Year 1 PSHE This is my Place
Our Year One children have been exploring the concept of belonging this week for Children’s Mental Health Week. By creating their own personal maps, they have been identifying the places where they feel safest, happiest, and most at home. At Darwen St James’, we believe that nurturing a sense of belonging is the first step toward helping every child flourish. When children know they have a place where they truly fit in, they have the confidence to grow and the ambition to reach their full potential. #DarwenStJames #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #ThisIsMyPlace #Belonging #NurturingAmbition #YearOne
Reception- PSHE-Teamwork
In our sand area today, our little builders turned into a team of royal architects! The children worked brilliantly together to create a magnificent castle fit for a giant. Using a mix of sturdy bricks and textured sand, they communicated their ideas with wonderful clarity, discussing exactly how to make the walls tall enough and where the giant would sleep. It was fantastic to hear them negotiating space, with one child suggesting, "Let's use the sand to make a moat!" while another added, "We need the biggest bricks for the giant's tower!" By sharing their thoughts and listening to each other’s suggestions, they successfully added a grand entrance and a lookout point, proving that their teamwork was just as strong as their building.
Year 5 and 6 PCSO Visit
Building a Brighter Community: A Visit from our Local PCSO. Last Friday afternoon, Year 5 and 6 had the privilege of welcoming our local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) to the classroom for an important and thought-provoking session. Understanding Choices and Consequences The workshop focused on the concept of honesty and the impact of stealing. We explored different scenarios, including: The hurt caused by taking something from a friend at school. The serious legal and community consequences of shoplifting. The children truly shone during the session! They engaged deeply with the topic, asking insightful questions and demonstrating a mature understanding of how our individual choices ripple out to affect our friends, families, and the wider community in Darwen. Our visitor was particularly impressed by how clearly the pupils could explain the importance of integrity and respect. Reflection at Home It was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to build a positive relationship with our local police force and to reflect on their own values. A question for reflection tonight: "Why do you think being honest is the most important foundation for a strong friendship?"
Children in Need - A Visit from Pudsey!
???? A Very Special Visitor at Darwen St James’! We are thrilled to share some exciting news! Because of the incredible generosity and hard work of our pupils, parents, and staff, we received a very special surprise visit from Pudsey Bear himself! Pudsey dropped by to say a massive "thank you" for the money we raised for Children in Need. It was wonderful to see so many smiles across the school as we celebrated our fundraising success together. ???? Why it Matters The money raised goes directly toward supporting children and young people across the UK, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive. At Darwen St James’, we believe in "Nurturing Ambition," and helping others is a big part of that mission. ❤️ A Huge Thank You We are so proud of our school community. Whether you donated, took part in a challenge, or wore your spots with pride, you helped make a difference. Check out the photos from Pudsey’s visit below! ???????? #ChildrenInNeed #PudseyBear #DarwenStJames #NurturingAmbition #FundraisingSuccess #CommunitySpirit
Year 2 - Bounce Back - Resilience
Ever wondered how a "Colour Monster" can help children build life-long resilience? This week, our Year 2 pupils took an exciting step in their wellbeing journey during a ‘Bounce Forward’ workshop led by James from Mind Lancashire. After diving into the story of The Colour Monster to identify and untangle different emotions, the children shared their favourite ways to stay calm and regulated. To celebrate their new skills, everyone got creative by decorating "Crowns of Calm", serving as a colourful reminder that they have the tools to bounce back from any challenge!
Year 1 - Road Safety Talk
Year 1 are Road Safety Superstars! Today in PSHE, we practiced the Green Cross Code and talked about how to stay visible and safe near traffic. Amazing focus from everyone involved! #RoadSafety #PSHE #PrimarySchool #Safety
Nursery - PSHE - New Beginnings And Building Friendships
This week, our PSHE focus centered on Personal, Social, and Emotional Development as the children returned for the new half term. There was a sense of excitement as they explored the classroom and new learning opportunities. A key theme throughout the week was the concept that "sharing is caring." The children worked beautifully together when playing with the new resources, demonstrating patience and cooperation. They were particularly welcoming as we greeted new classmates joining the nursery for the first time. The children showed great empathy as they witnessed a range of emotions in the classroom. They were incredibly supportive, offering comfort to their new friends through kind gestures, such as giving a cuddle or offering a toy as a distraction. By inviting their new peers into their play, the children have already begun to form lovely new friendships, showing a wonderful understanding of inclusion and kindness.
Year 3 - PSHE - Managing Risk
This week, our Year 3 pupils took a proactive step in developing their personal safety skills during an insightful lesson on managing risk. The classroom was buzzing with thoughtful discussion as the children were presented with a variety of everyday scenarios, ranging from road safety to online interactions and physical play. Working in small groups, the children carefully analysed each situation to identify potential hazards. They demonstrated impressive maturity by articulating exactly what made certain behaviors dangerous and, more importantly, brainstormed practical strategies to reduce the risk to both themselves and those around them. By the end of the session, the pupils had gained a clearer understanding of how to assess their environment and make informed, responsible choices. It was wonderful to see them building the confidence and vocabulary needed to stay safe in an ever-changing world!
School Council- PSHE- Spreading Christmas Cheer in the Community
Our school council members took on a wonderfully heartwarming project this week by organizing and performing a special nativity play exclusively for the residents of a local nursing home. The pupils demonstrated incredible dedication, rehearsing their roles as Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels to bring the traditional story to life. The performance was met with warm applause and generated a tangible sense of festive cheer among the residents, providing a lovely inter-generational connection. Following the play, the children personally greeted the residents, shared handmade cards, and offered sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, reinforcing the school's commitment to community spirit and kindness during the holiday season.
Year 5 - Parliament Week Activities
Year 5 celebrated UK Parliament Week last Friday by diving into the world of democracy and governance. After watching informative videos detailing the workings of Parliament, students demonstrated their understanding by creating fantastic acrostic poems spelling out 'P-A-R-L-I-A-M-E-N-T'. Putting their learning into immediate action, the class held important votes for their new school house team names and selected classroom activities. Crucially, they actively practised the art of persuasion during these debates, linking directly to the persuasive writing skills they are currently mastering in their English lessons.
Reception- PSHE-Healthy Eating
In our PSHE lesson, our wonderful Reception children became super Healthy Eating Experts! We focused on learning all about healthy eating and making good choices to keep our bodies strong and full of energy. Introducing the Healthy Food Plate We used the Healthy Food Plate (sometimes known as the Eatwell Guide) to help us understand the different types of food and how much of them we should eat. It was a fantastic visual tool! The children learned that foods can be sorted into groups, and that some foods are like 'everyday fuels,' while others are 'sometimes treats.' We had a brilliant hands-on activity where the children worked together to sort various food pictures onto the plate. They had to decide: ✅ Good Choices: Foods we should eat lots of every day (like fruits, vegetables, and starchy foods). ❌ Sometimes Choices: Foods we should only eat in small amounts and not all the time (like sugary sweets, fizzy drinks, and some processed snacks). It sparked great discussions! We talked about why milk and water are the best drinks, and how crunchy carrots and juicy apples help us grow big and strong.
Year 6: PSHE - UK Parliament Day
This week year 6 have learnt about the role of democracy in our society, how the UK parliament is structured and the roles of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
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