Issue No 417
9th November 2007
Dear Friends of Crescent,
As I was driving to a meeting on Wednesday morning I listened to a radio discussion about bullying in the work place. This seems to be a topical subject at the moment with the week beginning 19th November being Anti-Bullying Week.
As a preparatory school we are preparing children for life beyond the Crescent and part of that preparation must be about how to deal with bullies. There was an article about this in The Observer newspaper recently that might provoke a healthy debate about this topic so I reproduce it here.
Bullying is exaggerated, says childhood expert Anushka Asthana, education correspondent
Sunday October 28, 2007
The level of playground bullying is being exaggerated and children must learn to cope with name-calling and teasing to help them develop resilience, a childhood expert says.
In a book to be published tomorrow, Tim Gill, a former government adviser who led a major review into children's play, argues that mollycoddling children by labelling 'unpleasant behaviour' as bullying is stopping them from building the skills they need to protect themselves. 'I have spoken to teachers and educational psychologists who say that parents and children are labelling as bullying what are actually minor fallings-out,' said Gill, the former director of the then Children's Play Council, who is currently advising the Conservative Party's childhood review.
'Children are not always nice to each other, but people are not always nice to each other. The world is not like that. One of the things in danger of being lost is children spending time with other children out of sight of adults; growing a sense of consequence for their actions without someone leaping in,' he told The Observer
Gill related an incident in which his own daughter complained that she was being bullied after three boys teased her about a game she was playing in the park. 'What struck me was the use of the word bullying to describe that,' he said. 'Bullying is where the victimisation is sustained and there is a power imbalance. I do not mean we should allow unbridled cruelty, just that one option is asking, "Can you sort it out yourself?" '
In No Fear: Growing up in a Risk-averse Society, which will be published tomorrow, Gill argues that society is 'bubble-wrapping' children. Parents, teachers, police, the government and wider society are all to blame, he said, for overreacting to risks such as 'stranger danger', injury and abuse.
Children were too quickly branded antisocial. He cited a case where three 12-year-olds were arrested and DNA-tested for climbing a tree.
In the book, he also tackles the system for child protection, arguing that too many people were made to go through bureaucratic checks in order to spend time with children. In the case of Abigail Rae, the two-year-old who drowned after disappearing from her nursery, a passer-by saw her but did not stop her in case he was accused of abduction, said Gill.
All these different factors were working to the 'detriment of [children's] physical, mental and emotional wellbeing', says Gill's book.
But his views on bullying are likely to cause most controversy. 'What may seem like minor name-calling to an adult could be devastating to the child,' said Liz Carnell, director of the charity Bullying UK. 'Bullying can start with one incident, and if you nip it in the bud straight away, it will not grow into a problem.'
Gill Frances, director of wellbeing at the National Children's Bureau and spokeswoman for the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said it was good that Gill's daughter could come to him, but added: 'For lots more, there is no-one to turn to.'
However, Frances, who will launch anti-bullying week next month, said she agreed with Gill to some extent: 'Yes, we are wrapping children in cotton wool, and by doing that they do not develop the skills they may need, but we also need to make sure they are constantly supported and confident to get help.'
Gill has also encountered a significant amount of support among both parents and head teachers. John Peck, the head of Peafield Lane Primary School in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said: 'To some extent the word bullying is over-used and sometimes people fail to differentiate between a normal fall-out between two human beings and something that is bullying.'
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
R.H. Marshall
Braunston Twinning Assoc.
I am selling a “Twin Dings” competition in aid of Braunston Twinning Association. £1 per entry. If you would like to enter, please see me. Many thanks.
Miss A Wren
Weekly Times
Monday, 12th November
12.20 - 12.50 Recorders—Class IV
12.20 – 12.50 No Junior Girls’ Games—
Classes III & IV
12.45 – 13.15 Brass Group
13.05 - 13.45 Ballet – Class I
13.05 - 13.45 Senior Games – Classes V & VI
13.05 – 13.45 Ballet – Reception
15.45 - 16.30 Choir
15.45 - 16.30 Pre-Prep Games – Classes I & II
Tuesday, 13th
12.20 Spanish Club – Class IV
12.50 - 13.20 Times-Tables Challenge
15.45 - 16.45 Girls’ Games – Classes V & VI
15.45 - 16.45 Senior Boys’ Games—Classes V & VI
Wednesday, 14th
12.20 - 13.00 Ballet – Class VI
13.05 - 13.45 Reception Art Club
13.05 - 13.45 Ballet – Class V
15.30 – 17.00 Book Fair in school
15.45 - 16.45 Camera Club
Thursday, 15th
12.20 - 13.00 Ballet—Class III
12.20 - 13.00 Library
12.45 – 13.15 Brass Group
13.05 - 13.45 Ballet—Class IV
15.45 - 17.00 Art Club
15.50 - 16.50 Tap & Modern Dance
19.30 “FOC” Indulgence Evening
Friday, 16th
12.20 - 13.00 Ballet—Class II
12.20 - 13.00 Junior Boys’ Games – Classes III & IV
12.20 - 12.50 String Group
13.15 - 13.45 Wind Group
15.30 – 17.00 Book Fair in school
15.45 - 16.45 Orchestra
Saturday, 17th
School in use by Woodland Singers
Bookfair
Our Autumnal bookfair starts next week, please come and visit, you may find a Christmas Present or two.
The school receives 60% commision on all books sold. You will find us in the Library:-
Wednesday 14th November: 3.30-5.00
Thursday 15th November: open during
Indulgence Evening
Friday 16th November: 3.30-5.00
Monday 19th November : 3.30-5.00
Please make all cheques payable to “Friends of Crescent”.
S. Lowe
Nursery News
It was lovely to see so many of you at our consultation evenings this week. Thank you for coming.
This month we are talking about Autumn and the changing of the seasons.
We are also celebrating Diwali and the children have decorated lanterns and diva lamps.
We have a student with us for two weeks. William Pimlett is studying for Early Years Professional Status at Northampton University. He has been busy interacting with the children and has led various small group activities including making bonfire pictures and hedgehogs.
William is an accomplished musician and has delighted the children playing native American flutes. Each of the children had an opportunity to make music with smaller flutes. If you would like to listen to his music log on to www.willpimlett.com
C. McGrellis
“Friends of Crescent”
Ladies Indulgence and Shopping Evening
Thursday 15th November 2007, from 7.30pm
Below please find details below for our special evening next week. Please do try and come along; the Committee has worked so hard to bring a huge number of therapists and retail opportunities to you. Bring some friends and have a girly night out!
You will see we hope you will take advantage of some of the treatments which may be available in 'mini' format on the night (some for a nominal charge). If you would like to pre-book something then do please leave me a note in the office or call me at home on 01926 632030.
Karen Armbrister
LADIES INDULGENCE AND SHOPPING EVENING
THURSDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2007
FROM 7.30PM
BRING YOUR FRIENDS – COME AND INDULGE YOURSELF WITH SOME 'ME TIME' AT OUR SPECIAL SHOPPING AND THERAPY EVENING........
WE HAVE 7 SUPERB THERAPISTS ALL KEEN TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR TREATMENTS AND OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO TRY THEM OUT OR JUST WATCH IF YOU PREFER .......HOW ABOUT SOME EYEBROW THREADING, A SHOULDER MASSAGE, HAND SCRUB OR ARM MASSAGE, A (PRIVATE!) BRA FITTING SERVICE (DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW MANY WOMEN ARE WEARING THE WRONG SIZE!!), SOME REFLEXOLOGY, BOWEN TREATMENT( GENTLE MANIPULATION) , HOPI EAR CANDLE, HOT STONE TREATMENTS.......JUST TO NAME A FEW
WE ALSO HAVE 14 SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING JEWELLERY, GIFTS, BODY AND BATH PRODUCTS, MAKE UP, HANDBAGS, CHILDRENS BOOKS, GAMES, TOYS AND CRAFTS, CHOCOLATES, SKINCARE PRODUCTS, LINGERIE, A CHILDRENS PARTY ORGANISER, GIFTWRAP, CARDS AND STATIONERY ITEMS
WE WILL ALSO HAVE WINE, SOFT DRINKS AND POSSIBLY SOME TASTY NIBBLES TO KEEP YOU REFRESHED
WE JUST NEED YOU TO COME, BRING YOUR FRIENDS, SOME CASH AND A CHEQUE BOOK! ONLY £1 ENTRY PER PERSON WHICH INCLUDES A GLASS OF WINE
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AS MANY AS POSSIBLE
FRIENDS OF CRESCENT SCHOOL