Multi-Schools – Haverhill First Meet 🎉

Hosted by Castle Manor High School

Getting Started

Catherine introduced us and explained what the Multi schools was as this was the 1^st Haverhill meeting.

First activity: What does ‘being heard’ mean to you?

The general theme seemed to be that they felt they were heard when someone was kind and genuine. There was also lots of discussions around how rules can stop you feeling like you are heard in school. It very much was focused on the person they were talking to.

Talking to myself – I know I’m listening
When I play D&D you have to get to know each other and work together as a team
When I’m at work at the pub- the people I work with listen to me
When people are being kind and fair
On holiday with my family – they have to listen when they ask “what food should we get”
5 seconds ago – when you asked me this question
When its fun its feels like I’m heard
When someone gets to the point – I know they’ve heard me
Having a person connection makes you feel heard
Teachers have rules – sometimes they can’t say personal things but if they did it would help me if I could see their personality and fun side
When starting new clubs – when people want to know you
Basketball – you have to work as a team
Giving me reasons for rules from teachers makes me feel heard because they know I didn’t understand
My form teachers is brilliant, genuine and funny, she’s kind and not strict
My on-line friends are good at listening and make me feel happy
As an autistic person it’s hard to put my thoughts into words sometimes, I don’t feel taken seriously.
I know I’m heard when its 1-1 and there are no distractions
When there are no rules to follow
I feel heard at home, school and with teachers
I feel heard by my nana

When asked to rank how they knew they were heard the top ones were:

The person understands what I mean
They take my feelings seriously
The person looks and listens
I feel calm understood and respected afterwards.
They ask questions to understand me better

Interestingly: “what I say helps make a decision” wasn’t top of their lists, it was more about how they felt in that moment when talking to someone and how that person made them feel.

Creative Highlight ✨

One brave young person shared a poem:

Black = dark many people don’t like dark But!
dark = shadow
shadow = The whole image
No matter how dark people think you are, you are still the same!
Never forget who you are
And no one is more special than you!

This summed up the spirit of Multi Schools perfectly.

What’s Next

Notes will be shared on The Source for Arty to see
School will be updated once it’s live
Planning for next term’s session is underway