ST. GEORGE’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

I visited a wonderful little school yesterday! St George’s Catholic Primary School in York is doing amazing things and it was great to talk to Dee Patton-Statham, the school’s inspirational headteacher and hear and see her passion and commitment to culture and the arts. I also really enjoyed the walk around this magical little school and the chance to meet some of the team. It was also a real pleasure seeing Norman Fowler, a previous headteacher, who I haven’t seen for nearly 18 years! The children attending St George’s clearly experience a rich, rounded, caring and wonderful curriculum offer which I would argue should be the entitlement for every child in York!! Surely every child should go to school and be happy, healthy, safe and successful and the arts and sport are just as important in that offer as literacy and numeracy!

THE BLOEMFONTEIN CHILDREN'S CHOIR ARE SINGING IN YORK ON FRIDAY 5TH JULY!

Over the last thirty years, the Bloemfontein Children's Choir has touched the lives of its members and all whom they come into contact with. This amateur children's choir consists of boys and girls from Bloemfontein, South Africa, and surrounding areas, who are between the ages of 8 and 16. Singing is at the heart of what the choir does but it also offers its members a rich and diverse education; enriching their lives, and often their families as well, by means of cultural experiences and the development of essential life skills. The choir perform in South Africa and extensively on tours overseas. They have performed with many famous artists and choirs, have won local and international awards, have performed on radio and television locally and internationally and have been honoured to perform before three of South Africa's Presidents.

In early July 2019, the choir are taking part in the Stirling Bridge International Arts Festival and will be stopping off in York after visits to London and Oxford. The choir will arrive in York on Wednesday 3rd July and leave for Scotland on Saturday 6th July. They are visiting Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church, Millthorpe School, Scarcroft Primary School, the National Railway Museum and York Minster and singing with Cantar Community Choir at 7.30 on Friday 5th July at Temple Hall at York St. John University. Let me know if you want to come or buy tickets for what will be a very special event!

THE BLOEMFONTEIN CHILDREN'S CHOIR ARE COMING TO YORK!

RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY!

Relationships and having a common sense of purpose matter in organisations. They help people perform better. I learnt at Education Leeds that having a sense of purpose and belonging makes us feel our efforts are worthwhile. Scientists tell us that changes your brain chemistry and that changes everything!!

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

When leaders give their teams a sense of purpose, respect and create a positive culture engagement improves and magic happens. Research also suggests that colleagues are happier, aren’t ill as much, live longer and feel more fulfilled by having meaning and purpose!

LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT PASSION!

To be really successful as a leader you need passion... passion motivates people to act. It’s contagious! Successful organisations, successful schools, successful groups link that passion to a cause, a mission and create some goals and magic happens!

TRUE GRIT!

Interestingly, people who work hard, persevere and have passion are more likely to be successful than those with high IQ or those who are simply conscientious. These qualities lie at the heart of the arts and sport... 

SKILLS MUST BE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO!

High-performing countries like China, Finland, South Korea, and Singapore and those like Canada and Australia, who see a future where automation, globalisation and collaboration are changing the landscape, realise the global economic landscape has changed. In response, they are re-imagining their education systems by focusing on developing skills. We need to persuade the powers that be here that the future is only going to be secured if we develop a World Class Learning Framework to drive our learning landscape. A framework built on skills as well as subjects.

WORK HARD, STAY CONNECTED, VOLUNTEER, PRACTICE, BE PERSISTENT, BE DISCIPLINED AND GIVE TO OTHERS... PASS IT ON!

Amazing how fast this year is going and it's important to remember that research suggests that we can change and become happier and healthier just by taking small steps which can change our lives for the better.

ACTION FOR HAPPINESS' JOYFUL JUNE ACTION CALENDAR

ACTION FOR HAPPINESS 10 KEYS!