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To be a Pilgrim, Episode 3

...is to put your hand up and pledge to put an end to bullying

In the six weeks I have lived full-time in Winchester there has been never a dull moment. I have experienced a portfolio of weather and other physical challenges: heat waves, torrential rain, flash floods, and, last Monday, a full-scale power cut (I know that is not weather but the feeling was similar!). And now, Storm Alex is threatening.

On 27 August, Tom Burden had booked a 2100 crossing to the Isle of Wight to drive with a car full of boxes of personal effects as he moved out of the Close. This was my seventh full day in Winchester. The rain started at about 1630 and, as Tom put it, was “of biblical proportions”. He put on his crocs and carried on packing. An hour and a half later, there was a four centimetre deep river running through the school, past the Dining Room, and almost as far as the Old Library. Neither Miss Dennett nor I felt adequately prepared to deal with this (especially in our footwear) as we went in search of the “source”. We found it! The yard had flooded, the drains were not coping adequately, the water was coming in through the door in (of all things) an attractive waterfall. A waterfall. It flowed in smaller waterfalls down various steps and along corridors and stopped a few feet from the Main Hall and the Old Library. Was this some sort of initiation process? Our first flood.

Then came the power cut. On Monday at 0825, as I was getting ready for one of the most important assemblies of the year – The Big Anti-Bullying Assembly 2020 – the school, and a large swathe of Winchester, lost power. It was restored in ten minutes, but it took a lot longer to reboot the IT and communicate to every classroom, so we had to reschedule. It was a real shame we couldn’t go ahead last Monday as Mr Burton and I had planned it to take place at Pilgrims’ concurrently with thousands of schools across the UK. But tomorrow (Saturday), we will have our anti-bullying assembly with Year 4-8, and on Monday, Year 2 and 3 will see it. (Later, we will present live to Reception and somehow Year 1 managed to go ahead last Monday – well, they do call me Dr Electric.)

The School’s anti-bullying policy is available to read on the school website. In the policy we define bullying as the “intentional hurting, harming or humiliating of another person. It can take the form of racial, religious, cultural, sexual, sexist, homophobic, SEN or disability related bullying. It could involve physical (including sexual) intimidation, verbal, cyber (including chat room, email, e-photos and SMS messages), and emotional means (by excluding, tormenting or spreading malicious rumours).”

Bullying can happen anywhere – including at Pilgrims’ – which is why we all need to raise our hands in a pledge to put a stop to it.

The BIG Anti-bullying Assembly 2020 is a joint venture between the Diana Award charity (named after the late Princess Diana) and the Nationwide Building Society. They created a 23 minute film and lots of resources to allow children to learn “how to identify and tackle bullying behaviour” through “a whole load of personal stories, messages and special performances from our famous friends including, Richie & Mwaksy, Will Poulter, Twist & Pulse, Katie Leung, James Mcvey, Peter Andre, Cel Spellman and many more.” We will share this film with your son(s) along with introductory words from me. During the assembly, the boys will be asked to put their hand up and identify on each finger who they would call on as part of their support network if they were being bullied, as in the example below.

Then, we will introduce to the idea of anti-bullying ambassadors and ask the boys to put their hand up if they would like to be one. A day or so after the assembly, each form will take part in a workshop designed by Mr Shroff to reflect on what bullying might look and feel like and to think about what a boy who is being bullied can do.

Please join everyone at Pilgrims’ as we put up our hands and pledge to put an end to bullying.

https://www.antibullyingpro.com/thebigassembly

Artwork of the Week

Design Process’ by George S (5W) 

The Year 5s are fast approaching the production phase of their giant jewellery project (or ‘big bling’ as I like to call it) as we all eagerly await our return to the Art room. This week’s Artwork of the Week is a snapshot of some very creative design thinking. I could see Kanye West wearing one of these crowns, couldn’t you? Well done, George S! Keep up the brilliant work. 

Mr Walters

Stem Challenge

If you and your family would like to take part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) project, then look no further.

The British International Education Association (BIEA) have organised a challenge for you and your families to develop an urban composting system to reduce the amount of organic kitchen waste that goes into landfill. You will begin by be measuring the amount of waste your household produces on average and producing charts to illustrate your findings. You will then make a simple composter to reduce the quantities of organic waste going into landfill from your home. 

Certificates will be issued to all participants & prizes for those gaining the most marks with judges! Good luck and enjoy. 

Photo: Alfie H, Year 3 enjoying the project!

Quirister news

It was a real privilege for the Qs to sing their first service of the year in the Cathedral yesterday. It was an evening of 'firsts'; four new probationers experienced singing publicly with a professional choir for the first time, five year 6 boys were in full robes (donning their surplices) for the first time, the Qs were singing together in church for the first time since March and the two new Head Choristers performed their roles wonderfully, leading the choir vocally as well as in an orderly fashion.

Parents were ecstatic to see their sons after the service for well earned praise and huge hugs before walking the boys back to school for supper.

The service may be watched here.

Year 3 and their Handwashing-Superheroes!

For their first topic of the term, Year 3 have been learning about germs!  They have learned about the life of Louis Pasteur, and how he made important discoveries about how germs are spread.  They have completed an experiment showing how germs react to soap and recorded the results in their books. 

Finally, they have each created their own Handwashing-Superhero - giving them a name and a superpower to help stop the spread of germs and keep themselves hygienic.  Max's efforts below show the Germ Destroyer Man!

Miss Higham

From the Base: The effects of Bullying

This week, and into next, the school has a focus on anti-bullying.  Dr Essex is approaching this with gusto, strongly supported by all the staff.  I thought I would like to share with you some parts of what the boys have learnt about.  Bullying has been identified as one of the top three threats to society in the coming years.

Children who are bullied are more likely to:

  Have low self-esteem

  Develop depression or anxiety

  Become socially withdrawn, isolated and lonely

  Have lower academic achievements due to avoiding or becoming disengaged   with school

  Be unable to form trusting, healthy relationships with friends or partners in the    future

Impact on children who bully

Children who frequently bully others are more likely to:

  Drop out of, or be expelled from school

  Engage in criminal behaviour

  Develop depression or anxiety

  Be abusive towards their partners, spouses or children as adults

Impact on bystanders

Children who witness bullying are more likely to:

  Feel powerless

  Live in fear and guilt

Impact on schools

Schools that do not take significant action against bullying are more likely to:

  Create a negative environment based on a culture of fear and disrespect

  Have poor student engagement, staff retention and parent satisfaction

  Give students the impression that teachers have little control and do not care

  Instill insecurity, low self-esteem and lack of ambition in their students

  Fail in inspiring students to reach their full academic potential

Schools that are tough on bullying are:

• Safe
• Fun
• Places that enable students to thrive
• Environments that help achieve better academic results for its pupils
• Factories that help develop well rounded, kind and considerate people
• Places where staff and pupils value each other
• Inclusive, tolerant, interesting and enjoyable.
• Breeding grounds to help pupils have good relationships with peers, their families and other adults they have contact with.

Paint at home and win!

If you are looking for a fun and creative activity for your Art-loving son/s over Half-Term, then please consider entering this year's Steve Brine Christmas Card Competition. You can find all relevant details below.

Please note the brief calls for A4 PAINTINGS only of the theme: 'Christmas in Lockdown'. Please could you send your son's masterpiece back to school with him after Half-Term, no later than Monday 2 November, and I will enter his work into the competition under the Pilgrims' banner. I'm looking forward to seeing these arrive!

Steve's Christmas card

Mr Walters

From Mrs Ross:

This week the Pre-Prep boys have settled into wonderful working routines and positive learning behaviour.  The staff have created inspiring learning environments, despite the Coronavirus constraints that we are working with.   

It has been a privilege to be working within our Pilgrims' Bubbles and I know that I speak for all of the staff when I tell you how much we are enjoying our time with your sons! 

I am delighted to announce that the boys will be able to borrow books from our Pre-Prep library next week, within a carefully planned system that allows for the quarantine of books and enough time between bubbles. 

Our assembly programme will also expand next week to include Class Assemblies with Mr Shroff,  Director of Wellbeing. 

Year 2 will also experience a special 'Anti Bullying' Assembly with Year 3, led by Dr Essex via Zoom. 

Thank you to all of the Reception and Year 1 parents who attended their Zoom Meetings this week. 

I look forward to seeing Year 2 parents on Tuesday.  

Forest School

This week, the boys have continued to study different environments, trying to observe the finer detail.  Year R talked about the Five Senses and explored trees using their senses of sight, hearing and touch.  Year 1 also concentrated on trees, but considered variations of leaf shape, size and colour, while Year 2 discussed ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ habitats in greater detail. 

The boys explored the Forest School site with magnifying glasses in hand to determine the micro habitats.  In addition, they created small grass nests which they positioned amongst the hazel bushes to help the hazel dormice as they get ready for their winter hibernation.

Mrs Judd