A day of HOPE

Today we had a day of HOPE to raise money for the Indian boys town charity that we support. Each year we raise money and as a school it has given us great delight to see the children that we have supported, grow and leave the home that the charity provides for them and live their own independent lives.

Across the school there were many different activities linked to the theme of HOPE.

In Foundation stage  they came up with a brilliant piece of art work, that really communicated the key concept that we have been considering this week. Namely that HOPE is something that we are all responsible for bringing to each other.

HOPE is in our hands,visually reinforces that key aspect of God's call to love our neighbour as ourselves. If we keep all that we have to ourselves, it will not benefit any one, but if we share and use what we have, then surely HOPE will arise.

In assembly we played a fun game that reinforced the idea of sharing HOPE around. Children suggested ways in which we could bring HOPE to each other, we wrote these ideas on balloons and then passed the balloons around the hall. The enjoyment and fun was evident instantly, and this again provided a real example of the impact that the sharing of HOPE can have.

As we close for half term, our final prayer was that God would use us to bring HOPE into other people's lives, either through our own actions of through the way in which God answers our prayers through the actions of others.

What is your God like?

Our hall display has been changed again to encourage us to reflect on what God is like and what this means to us in our personal relationship with him.

It also helps us to reflect on how we should be to others.






Jesus gives us a clear sense of direction of how we should relate to others when he reminds us of the most important aspects of the commandments:


“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


As we continue to consider our theme of HOPE this week we focus on what it is for us to prosper and to have HOPE not just as individuals, but also as a community.

The  opportunity to take a few moments to reflect on the characteristics of God and how important these are in our relationships with each other would seem to be a good starting point for what leads to prosperity and to HOPE,  both in our own lives and the lives of those we are called to treat as neighbours.
 

Wake and shake with a difference

On Friday our year 6 pupils celebrated the end of the formal aspects of their national assessment tests by leading our morning wake and shake session in their pyjamas!

The session was great fun and certainly got the whole school in a positive and upbeat mood for the rest of the day.

Great to see so many parents joining in as well - although not such a commitment to some of the actions as the children!

 

 

Creative story telling

As part of our work on 'Who is a Christian and What do they believe?' we heard the story of Zacchaeus from a story box. We then had the chance to respond to the story in a creative way with paint, chalk, creating models etc. We thought about why this story is important to Christians. We considered how the story relates to our own lives in that we do wrong and need forgiveness from God and others. We also linked this to the idea of having hope that God will always forgive us when we are sorry.

Year 1 Farm trip

This week our year 1 children enjoyed a wonderful trip to a local farm park. They had the opportunity to see, learn and experience so many things. The opportunity to touch and be up close to many different animals brought great excitement.  An excellent day was had by all and many great memories created I am sure.

Ascension day service

Yesterday in church we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and thought about the fact that Jesus is still with us in our everyday lives. We also considered the day to day impact of  the gift of His Holy Spirit and how this makes a difference in our relationship with God and with each other.

 

The illustration used to demonstrate the Ascension was quite original! I am not sure that I have ever seen a picture of Jesus stuck to a STOMP rocket and then fired up into the church ceiling!  It certainly will be a lasting memory and one that the children will undoubtedly be talking about at home today.

 

It was also great to have members of our brass group playing at the start and end of the services, as well as having readings and prayers from our year 1 and year 2 classes and year 5.  As ever the contribution of the children makes our services very special indeed.

 

We are the HOPE we have been waiting for

At times it can be easy to believe that there is no HOPE,  that things are inextricably difficult and confusing, emotions are raw and it seems that there is no clear sense of direction.  Yet it is exactly this situation that the Jews find themselves in at the time that Jeremiah delivers the words of Jeremiah 29. The truth is that HOPE is something that is not just of the future, nor is it a destination, a success story or simply an emotion. HOPE is the out working of God's love and presence in our lives every day and how we share that love through our actions and words with others. This is what brings HOPE into everyday situations and also enables HOPE to structure and shape the future.

 

HOPE Martin Luther King said is at the heart of everything, without HOPE nothing happens and in a sense he is true, for without HOPE that things can change, that situations can be managed, that there will be someone there to be with us, to share what ever lies before us; we never would find the strength to carry on.

 

When God speaks through Jeremiah he speaks of a HOPE that is real and tangible and that makes a difference. But he also speaks to a nation, not to individuals in isolation.  It would seem that God's vision of HOPE is reliant on us partaking in the realisation of that as much as him directing it. It is each one of us that is key in the fulfilment of HOPE in our own lives, but also in the lives of others.

 

This week may we all play an active part in making that HOPE realised in the lives of each of us, but most importantly for those for whom HOPE is needed in the challenging circumstances that they face.

Sharing HOPE

In our first Key Stage assemblies this week, we have been reflecting on how HOPE is something that we are all responsible for bringing into each others lives.

We thought about how, when we hold a dandelion, take a deep breath and then blow, the seeds are scattered far and wide. If we did nothing and instead just held it, then eventually it would die and nothing would happen.

In a sense we too can share hope in the same way, for by our own actions, our prayers and the way in which we respect and value each other, we can spread HOPE far and wide, just like the dandelion seeds!


Our closing prayer focused on the idea that HOPE can mean Help Others Pray Expectantly and our challenge was to see how we could bring HOPE into the lives of others this week.

A very special visit

The ladybirds enjoyed free choccochinnos and a chocolate flake, thanks to Costa coffee on Queens Road.

While there we spent our £2 wisely on a thank you biscuit for our Business manager, and a get well soon biscuit for one of our friends who was too poorly to join us.

We listened to one of our favourite stories (Norman the slug with the silly shell) and read the menu deciding what to have if we came back again one day.

 

 

 

 

Staff and customers commented on our excellent behaviour, and on the way out we gave the manager a thank you letter that we had all signed.

Around our school this week part 2

It's been a very busy week!

Around our school this week part 1

Lots going on around school again this week, each year group has contributed something that they wanted to share.

Hope - I know the plans I have for you

As we continue our theme of HOPE we have been considering the difference and the impact that HOPE can make. Jeremiah reminds us of God's commitment to us and that HOPE is a central theme in the bigger picture that is the Kingdom of God.

 

Many people inspire us through the HOPE that they bring into our lives, either through their personal contact with us or through their own lives and achievements. Hope inspires us, but it also challenges us to consider our role in bringing HOPE to others, as we seek to live in the knowledge that God loves us .

 

It is though His light and His salvation that true HOPE can be found.

 

 

LOVE BRINGS HOPE WHEN ALL CAN SEEM LOST

 

 

HOPE is a catalyst for change
and we are the change we have been waiting for

 

 

 

Hope is what brings a rainbow to a cloudy sky.

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life,

of whom shall I be afraid?

 

 

 

Fire talks - a special visitor

This week in school we had some very special visitors from the Fire Brigade who came to talk to the  children about  fire safety.

The year 1 talk enabled the children to think about good and bad fires, as well as never playing with matches. They also interactively learned how to stop, drop & roll if their clothing catches fire as well as learning how to crawl under the smoke if there is a fire at home. All very important information for any child to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 5 children also had the opportunity to reflect on these important things and they certainly all listened and took the message very seriously.

Year 1 den building

The children in year 1 have been focusing on writing instructions and as we all know, effective instructions need an effective purpose. So what better than to consider writing instructions to make a den in our woodland area. This builds on the children's experiences of Forest School and is a wonderfully creative way to engage them in the writing process.

A visit to Spain . 4K class assembly.

The tension mounts as the classes file into the hall, the sound of vibrant Spanish music floats from the speakers and the urge to move is almost irresistible. Have we been transported to a completely different climate or is the fact that 4K are about to deliver their class assembly?

 

The answer of course is the later and what a treat the assembly was. It all started with a welcome in Spanish, wonderfully pronounced by 4K's class teacher! What followed was the opportunity to follow 4 characters who arrive in Spain, eager to discover and find our more about this wonderful land. 

 

With the help of new ‘amigos’ they learnt the days of the week, counting to ten, , how to greet people and how to introduce themselves, Como te llamas? Me iiamo….

 

They also met some famous Spanish football players, enjoyed the delights of a Spanish birthday party and overall enjoyed wearing cool shades and making us laugh and learn at the same time. 

 

We even had an episode of strictly come dancing Spanish style, with our own select group of judges and a vibrant display of Spanish dancing styles, which included a less than friendly bull and a fantastic chance to enjoy once again the Spanish version of La Bamba and the Pasa Doble!

 

Well done to 4K for such an interesting and informative assembly. Some wonderful singing and some very familiar tunes that helped us all to learn. Spanish is certainly taking off at St John's.