Tuesday 29 September 2015

Sharing God's peace

This week in assemblies, we will be considering how we share God's peace with each other. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus says 'blessed are the peace makers for they will be called children of God.' It would seem that being one who shares and brings peace is a very clear sign that we understand how God calls us to live together and how we outwork His love for us and the love He calls us to share with others.

Sharing peace is something that can be done in so many ways. The prayer of St Francis of Assisi that we considered last week, gives us many practical ways in which we can be peace makers. It would seem that at times we see peace as something that is about relationships between countries and warring nations. But St Francis seems to see it as something that everyone can be involved in, that our individual decisions and actions can bring peace or bring division. That if we focus on the small things, big things can happen.  A few months ago we focused on 'random acts of kindness' as a school, St Francis challenges us not to be random but to be consistent. That surely is one way to bring peace? 

As we move towards harvest festival time, we will be considering as a school how our actions can make a difference in other people's lives by sharing what we have. For those on the receiving end of this generosity, the receiving of such a gift is one practical way that peace in some form can be brought into other people's lives. 


To be or not to be

As a school we have been offered a fantastic opportunity to perform at the Curve as part of the School's Shakespeare festival. A wonderful opportunity for all that will be involved.

So on Friday, an intrepid band of troubadours came together to begin the process of performing an abridged version of Romeo and Juliet. We had a great afternoon considering the structure of the play, its main characters and their roles, as well as the main themes that the play considers. We also did some improvisation scenes to get us into the mood for performing on stage. 

The atmosphere and positive collaboration in the group was great to see, very much a 'all for one' and 'one for all' approach to the first session. 

As we move towards our performance in November we will map our journey via the lighthouse blog!


A cake for assembly

Today we had a fun time when the Vicar of St John's, our partner church, took one of his regular KS2 assemblies.

He decided to make a cake for a friend who was feeling a little sad. Great idea one might think, until you consider what he put into it!

Now the beans and the tomato sauce wasn't too bad. As for the sugar and the flour - well that was ok. But the Flash and the washing up liquid... well things were starting to get a little weird! The end result - well not sure I would eat it!

The point? Well prayer is about communicating with God, it's about bringing our needs and our concerns to him as well as other things.

Jesus makes it very clear that God is one that loves us and cares for us - so if we ask for something he is only going to give us what is good for us. So no way would God be giving us a cake like that!

So we paused for thought - to reflect on the great truth that God loves all of us and that we can be confident that he hears our prayers and responds to them out of the great love he has for us.




Thursday 24 September 2015

A creative day in Foundation Stage


Lots going on in Foundation stage today, our garage is hard at work as is our artists studio where the wonderful sunshine outside is being reflected in paint!

Some fantastic writing going on as well, though the idea of sending postcards when on holiday seems to be a lost art!










Creative displays around the school

Our under the sea theme continues in KS1 and a walk around the school shows what some of our other year groups have been up to.







Monday 21 September 2015

A day of peace

A Day Devoted to Strengthening the Ideals of Peace




International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21st September. Established in 1981 by resolution 36/37, the United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Furthering the Day’s mission, the General Assembly voted unanimously in 2001 to adopt resolution 55/282 establishing 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease- fire.

Across the school we have been considering what peace means to us and how important it is in the lives of many different people at this time.

In our staff reflection this morning, we said the prayer of St Francis of Assisi, which reminds us that every one of us can be a channel of peace.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love;
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord;
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there's sadness, ever joy.
 

Autumn Fayre and Balloons of HOPE

On Saturday we once again joined together as a school community to raise money and enjoy the beautiful September sunshine. As ever there were loads of different activities to take part in, cakes to buy, prizes to be won and faces to be painted!

This year we were also seeking to raise money to support the excellent work of the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that makes a real difference to individuals and their families who suffer from this disease. As a school community we wanted to support their work and we therefore launched our 'Balloons of Hope' campaign.

Over the week prior to the Autumn Fayre school families donated to this fundraising by purchasing a balloon, this was further supported by our local church and the wider community on the day. During the day we slowly filled up our net of balloons and at the end of the Fayre these were released.



We are asking anyone who finds them to let us know their final destination and we will be creating a map of 'HOPE' based on this information.

This was a fantastic and quite emotional end to the Autumn Fayre for our school community.

Another fantastic day when the whole school joined together to make a difference!

Foundation fun




Looks like foundation stage has been turned into a garage workshop, with a very efficient office and workshop catering for any need! Great to see individual children's ideas and suggestions come to fruition.

In addition we have been exploring sunflowers and discovering just how amazing they are!




The final countdown - Kingswood the return home

Our final morning sees my group take on the challenge of shelter building, a scenario created to test the team building skills and the imaginative use of a few tyres, rope, poles and tarpaulins. To be honest my group did really well, they exhibited enthusiasm, good listening skills, some epic knot tying skills and the ability to try and try again. The end result wouldn't stand the test of a windy night, but they could stand up in their creation and they were proud of what they had achieved!

For others the challenges of bouldering and fencing rounded off the last of our activities. They learnt new skills and the history of fencing, they learnt to traverse a wall blindfolded and to play a very different version of the game shark attack. A great end to their last activity session.

The last few days have seen all the children learn new skills, enjoy each other's company, get the minimum amount of sleep and demonstrate what a fantastic group of children they are to work with. 

It has been great to share this time with them, although the chance of any of the staff staying awake on the bus on the way back is probably very slim! 

The weekend and a few weeks of awesome rugby follow, but I am sure that Kingswood memories will outlast the lifting of the Webb Ellis trophy!




Thursday 17 September 2015

A time of prayer

Last week in assembly we were delighted to welcome staff from one of our local church aided schools, to our whole school assembly and to learn something about what makes us both similar and different as church schools.

As our focus is on prayer this half term we really wanted to support them in prayer and one of the key questions we asked was what could we pray for?

Prayer is a real privilege and something that is a central aspect of our relationship with God. We have been thinking in our assemblies how the opening lines of the Lord's Prayer really set the scene for us, telling us to pray to God our Father. 

In fact the bible even goes further encouraging us to even use the word Abba Father, something very similar to our word daddy. Quite amazing really if we think about the simplicity of this language and yet how powerfully it speaks of our relationship with God.

So as we pray for our friends, we do so in the confidence that we approach God in the full knowledge that he is our father and that he promises to hear our prayers. 

The Sun goes down - Kingswood day two

A busy day has seen the children enjoy a range of activities, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones at times, but always remaining positive and supportive of each other.

They have climbed heights, learnt to fence and shot arrows at targets and not apples! 

They have taken on team challenges,combined to make driving rhythms with a range of percussion instruments and enjoyed the sunshine. 

As we move towards the end of the day the weather is clearly changing again,but we have made the most of it and the day will certainly have produced long lasting memories of fun, friendship and achievement. Now all we need is a good nights sleep!









 


Morning sunshine - Kingswood day 2

The sun comes up its a new day dawning......

After eventually persuading the children that sleep was a very necessary requirement if they were to enjoy the next day, we all managed to settle down with the sound of rain still beating against the windows.

But thankfully the sun has arrived today to drive away those rain clouds, it might not stay for long- but it is most certainly welcome. 

The seagulls and rabbits that frequent the grounds have been observing us from a distance, the gulls certainly on the look out for any child wiling to share anything remotely food like!

Breakfast has been enjoyed and the second visit to the tuck shop has been endured - not by the children but by those who have to supervise and give advice on what might be a good idea to spend their money on and what most certainly isn't - fizzy drinks are not on the shopping agenda for sure!

We are now embarking on the first of our activities. Abseiling, fencing and bouldering are on for this morning. So lots of new and exciting experiences for all.







Wednesday 16 September 2015

Kingswood residential day 1

A good start to the day saw us get away on time, although some expert manoeuvring by our coach driver was required to get us out of the morning parking chaos. Lots of goodbyes were soon replaced with the strange silence of children engaged with electronic devices! No campfire songs on this bus!

The A47 soon beckoned and with the sun breaking through the clouds, we found ourselves drifting past Peterborough well on our way to Wells beach. 39 children and five staff all eagerly looking forward to three days away in wind swept Norfolk!

Our journey was uneventful, well nearly, with just one incident that we will leave to your imagination!

We arrived on Wells beach in beautiful sunshine, although the clouds in the distance certainly held a promise of what was to come. We enjoyed our time on the beach, had a picnic in the pine trees and took in the nostalgic sight of the beach huts. Some paddling and sandcastle building was also enjoyed and we left our 'footprints in the sand.'








A further journey on the bus brought us to our destination and we were shortly to be greeted by a significant downpour, that left us all very damp and in need of a change of clothing. The deluge was so great that the grounds are littered with planks - the only way to cross from one side of the many lakes that have appeared to the other. But it has not dampened our spirits and we look forward to a sun filled day tomorrow - we hope!







Tuesday 15 September 2015

Year 3 light and dark

Year 3 have been considering things that they like ( light ) and things that they don't ( dark ) as part of their topic on darkness and light, which will also include links to their science and topic work on World War Two.

They all had some really individual ideas and were able to share them with the whole class confidently.  They certainly make interesting reading!




Friday 11 September 2015

Shadow dancing!

Great to have our first 'Wake and shake' this morning in the September sunshine. Lots of participation and a fantastic way to start the day. A new song introduced and lots of shadows as evidence of participation!



School garden enjoys the September sun

It was great to come back after the summer and to reap the harvest from our summer garden. Carrots and green beans have been in plentiful supply and our lavender and sensory area has really taken off. We are looking to develop this further with other planting areas around our school ponds as well this year, to attract more wildlife and to create areas of colour and vibrancy for the children to enjoy.