Our local ‘Food Pantry’ at the Methodist Church is there to help families in need, so they never have to worry about going hungry again.  With the support of donations and volunteers, they provide a sense of security for those who need it most.  Three of our well-being ambassadors offered their services this week, decanting rice from huge quantities to family sized portions.  They thoroughly enjoyed working with the volunteers and finding out more about the valuable work they do for the community. 

There is always something very special in the air when we visit our local Care Centre for the elderly.  It is such a joy to see our children interact with the visitors and the way they come together with such ease and genuineness.  Our latest visit was no exception and we had a marvellous morning chatting about Christmas plans and sharing the homemade gifts and cards the children had made, which were very well received.  We rounded up our visit with Christmas carols and songs and it was delightful to see the elderly join in with the words and actions.  Such a rewarding experience for us all and we are already planning our next visit! 🎄😍

We were delighted that Santa was able to join us for our festive session today.  He certainly had his hands full!!! 🎅🏻

Our local Boots chemist was a hive of activity on Monday as four of our well-being ambassadors, myself and Mrs Jordan joined staff to decorate the store.  Our year 6 pupils had created well-being paper chains to promote self-esteem and positivity and these were hung from the ceiling, along with some inspirational posters.

In addition, we decorated the tree and chatted to the staff and customers who were very interested to know what we were up to!

Mandy Ellery, a member of the dispensary staff, has been working hard to raise awareness of mental health and to encourage others to recognise when they need help and work towards a more positive mindset.  She has made green Mental Health ribbons for customers to place on the tree if they wish.  She also gave the ambassadors their own green ribbon to wear in recognition of their support, which they were delighted to receive.

Coming together with the local pharmacy, a prominent figure in our village, has broadened the message of support to our local community around positive mental health and well-being and we hope that this will reach the hearts of those who need it most.

What a busy week the Well-being have had this week running 7 bauble workshops!  Each class from Nursery through to Year 5 has had the opportunity to take part in a Christmas well-being activity where they have been able to get creative, learn new skills and connect with each other.  Once the activity was completed each group then came together to sing Christmas carols and there was a real sense of togetherness in the air. 🎶🎄🎵

All the decorations will be on sale at the Christmas Fayre on the 1st December and any money raised will go towards resources to support self-esteem and boost happiness. 😊

Four of our wonderful well-being ambassadors joined the Reception children to decorate our local community Christmas tree.  The ambassadors supported the younger children to pin their decorations to the tree and also placed messages of well-being support and mental health ribbons, which had been made by the year 6 class, on the branches.  There were lots of parents, carers and well wishers who came along to join us.

The positive messages encouraged passers by to take them if they were in need of emotional assistance and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly appreciative.  
We hope that these mindful cards will continue to bring joy to those who need it most.

What a wonderful morning we had at our first ‘Stay and Play’ session.  It was a great way for our parents, children, staff and well-being ambassadors to meet and make new connections in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.  Free play supported fine and gross motor skills and craft sessions were linked to Halloween.  Circle time was very popular at the end and the well-being ambassadors had everyone joining in with the actions!
Feedback from everyone involved was that is was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all and we are already looking forward to our next session. 😊

Harvest Festival has always a key feature in our school but sadly, due to the Covid pandemic, our celebrations were put on hold.  So we were delighted to be able to hold not one, but two celebrations to mark the occasion.

The first was held in the school hall, lead by our year 6 pupils and enjoyed by EYFS and KS1 pupils and families and the second at St James church, attended by pupils, friends and families of our KS2.

Both events were absolutely magnificent and reminded everyone of the importance of celebrating the harvest and how much work goes into preparing our food before we receive it.  
All donations were given to the Food Pantry, our local community food bank and it was lovely to hear from. Christina, the founder.  She talked about their work and thanked our school community for supporting them.

It was very special to come together in this way and a great start to our academic year!

What a fantastic fundraiser we had today.  In response to one of our previous pupils who has Stargardts, the well-being ambassadors were instrumental in organising the sale of cakes and connecting with our extended school community.  It was a really lovely morning, our first event in school this year, and it was a huge success.

Parents feedback:

”I really enjoyed speaking with the ambassadors and hearing about their role in school.’

”How delightful to see young people so dedicated to supporting the well-being of others.”

We enjoyed a morning of games with the visitors.  There was a range of skills being shared between the different generations and, of course, we finished with a song 🎵 or two! 

Following on from the Year 6 Buddhism workshop this morning, the Year 6 class put the principles of loving kindness into practice, throughout the school, by supporting with art, ICT, reading, or whatever else they were invited to do.  The feedback from Year 6, class teachers, teaching assistants and other pupils was so positive and it was lovely to see such positive community connections. 
 

‘Throughout the afternoon, I learn’t you can build a connection with others even if you don’t know them.’  

Saskia Year 6

’I liked reading with Aaron, it was really fun.’  Roman Year 3

‘ Basketball was so good with Carly.’  Reggie Year 1

’It was such a lovely opportunity for the Year 1’s to bond with the Year 6’s.  One child even said, “I love it when the Year 6’s come and help us.”  Very proud of them all.   Year 1 team.

The Well-being Ambassadors enjoyed sorting toiletries today for the Food Pantry and felt a sense of accomplishment, self -esteem and pride that they had been able to ‘do good’ for the community.

Christina chatted to them about her work and her meeting with King Charles and Sadiq Khan to discuss her charitable work.

The Food Pantry were delighted to receive the donations, collected by the pupils and staff during Children’s Mental Health Week.  They were most grateful to our school community for supporting their valuable service.

What a wonderful morning with had with the visitors at the Day Care Centre.  After a brisk walk to Cuffley, Year 6 sang songs and engaged in colouring activities and conversation with the elderly. They also presented them with kindness cards, which had been made by the children in Year 2.  It was a really uplifting experience for the adults and children involved and the atmosphere in the room was electric with community spirit.

The Food Pantry provides a range of fresh and non-perishable food, toiletries and household essential to anyone in need in the local area.  A group of well-being ambassadors volunteered their time to meet with the team and to help with the distribution of food.  They decanted rice and pasta into smaller portions in order to reach more households.  They chatted about the value of ‘connecting’ with the local community and supporting those less fortunate than themselves.  It was a wonderful experience which was enjoyed by us all.

Our community project embellished with the school motto, Believe, Achieve, Care has been completed!

It looks absolutely marvellous hanging in the reception area, just outside the school office.  This mural is a visual representation of the ethos of our school and values we support.  
Great Goffs Oak team work!

Under the leadership of Mrs Hart, Deputy Head, staff and pupils have been working together to create a community mural for the reception entrance hall.  It features the school ethos of ‘Believe, Achieve, Care and has been crafted with broken tile pieces, fitted together to bring the beautiful design to life.  More pictures to follow once it has been grouted and taken its ‘pride of place’ position.

What a marvellous social event we had yesterday after school.  Chrysanthi Jordan treated us to a Christmas table centrepiece workshop in which she demonstrated the skills to make an arrangement.  All the staff agreed the experience was a fantastic way to relax and enjoy each others company and we are looking forward to trying something else in the new year.

What a marvellous time was had by all when we visited the ‘stay and play’ session on Monday morning.  The four ladies from our Well-being Team showed great leadership and communication skills whilst interacting with staff, children and parents/carers.  
We arrived early so the girls could be briefed on their activities and how the session would run.  They were very enthusiastic and this ensured the best, positive outcome for all.  The staff were very impressed with the attitude of the girls to their tasks and the way they conducted themselves.  Parents/carers thought the girls had done a superb job and remarked on how they could relax and chat more knowing their children were engaged and happy.

Our Ambassadors…..

‘I liked interacting with the children and their parents, they chatted about their children’s characteristics and how they were different at home.’ Ava Macken

‘It was nice meeting them and their different personalities.  Emelle Reid

‘The morning made me feel more confident to engage with them.  Saskia Higgins

’It was amazing, I didn’t want to leave!’  Scarlett Hood

Macmillian Coffee Morning 

Today we have been so proud of the Year 6 children. They hosted the most wonderful coffee morning.

Thank you so much to all of the parents who stopped in for a cup of tea or coffee and enjoyed a bit of cake. I am overwhelmed by the amount of cake that was donated! I think there was enough to feed the whole school three times over.

​This morning we have raised £385 for Macmillan.