Online Safety - Violent Content Online - Year 4
In our PSHE session today, we focused on our online safety. Violent content online is now witnessed by around 70% of teenagers through social media. 5% actively seek it out, most encounter it through group chats or social media algorithms. As a class we extracted key pieces of information from the leaflet and then discussed this in our groups. There are plenty of risks associated with online content and a key piece of information that we will take with us is that many older teens become numb to violent content after years of exposure, even admitting that they’re unlikely to ever report it!
Online Safety: Violent Content Online
Violence, viral videos and vulnerability. Most kids aren’t looking for violent content online – but they’re still seeing it. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explores the impact and offers advice for trusted adults. Download your FREE copy here >> https://ow.ly/KcKr50VVJxp
Year 4 - Linking Schools: Visit One
The Year 4 class were excited to welcome their link class from St Matthew’s on Monday. They started the day telling their visitors what they love about our wonderful school and about Darwen. They spent the day in teams collaborating and sharing through building towers and taking part in team games. We are so proud of how well our children welcomed their new friends. They were polite and accommodating and everyone had a wonderful day. We are looking forward to going to St Matthew’s for visit day two.
Year 3-Living Life to the Fullest at Rock and River
What an unforgettable day at Rock and River! Today, Year 3 embarked on their exciting class trip to Rock and River, a day filled with challenge, adventure, and growth. The aim of the day was to step outside comfort zones, try new experiences, and explore personal potential, and the children did exactly that! From the Low Ropes Course, climbing wall, and air bag jump, to Rafted Canoes, Sit-on-Top Kayaks, Paddle Boards, and the Mega Paddle Boards, every child embraced the challenges with enthusiasm and bravery. What made the day special was the way the children supported one another. There was a wonderful sense of encouragement, respect, and team spirit, with friendships strengthened through shared experiences and mutual celebration of each other’s efforts. Throughout the day, the children truly lived life to the fullest, laughing, learning, and pushing beyond their fears. Just as importantly, they embodied the Christian values at the heart of our school: courage, friendship and encouragement. It was a day of lifelong memories, an example of what can be achieved when we believe in ourselves and lift each other. A huge well done to every single one of them, they should be incredibly proud! All of the photos will be added to this album shortly: https://www.stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/photo-galleries/year-3-rock-and-river-2024-25
Online Safety: Minecraft
Block out online risks in Minecraft. With millions of players chatting and creating - and interest rising again after April’s movie release - our #WakeUpWednesday guide helps parents and educators keep young gamers safe in this endlessly popular sandbox title. Download >> https://ow.ly/7ZTF50VRURe #MinecraftSafety #GamingParents #OnlineSafetyTips #SafeGaming
Year 1&2 Trip- The Crocky Trail
Today, our Year 1 and 2 children had an fantastic adventure on their trip to the Crocky Trail! The day was all about pushing boundaries and building confidence, and every child rose to the challenge with extreme courage. It was equally wonderful to see them encouraging each other every step of the way—cheering on their friends, offering a helping hand, and celebrating each other’s achievements with joy. Not only did they have a fantastic time, but they also represented the school beautifully. Their behaviour throughout the day was impeccable—polite, respectful, and full of team spirit. It was a brilliant day full of laughter, bravery, and unforgettable memories. Well done, Year 1 and 2—you were amazing! For all of the photos that were taken, please visit: https://stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/photo-galleries/year-1-2-visit-crocky-trail
Year 5- Peer Mediation training
Year 5 had their final peer mediation training session today. They role played a session, looked at scenarios that they could and could not mediate and looked at problems they might encounter. Year 5 have now been asked to apply to become a mediator by writing a letter. We can't wait to introduce our new peer mediators soon.
Reception: 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Our Reception class had a wonderful session focussing on wellbeing through being active, staying connected, and taking notice. The children thoroughly enjoyed their Forest Schools session, where they were actively running, exploring, and building together. This hands-on experience fostered both their physical health and their ability to stay connected as they collaborated on projects and supported each other's play. Creativity blossomed as they used "God's creations" to make art. Leaves, twigs, and pebbles became their media, encouraging appreciation for the natural world. This activity also promoted connection as they shared materials and ideas. Moments of quiet reflection helped the children practice taking notice. They listened to the birds singing, observed the beauty around them, and explored their spirituality by expressing gratitude for their environment. This encouraged mindfulness and a sense of wonder. These engaging activities provided valuable lessons in looking after their wellbeing through movement, positive relationships, and appreciating the present moment.
Year 1 Science and PSHE- Plants
In Science, Year 1 are learning about plants. They have planted cress, sunflowers, runner beans and mung beans and are excitedly watching them grow. This has also tied in with their learning in PSHE as they have had to think about taking responsibility for these seeds and ensuring that they are provided with the things that they need for survival and growth.
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Online Safety: Fostering a Sense of Belonging
Every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. Our FREE guide shares 10 simple ways to build belonging at school and at home - from celebrating individuality to tackling bullying. Download >> https://ow.ly/oW4h50VNUsx #WakeUpWednesday #ParentTips
Random Acts of Kindness around our community
As part of our PSHE sessions we have been looking at mental health awareness, what fills our buckets and how we can spread kindness. We decided to complete random acts of kindness by sharing our kindness poems that we had written in class. Inside the poems we wrapped a hot chocolate and a biscuit for people to enjoy. It was so lovely to share these with our local community and the children were super excited to give them out. We put a smile on so many peoples faces and they really appreciated how much effort Year 4 had made. We look forward to sharing more about this in our Presentation of learning next week whilst it’s Mental Health Awareness week too !
Year 4 PSHE - Mental Health Awareness
In our PSHE lesson we have been looking at Mental Health Awareness. Mental health is everything. Mental health is more than just a small part of our lives.It’s connected to every little thing we do, every place we go and every person around us. Mental Health Awareness Week this year takes place from Monday 12 – Sunday 18 May 2025. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. In our sessions we have been learning how to fill our buckets with all the things that find us joy, writing Kindness poems and planning random acts of kindness.