TRANSITIONS 2012: 7G

The Amygdala Project

What is Amygdala? The Amygdala represents a key part of the limbic system, which mediates emo-tion. It receives sensory inputs even be-fore we are consciously aware of them, and helps us respond to dangerous situa-tions , so in some ways it is the source of fear. It can also store fearful images and emotions. When we are creative , appreciating art, (or sometimes even doing mental arithmetic! ) we calm down the Amygdala thereby suppressing its activity. We decided to ask year 7 students to re-flect on a time when their amygdales were probably working overtime. The transition from their primary school to Ysgol John Bright. Here are their re-sponses....

What is Amygdala? The Amygdala represents a key part of the limbic system, which mediates emo-tion. It receives sensory inputs even be-fore we are consciously aware of them, and helps us respond to dangerous situa-tions , so in some ways it is the source of fear. It can also store fearful images and emotions. When we are creative , appreciating art, (or sometimes even doing mental arithmetic! ) we calm down the Amygdala thereby suppressing its activity. We decided to ask year 7 students to re-flect on a time when their amygdales were probably working overtime. The transition from their primary school to Ysgol John Bright. Here are their re-sponses....

MY BIG STEP FROM YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7 AT YSGOL JOHN BRIGHT’S

WHEN I WAS IN YEAR SIX, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT FINDING MY WAY AROUND YSGOL JOHN BRIGHT’S. I WAS ALSO WORRIED ABOUT FINDING NEW FRIENDS AND GETTING BULLIED. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING TO A BIGGER SCHOOL. I WAS REALLY EXCITED AFTER I HAD BEEN TO THE YJB TASTER DAY. I WAS A BIT WORRIED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK I WAS GOING TO GET!! I WAS NOT SURE IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO COPE. I THINK MY TEACHER IN MY PRIMARY SCHOOL HELPED ME GET READY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL.I WAS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING A FINGER PRINT FOR MY LUNCH PASS! I WAS WOR-RIED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE ME TO QUEUE UP AT DINNER TIMES.WOULD I HAVE TIME TO EAT?? I WAS ALWAYS WONDER-ING HOW WOULD THE TEACHERS BE??? NICE OR TIGHT??? I WAS WORRIED FOR NOTHING AS I REALLY LIKE BEING AT YSGOL JOHN BRIGHT’S. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO MY OLD SCHOOL AND IT LOOKS SMALL!! SOL DAVIES 7G

MY FEARS ABOUT YJB When i was moving up from year 6 i was excited, but when i saw some friends from year 8 they said i might get bul-lied because i was in year 7. When i was in year 6 i thought i would be bullied!!! Actually moving up was fun and great. I made loads of new friends like Emily and Holly who i am really good friends with!

ANGRY O.K

Moving up to Secondary school was a big change. Throughout the summer

holidays I was very nervous but also very excited!

I have settled in to Ysgol John Bright now, it actually did not take that long! Secondary school os different because you have to move around to go to dif-ferent lessons such as Science, maths

and Art.

Primary to secondary

The Amygdala Project

2012

Thank you to all the contributors in this publication. It was great that you could share your thoughts and feelings

addressed to next years cohort. Many thanks 7G,Ysgol John Bright.