A walk using the senses

Today 2B enjoyed using their senses around the school grounds, investigating our school garden and grounds as well as the new pond.






Great delight was caused by the appearance of the newts, as well as the wonderful range of smells that our herb garden produced.

Equally fascinating was the wonder of the complexity of the blossom and the small flowers that we looked at.

All of this caused us to stop, to think, to reflect and to thank God for his amazing creation.

ICT fun in year 1

What an afternoon the one of our year one classes were having exploring some new technology that has just arrived in school!

Having only just shared these new resources with teachers - who really struggled to master some of the techniques! It was great to see the children putting us to shame and demonstrating great confidence and accuracy within the first few minutes!

Class 4V assembly

Today Class 4V presented their class assembly to the children in KS2. Their theme was their recent residential trip to Chasewater in Burntwood.

Their assembly focused on their thoughts and feelings about being away form home, undertaking new activities and the challenges of making their own beds!

They clearly enjoyed the archery, night walk and other activities. They particularly talked a lot about toasted marshmallows, teachers falling down hills and the fun that they had learning together.

The assembly was presented by a select group of compares, who led us through the assembly with great professionalism.

All the children enjoyed the assembly and were particular amused by the slide show of photos taken over the two days. The sound track from the Toy Story film - You've got a friend in me - was a very apt choice and a great ending to a wonderful class assembly.

Well done to all involved.

Robin's class assembly

Yesterday the Robins delivered a thoughtful and creative assembly about seeds .

 

As an audience we were captivated by the colourful costumes and informative starter about sunflowers before learning through a parable about the sewing of seeds by a farmer. This farmer was the catalyst to sunflower seeds being scattered all over the world by the birds as well as the re-populating of the current crop.

 

It is still amazing to think how one seed can lead to many more if allowed to grow. This is the same for us – one positive comment or kind act can grow immeasurably around the world due to the ripples it causes to the benefactors.

 

Well done 1R, it certainly made us all think more about our wonderful creation.

God cares for us

This week we have started a new whole school theme of HOPE based on Jeremiah 29 v 11

 

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

In assembly we have been thinking about how important it is that we know who it is that is making a promise. This really determines if the promise might be trustworthy or not.

 

In our KS1 assembly we reflected on God's incredible love for us and how this means that he is interested in us and cares for us as well. It is this love that is at the heart of his promise in Jeremiah and this is a wonderful reason for trusting that God is the one who can give us hope for the future.

 

We used the following refrain to remind ourselves of this truth

 

 

God is interested in you
God is interested in me
God is interested in everyone

Because His love is
Great, big, fab, strong

God cares for you
God cares for me
God cares for everyone

Pond development

On Friday myself and a few of the year 5 staff, along with their class members, began work on our new pond and wildlife area.

This involved digging a rather large hole in order to place one of our new ponds into position. The children were willing helpers and the weather was very kind to us. By the end of the day, the pond was in position and water and wildlife had been transferred from one of our existing ponds.

The discovery of a large number of Newts brought much excitement, as well as the ability to hold and touch water snails.

We will be looking to install our second pond soon and then to begin to start work in the removal of the old ponds and the enrichment of the surrounding woodland area.

Shadow play in Foundation Stage

Foundation stage children were making the most of the sun today, enjoying exploring their own shadows. I think Peter Pan would have been very jealous!

You can clearly see the individual identity that we know so well in the shadows and its clear to see that they were having great fun on a very beautiful day!

Year 1 class assembly prayers

Class have been preparing for their assembly this week and have been taking the time to think about God's amazing gift of nature. Their prayers echo their thoughts and their thankfulness.

Dear God, Help the plants grow with water and sun. Please help us grow nice seeds to eat.

Thank you for the world, thank you for the flowers. Thank you for the world so sweet.

Thank you for the world out there, let the seeds we sow grow, grow, grow high up in the sky and let them live forever.

Thank you for all the plants.

Thank you for the flowers.

Thank you for the lovely sunflowers that feed the birds their seeds and for the pretty petals.

AMEN

Jeremiah - a voice of hope

Our key verse for the next few weeks is taken from Jeremiah chapter 29 v11. In this verse God talks to the people of Israel about his personal plans for them, plans that will bring them a hope and a future. The words were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah and at the time they might have been hard words to listen to, for the people of God were not exactly enjoying what they might have seen as prosperous times.

The prophet writes in 626BC  at a time when many from Israel where in exile in Babylon. Israel had been invaded and defeated about 20 years earlier, the temple and the city walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the powerful state that Israel had once been was no more.

 So to hear a prophet speak of hope and plans that will bring prosperity and a future, might have made no sense, unless of course it was God that was speaking and declaring this truth.

 As we look at the first part of the verse we will be considering that one strand that runs through the bible is that God’s timing is clearly not the same as ours. He sees a complete picture, whilst we only see the pieces and at times we struggle to make sense of what we hold in our hand.  In addition it is clear that the bible wants us to understand that some things are not about the here and now, but about the future, about something ,that although it may not see fulfilment in the present, it can still have an impact on our lives today.

 

The starting point for this amazing verse is what makes the rest of it make sense. For what matters is who speaks and who declares the truth that the verse holds. I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. God, the creator and sustainer, the alpha and the omega, speaks of his personal relationship with his people. It is the knowledge of who it is that is speaking that brings the hope that this verse speaks of into perspective. For a people who had lost everything, who were strangers in a foreign land, whose own land had been plundered and stripped of all its power, God speaks of his plans for them and the hope that he promises them. They have not been abandoned, God is still with them.

The same is true today, for God still maintains the truth that he is the one that brings hope, a hope that is rooted in his love for us and a hope that we can be confident in because it is God who promises it.

 

 

The big bad wolf

Year 2 are preparing for their next writing project and are being inspired to think of new vocabulary by some wonderful pieces of art work in the corridor, linked to the traditional story of the big bad wolf and little Red Riding Hood. I look forward to reading some of their creative stories.

The sun is shining!

The sun is shining! Yippee!!

The ramifications of the clouds now not blocking the ball of gas, which God originally gave us to separate day from night, are many and varied.

Psalm 113:3 states a verse familiar to many, but maybe not in this context. “From the rising of the Sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”  Usually used in remembrance services this verse however puts the importance of how the Lord should be praised at all times. Darkness in the era of the old testament generally meant sleep, so whilst the sun was up, and people were awake, so God’s name should be praised.

We have been thinking about this in assemblies this week in connection with how God helped various people in the bible; from Peter after Jesus’ death to Noah, Jonah, David etc. All of their concerns were ably met by God, therefore likewise we can trust in God to answer our problems, whether upcoming exams, friendship issues or other individual circumstances that arise. As the Beatles once said ‘Help, I need somebody…’, and yes, we all do occasionally need help but we know that the God of the past is still the God of the present and will always be that somebody.

Surely therefore the Sun in the sky should remind us to do as the Psalmist and praise God for all our blessings.

Tag Rugby success

 
 

On the evening  of Tuesday 21st April, twelve children from Years 5 and 6 competed in the last fixture of this year's Tag Rugby League.  Our team went in undefeated with lots of courage and determination!  The children played fantastically, worked excellently as a team and stayed true to the values of the sport.  Unfortunately we didn't bring home the trophy this time, narrowly escaping to another strong team in the city.  However, St John's were without a doubt the deserving winners of the league and all the children should be extremely proud of themselves. A huge well done to everyone involved!

The power of the resurrection

This week we will be thinking about how the resurrection changed the lives of the disciples and in particular we will be focusing on the life of Peter.

The Easter story is a roller coaster of a ride for Peter, he is initially brave and bold; then reduced to denial and tears and finally restored to belief and confidence.

The difference between Peter in the last few chapters of the Gospels and the opening chapters of the Book of Acts is incredible. Peter goes from a man who is in hiding, fearful for his life, to one who stands up in front of a large crowd and proclaims the resurrection of Christ.

In our KS1 assembly on Monday we reminded ourselves of the difference that the resurrection made to Peter, by putting actions to some of the characteristics that he exhibited when he first met Jesus; on Good Friday itself and then after the resurrection.

When I met Jesus I was

Brave, bold, confident and strong

When I denied Jesus I was

Afraid, scared, tearful and lost

When I met the risen Jesus I was

Forgiven, hopeful, inspired and loved

The rest of this week we will be considering how the Resurrection can change our lives and how its key messages of love and forgiveness can make a difference for those we love and care for.

Around school this week

An insight into some of the displays and curriculum themes that classes have been exploring this week.

Year 4 residential trip

Today our year 4 children and staff went on their first residential trip to Chasewater.

Their was much excitement in the classrooms this morning amongst all the suitcases and special friends who could not be left behind!

The residential trip will see the children undertaking a number of outdoor activities such as; bush craft, climbing, water activity and an evening campfire. All of which sounds like a great learning experience, including the challenge of making their own beds!

We look forward to seeing them back on Friday.

Foundation stage visitors

A wonderful surprise for Foundation Stage children today when one of the staff brought in some feathered friends. All of whom were made very welcome!

Who do you think it is?

Yesterday in assembly we considered the Biblical retelling of Mary's experience of meeting the risen Jesus in the garden on the first Easter Sunday. Initially she mistook Jesus for the Gardner and pleaded with him to tell her where he had taken the body of Jesus. The realisation in her voice at the sound of her name, broke through her dismay and left her in awe. Raising her head she looked straight at Jesus and identified him as the one that she had followed and seen die only a few days earlier.

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,“ Rabboni !” (which means “Teacher”).

Our assembly used the wonders of the iPad Photobooth Application. A few carefully chosen photo's of staff taken with this entertaining and face changing application certainly created laughter and much discussion. All were identified correctly and reinforced the fact that if we truly know someone, it is hard not to accurately identify them! Even if we are distraught and confused by the life changing events that Mary had endured over the past few days. 

Our closing song reminded us of God's great love for us and the opportunity for practicing our 'air guitars' was not missed.
Looks like this Friday we will be needing to get our plastic guitars out to add even more fun to the actions.

Choir rehearsal for a very special performance

This evening members of our school choir made their way over to Guthlaxton college to take part in a mass rehearsal, for their performance of the The Last Plantagenet, which will take place at De Montfort Hall this Saturday.

Children from school's across the city, along with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra and members of the Philharmonia Orchestra will be joining together as part of the City of Leicester's celebrations and remembrance of Richard the Third and his reinternment in Leicester Cathedral.

The sound of the combined choirs of so many schools was impressive and clearly all had been practicing hard for this very special event. Saturday will certainly be eagerly looked forward to!

A story from different viewpoints

I have been reading Stephen Cottrell's book 'The Nail' over the Easter break. It takes the Easter story and explores it from the viewpoint of different characters. This means that the reader gets an insight into the fictional thinking of such characters as the Roman Centurian, Pilate's wife, Peter, Judas and Mary Magdelene. The book originally started as a play and the monologues formed part of Stephen's Good Friday services, enabling the congregation to reflect on the Easter story in a very engaging way.

I have used this as the basis for our first two whole school assemblies, taking the idea and enabling the children to consider the thoughts and feelings of the Roman Centurian, Jospeph of Arimethea, Peter and Mary. Each of of these characters saw the events of Good Friday and beyond from different perspectives, yet each one's contribution is vital as we seek to understand the unexpected events that led to an empty tomb.

The assemblies will also give us an opportunity to sing one of our classic action songs - Ismael's 'why do you look here for the living?' If you have never heard it, it is a classic from the eighties and we have put some lively actions to it. It is also one of those ones that can't be done sitting down!

 

Spring is in the air

Life is beginning to burst forth in the school grounds, just ready for everyone to return on Monday!

All was lost?

At the end of Good Friday the loss and the desolation of the disciples must have been wretched, all it seems was lost, nothing gained. The crucifixion was a brutal end to something that they had hoped for and believed in for three years. They did not understand what was going on, all they saw was death and despair and therefore they surely could only have thought one thing. All was lost.

 

After the Sabbath, when the women come to the tomb to find Jesus’s dead body, in their minds the story is clearly also finished. They are focused on the burial requirements of Jesus and nothing else, yet what they found was not what they expected.

 

There was no body and instead they were faced with an angel who asks them a very direct question; “Why do you look here for the living among the dead?”

 

Our assemblies in the first week of this summer term will seek to come to grips with this question and all that it meant for the disciples and followers of Jesus. We will be picking up the Easter story as the body is laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and considering the dramatic events that unfold through the eyes of some of the main characters that feature in the biblical texts.

 

In doing so we will be considering how Jesus had clearly told the disciples that he must be crucified, and that he would rise again. That he was continually seeking to challenge their understanding of the Messiah, that he was not an earthly king and earthly rescuer as they hoped he would be. But instead the Messiah was the way in which God was to set about dealing with the brokenness that existed in our relationship with him.

 

 In order to do this there needed to be a cross, but also an empty tomb and an angel challenging Mary to reconsider her understanding of what it was that Jesus has really come to achieve.

Easter egg rolling

As a child I grew up with the Easter Monday tradition of egg rolling. This caused great interest when I first began to teach, as the children seized on the image of me rolling cardboard boxes with chocolate eggs in down a hillside!

The preparation for the event involved hard boiling eggs and then decorating them. Nothing else was allowed, no protective layers, no hardening process, just the eggs in their shells. Easter Monday would come and we would find a location. Once in Scotland this meant a windswept hillside, with rain threatening every second of the fun. My oldest daughter was 6 at the time and she was very excited about the prospect of egg rolling in Scotland!

We made our way to the top of the hill and prepared to start the contest. The winner is simply the one whose egg stays intact the longest. There is of course a technique to this, keep the swing of the arm under control, crouch and then let go so that contact with the ground is made quickly, thus limiting the impact and the chance of an explosion on the first throw. In her excitement my daughter didn't let go until her arm was in the upmost part of the swing, so instead of a gentle roll the egg tried to join the space race!

The result was catastrophic, egg shell and hard boiled contents where scattered everywhere on impact. There was a moment of silence and then the tears began. She had hoped for victory and yet it had all ended in the first throw. 

As I reached out to console her, my egg was still in my hand, having not yet been rolled. Taking her hand I placed it on her palm. Her fingers wrapped around it and a smile lit up her face, she had another chance!

The Easter story has similar parallels, the world God created was damaged by our choices and so was our relationship with him. Yet in Easter, God offers us another chance, he takes our damaged relationships and offers something whole and new. 

Why he chooses to do this is a question that is central to the whole Easter story.

A question whose answer can be found in one verse in John's first book in the New Testament and it is the same as the reason why I gave my egg to my daughter. Love, the New Testsment tells us, simply seeks to put things right, what ever the cost; which in God's case, led him to give his one and only Son.

 Easter eggs have never been the same since that day for me, nor one could argue, has the world been the same, since that first Easter.