Garswood Primary
and Nursery School
Bonfire celebrations
Some days remind you of how lucky you are. Today was one of those days.
I headed out onto the school field, the sun was shining, the air was crisp and fresh and the sound of laughter filled the air. I headed towards the 'beautiful noise'.
At the back of the field it was clear the prep work needed for such an ambitious event had been rigorous. There were tables, tarps, gel, wipes, first aid kits, mats, piles of logs, urns, and of course stacks of marshmallows. The staff as ever had pulled together to make sure this event could happen, and could happen safely.
Over time we have invested in forest school - we now have 3 fully trained forest school teachers and a fourth one on the way. We've invested in the space too - not overworking the area but making sure that it is an area for children to truly learn about nature. But today wasn't about forest school - today was simply about the experiences that all children should have - that this year have been compromised.
The field was filled with children - all in their bubbles - having fun. There is something about being outside in the cold weather, with the smoke from the fire, that lifts the mood - and then bring on the sugar! Hot chocolate, marshmallows and s'mores. Games were played, stories were told and songs were sang ... just for that moment - we all forgot about the stress and sadness that this year has brought.
The children and staff came together to have their own Bonfire event with their bubbles and though it has been a tough year and sometimes it's been hard to see the way forward - just for the day, despite the smoke - we could all see clearly. We couldn't be luckier.
