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School - a place of connection and belonging
16th December 2024
The end of term is upon us. The traditions of a school Christmas abound and remind us of the important things in our institutions. Our recent Headteachers meeting at George Abbot saw many of our number wearing Christmas jumpers, and even more colleagues looking forward to their school Christmas dinner. Others were talking of preparations for carol services, nativities (in many traditional and modern forms) and even planning the Christmas school quiz and the end of term assemblies. It is easy to regard these as add-ons to school life, or even worse irrelevant distractions. This is wrong. In the development of a child and a community these are the cornerstones of much of our work.
Much of the national conversation about schools is turning on the theme of belonging. Our children and staff need a sense of belonging. Belonging to a community and an ideal. Here at Learning Partners, we recognise that a sense of connection to our community our place of work and the children we serve is vital for effective and transformative education. The carol concerts, lunches and quizzes are a methods through which we can build belonging. Schools are more than just a knowledge transfer activity, which are assessed by foreboding national assessment frameworks. They are places of connection, belonging and purpose. It is through these annual events that we can foster in children a sense of themselves and their place in their community.
Thank you to all our staff, parents and children for their contributions to building this sense of belonging through community activities. Activities seen so readily at this time of year. It is when we turn our attention to others, give gifts of time, attention and consideration (otherwise known as gold, frankincense and myrrh) that we support others to thrive. Education changes lives. It also provides a sense of belonging and security which allows us all to grow, find ourselves and give at Christmas time.
Have a great Christmas one and all.
The end of term is upon us. The traditions of a school Christmas abound and remind us of the important things in our institutions. Our recent Headteachers meeting at George Abbot saw many of our number wearing Christmas jumpers, and even more colleagues looking forward to their school Christmas dinner. Others were talking of preparations for carol services, nativities (in many traditional and modern forms) and even planning the Christmas school quiz and the end of term assemblies. It is easy to regard these as add-ons to school life, or even worse irrelevant distractions. This is wrong. In the development of a child and a community these are the cornerstones of much of our work.
Much of the national conversation about schools is turning on the theme of belonging. Our children and staff need a sense of belonging. Belonging to a community and an ideal. Here at Learning Partners, we recognise that a sense of connection to our community our place of work and the children we serve is vital for effective and transformative education. The carol concerts, lunches and quizzes are a methods through which we can build belonging. Schools are more than just a knowledge transfer activity, which are assessed by foreboding national assessment frameworks. They are places of connection, belonging and purpose. It is through these annual events that we can foster in children a sense of themselves and their place in their community.
Thank you to all our staff, parents and children for their contributions to building this sense of belonging through community activities. Activities seen so readily at this time of year. It is when we turn our attention to others, give gifts of time, attention and consideration (otherwise known as gold, frankincense and myrrh) that we support others to thrive. Education changes lives. It also provides a sense of belonging and security which allows us all to grow, find ourselves and give at Christmas time.
Have a great Christmas one and all.
