Wellbeing at Rome International School: A Holistic Approach

At Rome International School, wellbeing is a priority for all staff and students. Class Teachers, Form Tutors, Subject Teachers and Leaders work together to ensure every young person feels safe, happy, and that they belong.

This sense of security is vital for creating an environment where students can thrive academically and personally.

To support these efforts, the Wellbeing Team—comprising Ms. Lain, Ms. Rodas, Mrs. Phillips, and Ms. Turnbull—provides guidance and resources for supporting student wellbeing. A school counsellor is available for students with more specific or individualised needs, and a volunteer Staff Wellbeing Team meets regularly to explore new ways to support the wellbeing of both students and
staff, ensuring a nurturing school culture at every level.

Wellbeing Guided by the PERMAH Model

Our commitment to wellbeing is rooted in the PERMAH model, which is based on Positive Psychology principles. PERMAH stands for Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment, and Health. This holistic framework addresses the emotional, social, and physical needs of everyone within the school community. By embedding PERMAH into our wellbeing initiatives, we ensure that students are not only academically successful but also feel valued and supported.

Making Wellbeing Visible Throughout the School

We emphasise wellbeing in visible, practical ways. In Elementary classrooms, Calm Corners are designated areas where children can take a moment to self-regulate and practise coping strategies they’ve learned. These spaces promote emotional awareness and encourage peer support, helping students manage their feelings in a healthy manner.

In Middle and High School, students have taken greater ownership of their wellbeing by creating Wellbeing Boards. These student-led boards offer inspiration and support through motivational messages, self-care tips, and mental health resources. By integrating wellbeing into the everyday school experience, we ensure students understand the importance of caring for themselves and each other.

Digital Wellbeing: This Term’s Focus

This term, the school’s wellbeing focus is on Digital Wellbeing, an increasingly important aspect of modern life. With technology playing a central role in education, it’s crucial that students and staff learn to navigate the digital world in a healthy and balanced way. Staff have received training to support student Digital Wellbeing, as well as their own. In addition, a wellbeing strategy is shared with all staff on a weekly basis. These can be adapted to meet the needs of all age-ranges, including adults.

Assemblies for Years 3 to 13 have highlighted the benefits of digital tools, while also addressing challenges like screen time, cyberbullying, and social media’s impact on mental health. Practical strategies such as setting boundaries, taking screen breaks, and practising mindfulness have been shared to promote healthier digital habits.

Discussions and activities on these topics will continue throughout the term in PSHE lessons and wellbeing sessions and the local police will be coming in to talk to students from Years 6-13 about online safety.

Student Wellbeing Ambassadors: Leading by Example

Our Student Wellbeing Ambassadors, a group of nine volunteers from Years 7 to 13, are already leading the charge this term. Guided by Ms. Turnbull and Mrs. Phillips, these passionate students are working together to develop wellbeing projects tailored to their peers’ needs. Each term, the ambassadors choose a focus and plan initiatives to address them. They are currently focusing on ensuring that our Digital Wellbeing theme is highly visible throughout the school.

By empowering students to take an active role in promoting wellbeing, we’re fostering leadership and empathy—skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Engaging Parents in Digital Wellbeing As with all areas of school life, we are keen to involve parents too. Please talk to your children at home about Digital Wellbeing, both yours and theirs. As adults, we are powerful role models, so our own digital habits have a significant impact on our children. In November, there will be parent workshops to explore this topic in further depth. Dates will be shared soon and we look forward to seeing you there.

RIS Wellbeing Team