We plan our assemblies to encompass the values we hold dear:
POSITIVITY, RESPECT, ENJOYMENT, SUPPORT, CONFIDENCE, OPPORTUNITY and TEAMWORK.
We ensure that we celebrate our learners’ achievements every week and have a real emphasis on teamwork through the consistent promotion of our House Teams.
Children may be given a special letter to take home that celebrates how they have worked especially hard or supported a fellow classmate. The top attending class are also awarded with a huge cuddly Tigger to take back to class for a week. Every Friday, the House Teams collect the house points and share results with the school. ‘House Potion is added to jars according to the amount of points collected. This is a celebration of hard work and team spirit!
Potions ready for a new half term!
Our assemblies can be fun and uplifting, with reflection time or a time for sombre thought. Our children love coming together to share school news and ideas.
Throughout the year, a whole range of issues are discussed with children during assemblies. These may be linked with initiatives that are currently happening in school, eg, visits from the ‘BullyBusters’ team, Recycling, Children in Need or Sports Relief. Other assembly themes promote British Values. Children have recently explored key figures in British History, such as King John, Shakespeare and the Duke of Wellington. We have looked at the National Health Service and discussed how unique it is and how lucky we are to have it.
We have also looked at moments in history where the spirit of Great Britain has shone through – most recent is the Oxford/Cambridge Ladies’ Boat Race. The children watched and discussed the moments where a boat nearly sank but the women carried on rowing – against the odds, determined to cross the line.
Weekly assemblies can prompt ‘assembly tasks‘ that focus the whole school. One such example was centred around Jim, our Crossing Patrol Officer. Classes designed cards and wrote letters to thank Jim for being our Safeguard. He then visited one of our assemblies to receive the tokens of appreciation – he loved it!
Another assembly introduced the new ‘Reflection Zone’ to the children. We talked about the meaning of ‘reflection’ and what this new area was to be used for – to think more deeply and share ideas about specific questions such as, ‘What is art?’ and ‘What makes you, you?’ This new area has provided a new way to spend time together at lunchtime.
Presentation assemblies
Classes also like to share their learning with the school community – and the world – when they perform an assembly based around a Cornerstones unit of work. Parents love to come and watch and the children have real pride in what they do. Older children even take responsibility for the script, choice of songs and costumes.
Here are some moments from our ‘Cornerstones’ assemblies:
‘Y5 Stargazers’
Y2: Towers, Tunnels & Turrets
We have even received some great feedback from @Cornerstones themselves:
