SCHOOLCHILDREN celebrated their patron saint with a socially-distanced service.
Due to Covid, St George’s Primary School, in Great Bromley, was unable to host its traditional St George’s Day assembly.
However, instead it held its own celebration outside in the playground.
Pupils spent the week flexing their creative writing muscles and paying homage to the school’s namesake through writing poems, stories and art.
Story-telling - Class 4 pupils Tulip Wiseman and Mathew Tayman help headteacher Rebecca Keitch explain the meaning behind the St George's cross
These were then presented to each other from within their class bubbles.
The sun shone throughout the afternoon assembly, led by headteacher Rebecca Keitch.
Reception children recited verses about the saint, while holding their own decorated shields.
Class 2 presented a retelling of St George’s story, complete with actions, and Class 3 shared their own dragon-shaped poems.
Proud of their work - Class 1 pupils show off their St George's shields
Class 4 pupils worked together to perform a series of verses from a poem they had penned which reflected on what they would use to create an English Dragon.
Class teacher Apryl Brinklow said: “The class have worked brilliantly on the poem and it’s been a real collaborative effort.”
In addition to the service, Class 2 also marked the special date with a traditional cream tea in the school’s outdoor classroom space, named The Dragon’s Cabin.
This whole celebration was a great way for the children to safely see each other at a time when they are still kept apart, through use of class bubbles, staggered break times and social distancing.
Give us a wave - pupils in their bubbles greet each other across the playground
The pupils were, therefore, thrilled to see children from other year groups and started the whole assembly with a happy wave to one another from across the playground.
The school has been open for key workers throughout the past year but is now enjoying having children back for face-to-face learning.
During the period of home schooling, learning was shared via an online platform and one challenge set during this time was for pupils to design their own school mascot.
This was to be a type of Yeti to represent the school’s learning powers and the mindset that when learning they may not be there ‘yet’ but will eventually succeed.
Playing with fire - headteacher Rebecca Keitch and Class 4 pupils Daniel Harden, Harry Batts, Bobby Branchflower and Amelie Singleton with their very own dragon
The winner of this contest was four-year-old Ella-Rose Hesketh, with her colourful and smiley yeti design.
The teachers loved her choice of a rainbow and its recent links with a hopeful future so rewarded Ella-Rose with two cuddly versions of her exact design - one for the school and one for her to take home.
Winning design - Ella-Rose Hesketh with her 'Yeti'
Sweet treat - Class 2 students enjoying their cream tea
Tucking in - Class 2 enjoying their cream tea in the 'Dragon's Cabin'
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