Something to reflect on.... |
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Dear colleagues
SELFISH
God, help me to
trust myself enough to rely on others
respect myself enough to honour others
be generous enough with myself to serve others
believe in myself enough to have faith in others
love myself enough to care for others
forgive myself enough to have compassion for others
convict myself enough to judge others
appreciate myself enough to thank others
listen to myself enough to hear others
know myself enough to learn from others
miss myself enough to stay home
be secure enough to leave
and pray enough to know You
Amen.
Matthew McConaughey, actor, writer and producer, is an American in receipt of multiple awards – including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and nominated for two Emmys – to name but a few. He often speaks publicly about his Christian faith. He wrote the above poem, which is included in his 2025 book ‘Poems and Prayers’.
If you’re a Christian, or are au fait with Christian teaching, on first reading, his poem may have jarred? However, now knowing his background, you may find it interesting to re-read, with context and background thinking. He redefines the concept of selfishness, framing it not as a negative act of taking from others, but as a necessary form of self-care and self-reflection that ultimately enables one to be more generous and loving.
His poem is a prayer asking for the capacity to better trust, love, forgive and know himself. The ‘selfish’ aspect is the focus on his own internal work, which he says is essential before one can truly be of service to others. This, along with the other poems and prayers in the book, adopts an informal direct and sometimes ‘raw’ tone with God – but seeking guidance and hope in his desire to serve.
Lent is a time when all Christians are called to reflect and repent, deepening our spiritual relationship with God, and mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent in solitude reflecting, sacrificing and being tempted. McConaughey’s prayer may be something to consider at this time?
Thank you for your service and presence in our communities
Best wishes
Jeff |
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Jeff Williams
Director of Education |
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Book recommendation: The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde |
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When the Selfish Giant builds a high wall round his lovely garden to keep the children out, the North Wind blows, the Frost comes and the Snow dances through the trees. The Giant wonders why Spring never comes to his cold, white garden. Then one day the Giant looks out to see a most wonderful sight . . … The timeless morality tale is simply but effectively retold in this superbly illustrated edition. The contrast between the apocalyptic desolation of the giant’s nightmarish isolation and the rich vitality of the restored, child-filled garden is dramatic and filled with telling detail, and the gradual realisation of the havoc he has wreaked makes the giant’s conversion quite moving. |
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Book recommendation : The Selfish Crocodile by Faustin Charles & Michael Terry |
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A grumpy crocodile. A brave little mouse. A big lesson about sharing. In a jungle full of animals too scared to speak up, one little mouse changes everything. When the Selfish Crocodile has a terrible toothache, it's not the biggest or bravest animal that helps him - it's the tiniest. This charming story teaches children about empathy, courage, and the power of kindness. |
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Bags of Hope Project-related Book Recommendation: Refugees by Brian Bilston |
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Brian Bilston is often described as the ‘Poet Laureate of Twitter’. This clever poem that is initially read top-to-bottom, then bottom-to-top – with amazing impact and deep meaning, is perfectly accompanied by the artwork of Jose Sanabria. It’s a wonderful way to get children (and adults!!!!!!) to explore this emotive but important part of our day to day media focus, as they realise that it’s not just the words that have been reversed… |
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Installation at Cathedrals: Guidance and Details – Bags of Hope project 2026 |
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Our annual Installations at the Cathedrals are a talking piece with international reach. Every year we hit the national press which is such a joy in sharing the message and values we are promoting. This year’s Installation will have lots of Paddington Bear Backpacks and Paddington Bear soft toys placed with specific coloured luggage labels from our pupils flowing from them. It will be an interactive Installation, with visitors able to pick up your children’s labels and click on a QR code that takes them to aspects of the project you can link. The installation will be truly interactive on another level with visitors adding luggage labels to it every day.
Please read the Guidance Leaflet that you can access here. We’ll be collecting your luggage labels week commencing 1st June, so you’ll need to have completed them and delivered them to the school closest to you on our list by June 1st. We need to create the installation before the Year 6 pupils come to the Cathedrals. You’re also invited to contribute a Paddington Soft Toy and / or Backpack that will be part of the installation and will subsequently be gifted to a displaced child or young person. We invite you to add an A4 luggage label with a photo of your school, website link, interesting information etc. if you are donating a bag and/or a Paddington Soft Toy. Details are in the leaflet. It would be great if Churches were able to support this project. Thank you. |
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Winchester University students work with our Bags of Hope Project |
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27 first-year student teachers from our university spent a day with pupils at our city schools - St Faith’s, All Saints and St Bede’s in Winchester, with the aim of engaging year 6 classes on the theme of ‘children seeking sanctuary’ You can read more here. |
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St Faith School, Winchester named as ‘Champion’ for supporting bereaved children |
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Congratulations to St Faith's Church of England Primary School in St Cross, which has been recognised as a Champion School by ‘Simon Says’, the Hampshire-based charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who are coping with bereavement. The accreditation follows a year of dedicated work by staff, who completed specialist training, strengthened school policy and developed a bereavement support kit. Colleagues may recall that a few years ago, we worked with schools in developing Bereavement Policies and advance procedures for dealing with sudden or anticipated deaths of children and members of the school community. The charity Simon Says inputted at our HT and CoG meetings. You can see their ongoing work and contact them here. |
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A number of our schools celebrated World Religion Day last term, which is a great way to raise the profile of RE and bring the subject to life. The photo below captures some of the children’s learning at Preston Candover CofE Primary School. |
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At St Faith’s CofE Primary School, pupils enjoyed a visit from the local mayor who is a practising Hindu and, amongst other activities, enjoyed creating a dance inspired by the festival of Holi. |
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Children at Swanmore CofE Primary School explored the question, ‘How does your religion or worldview affect your everyday life?’ Pupils were introduced to a religion they hadn’t studied before, and every class had an in-person visit or video call, including Hindu, Buddhist and Humanist speakers, and meeting pupils from a Sikh school. |
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Headteacher & Deputy Headteacher vacancies |
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Free Global Citizenship Teaching Resources |
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Thoughtbox Education have created a set of teaching resources on topics based on Personal Journeys, Social Journeys, and Earth Journeys, which would be excellent for any schools working towards the Global Neighbours award, or wanting to empower their pupils to become agents of change. The UKS2 resources on refugees link really well to this year’s diocesan project, Bags of Hope, looking at issues such as the labels we give people, media literacy and the power of passports. Other units of work cover topics such as water, habitats, global cultures and developing awe and wonder. The Learning for Life resources can all be downloaded from the Thoughtbox website here. As their literature says, ‘Flourishing is not an add-on, it’s the point.’ |
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Free Pupil-Led Worship Training for Pupils |
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On Wednesday 18th of March, Picture News are delivering a 45-minute session for pupils on how to host Picture News worship sessions. This will include how to plan, step up to the role of a leader, and share top tips for presenting. All attendees will receive a comprehensive pack for all future ‘Picture News Pioneers'. The session is normally £10 to schools, but is FREE using code PLWN43 You can register here |
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Sanctuary: Free Exhibition at Portsmouth Cathedral |
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Visit the exhibition between 18th February and 12th April to see the paintings and sculptures of Nicholas Mynheer. The themes of refuge, displacement, compassion and hope are explored, drawing together the biblical story of Jesus’ family feeling as refugees to Egypt and the lived realities of refugees today. Pause and reflect on what sanctuary means, both as a place and as a way of responding to one another. |
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Springs Dance Company Easter Workshops |
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Springs Dance Company are delivering Easter Project Workshops bringing the narrative to life through movement, imagination and joyful participation to enrich RE Learning. The Easter workshops can be delivered as a one-day experience or a longer project, and can even culminate in a pupil sharing or performance. You can read more about the workshops here and visit their website here. |
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Count Your Carbon - Free carbon footprint calculator |
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A free carbon footprint calculator is offered for nurseries, schools and colleges. It supports educational settings to calculate, understand, track and reduce carbon emissions. It’s available here. You can also read the report on how CofE schools are contributing to Net Zero and reducing emissions. |
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This term’s RE Network meetings will be held at locations across the two dioceses in Term 4. We will be discussing recent developments in the RE world, such as the new Statement of Entitlement, changes to the Right to Withdraw from RE and the implications of the latest curriculum review. Please see the flyer here with dates and venues and let Jane.Kelly@portsmouth.anglican.org know if you would like to attend. Network meetings are a great way to connect with RE leaders at other schools in your area, and a good opportunity to talk through our RE practice and to share ideas and resources. Do try to join us this term, whether you’re a regular or have never been before! |
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Copyright © 2025 Diocese of Winchester, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this message because you are: a Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, RE Lead, Chair, Foundation or Ex Officio Governor, Children and Youth Worker, or have requested to join our mailing list in the Diocese of Winchester or the Diocese of Portsmouth.
Our resources and further information are available at:
https://winchester.anglican.org/education-schools/resources-for-schools/
https://www.portsmouth.anglican.org/education/resources/ |
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