Good Morning Brown Clee!

I hope you all had a good weekend – it is certainly getting colder and darker now that we are rapidly approaching winter. In fact today is the last day of November, so we are very close to being in December – when we can finally mention the ‘C word’!  Tomorrow morning many of you may well open the first window of a special calendar – an Advent calendar. However, if you do – you are technically 2 days late, as Advent begins on the 4th Sunday before the 25th December – which was yesterday!

Do you know what Advent actually means, and why we have the countdown to 25th December? Watch this video and see if you can find out what the word Advent means…

In this video we learn that Advent is the season when we prepare and get ready for the arrival of Jesus Christ.  Have a think about all the things that your families do to prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus on 25th December?

As we go through the month of December, and as we approach this special day, think about all the preparations that we are making and ask yourself why? Why are we writing and sending cards of good wishes? Why are we buying gifts for family and friends? Why are we decorating our homes?

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for this most special time of year, when we celebrate Jesus coming to earth.
As we decorate our homes, buy presents and write Christmas cards, help us to make ourselves ready to celebrate this very special time.
May our homes be filled with love and happiness this Christmas.
Amen.

Can we please ask that the flu vaccination forms and allergen forms for Chartwells are returned as soon as possible.  The flu vaccinations are next Tuesday and without the forms being returned the children will not be able to receive the vaccination.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

This week we have been thinking about the importance of taking responsibility for our words and actions – and ensuring that we own up about our mistakes. So today I’d like to continue with this theme and share a story from the Bible – one of the first stories, from Genesis 2.15—3.14, about when the first people disobeyed God – do you know who the first people were?   They were Adam and Eve – in Hebrew (the language the story was written in) the names Adam and Eve mean ‘the first people ever’.

In the story God made a special garden for Adam and Eve to live in, and we know from the Bible that it was set in modern day Iran, next to Iraq in the Middle East.

Explain that Adam and Eve had been told that they could eat anything they wanted, except the tree that grew in the middle of the garden, which was called ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’. What do the children think that name means?

In the story, Adam and Eve both disobey God – they make the wrong choice and listen to the snake’s lies.  How did they feel after they had eaten the fruit?  ….Why do you think they felt so bad?

We have all done things we shouldn’t have – think of a time when you did something wrong and how you felt.  Did you own up and apologise? What happened?

In the story God sent Adam and Eve away, out of the lovely garden, and they learned to be farmers, to grow their own food, and to work on the land.

But what might have happened if they’d been honest and owned up (’fessed up!); if they’d taken responsibility for their actions instead of blaming someone else? We don’t know. Perhaps we’d still all live in that garden, not having to work …

But this story is still told as an example of how, when we aren’t honest, it affects many more people than just us. We don’t know what might have happened in the story if Adam and Eve had been honest. But we can be honest about ourselves, and then we know that whatever we’ve done, it’s easier to make it right again if we take the blame, apologise and acknowledge our part.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,

Help us to be honest when we do something wrong.

Help us not to blame other people, but acknowledge our mistakes,

and apologise so that we can learn and move on.

Amen.

The Nasal Flu Immunisations are due to take place next Tuesday 1st December here in school.  We have now received the Consent forms and these are being sent home with the children today.  Please could you return these by this Thursday 26th November indicating whether you consent or decline.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Yesterday we had a think about how our words and actions can influence other people – even if we don’t intend them to!  We listened to the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes – and also learnt that we shouldn’t always believe everything we hear.  Sometimes people might be intentionally trying to trick us – and other times, we might misinterpret what we hear and accidentally get ourselves or other people into trouble.

Today I want us all to focus on taking responsibility for our actions and words – or as this video says, “Stop making excuses and own our actions”.  If we counted how many times we do or say things each day, this would be the number of times that we could influence how other people might feel or think – I wonder how many times this would be?  Our words and actions have power – they can cause great good – or harm – so it is really important that we “own them” and take responsibility for them.

Words have a lot of power. Once we say something about someone else it is very difficult to take it back, and sometimes we haven’t even said the words that someone else hears!  Have you ever played Chinese whispers – you could have a game now?

In this game, a message gets passed on, and during the game the message changes – people mishear. Sometimes, what is said and believed about things and people, can change very quickly and can spread very easily…this is called gossip or hearsay.

Today, I want us all to think carefully about the words that we say, and take responsibility for saying them – use your words wisely and kindly, and try and think before you speak!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
We often like to think of ourselves as being free to make our own decisions.
We thank you that you have given us free will, but we also acknowledge that we can be influenced by the behaviour and example of others.
Help us to use this power to influence others in a positive way.
We pray for the wisdom to make choices that help to show kindness, forgiveness, generosity, honesty, fairness and compassion to others in our world.

Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

I hope you all had a good weekend – this week I want us to continue to think about the word ‘potential’ – but from a different angle – I want us to think how we all have the potential to influence other people.  This means that sometimes, the words we say, or the actions we take, can influence what other people might say or do.

Here is a poem called “Don’t be fooled” – have a listen as your teacher reads it out, and see what message you can pick out from it…

Don’t be fooled
Sometimes when we look, do we really see?
People see you and people see me.
If someone says that black is white
Don’t just agree, but use your sight.
Don’t say what you think they want you to,
Because it feels like the thing to do.
Learn to say what’s in your mind
And by doing so the truth you’ll find.

Sometimes when we are asked for our opinions, do we say what we really think or are we influenced by other people? We might be afraid of losing our friends if we disagree, or being made to feel silly. There may also be times when we are asked to do something that we do not feel comfortable with. Deep down we know it is not right. We should try not to give in to temptation, and if something does not feel right, do not do it.

Enjoy the following story – which shows what happened to a man who did not think for himself.  It is written by Hans Christian Anderson and is called “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

There was once an emperor who liked to think he could please all his people all of the time. He was so powerful that no one dared to argue with him. He was very vain and loved to have lots of new clothes.

Knowing this, two tricksters came to his palace pretending to be tailors. They asked to see the emperor, and offered to make him a suit of fine new clothes for his birthday procession.

The emperor was delighted and asked to see the cloth from which the suit would be made. The tricksters pretended to roll out some cloth, saying that it was the finest in all the land. ‘Look at the colour’, they said. ‘See how it shimmers and shines in the light! It is so special that it can only be seen by those who are wise and clever.’

The emperor stared and stared, trying to see what they were talking about. He could see nothing, but not wishing to appear stupid he found he was agreeing with them and consented to let them make his suit.

After several days they returned to the palace pretending to carry a large parcel, from which they took out the ‘new suit’. ‘Try it on, your majesty,’ they said. The emperor undressed and the tricksters pretended to fit his new garment. ‘See how fine it looks,’ they said. Again the emperor felt he had to agree with them. He paid them a great deal of money for their services and the two men left the palace in great haste.

The day of the procession came and the emperor, with the help of his servants, who dared not say that they could not see his new clothes, put on his new suit. He asked them what they thought of it and everyone told him how wonderful he looked because they did not want to make him angry.

Proudly the emperor strode through the streets of the city. The people cheered and clapped as he went by. As he entered the marketplace he passed a small boy who was begging. The boy was overheard to say, ‘Why is the emperor wearing only his underclothes?’

There was a deadly hush as the people wondered what would happen. ‘Bring that boy to me!’ bellowed the emperor. The servants quickly grabbed the poor unfortunate boy and brought him before the emperor. Everyone gasped in horror. What would happen?

The emperor looked down at the poor trembling figure before him. ‘What did you say?’

‘Please, sir,’ said the frightened boy, ‘I wondered why you were only wearing your underclothes.’

The emperor looked down at himself and began to laugh. ‘You have dared to speak the truth and say what you can actually see. I must admit that I have been very foolish and it took a small boy like you to be brave enough to tell me. I have been tricked and only you spoke the truth. In future you will live in my palace. I shall ask for your honest opinions, knowing that I will always be able to trust you.’

Realizing his stupidity, the emperor ordered that the tricksters should be caught and thrown into prison. From then on he always thought for himself and was not influenced by what he thought others might think of him. And as that boy grew up, he became the emperor’s chief adviser and no one dared try to deceive the emperor again.

What important message have you picked up on from listening to this story?  …..Think for yourself – and do not let other’s influence your ability to make the right choices!

Prayer of the Day

We thank you, God, for giving us a mind of our own.

Teach us to use it wisely and help us to think for ourselves.

Teach us to know right from wrong and to speak the truth at all times.

Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

We normally have our ‘live’ assemblies today, but as we are currently holding parent feedback appointments we have rearranged this week, and our ‘live’ assembly will be tomorrow.  We know how important these are as they are the only time we actually get to see everyone in the Brown Clee Team!

Being a part of a team means so much – and we are all part of many different teams as well as the Brown Clee School team – each class is it’s own team, your families are a team, and you might be a member of a sporting team or Brownies and Cubs.  Being part of a team means that we aren’t alone – that we are part of something more than just ourselves – and when a team works well together it can achieve amazing things!

Think about the NASA team who managed to send the first astronauts to the moon – everyone had a part to play – everyone’s role in the team was equally important, and equally, everyone needs to work hard as part of a team in order to succeed.  Often we can also achieve so much more by working together….as this team of ‘fishermen’ find out in a story called “Fishing with Sam”.  Watch the story of the polar bear, the seal lion and the penguins – and think about what the story teaches you about the importance of working together as a team.

Did you notice how many big fish they managed to catch at the end when they were working together?  How did you think they all felt about the successes of working together?  Before there were lots of squabbles and disagreements, sad faces and hungry tummies!

So as we come to the end of our daily assembly, think about what you could achieve if you work well together as a team – could you achieve more?  Be happier? What can you do today in your class team to bring about success for everyone?

Prayer of the Day

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the world that you have created, which we share with other people.
Please help us to appreciate and celebrate the gifts of others.
Please help us not to become jealous, but to be grateful for our own gifts and abilities.
Thank you for the people who help us every day.
Please help each of us to play our parts in the community and wider world.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Yesterday we thought about the meaning of the word ‘potential’ – and how we all have great potential to succeed at whatever we put our minds to if we have the right conditions such as a positive attitude and working hard to do our best.  Today I would like us to think about what our potential could be when we all work together, as a team, to achieve a common goal.

Yesterday also was when the North American Space Agency (NASA) launched another space craft to transport 4 astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a large spacecraft that orbits the earth and is a home where astronauts live while they learn about living and working in space.  Watch the launch and have a think how many people actually helped to make this happen?

Back in July 1969, the world watched the very first landing on the moon – it was a historic moment in time, when 3 men landed on the moon for the very first time.  Watch this video clip and have a think about what it shows about potential…..

What an amazing achievement for the 3 astronauts – especially Neil Armstrong who was the first person to step on the moon with the famous words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.  It was a giant leap – a massive one – but it would not have been possible without all the many other people, all working hard to do the very best at their jobs to ensure that the mission was a success.

We all have the potential to succeed – and we all have the potential to work together to help others to succeed.  As we go through the day and weeks ahead, remember that your actions and efforts, not only affect your own success – but can impact and affect the success of others, so we all have a responsibility to try our best.  Teamwork relies on us all pulling our weight!

Let’s spend a moment thinking about all the teams and groups which we are involved in:
groups where we depend on other people being there for us and other people depend on us being there for them;
teams where we work together;
projects that we work on together.

Let’s be thankful for all the people who keep their commitment to each one of us.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God

Help me to think of those words,
‘It won’t fail because of me’,
at times when it gets tough, difficult, hard.
Help me not to be the link in the chain that fails.

Amen.

Please keep an eye out for the Parent Appointment Booking slips which will be coming home today or tomorrow.  Also, please note that the times are a precise 10 minute window – with the appointments being made by telephone it is really important that we stick to 10 minutes.  Apologies that this might mean the appointments are more business-like than normal!

Good morning Brown Clee!

This week we have been thinking about our Christian value of our half term, which is THANKFULNESS, and linking it to Armistice Day when we remember, and show our gratitude, to the members of the armed forces, past and present, who sacrifice so much for our freedom.  We have also learnt how important it is to develop an ‘Attitude to Gratitude’ as science has shown that by having a more thoughtful, positive and appreciative attitude, we can actually change our lives for the better.

It is very easy in these busy days to forget to stop and take a moment to look around us, and to think how fortunate we are – to live in such a beautiful county, to have families that love and cherish us, to have friends and classmates, to have food at lunchtime – so many things and more!

Here is a video from the Pace Trust teaching us more about the importance of having an ‘Attitude for Gratitude’…

We show thankfulness every day when we say Grace before lunch, and we have learnt in this video how Christians say thank you to God when they participate in the Eucharist in church.  Thank you are two little words that can sometimes be forgotten – but they can mean so much and make such a difference – what can you say thank you for today?

Prayer of the Day

Thank you, God, for all that we have.
Thank you for our food, our family, our friends and all that you give us.
We are sorry that sometimes we forget to say thank you.
Help us to always thank other people for the things they do for us,
and to thank you for all that we have.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

How did you get on with developing your ‘Attitude for Gratitude’ yesterday?  Did you do or say anything to demonstrate your appreciation – and if so how did it make you feel?

This is the time of year when we show gratitude for the sacrifice that so many people made during World War 1 and 2, as well as appreciating the service of the men and women in the armed forces today, who strive to keep the world a safe place for all.

Tomorrow is Armistice Day – the 11th day of the 11th month, and at the 11th hour we will hold a 2 minute silence to remember and pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives during the 1st and 2nd World War, and also to appreciate the members of the armed forces  of today, who serve to defend our nation. It is so important that we never forget, and that we are thankful for the sacrifice that so many people made.

It is at this time of year that you will see many people wearing a poppy – because the poppy has come to symbolise Armistice Day, and the gratitude and appreciation we have for those that fought so that we could live in a free world.  But why a poppy?

Watch this video and see if you can work out why?

During WW1, much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. The countryside was blasted, bombed and fought over repeatedly. Previously beautiful landscapes turned to mud; bleak and barren scenes where little or nothing could grow. But there was a notable and striking exception to the bleakness – the bright red Flanders poppies. These resilient flowers flourished in the middle of so much chaos and destruction, growing in the thousands upon thousands.  So much so that they were noticed by one particular soldier, a Canadian doctor called Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who wrote this now very famous poem, called ‘In Flanders Fields’.

So now people choose to wear a poppy around 11th November as a sign of remembrance and gratitude.  Take a quiet moment now, and close your eyes – what must it have been like to have been a soldier fighting in the fields in France and Belgium – what would the world be like now if those brave men and women hadn’t fought for our freedom – and tomorrow, at 11am, when we hold our 2 minutes of silence, think about how thankful we are.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for the many happy memories that we have.
We are sorry that some people have sad memories at this time of year
As they remember those who have died for our country.
May we wear our red poppies with love and compassion,
And may we remember and be thankful.
Amen.

Don’t forget it’s the last chance to book an appointment to talk with your child’s teacher about their work and progress!

Don’t forget to book your Parent Feedback session (this year’s replacement for Parents Evening) by tomorrow!  Teachers will then be coordinating their timetable and booking reply slips will be sent out by the end of the week, ready for next week’s appointments.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Last week we started to think about our Christian value of the half term – THANKFULNESS.  Another word for Thankfulness is Gratitude, and this morning I want you to think about whether you have an “Attitude for Gratitude”.  There are 2 videos to watch – the first is rather American but explains what an attitude is and why it is so important to demonstrate gratitude – or thankfulness!  The second provides a bit of the science behind the theory.

As you watch and listen, think about the key messages in both – that by having an “Attitude for Gratitude” will have a positive impact on your life today but also in the future…

A key message for me in this video is that we are in charge of our attitude – it doesn’t happen to us – it is up to use to decide the approach we take to life.  We can’t always choose what happens to use, but we can always choose how we respond – and we can choose to respond in a positive way.  It is your own choice – it is up to you!

This video mentions one of our SMART learning behaviours – did you spot it?  It was resiliency – “gratitude can strengthen resiliency”.

Maybe we could try our own Gratitude Experiment?  As we go through the week ahead – see how we can express gratitude and appreciation every day – to ourselves and to others.  I wonder if it will make a difference to how we experience our lives?

As we come to Worship Time, let’s have a quiet moment to reflect and think about all the wonderful things that we are grateful for – our families and friends, our school, the wonderful natural world that we live in – there are so many things to be thankful for!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Help us to have good attitudes.
Help us to encourage others.
Help us to look for the good in every situation.
Help us to bring hope, joy and peace to other people.
Help us to be grateful for all we have.
Amen.