God be with you till we meet again

Some of our year 6 leavers have been learning to ring the church bells, courtesy of our wonderful Dockland Ringers.  Today they rang the bells as the children, staff, parents and governors arrived for the last service of the school year in St James's Church. You can hear them here

Always a special occasion, our new ringers made it extra special. Their proud parents sat in the churchyard hearing the bells ring, and during the service each of the ringers received a certificate from the Docklands Ringers, and the whole school community watched this video of what of what had been going on in the bell tower before the service.

During the service, Year 6 shared their memories of their time at St James, we said farewell to
departing teachers, and Paul encouraged us with the words of Philippians 4 verse 6: 'Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.'

Then, before the leavers had a farewell picnic and there was much signing of shirts etc and quite a few tears, our Chair of Governors, Sir Simon Hughes presented prizes including a copy of the Gospel to each leaver.

Simon does this every year but this was the first time the children received their farewell gift from a knight of the realm (warm applause from the whole school for Simon's well-deserved honour from the Queen).

Simon told the children that he had been invited (and declined) to appear on 'I'm a celebrity, get me out of here' but there was something better that being a celebrity and that was to know that God loved you.

He pointed them to St James's large painting of the Ascension with its text 'Lo, I am with you always' and told the leavers that they could know that God would be with them always, wherever they went.

It was a great end to a great service.

Thank you to Sir Simon, to all the teachers and staff, and to everyone that makes St James's School the wonderful place that it is. Have a good holiday everyone.