October is Black History Month in the UK. In assembly today we read a fantastic book together called ‘Our Skin’. It taught us the science of skin colour and how we should love and celebrate our differences. It also got us thinking about fairness and kindness. The children all agreed and felt very strongly that they will NOT accept people being treated unfairly or unkindly because of the colour of their skin. If they ever see or hear that happening they will find an adult straight away and talk it through.

Mr Poyton

Our lunchtime Chess Club is BACK! Tuesdays to Fridays in the Studio for Years 3-6. See more photos here. It’s a great opportunity to make friends and learn new skills.

If you want to teach yourself how to play (there are lots of different rules!) then we recommend the Chess Kid Youtube channel.

In our lower school ‘thinking time’ assembly this week, we talked about the latest Lego news story. The people at Lego have promised they are going to avoid ‘gender stereotypes’ in their Lego sets. This means they want to help children to dream big and never think they can’t do something just because they are a boy or a girl. Lego don’t want any children thinking that a type of Lego is just for boys or just for girls.

We watched this interesting video below and discussed our ambitions for the futures. As we said together, everything is for everyone!

Watch the video if you haven’t already. Leave a comment below telling me your big dreams. What are you determined to achieve?

Mrt Poyton

In assembly this week we read a poem together to celebrate National Poetry Day. It was written by my favourite poet Edgar Albert Guest. He wrote poems about our school’s values of aspiration and resilience. Here is the poem. Can you leave a comment below telling me what YOU think the poem means?

When you’re up against a trouble,
    Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
    Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
    Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
    See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you
    And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
    Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
    Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
    See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
    When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
    Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
    Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
    See it through!