Remember

On Wednesday 11th November 2015 at  Homewood School we paid tribute to the fallen heroes who bravely fought and died protecting their country and our freedom. At 11 o’ clock Homewood staff and students joined the rest of the world in commemorating men and women who lost their lives in conflict.

Over 2500 members of the School Community stood together on the redgra to honour the fallen in a 2 minutes silence which started with the ‘Last Post’ bugle call and ended with the Reveille, performed by John Leigh, Royal British Legion, Paddock Wood. John was accompanied by students who are members of the Kent ACF and D Company, 4 troop Zulu Royal Marines Cadets, 305 Squadron Ashford and 500 Squadron Headcorn Air Cadets. The Cadets were led by Sixth Form student Cadet Flight Sergeant Nicholls who was awarded the title of ‘Best Banner Bearer in the UK Air Training Corps’ last year and this year won Her Majesty’s Lord - Lieutenant’s Cadet of the Year Award.

During the service, two students performed ‘Amazing Grace’ whilst a student from each College placed a poppy wreath in remembrance and a Year 9 student read an account of her recent school visit to Ypres and reminded us of the importance of remembering not only those who have died, but the families who are left behind – if we don’t remember them, who will?

It was an honour to lead the school in this service and it shows that we still have that commitment to honour those who fell for our freedom.

Celebration of Education Day

Last week was our annual schools day for schools who are part of the Tenterden Rural Alliance. These schools all work together for the benefit of our students, supporting teachers and other staff in development as well as planning activities for all our students.

The schools day is an opportunity for the 10 primary schools to send students to the event in St Mildreds church to participate in a day of activities this year themed around British Values.

We looked at a number of themes using literacy, art, sport and drama. All students also got an opportunity to go to the top of St Mildreds church tower.

We finished the day with an act of worship led by Bishop Trevor. We joined in looking at British Values and the values of God's Kingdom.

For me this is a really important day, it gives me an opportunity to meet with primary school staff and students and have some fun along the way!

The Bishop of Dover visits Homewood

On Thursday 17th September 2015 Homewood School welcomed the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover.
During his visit he took time to meet with Homewood’s Principal Sally Lees and toured the school including the new iCollege. The Bishop also took part in a Question and Answer session with Sixth Form students, lead an assembly for Year 8 students and enjoyed lunch with staff and students in the Balcony Restaurant.
The focus point of his assembly was his upcoming visit to the Calais Migrant camp on Saturday 19th September and the need to treat everyone as fellow human beings, exploring with the Sixth Form students key topical issues around the Migrant crisis, refugees and the recent assisted dying bill which went before Parliament.
Nathan Wilson, Christian Schools worker at Homewood, who organised the visit said "It was great to welcome Bishop Trevor back to Homewood after his visit several years ago. The staff and students were really impressed by his willingness to discuss topical issues and how his faith impacts his life". Sixth Form student Rebecca Hodgkins agreed, "I thoroughly enjoyed Bishop Trevor's visit. It was great to listen to a leader of the Church of England talk about his views and feelings towards challenging subjects that the world faces."

The Fruits of the Spirit

Over the past few weeks the church has been celebrating Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven to be ‘God in us’ and to guide and help us forever.

It was great fun doing assembly in Rolvenden in the final week of last term talking about fire and wind and how that was the indication that the Holy Spirit had come. But last Friday I got to take it a stage further at Benenden church’s Half Term Activity Morning. We spent some time exploring the Holy Spirit and its effects 2000yrs ago and then what effect it has on us today by looking at the fruits of the spirit.

The children gathered were so much better at remembering all 9 than any of the adults!

We then took the opportunity to write prayers on fruit and remember that the only way they will develop in our lives is if we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and stay connected to God.
We finished up with this verse

‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me.’

John 15:4

As we enter the summer term that is my prayer for myself and the Christian staff and students at Homewood, that through fellowship with each other and the reading of the Bible and prayer we would each remain in Christ and bear much fruit.

Prayer for our schools

Our friends at Spinnaker (www.spinnaker.org.uk) are holding their Prayer fortnight at the moment encouraging churches across the south east to pray for their local schools. Martin Sweet one of the founders of Spinnaker has adapted the Lords Prayer to pray specifically for churches. Please use this in your prayers for Homewood

You are
Our Father in heaven.
You are so great that we cry
hallowed be your name.
We long to see
Your Kingdom come
in our schools.
We ask that
your will be done, on earth
in classrooms and school halls, just
as in heaven.

We ask for your resources - please
give us today our daily bread.
Equip us to feed the hearts and minds of this
generation.

Forgive us our sins,
for the times we have looked away and not seen the need. May we teach children about Your forgiveness
as we forgive those who sin against us

We ask that you would
lead us not into temptation
of complacency, where we ignore the opportunities we have to engage with this generation.

We understand it is too easy to show a poor example
but deliver us from evil
so that we will show them Your grace,

and share hope for the future.

Because our vision is
for the kingdom
and we ask that they might see that
the power and the
glory are Yours.

We ask that in our lifetime, a revival amongst this generation will be a reality, both for
now and for ever. Amen

Whats in a name?

I am enjoying leading 3 primary school assemblies this week at Sandhurst, High Halden and Rolvenden. The first 2 schools I regularly go into and I know the staff, students and ways of doing things well. Tomorrow will be my first visit to Rolvenden.

I have been doing an assembly on The Names of God. After the birth of the new Princess of Cambridge on Saturday and the accompanying media circus that ensued, much has been made of the names that she was given. I suspect there are many people throughout the UK who made and lost money on the event as well as many others who are telling their friends ‘I told you so!’.

The names each one of us are given are special and unique, some have a meaning that was special to our parents, others may have some symbolism within the family, one lad told me this morning he was named George after the footballer George Best!

There are many names for God. In Psalm 23 David cries out to ‘The Lord my Shepherd’ and Jesus refers to himself several times, in John 10, as the Good Shepherd.

A shepherd, while an alien thing to many children and young people, was a vital role in Jesus day. Whilst it may not have been a respected profession or one that had prospects and was thought of highly it was a profession that couldn't be done without. It was also a dangerous profession one which may involve giving your life for the protection of the sheep. Jesus says that ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep’ (John 10:11).

I prayed with the children this morning that as they discovered what their names meant they would remember that Jesus, the good shepherd, laid down his life for them.

Transition

In the summer term a major part of my role is working with yr6's their teachers and schools to prepare them for their move to secondary school.

Below is the transcript of an interview I gave to the Tenterden Deanery newsletter this week on transition

Nathan you work in the biggest secondary school in the county. We are coming up to the time of year when the year 6 primary children will be starting to think about moving on. Just how daunting is that? What are the changes that most concern them?

The transition to secondary school is something that affects everyone differently. I meet young people who are really excited as well as those who are very nervous. Especially for young people coming to Homewood from one of the local village schools the size difference can be quite worrying. The concerns they have include bullying, finding the lessons difficult, not knowing people, or worrying about how strict teachers are.

How does Homewood help their new students with the transition?

Homewood has an incredibly comprehensive transition system. We start with yr5/6 master classes for students from local primary schools for them to get a feel for the school. Yr5 open day on 6th June, yr6 open evenings in September give students and their parents a chance to see the school in action.

When places have been offered every yr6 student gets an interview so that a member of staff can get to know them, see their work and start to alleviate any fears.

We then have primary school visits; parents evenings and our Induction week for year 6’s to spend a whole week at Homewood before the summer.

You have a specific role with preparing the students which takes you into the primary schools. How did that come about? How does it work?

I did some work with a primary school charity earlier on in my career and one of the projects they were involved in was a yr6 transition project called Its Your Move, designed by Scripture Union. I have used SU’s material for the past 3 years in the TSCWT’s transition programme. Its a session for the class to work together to think about their imminent move to secondary school, as well as other changes they have faced or may face in their lives.

So you know from previous years that the new intake comes with expectations and misgivings.   What are the main things you want to communicate to them before they arrive?

The main part of my session is based around Changes, Challenges and Choices. Exploring what that means for their move to school and in their life. I always finish the session by explaining that secondary school is a fresh start and they have a positive opportunity to make a change in their life and be the person they want to be.

Is there anything that parents can do to help with the preparation? Do you do any work with parents?

I work with Homewood parents following the transition at our open evenings and parents evening. I think the best tip for parents is to be positive about the transition, be open with your children about any fears they may have, and ask questions of your primary and secondary school if there are things you don’t know.

You are going to be a known face for some of the new arrivals. How much contact do you have with them as they settle in?

Over the first couple of weeks of term I make a particular effort to be out and about in the canteen and playground before school and at break and lunchtimes so that there is someone they may recognise. We also have several opportunities for assemblies and chances to get to know them better over that first term.

Are their original concerns still there or do new ones come in to play as they get into the new school?

What is your ongoing role with this particular group?

Some of the concerns are still there- however many of these quickly fade once they settle in. There are some Young People who struggle for longer but the school has a wide range of support mechanisms that can be put into place through the Form Tutor and the Discovery College pastoral team. I continue to be involved in Year7/8 through MyZone which is a safe space at lunchtime where students can come and eat their lunch and either sit quietly or make friends and chat with the staff involved. We also run a programme called Take Up The Challenge which some of the new yr7’r are invited on, a major part of this programme is about building confidence and self-assurance.

You have been doing the job for nearly three years now. You came to it with experience of being with youngsters in church and working at The North School in Ashford. Have you found over time you have refined how you relate to youngsters?  

I think the way you relate to Young People has to change as culture changes. Even in the past 3 years at Homewood, technology has increased in its use and in its capabilities this has changed the way everyone communicates.

Quite a few people who read this may not have too many opportunities to talk to young people. As a specialist in the field can you give us three positive pointers and three definite no-nos?

Do

1.     Try and keep track of popular culture as this provides a good conversation starter

2.     Be approachable to all YP regardless of background or culture

3.     Meet Young People where they are, both physically eg football pitches, street corners, youth clubs; and emotionally and intellectually

Don’t

1.     Go into a conversation with a YP thinking you have all the answers

2.     Be surprised if you come out of a conversation having learnt something new or about yourself

3.     Be afraid if your first conversation is a ‘disaster’. Building a relationship of trust takes time

The Transition project happens throughout July, last year Nathan visited 16 primary schools and talked to over 450 students heading to Homewood and other secondary schools in the area. Staff and students were overwhelmingly positive about the impact of this project.

For more information about the material please seewww.scriptureunion.org.uk/itsyourmove or contact Nathan e: Nathan@tscwtrust.org