We have been working hard to explore our school vision and make this truly accessible and meaningful to our entire school community. On 13th May we held a vision and values learning day which involved all classes working on a collective project to bring understanding to the vision, especially making concrete links between our motto ‘From Little Acorns Great Oaks Grow’ and our chosen biblical quote:
‘though it is the smallest of seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of plants and becomes a tree, so that birds come and perch in its shade’
Mark 4 (30-33)
All classes had time with Mrs Mackenzie in the spinney as part of their day. Taking time to reflect on the learning that forest school sessions and learning out of the classroom have on them as learners. In addition to this each class worked on a planned project with their teachers: Hazel class thought about all of the brilliant things that they have inside them to help them become a great learner and explored seeds and growing in many different ways as part of their continuous provision, Oak Class made a beautiful frieze, thinking about the incredible plants that start their lives as tiny seeds, Chestnut class created, rehearsed and performed a rap, based around our four school values of honesty, respect, friendship and effort and Sycamore children made a film to help explain our vision to a new audience. They were involved in interviewing, filming and animating using a range of technology in the process.
On Friday 20th May we invited our parents in to school to share our work. Parents attended a collective worship and then had time to visit all classrooms to see the work that had been done. It was lovely to see our parents in school, not least because this marked the first whole school worship that parents have been able to attend since the pandemic first forced us to close our doors in March 2020.
Chestnut and Sycamore Classes visit the River Kennet