Everybody loves a pie and pea supper...especially after a hard week!

On Friday 4th July, Friends of Southfield are holding a very special evening of dancing, eating, drinking and games at Armthorpe Community Centre from 7pm - 11pm.

The evening will be to raise funds for Southfield's 30th birthday party which will be held in September.

Please come along and invite family and friends (over 18's only); the more the merrier! Tickets are £5.00 and can be bought from Mrs Lee in reception.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Massage in Schools Programme (MISP)

Miss Duffin (Year 2) is leading Southfield forward in using massage in schools which is quite a new concept in modern day society. Although massage in some native and traditional cultures, is as old as mankind itself!

This child-to-child massage programme has been developed as an inclusive whole school strategy for reducing children's stress levels, aggression and bullying. The MISP is a well-structured yet simple programme.

The clothed, peer massage is:

• for children 4-12 years old
• given and received with the child's permission
• given by the children, to each other
• on the back, head, arms and hands
• 10-15 minutes twice a week
• all children ask permission from each other before they start and say 'thank you' to their partner at the end.

The programme is an effective tool for improving child mental health and has had positive benefits for the children participating, such as improved concentration and increased confidence.

Children are empowered to make choices and they develop respect for the needs and feelings of others.

Members of the school community and parents have been consulted by Miss Duffin, before implementing the Massage in Schools Programme, which links to other aspects of the Southfield curriculum.

Positive touch activities also contribute to our teaching and learning styles.

Benefits of the Massage in School Programme

Studies and observations have shown that:

• children became calmer and have improved concentration
• children have more confidence and increased self-esteem
• it teaches children to respect others and leads to social inclusion
• there is a reduction in bullying and aggression
• emotional health improves
• it helps children recognise 'good' and 'bad' touch
• children show improved motor skills
• it encourages visualisation and kinaesthetic learning
• children are encouraged to make choices
• cooperation improves as children work in pairs and in groups
• there is a calmer classroom environment - the teacher benefits from all these aspects
• massage is fun!

Children's quotes:

"I like doing the massage because it is calm and gentle."

"Since starting the massage I do not get bullied because I am friendlier."

"When I give massage I feel good because I feel like I have helped someone relax."

"Massage makes me feel happy and I have loads more friends."

"Since doing massage my handwriting is better!"

Teacher's quotes:

"Children enjoy it very much. It creates a calm environment and children become more careful about the way they behave towards others. They are more thoughtful and considerate. Parents and other staff can also see the benefits..."

Ofsted quote:

"If you have a child leaving school with high self-esteem then the education system has achieved its greatest goal. The Massage in Schools Programme (MISP) helps with this objective."

Roger Brown, OFSTED Inspector.

If you are interested in finding out more about our Massage in Schools Programme then please see Miss Duffin in Year 2. Photographs of the children doing massage will be posted to this site soon...watch this space.

Southfield is about to get its very own blogging site which is to be launched this week (Wednesday 25th June).

This is a place where you can find out what has been happening at our school from the people who matter the most - the children!

Click on the link to go our very own blogging site!

http://shareit.yhgfl.net/doncaster/armthorpe

Please post your comments on the blog site as we look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to begin a discussion then you will need a username and password to contribute to this site. Please see Mrs Hogg in Year 5 for further details.