Term 4 Week 2
As I sat down today to write this blog and reflect on the week that has just passed, one word kept coming to mind.
Phenomenal.
It has been a busy week filled with learning, creativity and the usual rhythm of school life. Lessons were taught, ideas were explored and children continued to grow in confidence and curiosity. But without a doubt, the highlight of the week was our World Book Day celebration on Thursday 5 March.
From the very start of the day there was a real sense of excitement in the air. We began the morning at the school gates, welcoming children as they arrived. One by one they walked through the gates in the most imaginative, extravagant and beautifully crafted costumes. Every child had clearly dressed to impress, proudly stepping into school as their favourite literary characters.
Owls class had taken inspiration from the wonderful book 'Felicity Fire and the Forever Key' by Leon Mitchell.
The classroom was filled with characters from the story as the children stepped into Felicity’s magical world. We had Felicity herself, brave and curious, ready for adventure. There were mushrooms, mischievous fairies with delicate pointy ears, and even a fire breathing dragon that Felicity encounters as she travels through the mysterious world. Some children chose the wonderfully quirky mushroom character, dressed in a sharp little tuxedo, which brought a lot of smiles as they walked through the gates. We also had a cloud called Magic drifting among us, and much to the children’s delight, they were thrilled to see Rascal, our school dog, joining in the celebrations and dressed up in character as well.
Seeing the children bring these characters to life was a reminder of something powerful. Books do not simply sit on shelves. In the hands of children, stories become living worlds full of imagination, adventure and possibility.
A huge thank you must go to the parents and families who put so much time, creativity and effort into helping their children bring these characters to life. The costumes were simply phenomenal and the pride on the children’s faces said it all.
And that was only the beginning of our World Book Day.
We began the day by gathering in the hall to launch our World Book Day celebrations. Even our headteacher joined in the fun, dressed as a Hogwarts-style wizard in a black robe and yellow and black house scarf, which immediately added to the magical atmosphere in the room. I joined in the fun too, dressing as the wonderfully quirky mushroom character from the story we have been reading in class, complete with a large red spotted mushroom hat, which certainly brought plenty of smiles and laughter from the children.
During the assembly, we introduced one of the highlights of the day, our Book in a Jar competition. The jars were displayed across the hall for everyone to see, and the moment the children walked in they were immediately drawn to them.
The creativity and effort that had gone into each jar was phenomenal. The children from Owls Class had clearly put a great deal of thought into their Book in a Jar creations, carefully choosing characters, scenes and settings from their favourite books, stories and even some well loved films. Each jar captured a small world from a story they loved
World Book Day is about more than dressing up. It is about celebrating stories, sharing books with one another and reminding children that reading opens the door to imagination, adventure and new worlds.
Seeing the hall filled with costumes, books and the incredible Book in a Jar creations was a wonderful way to begin the day.
One of the highlights of the day was that each class was visited by a member of staff who came to share a story with them. It was wonderful to see staff across the school joining in the celebrations, many of them dressed as characters from the books they were reading. Our class was very fortunate to have Ms Kimber visit us. She arrived dressed as Hagrid from the Harry Potter stories, complete with her cloak, hat and even a mysterious egg in hand. The children were immediately intrigued and loved listening to the story as she brought the character to life. Moments like this really capture the spirit of World Book Day, where stories are shared and characters step straight out of the pages and into the classroom.
The children also had the exciting opportunity to meet the author Leon Mitchell in the hall. They were delighted to have their books and posters signed and spent time exploring the different stories he has written. The children were eager to speak with him, asking thoughtful questions and enjoying the chance to hear about what inspired him to become a writer. Leon also shared some of the objects and ideas that sparked his imagination. One of the most memorable moments for the children was stepping into the immersive tent, where they discovered a treasure chest and searched for the magical key that belongs to Felicity. It was a wonderful experience that truly brought the story to life.
Leon Mitchell also visited each classroom during the day. When he came to our class, he led the children through a wonderful imagination activity. The children gathered around him on the carpet, completely absorbed in the moment. He asked them to close their eyes and imagine themselves being transported into another world. Encouraging them to enter a state of daydreaming, he began a story and then invited the children to continue it, each adding their own ideas as the story travelled around the circle. The room was filled with creativity as the children built the story together. It was a powerful reminder of something Leon often speaks about, that some of our most imaginative and intuitive thinking happens when we allow ourselves the time and space to daydream.
Another magical moment of the day came when the children were surprised by a special visitor. To their absolute delight, they were introduced to Glinda, the Good Witch from Wicked. Dressed in her beautiful sparkling gown and carrying her wand, she truly looked as though she had stepped straight out of the story. As soon as the children saw her, many of them had their jaws drop in excitement, completely mesmerised by her presence. She sang beautifully for them, performing one of the songs from the story, which made the moment even more magical. Afterwards, the children took part in a fun activity where they had to think carefully about what Glinda might be thinking, searching for clues and sharing their ideas together.
From the incredible costumes and the imaginative Book in a Jar creations, to meeting a real author and welcoming magical characters into our school, the children were immersed in the world of books and storytelling. It was wonderful to see their curiosity sparked and their enthusiasm for reading shine through.