Fresh air, beautiful scenery, plenty of steps and a few challenges along the way! Our Wellness Hikes brought the St. Michael’s community outdoors for a wonderful week of adventure, teamwork and learning. Best of all, we were walking together for an important cause. As part of our Wellness Weeks, children across the school swapped their classrooms for the great outdoors. They explored the beautiful natural surroundings of Kobe while discovering the benefits of being active. From our youngest walkers to our oldest students, everyone had the chance to take on a challenge, encourage their friends and enjoy reaching a shared goal.

At St. Michael’s, we recognise the strong connection between physical activity and emotional wellbeing. Regular exercise helps us stay healthy, improves concentration, reduces stress and boosts our mood. Spending time in nature brings even more benefits. It gives children space to explore, observe, reflect and connect with the world around them. Our Wellness Hikes offered much more than exercise. There were hills to climb, distances to cover and moments when tired legs needed a little extra encouragement! Along the way, children showed determination, resilience and teamwork. They supported their friends, celebrated successes and discovered the satisfaction of overcoming a challenge.

These experiences are an important part of learning at St. Michael’s. We believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. Outdoor adventures help children build confidence, develop independence, strengthen friendships and learn to face new challenges with a positive attitude. Our hikes also had a purpose beyond our school community. Throughout Wellness Weeks, St. Michael’s has proudly supported TELL Japan and its Step Up Challenge. This important initiative raises awareness and funds for mental health support and suicide prevention in Japan.

TELL provides vital support for people facing emotional distress, isolation or crisis. By joining the challenge, our children helped raise awareness of mental health and the importance of supporting others. They also learned how small actions can make a difference when people work together. And what a difference we made! Together, our school community recorded an impressive 999,806 steps in just one week. It was a wonderful example of what we can achieve when everyone works towards a shared goal. Every step counted, and every contribution mattered.

Perhaps the greatest success of our Wellness Hikes was the sense of community they created. Children and teachers walked side by side, sharing conversations, enjoying nature and celebrating each other’s achievements. Across every year group, we saw kindness, encouragement and a wonderful spirit of teamwork. At St. Michael’s, we are committed to helping every child thrive. Academic success matters, but so do physical health, emotional wellbeing and strong relationships. Our Wellness Hikes brought these values to life and showed that some of the most valuable learning takes place beyond the classroom. With almost one million steps completed, we have certainly shown what it means to be Growing, Working, Learning Together.