The Spring Term in Junior School has got off to an energetic start with Flourish and Fly: Networked; a week designed to raise the profile of the GDSTs four core values and to enhance our personalised Personal, Social, Health and Economic education curriculum.

The week began with Mrs White, PE coordinator, leading the new weekly tradition of Wake and Shake – a morning aerobic session to prepare everyone for the week ahead – and Flourish and Fly assembly focusing on what makes a good sportsperson, such as teamwork, determination and resilience.

All the Junior School girls got to take part in a range of specially organised activities throughout the week, including working with Clarence Firstbourne, the European Sprint Hurdle Champion. Activities included circuit training sessions working different body parts.  Older girls got the chance to try out hurdling up at Senior School and see the European Champion in action!

In their PE sessions Mrs White encouraged everyone to work as a team and solve problems, for example, crossing a “Crocodile river” using two hoops and orienteering around the school.

Madame Turner opened the doors of bilingual club to monolingual pupils to promote conversations about a networked world and the communities outside our own. It was great to see such a range of languages being spoken and the girls working together to teach each other!

Other classes held discussions about safety in a networked world. Girls participated in circle times to talk about a range of topics conducive to creating a well networked community. These included road safety, stranger danger, internet safety, stereotyping and discrimination which started some very thoughtful and considerate conversations.

To top off the week Amanda Swift, co-author of Guinea Pigs Online and Puppies Online, paid a visit to the school. Students got the opportunity to plan their own story with the author which led to brilliant discussions about Online Safety and ask questions about authorship. Following the visit, everyone got involved in discussions on how to stay safe online. Students made posters outlining some of the topics covered. Look out for our winners’ framed masterpieces around Junior School soon!