Can we kindly remind parents that they are not to drive up or park on the cul-de-sac behind the Station Rd houses that runs along the school grounds – as we need to keep this clear for residents and children accessing the top-gate from Class 3 and 4. Thank you!

We are planning ahead for our Autumn Term Parents Meetings where parents have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss how their child is progressing and settling back into school.  Due to the current pandemic, we will be unable to hold face-to-face sessions…however we feel that these meetings are really important, especially since a lot of children haven’t been in school since March!

Therefore we are planning on using Microsoft Teams, an application that allows virtual face-to-face meetings and can be used on desk tops or mobile devices.  We are planning on holding our Parent/Pupil Feedback sessions in the week beginning 16th November – and unlike our normal parent meetings, the 10 minute appointments will be spread out throughout the week.  Your child’s teacher will contact you nearer the time to book an appointment.

This message is to give you plenty of notice to download the Microsoft Teams application, which you can find at this link…

Microsoft Teams Download

We use Teams in school for ‘Live’ whole school assemblies, Governors meetings, and meetings with other organisations, and it is easy to use.  Once an appointment has been made, you will receive an email with a link – and all you have to do is click the link at the time of the appointment – you just need a web-cam or camera on your device.

More information will be shared nearer the time – this is just a heads up to download Microsoft Teams (which is also a useful application if we ever have to isolate a class!)

Good Morning Brown Clee!

This week we are continuing to think about Respect, and the different types of Respect…

• Respect for others
• Respect for yourself
• Respect for property and belongings

Yesterday we talked about Self Respect – and how it is important to be proud of who you are and be true to yourself – and I’d like to develop that further today.

Sometimes it can be difficult to be proud and happy with who you are – as other people might make fun of you, laugh at you for something you did, or they might say negative things that make you feel sad and down about yourself.  All of these behaviours are unkind and unthoughtful.

Sometimes we can all say or do things that might hurt other people’s feelings – often without any intention, but from lack of thought.  I wonder if you have ever stopped to think about the impact of your words or actions  on your friends feelings and on their confidence?  Have you ever laughed at a friend and made fun of them because they fell over?  Or they made a mistake?  How would you feel if someone laughed at you?

We are all human – and we all make mistakes – and we also all like to be liked and respected as this means that we have friends. The best way to make and keep friends is to say and do kind things to your friends – to treat them as you would wish to be treated.  Have a watch of this video and discuss it afterwards – what important lesson did the boy learn?

The boy didn’t seem to be particularly happy playing his computer game – there was lots of frowning and scowling.  He didn’t behave kindly and respectfully to the puppy and yet the puppy kept coming back to want to play.  I think dogs are much more forgiving than humans – as would you want to play with someone who was mean and disrespectful to you?

So as you go through the day, and the weeks ahead, think about your actions and words – try making sure that they are kind and respectful and see what the result is with your friends.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Please help me to be kind towards others.
Please help me to be helpful, considerate and sympathetic.
Even at difficult times, when I’m busy or tired, help me to respond to others in the way that I would like to be treated.
Help me to brighten up my friends’ day with a kind word or deed.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend and enjoyed the good weather!

This week we will be continuing with the theme of ‘Respect’ in our daily assemblies – as Respect is such an important concept, and by learning about the different types of respect and how to be respectful, make such a big difference to everyone’s day-to-day experience – it can make the difference between having a good or ‘not so good’ day, and can make a different with how you feel about yourself.

Today, I would like you to think about yourself – and how unique and special you are. Have a think about what makes you different to your friends?  Is it your hair colour?  Your height? The number of brothers and sisters? Your family structure? Now think about what makes us all the same? ……….

First and foremost we are all humans – people with feelings, hopes and dreams. And as humans we all have a right to be respected – to be treated kindly.  Have a watch of this video about a happy, dancing sheep who is full of beans and the love of life – until things changed…..as you watch, think about what messages you can learn from the story…

I don’t know about you – but this video made me smile!  I think the sheep learnt an important lesson thanks to the Jackaloupe…..what do you think the lesson is?  (and there might be more than one!)

I think the sheep learnt that it didn’t matter what it looked like – whether it had wool or not – what was important was how it lived it’s life.  By dancing and being happy and positive, the sheep brought joy and happiness to it’s friends!  As the Jackaloupe said…”Does it matter what colour,….sometimes you’re up, and sometimes you’re down, you’ve still got your body, and still got your feet!  Get your head in the right place and you’re complete!”.  Simply put – respect yourself, be proud of who you are and be positive in “this world of ups and downs”!

It is now time to have a quiet moment and reflect – think about times when maybe you have been down, have lost your confidence, or felt sad…..what could you do yourself to help you ‘bounce back’ and put a smile on your face? (ps this is a very grown up skill and is called resilience!)

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,

We thank you for all the different skills and talents that you have given to us.

Help us always to make the best use of our skills and to be determined to think that we too can do good things

Help us to be the best person that we can be,

Amen.

Good afternoon everyone,

I am afraid that I have some very sad news – and that is that Mrs Harman is leaving Brown Clee at the end of this half term.  I know that she is going to be sorely missed as she is the ‘face’ of the school and has been a part of the team for many years!  I personally am really going to miss her too – as she is my ‘right-hand woman’ and ‘Oracle’!

She is still with us for the next 7 weeks and we have started the recruitment process so that we will continue to be able to serve our community as efficiently and effectively as always.  But I thought families would like to know, as I am sure that Mrs Harman has helped so many of you out over the years and will have appreciated her cheery guidance and assistance – I know I certainly have!!

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Yesterday we started to think about what we mean by the word RESPECT.  I am sure each class had lots of different ideas – and we discussed how it could be as simple, as treating others as you would wish to be treated yourself.  I would like you to watch a short video about a bear and a moose, and a rabbit and a raccoon.  As you watch it think about who is showing respect and how, and who isn’t?  What happens when there is a lack of respect?

Which animals were respectful?  And how did they show respect?  How would you describe the Bear and Moose?  What happened to them as a result?

Respect can really make a difference – and often if you show others respect, they will tend to show you respect in return.  Maybe try it at playtime today – let your friend have a go, or choose the game – see what happens?  Maybe try holding a door open for someone?  Remembering to let adults through doorways first?  Give it a go and see what response you get – you might be pleasantly surprised!

Respect is a two way street – we need to treat people how we wish to be treated.  There is a story in the Bible in the Book of Matthew that shows how Jesus respected everyone, no matter who they are or what they had done….

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Help us to love everyone, whoever they are.
Help us to include everyone in the things that we do.
Help us to be thankful for the people who help us.
Help us always to treat people with respect.
Amen.

We are starting to get more children isolating as they have, or a family member has  a new, continuous cough or temperature – which we would expect at this time of year. The procedure is to book a coronavirus test as soon as possible and inform the school, and then the family isolates until the results come back – which are usually within 24 hours. We are expecting to see more and more of this as we head into the Winter months.

The expectation from the government is now that any child who is isolating and is fit and well has to continue with their learning.  Therefore, on being notified that a child is isolating, a member of the class teaching staff will ring home and inform you of what work needs to be done as well as ensure that we have an accurate email address for you.  The class teacher, when possible, will then email any work requirements and resources for your child to do at home.

Work can then be emailled in to the Class email addresses that we had set up in the ‘lockdown’:-

class1@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

class 2@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

class3@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

class4@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

Please bear with us – as this is all very new to us too – and often we are only informed of an absence first thing in the morning and the teacher is in Class teaching the children.  However, it is important to be aware that remote teaching and learning is not optional – and is very important, especially as most children have been at home since March.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

We are now at the start of our full first week, and we are now getting used to all the new and different routines around school – and that goes for staff and parents too!  Today is also the first day that we have all our new reception children in school after their half day sessions last week. I do have to say how impressed I am with the confidence  of these new reception children as they all managed to enter school independently and quickly settled down into ‘big’ school!

Today I would like to introduce our Christian value of the half term – and it is the value that I think is one of the most important – as it kind of over-arches above all of the others – and that is RESPECT.

When we hold our normal assemblies I usually ask – what is respect?  So maybe you could have a think now and see what answers you come up with?  You might all have a different idea or description……

In the past I have had answers like…”Respect is being kind to people”, or “Respect is when you help your friends” – but the one answer that I think sums it up very simply, is “Respect is when you treat each other as you would wish to be treated yourself”.  So how would you like to be treated?  Would you like other people to help you if you have a problem?  To make you feel better if you are sad?  Would you like people to be careful with your belongings?  To be careful with you and play gently with you at playtimes, and respect your personal space?  Here is a short song about Respect which shares some examples at school…

Can you think of any other examples of how you can show respect in school?

So as you go through today, and the week’s ahead, try and think about how you can show respect – to your classmates, your teachers and your parents – and to yourself!

It is now Worship Time, where we pause and reflect – have a think about times when maybe you haven’t been as respectful as you could have been….or when someone wasnt respectful to you – how did it make you feel?  What could you do in future to ensure that you can be the best version of you that you possibly can be?

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you that you value each one of us.
Please help us to treat others with respect.
Help us to embrace differences between us.
Help us to love others, even if they are very different from us.
Help us to see the value in each individual person.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

We would normally be holding our Well Done Assembly in the hall this morning, but sadly we are unable to do this at the moment.  However we intend, starting next Friday, to hold an online Well Done Assembly, where each class teacher will aware 2 certificates for achievements that week – so please check the school news next Friday to find out who will have earnt our first Well Done certificates of this new school year.

Today I thought we could have a short quiz about feelings!  I am sure that we have all (staff and parents included!) had a mix of feelings about the start of this new school year – you might have been worried, excited, happy or sad.  All feelings are important and all are ok to experience and feel – emotions are part of what make us human!   The important thing is that we learn to manage them so that we can work and play together in harmony.  But how can we manage feelings unless we can identify them?

So enjoy the quiz – maybe your teacher can pause it at the end of each countdown and you could guess which feeling is being demonstrated!   I will give you a clue to the first one – it is how I felt yesterday when the school was full of children!

Did you guess them correctly?   Did you feel any of them before you came back to school yesterday?  Did these feelings change once you had arrived at school?

Did you spot how I felt yesterday?   Yes, I was happy – because the school was ‘alive’ again with the sound of happy children!  So as we go into the weekend, have a think about how you feel now that you are back at school – and think about what you can do to make it a happy place to be!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God

Thank you for our wonderful school.

Help us to be good learners.

Help us to look after each other.

Help us be respectful and kind and to make everyone welcome.

May our school be a happy, safe place where learning is fun.

Where we all work together to be the best we can be.

Amen

It would make the process of collecting children much easier if parents could please stand 2m distanced along the pavement that runs along the road at the Top Gate and not line up in the alley way through from Station Rd.

Also, can we please remind parents not to drive and park up this road and that you need to park off school site and walk to the collection point.

Many thanks for your help and co-operation.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Well what a great start to the new school year yesterday was!  It was just wonderful to see all the children arrive at school yesterday morning, and then to see and hear them through the day just put a massive smile on my face!

There is so much for children to learn at the start of any normal new school year, but at the moment there is almost double the amount with all the new routines and procedures.  Yet everyone was brilliant!  So I just want to say how proud I am of all the children with their positive and enthusiastic attitudes to being back in school!  Well done Brown Clee children.

Sadly, we don’t have all children in as some are self-isolating in order to protect the community – but we are looking forwards to welcoming them back next week.  I would also like a huge thank you to parents for their commitment to knowing the new ‘Start and End of Day Procedures’ as they aren’t exactly simple – your support and positivity is very much appreciated.  So please continue to bear with us as I am sure there will be tweaks and changes – but it has been an amazingly proud start to the new year – and I feel very proud and lucky to be headteacher at Brown Clee!

the words “Well Done” are said to reward and praise….they can be used to praise good work, a kind deed, an demonstration of determination and perseverance or for over-coming adversity. I’m sure you’ve all been told “Well Done” many times for many different things. How did it make you feel?…….happy? Warm and fuzzy inside? Buzzing? Confident?

So I thought a song entitled ” Well Done” might be good to listen to….listen and have a think of who you could say well done to today….and what for??  Then think that you will have made them feel “warm and fuzzy” and out a smile on their face!

Prayer of the Day

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.
Amen.

An email has gone out today reminding parents that there is a numbers limit and that parents should only book Care Club if absolutely necessary. We also ask that all bookings are made by Thursday at noon, a week in advance, to allow us to manage numbers safely.

We are delighted to see that the Shropshire Star have picked up on Archie’s challenge and there is a super report on it at this link…

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/education/2020/07/22/archies-kenyan-safari-challenge-sees-more-than-1000-raised-by-bridgnorth-school/

Click the link to see the fun!!!

IMG_1814

Good Morning Brown Clee!

What a year this has been – who would have thought that this time last year we would have most of our children at home and have small groups of Mice, Rabbits and Foxes in School!  2020 has been a very strange year indeed!

Friday is usually our Well Done Assembly day – but it is absolutely impossible to select any individual children for certificates, as every single child who has returned to school since June 1st has been exceptionally outstanding in all aspects!  We are all immensely proud of every Rabbit, Fox, Mouse and Year 6 pupils!

We are all immensely proud of the children who have had to stay at home, and have engaged with the remote learning activities and posted their work and photos into school – we we are missing all of you and it has been so lovely to see you all, even if it is by photo!

As we break up for the summer holiday, I can’t help but think about the immensely powerful and wonderful Brown Clee Team!  This includes everyone – children, staff, parents and governors, and I can’t thank every single member of this team for their support and hard work this past year, and past term in particular!

So teamwork is the theme of the day – and I know how much the children (and staff!) have enjoyed the recent video clips – so here is one focused on teamwork – enjoy and see what you learn from them!

Today is also the last day for our current year 6s at Brown Clee!  They have experienced a very special last 7 weeks – with lots of laughs and fun!  Each and every year 6 (in and out of school!) is well and truly ready for secondary school, and we wish them all the very best in their future. We held an impromptu outdoors Leavers Assembly yesterday, where we listened to the year 6’s memories (see Class 4 Class News) and shared the following poem (with a few adaptations!)….

NEW BEGINNINGS

Now enjoy some year 6 memories…

We wish everyone a wonderful summer, a relaxing break and are looking forwards to welcoming everyone back to school in September!

Enjoy our Leavers Song now, especially for our year 6s!!

Prayer of the Day – Our School Prayer

Dear God

Thank you for our wonderful school.

Help us to be good learners.

Help us to look after each other.

Help us be respectful and kind and to make everyone welcome.

May our school be a happy, safe place where learning is fun.

Where we all work together to be the best we can be.

Amen

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Yesterday we saw the story of a young boy who had a great adventure with his Grandpa – without actually going far at all!  Today I have the story of Molly, a goldfish who has big dreams and wants to travel beyond her goldfish bowl.  Have a watch and see what it makes you think about….

It made me think of a number of different things….

1. How surprising that a cat was a fish’s friend – just goes to show that we can all be friends no matter our differences.
2. How kind the cat was – and how brave – all to help Molly!
3. Molly had aspirations of exploring a wider world than her goldfish bowl – she had hopes and dreams but appreciated her own goldfish bowl world!
4. The cat never gave up on her mission to save Molly and take her to the ocean – no matter how scary or challenging the task!

So many messages from one short film!   What messages did you pick up from watching Molly’s story?

Here’s a song to sing to remind us of the wonders of the world we live in – hopefully we will get opportunity to explore it a bit in the summer break coming up!

https://youtu.be/RiqOsZh4bpk

Prayer of the Day

Dear Lord,

We thank you, Lord, for flowers and trees and sunshine
and for all your living creatures.
We thank you for families and friendships,
for our homes and our school.
We thank you for giving us our daily bread
and for all the food we eat.
We thank you, Lord, for everything wonderful in the world.

Amen.