This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 11 April 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Around the Archdeaconries is a series of features on various themes, inspired by the Archdeaconry Plans.
This month's theme is schools.
In the first story Emily Nash, a teacher from St Luke's CE Primary School in Maidenhead describes a scheme designed to encourage boys to read. At St Luke's CE Primary School we have teamed up with Desborough College to inspire our boys to read for pleasure.
Year 5 boys from the school visit the secondary school twice a term to spend time reading and discussing books with their year 10 mentor and the experience has been a huge success. The year 10 boys, volunteering their own time to earn extra credits, talk to the boys about books they loved when they were at primary school and the types of books they read today.
They have shared their childhood favourites, reviewed popular titles and have relished the opportunity to have the time to read with somebody new.
It has really increased the boys desire to read and try new books they may not have been interested in before. They are always eager to come back to school and check out another book from the library to take with them next time.
It has also been brilliant for the boys to have such great role models to aspire to.
The Desborough boys are polite, smart and hard working and it has really made our boys think about their future education. Next time we visit we will be using a popular book to make a quiz for other children at St Luke's to play!
Tree planting at the new St Edburg's
The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher is pictured right with headteacher, Margaret Kunzer at the new St Edburg's CE School building in Bicester. After performing the opening ceremony Bishop Colin joined children who planted trees to mark the opening.Builders were still working on the new Kingsmere Estate, which surrounds the school.
Hear Mrs Kunzer talk about the new building and watch the tree planting at www. oxford. anglican. org/ ;
Award for helping others
SOCIAL justice initiatives including ONE Can Wednesday and 10p Tuesday earned Seer Green CofE Primary School the Chiltern District Council Community Award. Janna Holder, one of the Governors, said: "Our children have a deep sense of social justice, with a number initiating fundraising activities in response to their awareness of events in the world around them. "Through the school's work in embedding our Christian values of thoughtfulness, respect and responsibility the children are encouraged to think about how their thoughts and actions can benefit others, both those they know and those they don't know." Seer Green's award was in the schools category and was presented to the Head and Governors in a ceremony in March. Janna added: "We are delighted to receive this award and immensely proud of our school and our children in the way they work to benefit our local community and how they support local, national and international charities. "Welcoming Brize Norton School
Pictured are children at Brize Norton School as it became the latest addition to the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust last month.
David Locke.
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A new trim trail at St Christopher's
The Trim Trail A £7,500 National Lottery Big Lottery Awards for All grant part-funded the new Trim Trail (pictured right) at St Christopher's CE School in Oxford. Sheenagh Broadbent, the Headteacher, said: "We were able to put £1,000 towards the cost of the Trim Trail which was money raised through various events organised by our parent group, the Friends of St Christopher's.
The Trim Trail was finally installed just before Easter and the children are already really enjoying playing on this new facility. "
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