Category

Collective worship

Litter Pick

By Collective worship, Community, House Jericho, PSHE

Last week, Miss Widdop and Mr Dawson led an assembly teaching children about the importance of keeping our environment litter free. Litter endangers our environment, our wildlife, and our economy. It pollutes our neighbourhoods, and destroys our school’s natural beauty.

On a Friday afternoon, children can volunteer to help Mr Hetherington pick litter. Each week, children from different classes can volunteer 20 minutes of their time to keep our school clean.

House Jericho, our eco warriors, have purchased the equipment needed to pick litter safely. In a few weeks, House Jericho will talk about the litter that they have found and discuss ways forward.

Thank you children, we appreciate your support.

Here are a few photos from the litter pick.

Bun Sale

By Collective worship, Community, Fund Raising, News, PSHE

On Thursday 2nd March (World Book Day), Abdul Hakeem is selling buns to raise money to help families in Turkey and Syria. All money will be donated to the disaster emergency committee.

Children can purchase buns for 50p at playtime.

If you would like to donate buns, then please bring them to the office on Thursday morning.

Thank you,

Mrs Gurner

Anti-Bullying Policy

By Collective worship, Community, Drama, Newsletter, Policies, PSHE, Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs

Anti-Bullying Policy

Today in collective worship, house leaders presented our Anti-Bully Policy to the children. They were TRULY FABULOUS! This policy clearly explains exactly what children need to do if they experience bullying. A copy can be found in classrooms and on our school website.

Remember bullying is… Several Times On Purpose (STOP).

I will attach a copy of the policy in my next post.

Thank you,

Mrs GurnerChild friendly safeguarding pollicy 22

State Funeral

By Collective worship, Community, News, Newsletter

Following the announcement from Buckingham Palace of the death of our sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a period of National Mourning has started and will continue until the end of the State Funeral. This is a period of time for reflection in response to the death of the Sovereign.

The official date of the State Funeral is 19 September 2022. This day will be a bank holiday and St Alban’s will be closed as a mark of respect on this day.

Thank you,

Mrs Gurner

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

By Collective worship, Community, FS1, FS2, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6

Today in collective worship, we will be gathering to remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. All of our teachers are prepared to answer children’s questions, in an age appropriate way.

In collective worship, there will be a twin emphasis both on sadness at the death of the Queen and also thankfulness for her long life and reign. Marking 70 years of reign this year she became the longest serving monarch. We will mention that the Queen had a really important job earlier this week, as it is the monarch who asks a party leader to be their Prime Minister, and the Queen made a point of doing this final duty.

Any such event will possibly engender conversations in the classroom. Here are some pointers that have been shared with staff but I thought maybe useful for parents too.

Children will want to talk – and they can be asked both to share what they know about the Queen and also any talk about the day of her death and how they heard the news. We will bear in mind there may have been sadness in homes at this time they will want to relate.

We use the terms ‘death’ and ‘died’ and avoid euphemisms.

We are mindful of those particularly affected, allow children to say what they want and need to say and listen carefully.

Staff should feel totally free from any pressure to offer any answers to questions around ‘death’ and ‘dying’, it is ok to not have the answers.

We will make it clear that being sad is natural, as is not knowing what to feel or say.

Here is a prayer that will be offered for children:

God of love,

We thank you for the life of The Queen,

for her service to our nation,

and for her faith in you.

Be close to all of us who mourn,

that we may we find comfort and hope in your love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

An online Book of Condolence has been started – we will be explaining that this is a way in which the Church has arranged for everyone to write a note of sadness or thoughts for King Charles.

https://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-her-majesty-queen

At school, we have lots of books that explore death in an age appropriate way. If you wish to borrow one of these books, then please let me know.

Mrs Gurner

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

By Collective worship, History

Today, in collective worship, we found out more about the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A jubilee is a special celebration of a queen or king’s reign. They take place after the monarch has ruled for a certain number of years and each one is associated with a different type of precious metal. No other British Monarch has reigned for long enough to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, which is why many believe that this year’s celebrations are so special.

What are you going to do from 2nd to 5th June to celebrate?

Gratitude Tree

By Collective worship, Community, House Jordan, House Sinai, Religious Education

Meet our new Gratitude Tree

At St Alban’s we often say, ‘Gratitude is an attitude.’ We try to appreciate the small and big things and be grateful for what we have.

Next week, as part of our end of day prayer, we will ask the children to think of three things that they are grateful for and think about these things.

Next to the tree will be a golden leaf. If any child would like to share what they are grateful for, then they can write a note and place it on the leaf. Each week, I’ll check the leaf and read out the things that the children are grateful for in collective worship.

Today I am grateful for the sunshine, listening to the children sing in collective worship and the blossom tree in our infant yard. I feel very blessed to work in such a special school.

I’m also grateful to one of our very talented parents, Joanne Openshaw (Blooms and Posies), who created our blossom tree- thank you.

Mrs Gurner