Narnia comes to St Johns

This morning the school grounds were coated with a fresh covering of snow. Beautiful, but with it many challenges! Clearing the paths, salting, providing safe pathways, negotiating icy roads, slow traffic and the urge to throw a snowball was I am sure strong in many minds.

But the paths were cleared and the vast majority made it to school and the grounds looked stunning as they always do when the artistry of winter puts a different slant on everything.








Sadly the snow is not of the quality to build snowmen, which means our fields will not be decorated with a range of imaginative creations as they have been in previous years. But if the weather holds, a brief spell of enjoying this gift of winter may be possible at lunch time.

Love in action

For each of our themes we have an interactive foyer display that enables all members of the school to reflect and respond. These are always very creative and visual and the children are always keen to participate and to add their contribution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The current display asks us to consider what we could do today to show somebody that we love them. Individual responses are recorded on heart shaped paper and the collection of ideas and thoughts slowly grows as the weeks go by.

 

It is always quite inspiring to read different contributions and to think of how suggestions could be applied to your own life. Many of the contributions are practical applications of the focus for assemblies that week, and out- workings of our collective times of reflection and worship together.

 

 

Random acts of kindness

This week we have been considering the challenge laid down by Paul in the book of Corinthians to demonstrate kindness as an act of love. Our assemblies have reflected on what Kindness really means in practice and we have thought of many practical examples. its been great to see some of these been put into practice through out the week!

 

There are some really interesting illustrations of this fact on You Tube that demonstrate random acts of kindness in action. Worth a search if you get the time. One video in particular certainly engaged the children, a 20 year old who celebrates her birthday by doing 20 random gifts of kindness. Watching this certainly made us all think.

 

The word random really emphasises the underlying truth behind the whole of 1 Corinthians 13 and many of Jesus’s parables. The Good Samaritan was a random passer-by, Zacchaeus a random tax collector up a tree, the Roman Centurion and the Woman at the well, random members of society that came into contact with Jesus.  It would seem that kindness as an expression of love from a biblical view point is less about emotions and more about every day relationships with anyone we come into contact with.

 

I love the words of Mother Teresa when she comments on kindness as follows:

 

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”  

 

Most certainly a thought to challenge us on what the sharing of God's love looks like in practice.

Forest school learning in action

This week's focus for the year 5 children was the skill of creating and nurturing fires. The excitement and collaboration was great to see. Each group worked together so well, discussing ideas, applying their learning, listening, communicating and having a significant amount
of fun along the way!

The development of this area of our school grounds has enabled a whole new range of experiences to become part of our learning at St John's.

There is something about getting your hands dirty, carefully constructing a fire and then watching the first sparks burst into flames. The only thing we were missing was the marshmallows and the campfire songs!

Foundation stage discovery

Yesterday foundation stage children were combining the traditional and the new in their learning.

IPAD technology was being used in a number of different ways, with the children demonstrating great confidence and ability to experiment. At the same time the traditional use of water and sand was equally bringing out the same creativity and confidence.

The examples of sharing, working and playing together were so evident in each activity and it was clear that everyone was certainly putting into practice our reflections on patience and kindness!

The really encouraging thing was that the technology had not removed the discussion and excitement that is always so evident in our foundation base. Different tools, but the same important communication skills and the willingness to learn and adapt through experience. In terms of new technology, that goes for the members of staff as well!