This week’s Word of the Week is…exquisite. It means beautiful, detailed and delicate. Can you use it in conversation and your writing next week?

Thank you to the Y6 girls who wrote our Friday assembly reflection time this week. We always like to hear what has been on the mind of our Year 6 role models during the week and what they think is important. Here is what they wrote and read to us all today…

Be respectful to others

Try your best in whatever you are doing and never give up.

We need to take care of one another to make good friendships.

Always listen in class to improve your progress in learning.

Show respect towards all our school values.

We announced our House Captains in assembly today. These proud Year 6 role models were voted in by pupils across the school after they wrote and delivered speeches. arguing why they should represent their house teams (Foxes, Badgers, Hedgehogs and Squirrels) throughout the year. Congratulations to all 8 house captains!

We awarded our new ‘Reader Leaders’ award today for the first time. Our new trophy, a certificate and bonus adventure playground time goes to the class who read the most during the week. Remember to read and use your reading record every day if you want to be ‘Leading in Reading’!

Here is our reflection poem from assembly, written by two Y6 girls who have thinking about our well-being when we feel worried….

You may not think some days are good days but there is always good in every day. Push through those hard days to make good days happen.

Remember you’re not the only one who feels this way. If you have any worries, you’re not alone so talk to someone about it.

Just be you.

Finally, our new Word of the Week is…distraught. Use a dictionary or thesaurus to look it up and see if you can use it in your conversations and writing this week.

Have a great weekend.

Mr Poyton

Thank you to the 109 parents and carers who came to our Year 1-6 ‘Meet the teacher’ mornings this week. Powerpoint slides will be added to our Year Group pages soon.

We revisited my favourite poem in our assemblies in Tuesday’s assemblies. It has something to say say about our values of aspiration and resilience. What does the poem say to you?

It Couldn’t Be Done – by Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
     But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
     Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
     On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
     That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
     At least, no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
     And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
     Without any doubting or ‘quit it’,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
     That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
     There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
     The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
     Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
     That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

This week’s WotW (Word of the Week) is… discombobulated ! It has a similar meaning to confused but you can research the word to find out more about it. Can you use it in your writing? In a comment below? Thank you to the Year 4 pupil who gave us this week’s word.

This year we are introducing the Mighty Oak public speaking programme into our curriculum so all our children can learn to speak confidently and fluently to audiences. Year 6 had their first lesson in the hall today. Se the picture above. They were brilliant and did a great job as role models in celebration assembly this afternoon, giving introductions and giving out awards.

Two boys from Year 6 wrote and read out a fantastic acrostic poem about our value of passion for reflection time today. Check it out…

P assion is a vital part of our lives. If we didn’t show it, school could be a waste of time.

A lso, if we did not show it, no progress would be made and we would not get anywhere in our lives.

S ome things we can live without, but passion we need without a doubt.

S haring your passion with your peers can help you face your fears.

I nspiring others is a great thing to do, it costs nothing and is good for you.

O ver time your passion will grow, if you never try you’ll never know.

N ever stop doing what you love, don’t let anything get you down and never go home with a frown.

Thank you for the fantastic example you are setting Year 6!

Mr Poyton

P.S. Don’t forget that Monday is National Teaching Assistant Day so don’t forget to say thank you to an LSA for all the help they give…and why not give them a compliment while you’re at it?

Teachers have hidden more books in the local area for families to find!  Keep an eye on our Twitter feed to see where and visit our highlights gallery for more information.

Everyone was very happy to be back in school this week. We have been learning lots together already, with old friends and new. In assembly on Friday afternoon we reminded ourselves of what our values mean and the rewards we can work for each week.

Keep an eye out on our Highlights page for photos of our new learning environment around the school and the book hunt challenge we are setting families!

We end Friday assemblies with a quiet reflection time, often written by one of our Year 6 role models. This week our role models thought about the exciting school year ahead and all its opportunities…

Going into a new year can be a challenge.

Believe in yourself and refresh your mind.

You can do anything if you put your mind to it.

Have confidence and be yourself.

See you next week for more Lawford Mead adventures.

Mr Poyton