All pupils will have experienced having to learn at home or back in school with only key worker’s children like themselves. Hockering Church of England Primary school, part of the Trinity Federation, is coming to the end of another school year and will be saying goodbye to those in year 6.
As part of the leaving celebrations the four pupils leaving were given the opportunity to reflect on their time in the school.
Using six prayer stations set up by the Revd Andrea Woods and Mandy Burnett from the Mattishall and Tudd Valley Benefice, the children spent some time thinking about various aspects of school life.
They thought about those who had helped them by creating pipe cleaner people and, on flags, drew and wrote their greatest memories from their time at the school. They also took time to consider those things which they hadn’t been able to do because of the pandemic and how that made them feel.
While reflecting on home learning, Isobel said: “We really need teachers.”
The prayer stations involved thinking about their move to high school as a journey where they not only take with them the knowledge of all they have learned academically but also the importance of Christian Values. The leavers drew maps which included the School’s Vision of ‘Nurture, nourish and flourish.’ They thought about what this meant for them.
Hermione explained: “I have only been at the school since year 6 and I want to say thank you to Amy for being my friend and helping me.”
Finally, there were two prayer stations which gave the leavers a chance to think about what they were most looking forward to on the next step of their journey through the education system and asking for God’s help with those things which were worrying them.
Megan said: “I am worried about all the homework.”
Amy said: “I am worried about leaving the school I have been at for ages.”
All the things that these young people had thought about, created, and written were then shared with the whole school as well their parents and carers at the leavers service. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions we were unable to hold the service at St Michael’s church. Instead, the whole school, together with the parents and carers of the leavers, gathered outside on the school field and held the service there. Led by the Revd Andrea and the year 6 pupils, the school sang two songs and the leavers shared their memories and hopes. Mrs Newman, Executive Head Teacher of the Trinity Federation, presented each of the leavers with a copy of the Youth Bible which had been donated by St Michael’s church. Then Mr Jonathan Gray, one of the school governors, handed out some school awards for non-academic achievements.
Mandy Burnett led the school in praying for the leavers.
The Revd Andrea said: “Moving on to a new school can be daunting. As Christians we are constantly moving on and being transformed by the Holy Spirit and so in the context of prayer, we wanted to allow the leavers the opportunity to reflect on their time here at Hockering Primary and to look forward to the next stage of their journey from a Christian perspective.
“The conversations we had during the reflective morning have been really important. The leavers really enjoyed helping to lead the service. They go to their new schools with our blessing and the promise that we will be praying for them.”