What goals will you set yourself this term? Reach for the stars! What goals will you set yourself this term? Monday 11th January 2016 Live Love Learn Together we can soar to new heights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFeSNXWRWzc As it is the start of a new term we are going to set ourselves some goals. A goal is something you have to work hard at. Sometimes it can hard to achieve your goal but you should never give up!

  The secret of achieving your goals is being clear about what you want and then working hard and keeping going, even when it seems tough or boring or just too much. Say that, if you give up, you will never achieve what you want.

More than anything else in the world, Sherona wanted to be a dancer More than anything else in the world, Sherona wanted to be a dancer. When she was little she danced everywhere, in the yard, in her bedroom, even in the kitchen until Mum got cross. Grandma loved to watch Sherona dance. ‘You’re the best dancer I’ve ever seen.’ she told her. At school, Sherona danced in the playground. If the teacher wasn’t looking, she even danced in the classroom.   When Sherona was in year three, a professional dancer called Scott came to the school assembly. He said he was going to pick some dancers to perform at the city summer festival, and that children who wanted to be auditioned should come to the hall at lunchtime. Sherona’s heart leapt. She couldn’t believe it. What if he chose her? She imagined herself in a brilliant costume dancing high on a stage. This was what she had always wanted.

Then Scott said. ‘Auditions are only for children in year five and year six.’ Poor Sherona. She was so disappointed she felt like crying, but she didn’t. ‘Crying will never change a thing’, her mum always said to her, ‘only trying will make things different’.   At lunchtime the teacher let Sherona go to the hall to watch the audition..

‘Even if I can’t audition now’, she said, ‘I will in two years time, and I want to know how to do it’.    He reached high, he moved his whole body, he turned and stepped and jumped. Sherona concentrated with all her might, trying to remember each of the moves he made, trying to feel the music inside her like he said. T After a while, some of them began to pant, some of them slowed down. At last one of the children flopped down on the floor, then another and another. When at last Scott turned off the music, there were only eight children left dancing.   ‘Great’, he said, ‘we’ve got our eight dancers. Each of you must practise every day and I’ll be here each week to teach you until the day of the festival.’ He didn’t see Sherona sitting quietly at the back of the hall.

Sherona kept the routine in her head and as soon as she got home she started practising. Every day she practised until her mum said,   At school, every lunchtime, Sherona went to the hall to watch the children doing the dance..

At last the Saturday of the festival arrived At last the Saturday of the festival arrived. Sherona’s school was on first. Sherona found a place at the front with Grandma and Mum and waited.. She saw Scott and the dancers by the stage in their magnificent costumes, and then she saw there was something wrong. There were only seven dancers. Sherona heard someone say that one of the dancers was ill and couldn’t come. Scott and the dancers looked anxious. Next Scott said ‘OK, Sherona,’ said Scott, ‘I don’t think we can do this without you, so – will you do it?’ Sherona looked up at the stage. It was very high. Then she looked up at Scott, ‘Yes’, she said, ‘I’ll do it’. Scott smiled and led her over to the other dancers.

Somebody pulled a costume over Sherona’s head and then pinned it up because it was much too big. The other dancers walked before her up the steps and onto the stage. Sherona thought how big and glamorous they looked while she felt small and terrified. Her legs trembled, her heart was beating so loud that she thought everyone would hear it. From the stage she could see a sea of smiling faces. She remembered that this moment was what she had waited for all her life, and when Scott said ‘Ready?’ she took a deep breath and nodded. He put the music on and Sherona danced.

What helped Sherona achieve her goal? knowing what she wanted practising over and over again watching Scott and the other children concentrating and remembering listening being brave when she was scared never giving up

Goals are something that you really want to achieve or become better at Year 6 have set themselves some goals for the term. What goal would you like to achieve this term? Keep your goal in your head as you listen to the song as you leave assembly today.  

Dear God, help us set ourselves achievable goals today Dear God, help us set ourselves achievable goals today. Be with us when we feel like giving up. Remind us that we can achieve anything! Amen