Let the festive season inspire you
“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” – Fred Gailey in the Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street
As part of our move to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) we are increasing the opportunities for pupils to be agents of change and our Year 3s have been doing just that. As part of their inquiry into how the advancement of tools and technology impacts how humans live, they have been keen to find ways to counteract the polluting effects of technology. They decided to take positive action by reducing the damage batteries have on the environment and they set in motion a campaign for all Brentwood Prep families to recycle their batteries safely. They wrote me letters and were very convincing, so as a result we purchased 4 special battery bins and they presented their ideas in the weekly Key Stage 2 School Meeting. At this time of year many of us joyfully decorate our houses inside and out with festive lights and in the process use up dozens of batteries. My home is no exception to this. If you do not know where to safely recycle your batteries please bring them in to us and we will gladly do this for you. We have a battery bin in reception and every battery we safely recycle is one less battery going into landfill to leak its poison. Our young people feel injustice keenly and still believe they can make the world a better place. Only as we grow older can a cynicism creep in that breeds apathy. The younger children can teach us an awful lot about the power of small steps on a long journey.
A study conducted by Caroline Hickman from Bath University included a survey across 10 countries in collaboration with five universities. It claims to be the biggest of its kind, with responses from 10,000 people aged between 16 and 25. The findings, reported in Hickman’s paper ‘Eco-Anxiety in Children and Young People – A Rational Response, Irreconcilable Despair, or Both?’ are quite shocking with over three-quarters stating that the future was frightening. Over half (56%) say they think humanity is doomed. These feelings are connected to the realisation of the magnitude of the environmental problems alongside a sense that many Governments are just not doing enough to turn the tide. But the study also found that there are ways to find hope:
“Feelings of anxiety can be reduced by a focus on relatively small individual and local actions such as food choices (eating less meat, reducing dairy consumption) and recycling. There is a focus on optimism and hopeful solutions and avoiding painful feelings such as depression or despair.”
At the Prep we are on a mission to make our curriculum truly real-world focused with each unit culminating in pupil-led action. If every child believes in their own potential to bring about a better future then there is a good chance that is exactly what they will do.
The Year 3s certainly were busy this week and performed a spectacular Christmas play with many international and inclusive elements, including signing many of the songs, singing in French and a 20 person drum piece. This concluded our festive performances of 7 Nativities and a 240 pupil strong Carol Service in Brentwood Cathedral. We couldn’t ask for more from the pupils who always give their all and for the parents who support them in learning their lines and practicing the songs.
And just in case we weren’t all brimming with festive joy, our imaginative catering team transformed the dining halls into a scene from The Polar Express for our Christmas lunch. The perfect excuse for dressing up…or down in some cases!
My fourth and final Head’s Award for this term goes to Arthur B in Year 3 for his innovative and self-motivated approach to his Design and Technology work. Arthur showed great imagination and ingenuity in creating his wheel and pivot mechanism and he found ways to make it work more efficiently without ever needing to be prompted. Mrs Blee was delighted to share Arthur’s work and to praise his determination. Ultimately we want the pupils to not need us anymore and so becoming an independent learner is a major goal. Well done Arthur.
Wishing you all the best during this festive season and with hope as we head into 2025,
Alice Goodfellow
