupcake with the R U OK? cupcake logo supplied from R U OK? website on top.
Why is R U OK? important to you and your school community?
R U OK?Day is an important message to remind students and staff to reach out and ask 'are you OK?' if they are worried about someone. It's a simple question that can be asked on any day to promote conversation and wellbeing. Our school and local community has been impacted by suicide and we strongly value R U OK?’s message as it is a simple and important reminder.
Staff at TPHS brought a splash of yellow to their R U OK?Day activities.
What was your highlight from the day?
The submissions from students were amazing! To hear the students talking about R U OK? throughout the day, was uplifting.
Thanks Tom Price Senior High School for taking part and for encouraging meaningful connections at school, not just on R U OK?Day, but all year round.
