The year started well, with lesson support, games club and mentoring resuming after the summer break. In games club this year, we are including question cards alongside our games, which are giving us something to think about and is starting to give space to discuss our different views, and includes questions about faith. The students have taken to this really well, and are able to give their own thoughts and ideas.
At the beginning of October, I ran a prayer and reflection space, in collaboration with Rev Alison Hardy from the local church for all of KS3. Every class could come and experience four activities where students could think about spirituality with space to reflect. Students looked at their fingerprints, adding them to a sheet of paper, thinking about how they are each unique; they thought about how they can bring light and kindness to those around them through scratch art; they wrote big questions they’d like to ask God, whether they think there is a God or not; and they wrote prayers and thoughts for the world, alongside people they know and positive messages, and stuck them on a world map. We were really impressed with how the students engaged with the activities and how respectful they were of each other’s responses.
At the beginning of November, I experienced a personal loss which led me to paring back my offering to the college and putting a temporary pause on my lunch clubs and mentoring. Throughout this, I have realised how much I am supported as a person by the college.