Haverhill
Schools Initiative
News
Summer 2001 End of Term Report
The second half of the
Summer Term proved to be a busy one...
GSUS Live
The visit of GSUS (pronounced
"Jesus") Live to Castle Hill and Chalkstone middle schools was an undoubted highlight. In one week
we delivered 18 lessons to around 500 young people. Produced by Counties (a UK based Christian charity),
GSUS Live is a 40' lorry trailer which has been converted into a high-tech mobile classroom. Some
of the young people literally gasped when they first looked inside. After an introductory 3D video,
the pupils work in pairs on computers. As they navigate the specially written software, they must
choose to help one of three characters which appear on the screen: Jack is feeling rejected while
Ben is struggling with forgiveness and Kylie is afraid. Having made their choice, the pupils can
draw on various sources to help them advise the character. These include tracks from Christian musicians,
passages from the Bible and excerpts from The Miracle Maker. As each piece of advice is given, the
story unfolds a little more. The pupils are asked for their opinion four times. At the end of the
lesson every young person receives a personalised printed summary of the advice they have offered.
This printout also includes discussion questions which can be used in subsequent RE lessons.
The following extract
comes from a letter written by a teacher at one of the schools GSUS Live visited:
"I have spoken to all
staff about the GSUS experience. The overwhelming feeling is that all pupils found this absorbing
and thought-provoking. Feedback from children has been wholly positive and follow up in RE has generated
good responses."
New Horizons
In the penultimate week
of term I was asked to take an assembly on the theme of "new horizons". Knowing that all the young
people I was addressing would be facing some kind of change in September I wanted to bless them.
I found a blessing written by a nine year old. I'd like to share it with you:
"May God keep you safe.
May the wind point you in the right direction. May you see all the world and its creatures, and may
the flowers open up for you. May the sun shine on you every day, until the next time we meet. May
God bless you in every way."
School's
Out
The fun continues at Staying
Alive and we begin to make plans for our Annual General Meeting (AGM)...
AGM
Please make a note to
join us at Haverhill's West End Congregational Church on Thursday 11 October 2001 for our AGM. We
shall begin at 7.30 p.m. and close at 9 p.m. with refreshments. It is a great pleasure for us to
have Bishop Gavin Reid (President of British Youth For Christ) as our speaker. Apart from the small
amount of business the law requires us to include, most of the evening will be spent in thanksgiving.
Staying Alive
The Staying Alive group
have given us one or two interesting moments! We are extremely grateful to Haverhill Methodist Church
(our hosts) for bearing with us. Excellent news is that another member of the group, this time a
girl, has become a Christian. Please thank God for all that He is doing and pray for us as we meet
on Tuesday evenings.
Summer 2001 Half Term Report
The Summer Term tends
to be disrupted by tests and exams, nevertheless God continued to provide opportunities for us…
More than a number
Not surprisingly, I was
asked to do an assembly about the census. If you know me, you'll know that I like statistics (sad,
but true). In the assembly I used a quiz based on some global figures I found in our church magazine.
My point was that even though those facts may be true and even interesting to some people, that's
not how God sees us. He has the capacity to look upon our world of some six billion people and to
know each one as an individual; you as you and me as me. Not only that, His concern for each one
of us is such that Jesus said, "God even knows how many hairs are on your head." (Matthew 10:30 New
Century Version)
A light for my path
Over Easter, some of the
young people from our lunch time Youth Alpha group took up a challenge to read the Bible regularly.
They responded warmly, finding the Bible easier to understand and more relevant than some had anticipated.
A young woman who had borrowed a Bible from school to complete the task, asked if she might have
one of her own. We duly obliged. Please pray that it will be well read.
Two ears, one mouth
Those of you who have
been with us for a while might remember that for some time we have desired to establish a listening
service. Well, it looks as if this may be about to happen under a different name and by an unlikely
route. We have partnered with about thirty other organisations, some statutory and some voluntary,
in putting together a bid to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) for a grant to begin
Haverhill Advocacy and Mentoring Service (HAMS). Not only did DfEE agree to give us the £30,000 we
asked for, they were so impressed with our submission that Jacqui Smith (Schools Minister) mentioned
it in the House of Commons!
What's all this got to
do with a listening service? That's part of what a mentor does. Although Haverhill Advocacy and Mentoring
Service is a right mouthful, it's based on a simple idea: Many young people who are finding school
difficult would benefit from having someone to listen to them who comes from outside school or home.
We've already appointed someone to co-ordinate HAMS, but we need volunteers to be mentors. Being
a mentor will not require an enormous time commitment and full training and support will be given.
Think you might be interested?
E-mail me to find out more or better still, get in touch with Haverhill & District Volunteer Centre
(01440 708444).
School's Out
It's been an exciting
half-term regarding our out of school activities…
Fort Rocky
At the end of May, myself
and Andrew Jenks took two of the lads from the Staying Alive group to Fort Rocky. We had a fantastic
time! One of the young men described it as the best weekend of his life. We had a go at canoeing,
archery, abseiling and climbing as part of a packed 48 hours. We also got to hear the testimonies
of some of the Youth For Christ team leading the event. On Saturday evening, the good news about
Jesus was presented in a lively and engaging way. After this, we went on a night walk where, following
much discussion, Andrew had the great privilege of leading one of the lads in a prayer accepting
Jesus.
Staying Alive
Would you like to be part
of the team running this exciting group? The young people are aged between 13 and 18 and we meet
every Tuesday from 8 to 9.30 p.m. We especially need female volunteers. If you are interested please
E-mail me.
Spring 2001 End of Term Report
In the second half of
the spring term we were blessed with opportunities in all six of the schools we serve. Here's just
a taste of what's been going on.
Man
does not live on chocolate alone!
At
Samuel Ward Upper School, five of the Youth Alpha group have accepted
a challenge. Having spent a session exploring why the Bible is so precious
to Christians, they've agreed to read it. Armed with some One Up Bible
reading notes (produced by Scripture Union) they aim to read a little
of the Bible every day of their Easter holidays. The next time we meet
up, they will let me know how they got on and what they made of the
Good Book. Please pray that they may be motivated to fulfil this challenge
and that as they do the Holy Spirit will bring the Bible alive for them.
Five
Star
I
was worried before some recent lessons at Chalkstone Middle School.
The theme was Responsibilities, Rights and Values. I had a lesson prepared
looking at William Wilberforce and the major part his faith played in
the campaign to abolish slavery. To be honest, I didn't know how the
material was going to go down and whether it would capture their imaginations.
God is gracious. Every class responded enthusiastically. After one session,
the RE co-ordinator for the school was busy writing out slips of paper
which she explained were merits. Apparently, they were for five young
people who had just contributed in an RE lesson for the first time since
she had been teaching them.
GSUS
Live
Arrangements
are beginning to be finalised for the visit of the GSUS Live mobile
classroom to Haverhill. It will arrive in the last week of June and
spend three days at Castle Hill Middle School before moving to Chalkstone
for two days. I have had a chance to try the material myself and it
is impressive.
Fort
Rocky
Over
the last weekend in May, Andrew (Jenks) and myself are taking two of
the young men who come to the Staying Alive youth group to Fort Rocky.
Run by British Youth For Christ, Fort Rocky is an activity-based evangelistic
residential weekend programme specifically designed to challenge and
inspire young people. We are thankful that a recent grant from Haverhill
Town Council will cover the cost of this trip. Please pray that God
may continue His work in these young lives. My desire is that they will
come to faith.
Staying
Alive
During
the second half of the spring term, we averaged 21 young people each
week. However, numbers are only part of the story... We've had some
traumas, including a broken window, stolen car and sprained neck, but
we've seen some breakthroughs too. The biggest of these must have been
when one of the young men responded to an appeal given at the recent
men's meeting held in the Woodlands Hotel, Haverhill. Please pray that
that seed may not be snatched away, but that it may find good soil,
become established, grow to maturity and produce much fruit.
Spring 2001 Half Term Report
In
the first half of the Spring Term we continued to serve all the middle
and upper schools in Haverhill and Clare. Love and celebrities featured
prominently!
Stars
and Leadership
'Stars
and Leadership' was the unlikely title of an assembly at Samuel Ward
Upper School. In researching this, I came across some interesting statistics:
A recent poll found that if teenagers could choose their parents, most
would opt for David Beckham and wife Victoria (Posh Spice)! Another
survey, carried out by Scripture Union, revealed that more young people
associated Robbie Williams with the Millennium than Jesus. The thrust
of my message was that I have found Jesus to be the only person worth
following. Please join with me in praying that young people will meet
the real Jesus and follow Him.
"I've
started, so I'll finish"
Clare
Middle School asked me to be the question master for the final of their
Book Mastermind competition. Four finalists, representing each Year
group, answered two rounds of questions. The first, general knowledge
and the second on their specialist book. Here again, the Beckhams appeared.
One of the contestants chose to answer questions on 'Brooklyn Beckham
- The Secret Diary!'
Love,
love, love
With
St. Valentine's Day falling in this half-term love has often been mentioned.
This has caused me to reflect on the following words from 1 John 4:10
as they appear in the Youth Bible:
This
is what real love is: it is not our love for God; it is God's love for
us...
Up
and Coming
News
of a couple of things which are coming up between now and the summer...
Belief
and Morality
I
am excited about going into Samuel Ward in the second half of this spring
term. For the first time, the school are using me as a Christian resource
in their RE programme. I am seeing five Year 9 classes to answer questions
on how my faith affects my morality. Please pray that I may have the
right words when the moment comes.
GSUS
Live
GSUS
Live is a touring educational resource which has been put together by
the Counties evangelistic organisation. A lorry trailer has been converted
into a mobile classroom complete with 16 multimedia PCs. Designed to
fit in with the National Curriculum, young people can explore the issues
of fear, rejection and forgiveness in an interactive way. GSUS Live
is coming to Haverhill for a week in June 2001. One middle school has
expressed a firm interest. Please pray for the two other schools who
are considering it.
Schools
Out
Staying
Alive
Numbers
have increased a little since the New Year. This half-term 27 different
young people came to the group with the weekly average being 17. We
continue to build relationships with those who come and can see small,
but positive, changes in them. Myself and the team (Andrew Jenks and
Karen Glazebrook) value your interest. Please pray for us, especially
on Tuesday nights, that we may have the fragrance of Jesus.
Council
of Reference
Since
the AGM there have been a number of changes to the Council of Reference.
This is the body which oversees HSI. We said goodbye to Revd Sylvia
Bareham and Jo Pelly and welcomed Robin Agnes (Church in the Field),
Lieutenants Paula and Stuart Ashman (Salvation Army), Revd Les Shorten
(West End Congregational Church) and Paul Turner (River of Life Christian
Fellowship). Please join with me in thanking God for the members of
the Council of Reference and pray for them as they advise myself and
the Executive Committee.
Autumn 2000 - End of Term Report
It
was good to be working in all six of our target schools in the second
half of the autumn term. There were new opportunities and encouragement...
Two
Little Words
In
November we received a lovely letter from the Headteacher of a Haverhill
Middle school. The Executive Committee suggested that some of it be
included in this newsletter:
"As
a school we are very appreciative of the support given to us by Steve
Watts in assemblies and RE lessons. He has given an added dimension
to the morale and spiritual life of the school..." "Long may it (Haverhill
Schools Initiative) continue!"
Does
God laugh?
I
have been asked to prepare assemblies on many topics, but recently Parkway
Middle School presented me with a particularly unusual one; "Laughter."
As Proverbs 17:22 says that, "A cheerful heart is good medicine", I
thought that I would share a seasonable joke with you: How did good
King Wenceslaus like his pizzas? Deep and crisp and even!
His
Story
For
the first time that I can recall, we took some History lessons. Year
8 (they're about twelve years old) at Clare Middle School were looking
at the Romans. I spent an hour with each class exploring the spread
of Christianity and the Roman Empire. Although these weren't RE lessons,
some of the questions the pupils raised concerned the existence and
nature of heaven and hell, and how Christians know God is there!
Can
we fix it?
For
the sixth year running, I was asked to host the "Stars in their Eyes"
event at Samuel Ward Upper School. This is a talent show which takes
place on the last afternoon before the Christmas break. As I watched
the nineteen acts perform, representing every Year group, I marvelled
again at the amazing ability the young people of our locality possess.
One of the highlights of the show was the female staff dancing to Bob
the Builder's "Can we fix it?" The audience, of some 450 pupils, rose
to their feet and joined in spontaneously with the chorus!
Staying
Alive
Staying
Alive is our weekly youth group for those in Year 9 and above (that
is, aged 13 and over). We meet every Tuesday, during term time, between
8 and 9.30pm in the Haverhill Methodist Church hall. The Tuesday before
Christmas Day, 22 young people attended our Christmas party. The party
featured a non-alcoholic cocktail bar. The cocktails were mixed and
served by the volunteers who help to run Staying Alive. Music was supplied
by two live DJs, one of whom came up specially from London. Both Christians,
they blended gospel music with tunes more familiar to our clientele.
Free food was also on offer! Burgers and hot-dogs were generously provided
by Andy Merlis who can often be found manning his burger van on Haverhill's
High Street. Also in December, four of the Staying Alive group and one
of their mums, went with me to see "A Child is Born.' This is a Christian
musical which was presented by River of Life Christian Fellowship at
Haverhill's Town Hall Arts Centre.
Who's
who?
Steve
Watts (Director) Tel: 01440 708194 E-mail: steve.hsi@tesco.net
Peter
Donoghue (Secretary) Tel: 01440 762843
Kay
Smith (Treasurer) Tel: 01440 704075
Autumn 2000 - Half Term Report
In
the first half of the Autumn Term we worked in five of our six target
schools. Here are a couple of snippets about what's been happening.
"Get
into pairs and form a line!"
Does
that phrase ring any bells for you? It's one I've heard, and used, a
lot lately. You may have seen me traipsing through Haverhill followed
by thirty or so blue sweatshirted eleven year olds, all clutching clipboards.
This was because Chalkstone Middle School asked me to take each of their
Year 7 classes on a guided walk to see some Christian "special places".
In the hour that each class had, we managed to look at four or five
of the Christian meeting places in the town centre. This lead on to
discussion about why there is more than one and what the buildings suggest
about the beliefs and practices of the people who meet there.
Youth
Alpha group continues
At
Samuel Ward Upper School a group continues to meet under the name Youth
Alpha. To clear up any confusion, we aren't actually doing the Youth
Alpha course anymore, but the name has stuck. Over the half-term fourteen
different young people have attended, five of them new, with the average
weekly gathering being ten or eleven. We have tried to tailor the content
to the group. So far, we have considered how we can know Jesus and what
it is to follow Him.
The
future's bright
The
final details are being worked out for a couple of new projects due
to start between now and Christmas. Please pray that the most may be
made of these opportunities:
"Lights,
camera, action!"
We
will be hosting a film club at Castle Manor Upper School. This is in
direct response to requests from pupils. We plan to watch and discuss
videos one lunchtime every week. This may also be supplemented with
occasional trips to the cinema. I see this as a tremendous opening for
us to serve the school and build relationships with the young people
there.
"It's
good to talk"
Something
we have spoken about for a long time now is an independent listening
service. At last this seems to be coming about under a new name; 'mentoring'.
I am going to mentor three Year 11 pupils at Samuel Ward Upper School
in their final year of compulsory education. The idea of mentoring is
for an adult, who is distinct from both home and school, to come alongside
a young person and through regular dialogue to empower them to fulfil
their potential. Mentoring can benefit an enormous range of young people
including those who lack confidence or motivation and those who find
the school environment difficult. Volunteers Some of you will know my
dad, Brian Watts and Henry Wilson, both of whom are on our Executive
Committee. You may also know that for some time they have been leading
assemblies in local schools. This year they have become accredited volunteers
of Haverhill Schools Initiative. Please pray for them as they give up
their time and energy in this way on our behalf.
School's Out
A
hectic week at the end of September saw our AGM quickly followed by
a weekend away in London...
Annual
General Meeting
Many
thanks to those of you who attended our AGM. It was a pleasure to have
the Mayor of Haverhill with us. Positive feedback has been received
about the evening.
Breakout
2000
Sue
Fanning and I took five young people, including some from the Staying
Alive youth group, to a national youth event based at the London Arena.
There were sports, bands, DJs and a worship service on the Sunday morning.
Overall, it was a pleasant weekend although some of the young people
did find parts of the programme boring. I must admit, that I thought
it was trying too hard to be trendy at the expense of substance.
The second half of the summer term continued to provide opportunities
for us in all six schools. Some were familiar; others new...