Good morning everybody!
This week, as part of our focus on ‘Changing Me’, we will be looking at how we express how we feel when change happens. One of the best ways that we can do this is to immerse ourselves firstly in our growing understanding of all the cycles that happen in nature and all around us, all of the time.
I thought that we would start with a mindful moment. For those in school at the moment, you may want to use your time by our school pond to think about cycles in nature. Those at home may also have a garden or a pond space where you could enjoy a moment of awe and wonder or alternatively you might want to join the BBC Springwatch team for some beautiful ‘Pond Perfection’.
BBC Two – Springwatch, 2020, Episode 12, Pond perfection
Cycles in nature can teach us so much. Within these cycles there are times of new life, growth, beauty and abundance, and also times of die-back and decay. Each stage has a critical role to play in maintaining the cycle. Cycles are the beating heart of sustainability.
When we look at nature we are reminded that this time of year is a time of awakening, a time of new life, and the signs of new life around us can give us a strong sense of hope, especially during the trickiest of times.
I wonder how many cycles you can think of in nature which teach us about re-birth, starting all over again and transformation into something breathtakingly beautiful? Have a look at the images below and share what you already know about these cycles. Do these cycles ever end?
I know that many of you are also already experts when it comes to the life cycle of plants. At the beginning of lockdown, many of you planted seeds and looked at transforming a part of your home or garden by growing your own flowers, fruit or vegetables. The keen gardeners amongst you have already told me about the excitement that you have witnessed in your pots and growing spaces.
Harry in Foundation practically burst when he realised that these …
turned into these, due to his nurture and careful watering.
And some of you are also experiencing your first sweet and juicy harvests!
I would love to see what has happened in your pots and gardens over the last few months. I wonder if you have managed to grow something that you’ve been able to include in a meal or whether your efforts to attract bees and other pollinators have been successful?
During lockdown and this current time, we are all experiencing many different emotions. At times we may feel excited about life returning to ‘normal’ again but we may also be feeling anxious about change and whether things will still feel the same.
Cycles remind us that there’s always a second chance and that we have endless opportunities in life to start all over again. As we emerge from lockdown, it’s starting to feel a little like that. In some ways we have a chance to start all over again, returning to some of the really good bits that we genuinely missed but maybe replacing some parts of our life that weren’t missed with something much more enjoyable, healthy and worthwhile.
We’ll finish today’s assembly with a story that involves one of the life cycles that you may have talked about today, and one that we talk about ALL the time in school – the butterfly.
You will know that caterpillars can struggle to emerge from their cocoons. This struggle is what gives them their beautiful colouring and wings that make them strong enough to fly. If we were to poke the cocoon, to let the butterfly inside out, it would simply emerge as a limp and colourless butterfly. If we allow nature to take its course and for changes to work their magic, the beautiful butterfly will have wonderful days ahead, soaring in summer breezes and flitting from one beautifully scented flower to another.
The importance of struggle in our life – Story by Paulo Coelho
It is the same for us, making a new start is always worth it and like the caterpillar we will change in the process. There is no limit to the new starts we can have or the beauty that can emerge if we allow a struggle to work its magic and change our future.
So – your task this week is to focus on cycles in two places.
- I would love you to share an update on your growing projects and it would be wonderful if you could include your ‘before’ alongside your ‘after’ photo
Or;
- You may want to share some of your learning around nature’s cycles this week.
Enjoy your week, wherever you may be learning. Here’s to a celebration of cycles in nature at the end of the week and a chance to catch up with your green-fingered transformations.
I look forward to seeing some of you in school and also want those at home to remember that any temporary struggles are sometimes just what we need to make those wings strong and colourful. I can’t wait to see you soaring in Liscombe St again soon!
With warm wishes
Mrs Smith 🦋