Gem Power
A major focus at Churchdown Parton Manor Schools’ Federation is on empowering our pupils to become effective learners.
We do this through our Gems project; children acquire a range of attributes which are represented by a selection of gems and collectively referred to as ‘Gem Power’. There is a strong link between the characteristics represented by the gems and our school values of self-belief, challenge and respect.
This table shows what the gems are and how they improve our ability to learn.
Topaz
| Working in a team | · Share ideas with a group · Take turns to listen and share · Make sure everyone in your group understands |
Aquamarine
| Passion for learning | · Take responsibility for your learning · Ask questions to find out more |
Amethyst
| Partner work | · Share ideas with a partner · Take turns to listen and share · Learn from your partner |
Ruby
| Respect, Kindness | · Show kindness and helpfulness to others · Try to understand how others might be feeling · Make someone else feel good by listening to them and smiling at them |
Sapphire | Concentration, Avoid the monster distraction | · Continue with your learning even when there are distractions around you |
Emerald | Perseverance, Courage, Resilience | · ‘Have a go’ even when you know you might make a mistake · Understand that mistakes help you learn · Stay calm when you are angry or upset |
Diamond | Independence | · Try to solve your own problems before getting help · Try to think for yourself · Ask good questions to help you learn new things
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Opal
| Positive Mental Attitude | · Have a positive and enthusiastic approach to things · Try to do your best |
We have a number of ways of promoting the development of Gem Power, as follows:
Gem reminders:
Classes may have a gem display so that pupils are reminded on a daily basis what the characteristics of each gem are and what gem they are working on each week. Sometimes teachers will set a personal target relating to the acquisition of a particular characteristic.
Gem Stickers
Anyone who earns a team point/ gem sticker is awarded a small coloured sticker to represent the appropriate gem. This may be given out by any staff member.
Assembly focus
Our assembly themes are planned to support the development of each gem throughout the year, with a different focus for each term.
In our Celebration Assemblies we celebrate people who have demonstrated the use of one or more gems in their learning and behaviour. One person from each class is nominated for an award; they all receive a gem sticker/ certificate and a winner is chosen to take a gem trophy back to his / her class for the week.
Junior school – ‘Keepers of the Gems’
The responsibility for developing and maintaining Diamond Power lies with everyone as it is the basis for all the other ‘powers’. Each house team is the ‘keeper’ of one of the remaining gems, responsible for monitoring how well it is developing throughout the school:
- Chosen (purple) – amethyst
- Crickley (blue) – sapphire
- Birdlip (yellow) – topaz
- Robinswood (red) – ruby
- Coopers (green) – emerald
