17 June 2022
Mrs Gail Haythorne, Assistant Head Staff Development and Personal Growth, MFL
How we connect as a community was the theme for a week of fun activities as students returned from the half term break.
Mr Peachey kicked off ‘Connections Week’ with a Thinking Big talk on politeness around the world, including a fascinating glimpse back to the chivalric codes of European knights and Samurai warriors. Duly inspired, students enjoyed earning golden stickers for everyday kindnesses, like a cheery greeting or opening a door, with several amassing more than 20 by the end of the week.
At lunchtimes students came together to play our giant games on Marden lawn (including, appropriately enough, Connect 4), whilst Year 10 conducted a questionnaire about how we experience kindness. Students and staff clustered around our A-Z ‘graffiti wall’ board, eager to add their ideas on how to show kindness and courtesy. Sweets were given as a thank you for their contributions.
Many students covered a lot of ground around school following Ms Jones’ cryptic clues in a treasure hunt themed around politeness in different cultures. Winners Ariana, Ivy, Manon, Maria and Telma received tuck shop vouchers and, even more valuable, passes for them and a friend to go straight to the front of the lunch queue for a whole week.
Thursday’s whole school assembly highlighted the smiles generated by everyone’s positive connections during the week, and encouraged us all to keep on going in building up our caring community. Finally, on Friday, tutor groups counted up their stickers and Miss Wang’s group, Marden Barat C, won the prize of a pizza lunch to enjoy on a day of their choosing.
All in all, the week reminded us how to make the most of being together in our wonderful Woldingham community, by having the confidence to show continual acts of kindness to others. A lot of students have requested the return of stickers in future, and we do have quite a few sheets left, so watch this space…