Good Morning Brown Clee!

It is so lovely having everyone back in school again – and yesterday we shared what we had been looking forward to: seeing our friends, playing together, learning together.

Today I want us to think about what it’s like when we stumble…have a look at this picture…

Have you ever had a stumble and grazed your knee and needed a sticking plaster?  Have any of you even done more damage, and maybe broken a bone?  What were you doing when this happened to you?

Learning to walk, run and ride a bike are all skills that involve some element of falling or stumbling.  Have a watch of this video and count the number of times that the baby stumbles….

I counted 12 times…..but I also noticed she was always smiling and she kept on trying! Sometimes, the child wobbled, but then regained her balance. Sometimes, someone helped her by holding her hand. And although she achieves the aim of walking in the end, the process involved falling . . . getting up . . . falling . . . getting up . . . until eventually, she could walk unaided.

In our lives, we all face challenges. We all ‘stumble’ at some points; we all fall down and have to get up and keep on trying. There are times when we stumble in our school studies, when learning a new sport, when we need to give a presentation to a group of people, when we apply for a job, and when we interact and build friendships and relationships with others. When this happens, we have a choice to make – do we give up or do we get up and try again?

Do you recognise this person?

It’s Colonel Sanders from KFC! Stumbling was something that Colonel Sanders knew a lot about; he had created a recipe for fried chicken that he wanted to share with others and he had ambitions to start a business based on his recipe. At the age of 65, he travelled to houses and restaurants all over his local area. He wanted to partner with someone to help promote his chicken recipe. However, he was met with little enthusiasm and his idea was rejected many times before he heard his first ‘yes’.

However, it is from these beginnings that the international brand of KFC was founded. Colonel Sanders stumbled many times before achieving his dream. Each time, he decided not to give up, but to carry on, showing resilience and determination.

We all stumble at times, and quite often when learning new things – so school is somewhere that lots of stumbles happen!  They’re normal – and actually quite important – as long as we pick ourselves up! Setbacks are part of the life and learning and to succeed we need to choose to embrace them and learn from them.

Have a listen to this video of J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, speaking to students graduating at Harvard University in 2008 when she was awarded an honorary degree and listen to what she says about stumbling and failure….

Let’s take a moment to reflect upon something that we are finding difficult to master at the moment. This could be a particular skill or situation, a relationship that we are finding tricky or any number of different issues and setbacks.

Let’s take a moment to consider that this area of stumbling could make us stronger, more resilient and more determined. Can we see the benefits of stumbling in this particular situation?

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you that we can learn from every difficult situation.
Please help us to be people of resilience.
Help us to get back up again when things go wrong.
Help us never to give up.
Help us to persevere.
Thank you for the courage and resilience of people who have shown us that stumbling need not mean failure,
For people we know and for inspirational figures who are role models to us.
We are thankful for their example.
Give us the courage and determination to use the power of ‘yet’.
Amen.

Class 1 have settled in so well, and impressed Mrs Fox with how well they remembered the routines that they are now thoroughly enjoying their maths!

It was so lovely this morning when we welcomed all the children back to school – lot’s of smiles and enthusiasm!  The school is alive with the sound of chatter and laughs and everyone has settled back into the routines brilliantly!

We thought parents might like to see their children in class in case you are missing them, as you have had 24/7 for 10 weeks with them – and one bright spark shared this pearl of wisdom in our live assembly today when asked what it was like being back in school: “It is nice to be able to see other people than your family!”

Right Class 3 and 4 – we are off to visit the actual rooms that Winston Churchill and his government used to plan and oversee World war 2 from – and as you see it today is exactly how it was left at the end of the war!  Here we are….

Careful down the steps as we head underground to the actual rooms –

We’ve arrived at London Zoo – come on Class 1 and 2 – let’s see what animals we can find!  This tour takes half an hour but we will get to see loads!

Wasn’t that great!  Hang on – where is Mrs Fox???  Has anyone seen her??

Mrs Foxxxxxxx…………………

Oh no – Mrs Fox has walked into the Lion’s Enclosure by mistake – quick get the zookeepers!!!

That was delicious – and those scones were just huge!  We definitely need to go for a walk now – so let’s head off to Covent Garden – as it is such a fascinating place to explore!  Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and with the Royal Opera House, itself known as “Covent Garden”.

Click the picture and enjoy the self guided, narrated tour so don’t get lost and meet back at Covent Garden Tube Station at 14:30 for the next part of the trip!

Wow – there was so much to see – well done for getting to Covent Garden Tube Station for the next part of the day!

Right – line up behind Mollie and listen in to what’s happening next!

This is where we split up – and Class 1 and 2 catch the underground and head off to London Zoo, whilst Class 3 and 4 are catching the underground and heading off to the Cabinet War Rooms… mind the gap!!!

To get to Covent Garden we need to walk down Fleet Street first,

There are some fascinating buildings along Fleet Street..

This is where the Daily Express is based – it’s very modern!

This is building houses Prince Henry’s Rooms and is one of the few surviving buildings in the City of London dating from before the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Let’s see what else we can find…

Look where we have ended up at…..

It’s the Savoy Hotel – shall we go in for afternoon tea???  Woahhh – where have Miss Greenan and Mrs Godfrey rushed off too…????

Ahhh…….afternoon tea of course!!!!

Phew – we’ve made it just on time!  Right, in we go….

What a beautiful cathedral – absolutely stunning!  Did you enjoy exploring it?

Right – time to line up back in classes for a head count…1,2,3,4,5……..104,105,106…..hang on there are 3 children missing!!!  Who is missing?  Teachers can you check names please…..so we have lost Mollie, Lexi and Archie – where could they be?!?

Oh no – how did they get up there in the Whispering Gallery!!  Come down Molly, Archie and Lexi – we need to get going to Covent Garden!!

Right – time to get ready to continue our tour – make sure you have got all your belongings – we are off to St Paul’s Cathedral!  To get there we are walking through the financial centre, called the City of London – keep your eyes out for some fascinating architecture!

First of all we are walking past a building called “The Gherkin” – can you see why it gets it’s name!?

gherkins……

Keep moving though, as we don’t want to be late!  Next we walk past Lloyds of London, the centre for the London Insurance business…

Look how tall it is – what do you think the outside is made of?

Next we go past a more traditional building – the Bank of England…

before arriving at St Paul’s Cathedral.

…isn’t it grand!!!  Let’s go in and find out all about it!  Remember we must be quiet and respectful!

We are so looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday morning!  The school has been thoroughly cleaned and tidied, we have reviewed our curriculum the teachers are all planned and ready and we are all raring to get back to ‘normal’!

I have attached here the start and end of day procedures as a reminder:-

End of the Day Procedures

Start of Day Procedures

Please can we remind parents of the importance of sticking to the 2m social distancing, and of keeping younger siblings with you at drop off and pick up. So far we have not had to close any classes due to Covid, and the worst case scenario is if we get a positive case and there has been mixing we might have to close more than one bubble or even the whole school and return to remote learning – and we really do not want to have to do this!

Teachers will be letting you know which days are PE days so that children can come to school in their PE uniform (dark coloured tracksuits please), and can we remind parents that children JUST need a packed lunch (if not having a school meal), a waterbottle and a reading book in ONE bag, as well as their waterproof coat.  Just one bag as there really isn’t space for more in the classrooms.

We are very aware that non-essential shops are closed, and that this includes shoe shops.  If your child’s school shoes still fit then please can they were them.  If they do not, then children can wear clean, sensible shoes or trainers (not boots/Uggs please).

Have a restful and enjoyable weekend and we very much look forwards to seeing you next week!

Right – after all that excitement I think it is time for lunch – so let’s head over to Tower Hill Garden’s for a picnic – don’t forget your packed lunch!

Oh no – who left that litter there!!

Right – best behaviour Brown Clee, as we are heading inside the Tower of London for a guided tour – we don’t want to get locked up!

Oh no – what have you done Chloe and Ida – you’ve been locked up in the White Tower!  I will go and talk to the Beefeater and see if he will release you!

Noooo – Ruby – don’t do that!!!  Right – quick everyone – it is time to leave!!!

Wow – this is an impressive looking ship!!

Look at those guns at the front….I wonder what it’s like inside – shall we go and see!!

Oh no – we seem to have tired Kiera and William out – they’ve gone to sleep in the hammocks in the Arctic Messroom!

Right – here is your ticket – don’t drop it!  We are off for a ride on the London Eye –

If you don’t like heights then stay in the middle….otherwise enjoy the view and see how many landmarks you can find! (Click on the picture below of a Pod and explore the famous London sights – it is self guided)

Can you spot HMS Belfast and St Paul’s Cathedral – places we are visiting later??

Oh no – Benji!!!  What are you doing – be careful – you might fall!!!!  Get down back into the Pod!!

What a great tour of the Palace – so interesting!  I think we have all earnt a well-deserved snack break – let’s head to St James Park….

The daffodils are beautiful!

Oh no – one greedy duck has pinched Mr Smith’s sandwich!!!

Right – eat up – make sure you have picked up any litter – we are off to the Houses of Parliament now and we daren’t be late!!!

Right – here we go – tight formation – past the Post Office Tower on our right…

…then down through Fitzrovia past The British Museum…just as the sun has come out too!

Now we are turning onto Oxford Street – so please stay close together as it’s going to get busy!

“Look where you are going Sam – mind the lamp post!!!”

Oh no it’s raining now – and noisy!  (This clip is 30 minutes long – it is included to add some background noise and movement! – so just dip into it!)

Phew – the sun has come out again – right onwards through Wellington Arch…..

up Constitutional Hill……

and we have arrived….look who is on the balcony!!!!!!

Here are the answers to the quiz:

Thank you for sending in photos for World Book Day.

We’ve had The Gruffalo’s Child, Peter Pan, Moana, Hermione Granger, Bobbie from The Railway Children, Willy Wonka and many more!

I hope you’ve had a good day celebrating books and reading.