[Year 5B Assembly] “Not Giving Up When Something Feels Difficult”: Stories of Survival & the Power of Reading

What helps someone survive when everything feels uncertain? This was the question that stayed with the audience during Year 5B’s assembly today. As part of their learning this term, pupils explored powerful survival stories from around the world — from plane crashes in the jungle to being lost at sea. Pupils reflected on what it truly means to persevere. As Khai Anh explained, “Some of us thought the greatest survival story was about physical strength, others thought it was about mental strength.” Their thoughtful discussions and persuasive writing showed how reading helps us see the world and each other in new ways.

The pupils also reminded us why books matter so much. As Mai Chi shared, “Reading lets us travel and explore.” Jin Seo reflected that reading “helps us step into other people’s lives, other places, and sometimes, other moments of history.”

Beyond the page, Year 5B also shared their creative journey of building wooden birds — a process that required patience, teamwork and plenty of problem-solving. As Linda described, “Some designs didn’t work. Some pieces didn’t fit. Sometimes we had to stop, think again, and try another way.” Reflecting on the experience, Minh Chau reminded us that “survival, learning, and reading are all about the same thing: not giving up when something feels difficult.”

The assembly also gave a dramatic glimpse into their Drama work with a witches’ spell from Macbeth, before ending with an uplifting song that brought the whole performance to a joyful close.

A huge well done to our Year 5B pupils for such a thoughtful, engaging and inspiring assembly — and for reminding us all that reading, learning and resilience go hand in hand.