This looks a really amazing piece of work - where do we get the details of how Jason used it? (not buying Youthwork enough, me) I think the idea of identity (in all the RE syllabuses of course) is a great one - working with this concept, faith becomes relevant to everyone, and 11-16s are spending their daily time thinking and acting out their answers to ‘who am I?’ questions. Jesus asked: ‘who do other people say that I am?’
In the run up to half term we ran a prayer room in one of the high schools I regularly work in in Leeds. We ran lessons for RE looking at prayer and spirituality and I was constantly overwelmed by the depth pupils were willing to share in front of a class of peers. Both staff and students commented on how much pupils had to deal with, having read their shared prayers. Their desire, a desperation even, for someone to be listening. I used the resources I found on schoolswork.co.uk with those in the 24-7 pack, which made the bringing together of activites much easier. God was in it all otherwise it just wouldn’t have happened, and I look forward to hearing the stories of answered prayer as I return to school this term. If you’re thinking of running a room, push some doors, talk to some people, visit a running prayer room in school, these guys at schoolswork and 24-7 are great support and there might even be someone doing the same local to you too!
What a great poem - James has summed up the feeling i know so well as somebody who has spent years doing Christian assemblies in both primary and secondary school…
“Well Done James”
Please don’t let your ink become dry as i am sure there are many more great odes in you that need to be put onto paper.
Rev Richard Pidgley
Discovery Church - Swindon
i work in a primary school as a TA, often there is conflict.
so my comment would be one aimed at children taking responsibility for their own actions-because it’s always someone elses fault.
“what could you do different towards someone that might prevent a falling out?”
“what good, kind or nice thing have you done today that has helped someone else?”
I never got a valentines card when I went to school. It didn’t bother me. I say its just harmless fun.
great encouragement in christian schools work. just shows how effective we can be without realising it !!!!
Sounds great. Nice one!
Amy your short course on assemblies was brilliant! My fav was the Russian doll assembly, its such a good idea
Thanks for letting us know Becky, sounds like a significant week for the school and makes all the prep you put in worthwhile! Look forward to hearing what happens from here!
I used this brilliant resource last year in the end of term services for several different year groups. I was able to use all of the resources (slightly adapted) and they provided a powerful and engaging framework for sharing the message of Easter. Thank you so much for producing this resource and the excellent value it represents. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone else.
How to blog
First, some explanation about how membership works on schoolswork.co.uk.
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Happy blogging!
Education and schools work update
Headlines from the world of education and schools work in the last week.
Change?
“Myself and my mate (and fellow veteran schoolsworker) Baz Gascoyne came across this old schools work book the other day. It felt really dated (but I am sure at the time it was a great resource), so it got me thinking…”
Looking for help with funding?
Funding Central looks like it could be a useful site.
”[It] is a free smart website for all third sector organisations, including community groups, providing access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities, plus a wealth of tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to their needs.”
Set up by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and funded by the office of the third sector, it might just point you in the right direction if you’re insure of where to start or where to go to for support. Thanks to Ian for the link.
STREAM schools workers conference
STREAM -Networking Christians in Education in London & the South East. ‘RENEW - REFRESH - REVIVE’ a day for those working in schools run by STREAM looking at staying fresh in ministry and some reflections of a schools worker. ( STREAM is a collection of schools workers from a number of Christian organisations) Friday 23 October. London City Mission HQ, 175 Tower Bridge Road, Lonodn SE1 2EH 10.45am -3.30pm
Cost £10 (pay on the day.) Details e-mail admin@streamwork.org.uk 020 8778 3181
Next STREAM conference 28 May.
Wayne Dixon
World Peace Day
Monday 21st September 2009 is World Peace Day. If you’re doing an assembly based around this, a short video from Truetube is available here.
It links to http://www.odysseynetworks.org, an interfaith charity, whose motto is ‘building bridges of understanding’. The film is specifically geared towards the 21st World Peace Day, and can be an effective way of introducing a minute of silence next monday at 12pm, the challenge being to ‘pledge a minute for peace’.
There is more information on the International World Day of Peace website here.
War lesson help
Trying to find lesson on pacifism, conscientious objectors and the Christian view point on war
Start Freedom
Start Freedom is an exciting new initiative from Stop the Traffik. Launching in just one month’s time, on October 14th, schools all around the world will be uniting to watch the broadcast of an exclusive short film developed in collaboration with the United Nation.
A global campaign for schools and young people who will become aware of the issues surrounding human trafficking and realise the power to make a difference.
New Year, new start
Praying together as a community of workers encourages each other, builds real community and helps live as the Body of Christ
Training in Schools Work
TRAINING IN SCHOOLS WORK
Schools work is an increasingly significant area of youth and children’s ministry. This residential course is designed for those new to schools work as well as those with some experience or who are working in schools as a part of a wider role as church-based youth or children’s workers – both paid and unpaid. It is suitable for people working in primary or secondary schools. As well as thinking about the theological underpinning of schools work there will be practical sessions and the opportunity to gain new ideas and insights.
http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/Uploads/Documents/2009_October%231%23.pdf
Wayne Dixon
Orison
I’ve just got back from a week at Momentum (Soul Survivor’s festival for young adults), talking about prayer in schools. I was there helping out with a prayer space called Orison, which is a really exciting prayer initiative designed for use in schools. “Orison is an interactive, spiritual experience which exists to encourage people of all ages to consider questions of spirituality and to engage with God through creative, hands-on prayer activities by working in conjunction with the National Curriculum Guidelines for Religious Education.”
Orison from Stuart Boreham on Vimeo.
Check out more on their site here.
With activities ranging from bubble tubes to sand trays and mirrors, there are plenty of interactive ways of engaging children and young people in thinking about prayer. Coming soon on schoolswork.co.uk we’ll be featuring some of the resources used in Orison and a bigger conversation about how and why we want to engage students thinking about prayer in schools.
