Dear Mr O'Donovan
We have chosen your school as one of two in Kerry, to participate in a new nationwide creative youth programme, “Let me be me”, which has been approved and funded by the Department of Justice and Equality.
“Let me be me” project empowers young people to become more self-assured, expressive, sociable and imaginative and they learn how to tackle situations with resilience and grow into stronger, more independent members of society.
We would like to give your First year students the opportunity of this six months mental health programme, starting with creative online classes. The students will have the option to continue to participate in further online classes throughout the six months.
Part 1
Project Concept
The “Let Me Be Me” initiative involves over 350 young people learning fun dance routines over a 6-week period in the safety of their own homes. Over the term of the programme, all participants will learn to perform the same dance, to the same song, at the same time, on the same day and the event is broadcast live on the final day.
Part 2
Peer relationship building online programme
- After completion of the initial programme, the “Let Me Be Me” support team will facilitate various, creative programmes, whilst continuing to engage with participants allowing them to make friends and learn new skills.
1 hour - Weekly Online Inclusion Session Breakdown
- Warm-up exercises
- Creative movement and fun moves session-SMART MOVES occupational therapy-based movement programme throughout
- Various fun dance routines for the 45 minutes and repetition of steps
- Using meditation to cool down at the end of the sessions.
- A video recording of the final dance routine will be provided to every student at the start to allow them to practice in their own homes for the finale.Your young students will learn to sing, dance and act while developing a broad range of life skills, building confidence towards the final performance.
- Each learning will be an integral part of the whole weekly experience, working towards and culminating in a Finale for parents and family to view online privately. We have found through experience that allowing children to have a creative break from their general homework plan, makes a positive impact on their wellbeing and family relationships. Participation will organically connect these young people with new friends. We strongly believe incorporating our project in your homework program will allow you to brighten the school year and make it fun in these strange times.
Step two:
Sending the information video & enrolment /consent form to parents via your online portal. 2 Links provided here:
Let Me Be Me Project - video outlining the aims of the programme
Parent Consent / Enrolment Form:
https://forms.gle/7v8RBVtXBUNthM568
After that, the Let Me Be Me team coordinate the process and communicate with parents for the rest of the programme. We will keep you updated throughout and will let you know when there are other creative programme opportunities open to your students.
