Dear Families
It has been a week of contrasts at Meadow. Some of the points to celebrate were:
- The school football team took part in a fantastic tournament and acquitted themselves with excellent dexterity, team spirit and fairness.
- We had a brilliant World Book Day with many pupils and staff dressing up as book characters.
- Our 'Crunchy Munchy' 6th form vocational group produced a delicious meal of bangers, mash, peas and homemade gravy.
- We had a visiting ecologist who talked to us about the birds and bats we might find on the site.
- Many 6th form pupils successfully attended college interviews and were offered places.
- As well as the excellent work that has been going on across the curriculum around the school. Well done everyone!
Some of the challenges we faced were:
- A pupil being knocked down outside school (thankfully, they are OK)
- Having to involve the Police with a small group of pupils due to their disruptive behaviour and/or bullying of others.
- Supporting many pupils who are anxious about the conflict in the Ukraine
Assembly
In this week's assembly we talked about bullying again. Bullying of individuals, groups or even countries as it is currently being seen in the Ukraine.
We used a lot of visuals, alongside a version of the explanation below, to try and help our pupils understand what is happening.
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After the last big playground fight (World War 2) lots of popular kids (World Leaders) got together and made a big group (NATO). All the kids in the group made a pinky promise (Treaty) to be nice and respectful and not fight each other anymore.
They agreed not to go into each other's part of the playground (Countries) without permission. They also promised not to fight or throw sticks or stones (Heavy artillery) at each other.
The UK is part of the group (NATO).
Then a new kid (Ukraine) came out on the playground but a big bully (Russia) started picking on the new kid. Russia was greedy and bossy and wanted the new kids playground space for himself [even though he has one of the biggest spaces in the playground].
Sadly, the new kid hadn't joined the group (NATO) because the big bad bully didn't want them to.
All the people in the group (NATO) would be breaking their pinky promise if any of them helped the new kid (Ukraine) fight the bully (Russia).
But, we have all told the bully off and stuck up for the new kid by hiding the bully's pocket money until the bully stops hurting the new kid (Sanctions) and this will hopefully stop the bully from buying more sticks and stones.
We have also supported the new kid to fight the bully, because this is not breaking the pinky promise!
Even though it is really, really sad, all we can do now is stand on the edge of the playground and watch and give moral support to the new kid, because we are not allowed to fight the bully for them, not without breaking the pinky promise.
BUT... if the bully breaks the pinky promise and comes into our part of the playground (UK) without permission and throws a stick or stone at us, then the whole of the group (NATO) will come and help us.
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Cake Sale
One of our Year 10 pupils was so concerned about the conflict, he has positively distracted himself by organising the whole school to have a cake sale to raise funds for charities supporting the Ukrainian refugees. We have advised all pupils not to obsess over the news, reports and the Internet, as this is a proven way of increasing anxiety. Instead, we have suggested some of the following distraction techniques:
If you are concerned about your child's anxiety in relation to the current conflict or any other matter, please make contact with their Form Team for support.
Very best wishes to you all for a good weekend.
