Our School Portal is a secure platform for Irish schools to highlight and exchange ideas that support positive mental health.
In 2019, Walk in My Shoes (WIMS) launched the School Portal - a secure online space designed to empower schools across Ireland to support mental health and wellbeing.
Amanda McArdle, Campaign Manager with WIMS, tells us more about this project and how it continues to positively impact schools and communities.
Our mission to grow mental health awareness in schools
Almost 1,000 teachers have registered to use the platform since its launch, making it a growing hub of creativity, resources, and collaboration.
The WIMS School Portal is an important part of our mission to promote positive mental health, tackle mental health stigma, and to encourage open conversations about mental health among young people.
Benefits of using our School Portal
Teachers and school staff across Ireland can use the portal to access educational resources: explore a variety of wellbeing projects, from classroom activities to whole-school initiatives.
The portal also celebrates creative ideas that nurture positive mental health. Teachers are encouraged to upload and showcase their projects to highlight their efforts and encourage others to take part in the mental health conversation.
Inspiration for classroom projects
The portal is more than just a library of materials - it’s a place where schools come together to inspire and learn from one another.
Inside the School Portal, teachers and school staff can access a wide range of practical resources, from ready-to-use presentations and posters to videos and activity ideas that support positive mental health in schools.
All resources on the portal are available to download and share, and can be filtered by class level and mental health topic.
Secure, supportive online community
The portal is fully secure, with a protected login to ensure safe access, and it’s free for all schools to join, making it an accessible and supportive tool for educators across Ireland.
Highlights from our School Portal
We have lots of creative ideas on the portal from primary and secondary schools, and Youthreach and Further Education Training centres across the country.
Sign up or log into the portal to see more from the projects below.
Primary school projects
Morning meetings | Ballinadee National School, County Cork
“As part of our wellbeing initiative, we decided as a school that all classes would engage in morning meetings for a two-week period. Morning meetings are a chance for each child in the class to have their voice heard through a series of very simple activities.”
See more on the morning meetings.
Buddy up for Wellbeing | SN Cluain Muinge, County Clare
"Buddy reading and buddy games are essential for promoting the wellbeing of children by fostering a sense of connection, support, and collaboration.”
See more on the buddy reading project.
Wellbeing Wall | St Senan's Primary School, County Wexford
“We created our Wellbeing Wall to celebrate all the supports and initiatives available in our school and in our community. Nurture and wellbeing permeate every aspect of school life, from our mission statement to mindfulness practices on a daily basis.”
Wellbeing within our Community | Scoil Treasa Naofa, Dublin
“We organised a wellbeing interview with Tom, who came to the school garden to talk about wellbeing and what he does, as part of the WIMS Ways to Wellbeing Project.”
Learn more about the wellbeing interview.
Secondary school and Youthreach projects
Transition Year (TY) peer mentoring | Castleisland Community College, County Kerry
“This is vital in helping first-year students in the transition from primary to post-primary school. The first-year students met once a week with the TY students, that aided them in becoming familiar with our school and taking part in ice breaker activities, bonding games, walks and talks and a peer mentoring blitz.”
See more on the TY peer mentoring.
The Butterfly Effect | Colaiste Muire, County Sligo
“We are focusing on how, like the butterfly effect, small changes and decisions made in our lives can lead to significant and long-lasting effects for us, enhancing our wellbeing and mental health. Random acts of kindness, given and received by all members of our school, are included in this artwork.”
Learn more on the Butterfly Effect project.
Mentor wall | Pleasants Street Youthreach, Dublin
“Mentoring is part of our focus on trying to be "the one good adult" in our students' lives. None of our students have had a smooth path through education or life more generally, so they present with a multitude of risk factors and unmet needs that impact their ability to access education and progress towards employment and further education.”
Movement of Light Photography Exhibition | Rosses Community School, County Donegal
“TY students were encouraged to capture an image that reflected mental health and wellbeing. Students then named their images and wrote a brief description to explain the purpose and meaning behind their images. These were collated and displayed in an exhibition within the school.”
How to get involved
The School Portal is helping to create a culture of openness and support around mental health in schools. With hundreds of teachers already engaged, the community continues to grow, bringing fresh energy and creativity into classrooms across Ireland.
Joining our portal is easy; simply register here.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at info@walkinmyshoes.ie.
Inspiring classrooms since 2019
The School Portal was officially launched by Paul Gilligan and the then Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, during WIMS FM on World Mental Health Day 2019.
