In my assembly yesterday I explored a simple but powerful idea, that our words matter, and once spoken, they cannot always be taken back.

To demonstrate this, I challenged 3 pupils to try and put toothpaste back into a tube after it had been squeezed out. Unsurprisingly, they found it almost impossible! This fun but frustrating task helped us all reflect on how, just like the toothpaste, our words, whether kind or unkind, cannot be easily undone once they are out in the world.

We talked about the importance of thinking before we speak and choosing words that build others up, rather than tear them down. I shared a quote from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy that says it all:

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Kind,” said the boy.

A beautiful reminder that of all the things we can aim to be, being kind is one of the most important.

As we head into the weekend, I hope this message stays with our pupils, encouraging them to speak thoughtfully, act kindly, and understand the power their words have to make a positive difference.

To read more of this week’s Primary High Notes,  please click here.