Learning in class is a little different in the summer term. To allow for me to work in the hall with the children on the play, the children in class are tasked with planning their own learning (something that is essential for their life at high school). I am so proud of each of them as the work that they are producing is of the same standard that they have achieved this year, they have set the bar high.

Thirty hopeful and slightly nervous children entered the classroom this morning, eager to see which part they had been given in the end of year play. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of all of the children this week. For some children, they took a huge leap into the unknown and really faced their fears of performing and singing solo. I cannot wait to start putting this production together.

Writing, writing and more writing has been the main focus of our week in Year 6. The children are half way through writing their six chapter story based on The Wizard of Oz. Writing a story is a consuming task, there are so many elements involved that it is important that the children have time and space to be creative.

I really think that if I was not present in class this week, the children will have carried on anyway and will have still produced some outstanding work. We have really found our independence in class and have fine tuned the ability to manage time efficiently.

Do you know what the difference is between a disciple and an apostle? We have been exploring this very question this week in Year 6. Disciples are learners, listeners and followers; apostles are teachers, missionaries and guardians…but can you become an apostle without being a disciple? Do disciples always become apostles?

It has been lovely to welcome all of the children back this week for their final term at Our Ladys. The sun has shone and we have been able to get outside and have fun with each other. Throughout this half term, we are continuing to explore the virtues of love and compassion. We are aware that for all of the children, a change will be happening in their lives come September. It is really important that we continue to look after each other and to treat everyone with kindness and compassion.

As we finish school today for Easter, I am reflecting on a week that has been filled with prayer. We have become thoroughly immersed in the passion of Christ and what it means for us here on Earth. I hope that our interpretation of the Easter story, through photographs, words and art has given you a chance to spend time on your own spiritual journey to the cross and to rejoice in the eternal life that we have been given.

If you have love and compassion then your heart is healthy and will shine brightly. I have such an enormous amount of respect for my class, they really are growing into such beautiful human beings who will go on and work wonders in our world. There has been a lot of opportunity, since we have been back together, for the children to work and collaborate together. Watching them interact, collaborate, share, discuss and work in unison is one of my favorite things to do.

BLOOD, sweat and tears - we have made blood this week, worked incredibly hard and had enormous fun in doing so. Teaching the human body and the systems within it, is one of my favourite topic areas. It amazes me on a daily basis, just what it is able to do.

It has been lovely to hear the sound of laughter so prevalent in the classroom, see the smiles of the children as they work collaboratively in class and feel the love and friendship that they have with each other. I always knew that Our Ladys was a very special place, but this week has illustrated that in bucket loads.

I am so very excited to be welcoming our class family back together again on Monday. There will be lockdown stories, key events that have happened and an awful lot of learning to discuss. I am usually one to keep chatter to a minimum in class but I must say, I cannot wait to hear all of the giggles and conversations that will be had between the children come Monday.

I do feel that this year, we have all experienced some form of darkness, but I am so hopeful for the light that is emerging. The days are much brighter and they are lighter for longer, the sun is shining and the children will be coming back to school. We all seem to be moving in the right direction. I am incredibly excited to be welcoming the children back to school on the 8th March.

It is hard to believe that 6 weeks ago we came back to school for just one day, only to be told that we had to close again. Despite all of the challenges, the frustrations, the technical glitches and sheer exhaustion - we have made it and I am so very proud of us all.

Kindness is free and at the moment, it is exactly what our world needs. This week, I have challenged the class to complete kindness missions with their friends. Sending someone a message or an email can really brighten their day. It has been really heart-warming to see the children interact with each other and send each other a message.

It is really hard to believe that we are at the end of week 3 this term. We always talk about how time flies in Year 6, but now more than ever it really seems to. This has been another successful week of learning in Year 6 and I am incredibly proud of the children both at home and in school. There are different pressures for all of the children and they are required to work in a different way. Both groups of children are asked to be more independent than they usually would, in the current circumstances.

And what a community we have got, what a class family we have. All week, I have such a smile on my face because of the beautiful work that is being produced by all of the children. It doesn’t matter where the children are learning, they are constantly responding to feedback, trying their hardest and producing some outstanding work. I am incredibly proud!

Well…we have made it to the end of what has seemed to be a confusing, fast paced and difficult week. When I came into school on Monday, I did not think that I would not be seeing the class together as soon as the following day. In these difficult times, it is so important that we come together as a community and remember that it is what we do together that will have the most impact.