Making life BEAR-able: A Dorchester school sets up teddy bear project for pupils

Students from the Prince of Wales School have been given toys following a rising concern in their mental health and wellbeing during lockdown.

Author: Jo SymesPublished 15th Feb 2021

A school in Dorchester hopes to make it's pupils lives slightly more BEAR-able as student's are set to received a new friend.

The Prince of Wales School set up the #InspireToLearn United Colours of POW Bear project following a rising concern in students mental health and well being during the coronavirus pandemic.

A Headteacher in Dorchester held a very unique whole-school 'bear assembly' amid rising concerns for pupils' mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Gary Spracklen, Headteacher at the school held a very unique whole-school 'bear assembly' where he addressed the school hall full of teddy bears, before packing each bear into an envelope to make it's journey to their forever home.

Speaking about the special bear assembly Mr Spracklen said:

"These days my daily assemblies take place virtually online so it was a real treat to lead a whole-school assembly again in the school hall. I must say each bear immaculately behaved and they all listened very well.

"Each bear now knows what is expected from them as an '#InspiredToLearn United Colours of POW Bear'. I am pleased to say that following the assembly, all the bears have signed up to our new #InspiredToLearn Bear Code".

The code signed by each #InspiredToLearn United Colours of POW Bear saw each bear solemnly promise to:

- Bring and share love wherever they go

- Provide comfort, friendship and fun to all who love them

- The bears also all promised that if they saw someone without a smile, they would give them one of their own.

The #InspiredToLearn United Colours of POW Bear project is just one way The Prince of Wales School is helping their pupils and families stay positive at this challenging time.

Mrs Tracy Brooker, ELSA lead at the school states:

"This event sits alongside a huge range of additional activities that the school is doing to support its community at this challenging time including on-site provision for the children of key workers and vulnerable children, weekly phone calls home to all pupils, food parcels, physical resource deliveries, the loan of school equipment (including desks, chairs and Chromebooks) and virtual ELSA sessions (as required)".

The school said it would like to thank POWSA (The Prince of Wales School PTA) for supporting their #InspiredToLearn United Colours of POW Bear project.

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