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Five children in traditional South Asian attire stand together on stage, smiling and laughing. One adult is partially visible holding a microphone on the left side. The background is dark and out of focus.

Serving our community

An important part of our School Value ‘Virtue’ is the notion of serving others. This is why the International Baccalaureate’s focus on student agency aligns so well with our ethos. This week has provided ample opportunity for us to celebrate our school community and set out ways we can serve each other as well as those beyond the school gates.

Last Saturday 26th September, was European Language Day, which we always choose to broaden out to all languages and cultures. So in this week’s Key Stage 2 School Meeting on Monday, Mrs Bullock, Head of Languages, led pupils in presenting elements of their home languages and culture. Mrs Bullock was joined by 10 Key Stage 2 pupils, each with something to share. Edward in Year 5 spoke about Ukrainian clothing, Jonny in Year 6 about his family’s connection to a small city in Slovakia and the medal presented to only those who live there, a quartet of pupils, Michelle, Amaira, Ruby and Inaaya in Year 6 wore traditional clothing and, joined by Arjun in Year 3, sang happy birthday in Punjabi.

Ten children stand in a row on a gym floor, some dressed in cultural attire and holding objects, smiling at the camera with a black curtain in the background.
A young boy in a suit speaks into a microphone while a woman beside him holds up a clear plastic sheet. They appear to be on a stage or at an event.
A young boy speaks into a microphone held by an adult whilst holding a small round object, with another child sitting nearby.
A young girl with long dark hair, wearing a red traditional outfit, speaks into a microphone whilst standing on a stage with a dark curtain in the background.
A girl in a red dress speaks into a microphone on stage, with three other girls in traditional attire seated nearby, looking at her.
A young boy in a white shirt holds a microphone whilst speaking or singing indoors. A red bin and a wooden stage are visible in the background.
A girl in traditional attire holds a microphone and speaks, whilst two other girls sit beside her, also dressed in traditional clothes, against a stage backdrop.
A girl in a pink traditional outfit and headscarf speaks into a microphone on stage, whilst two other children sit nearby and listen attentively.
A young boy in a suit and striped tie holds a microphone in one hand and a small rectangular object in the other whilst speaking indoors.
A young boy in a black turban and sports shirt speaks into a microphone while holding a small flag, standing indoors near a stage with a wooden background.

It was also a week of children preparing and delivering presentations on the topic of why they should be elected as the School Councillor for their Form. The children spoke about how well they will listen to the ideas of their classmates, how they will represent their voices in their meetings with myself and how much they are invested in continually developing our community. The Key Stage 2 Councillors will receive their badges next Monday in assembly and then we will begin their leadership training prior to their first mission.

The Reception to Year 2 Council were awarded their badges on Thursday and are keen to get going. The idea that we can make a difference to others starts from a very early age and we make sure their sense of civic duty never fades.

Two women and eight young children in school uniforms pose and smile outside on a playground with a brick building and a red fence in the background.

 

As we move into the weekend, our school families will be adding a few more items to their weekly shop so they can donate them to the Brentwood Foodbank via our Harvest Assembly led by Revd Dr McConnaughie. Our House Captains will then load the van full of the requested items, knowing that collectively we have helped.

I was delighted to present two Head’s Awards this week to sisters Bernarda (Year 5) and Talia-May (Year 2). They had observed that around the edge of the School site was a growing amount of litter and so spent Sunday afternoon picking up rubbish. This act demonstrated a number of our Learner Attributes such as being caring and principled. Their kind and helpful actions helped to improve our local area and the environment all without any prompt or desire to be rewarded. Thank you Bernarda and Talia-May.

A woman sits beside two smiling children in colourful chairs. The children hold Head of Prep Award certificates and look at the camera.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Alice Goodfellow

 

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