This looks a really amazing piece of work - where do we get the details of how Jason used it? (not buying Youthwork enough, me) I think the idea of identity (in all the RE syllabuses of course) is a great one - working with this concept, faith becomes relevant to everyone, and 11-16s are spending their daily time thinking and acting out their answers to ‘who am I?’ questions. Jesus asked: ‘who do other people say that I am?’
In the run up to half term we ran a prayer room in one of the high schools I regularly work in in Leeds. We ran lessons for RE looking at prayer and spirituality and I was constantly overwelmed by the depth pupils were willing to share in front of a class of peers. Both staff and students commented on how much pupils had to deal with, having read their shared prayers. Their desire, a desperation even, for someone to be listening. I used the resources I found on schoolswork.co.uk with those in the 24-7 pack, which made the bringing together of activites much easier. God was in it all otherwise it just wouldn’t have happened, and I look forward to hearing the stories of answered prayer as I return to school this term. If you’re thinking of running a room, push some doors, talk to some people, visit a running prayer room in school, these guys at schoolswork and 24-7 are great support and there might even be someone doing the same local to you too!
What a great poem - James has summed up the feeling i know so well as somebody who has spent years doing Christian assemblies in both primary and secondary school…
“Well Done James”
Please don’t let your ink become dry as i am sure there are many more great odes in you that need to be put onto paper.
Rev Richard Pidgley
Discovery Church - Swindon
i work in a primary school as a TA, often there is conflict.
so my comment would be one aimed at children taking responsibility for their own actions-because it’s always someone elses fault.
“what could you do different towards someone that might prevent a falling out?”
“what good, kind or nice thing have you done today that has helped someone else?”
I never got a valentines card when I went to school. It didn’t bother me. I say its just harmless fun.
great encouragement in christian schools work. just shows how effective we can be without realising it !!!!
Sounds great. Nice one!
Amy your short course on assemblies was brilliant! My fav was the Russian doll assembly, its such a good idea
Thanks for letting us know Becky, sounds like a significant week for the school and makes all the prep you put in worthwhile! Look forward to hearing what happens from here!
I used this brilliant resource last year in the end of term services for several different year groups. I was able to use all of the resources (slightly adapted) and they provided a powerful and engaging framework for sharing the message of Easter. Thank you so much for producing this resource and the excellent value it represents. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone else.
How to blog
First, some explanation about how membership works on schoolswork.co.uk.
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If you register as a member, you can comment on existing posts and create your own new posts, but they will need to be approved in the same way.
Members can be upgraded to authors at any time. Authors can post immediately on the site without waiting for approval. We are happy to upgrade members to authors if you’ve posted a couple of times or if you or your organisation are known to us. We hope you understand the need to have some restrictions to safeguard the site in this way.
To submit a blog entry click on ‘post to blog’, and to comment on an existing blog post simply scroll down to the bottom of the post and fill in your comment in the box.
Happy blogging!
Conferences…
Conferences are an amazing chance to connect with other youth, schools and children’s workers…a time to be encouraged and feel supported in your work, challenged to learn how to work better aswell as inspired by others who are walking a similar journey to you. With this in mind there are a few conferences coming up between now and the summer specifically for schools workers that it’s worth thinking about getting along to.
If you live up North, Pais are hosting a conference next month, and so this one I will start off by mentioning, but keep reading for more…
Education Sunday
Feb 8 this year is Education Sunday. Download the pdf for more info.
“Perhaps we can reflect on how education can prepare pupils for responsible stewardship of God’s world, or how education can recover a vision of connecting people with a sense of place and belonging”.
See the Churches Together in England site for more.
Schools Workers Conference
Christian Schools Work Conference: “Schools Ministry as Mission” 23 June St Saviours Church,Guildford GU1 4QD. 9.30-4.00pm.
East To West are proud to present an outstanding day of teaching, training and networking for all involved with schools work.
Keynote speaker: Nick Shepherd. Contributions / topics: Gunz Down, Anger Management, Self Harm, Sports Ministry, Future of Education, Personal Development, Sex Education, Creative Engagement with the Curriculum. Cost £25 (before 30 April) £30 (after) Details: see the site or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Wayne Dixon
How effective is your work in the school???
Our biggest desire is to make an impact on young peoples lives for God. How do we know we are being effective in our schoolswork and how can we measure that?
Valentines ideas for primary and secondary schools
Hi. I’m planning to do 2 Valentine events for 5-11 year olds from a local school. The event will involve games, music, crafts, music, cooking and a Bible theme/story.
I’m also planning to do themed Valentines events at our youth cafe for 11 - 14 yr olds.
Back from Eastbourne
Today was a fight through the wind and rain in Eastbourne into the conference centre for Children’s Ministry Conference. It was however a good end to a weekend of children’s songs (this was a culture shock for me), community building (i.e. great coffee and chat), and being reminded of the call we have to impact and make a positive difference in children’s lives. It was my first visit to the conference, but a privilege to be there and learn more about the great work that goes on with children throughout the UK.
The story so far
The Story So far is a performance and series of workshops for RE by Lacey Theatre Company. I’ve seen it and it is SUPERB. Entertaining - interactive, fun and relevant for years 7-9. Some fantatsic one liners, very dramatic and moving as key aspects of the bible are portrayed in a very accesible way for pupils.
‘sloganise’ yourself
I’m doing some work tonight on slogans and their effectiveness, particularly in what they communicate, and came across this fun little site. You type in your word and it makes it into a slogan for you. I put in the word schoolswork, and got this out:
Have a go, sloganise yourself!
Mental Health Discussed
Review of an amazing 2 part documentary on BBC 1’s ‘Sunday Night Surgery’. The documentary ‘Postcards Back from tthe Edge’ dealt sensitively yet openly with 3 young people’s experiences.
Examattack
It’s January and it’s exam season. (Well pretty much every month is exam season for most pupils in our schools.) That’s what’s been happening around here amongst year 11 and sixth formers I’ve been chatting to.
‘Examattack’ is a presentation helping pupils preparing for exams. At the heart it’s to help them put exams in perspective and for pupils to ‘give of their best and achieve their potential’. It has been very well received in schools over the years and has been put on the web by someone from my home church, Ben Rolfe, http://www.examattack.org.uk to allow pupils, schools, youth workers, schools workers to make use if appropriate in schools and churches for people you know facing exams in the coming months.
Wayne Dixon
