May is the month of Mary

In May Catholics pay special devotions to Mary. This year we decided to set up a prayer trail in the Spiritual garden. The children had time to explore all 8 prayer stations, including during lunchtimes. Here are the readings that went with each station and below are some picture of the children engaging with the area.

Mary Prayer Trail

Whole school Liturgy – Easter Story

Just before we broke up for the Easter holidays the KS2 classes had been working very hard to learn part of a simple play. On the last afternoon before the holidays we all came together in the Hall to watch them retell the Easter story for us. It gave us some time to reflect on the true meaning of Easter.

Ignite Reconciliation workshops and Service

We have been learning about how Christians prepare for Easter during Lent. We were lucky enough to have the Ignite team come to visit the school. In the morning we had workshops to share the meaning of Lent and then in the afternoon we had a Reconciliation service where we were joined by Father Luke, Father Alvan and Father Alex who helped us to celebrate the sacrament of Confession.

Epiphany

The Open the Book team shared the story of Epiphany with our Reception and KS1 classes, as part of our Collective Worship. We are going to try and search and follow Jesus just like the Wise men did.

Year Three Pilgrimage to Walsingham

On the 25th of May the children of Year Three traveled to the National shrine at Walsingham to celebrate Mass with other children from our Catholic Multi Academy Trust. They experienced a little of what it is like to go on a Pilgrimage.

Christmas

We have had a wonderful time preparing to celebrate Christmas. Year R reminded us of the Christmas story and how Jesus was born in a stable. We also enjoyed a wonderful celebration Mass to mark the end of term and to think about preparing our hearts for Jesus coming at Christmas.

Pentecost Celebrations for Year 4

On Friday 18th of May Year 4 visited St Francis School in Norwich to join in a MAT event of workshops and celebrations on the theme of Pentecost. Below are pictures and comments from the children based on the day.

Jamie: I learnt that Pentecost is everyone’s birthday and that the Holy Spirit gives us fruits and gifts. I got goodness which is a fruit. At St. Francis we learned that Jesus created the Holy Spirit so we could all share it and keep it safe. He also gave it to us so we could be happy and spread happiness by doing good things.

Luka: I learn that when you are baptised it is another birthday for you. Also everyone in the world is your brother or sister. I also learnt that self-control, love, joy, goodness and faithfulness are all fruits, not gifts. I learnt that if you ask God to do something he will do it for you if you pray and believe in yourself.

Maya: I have learnt that God can send signs and he can help you make tough decisions by using those signs. I have also learnt that Sunday 20th May was the church’s birthday and our small celebration birthday, only if we are baptised because if we are baptised then we are part of the church. I have learnt that there are fruits and gifts that Jesus, God and the holy spirit gave us. The holy spirit is God because he is the spirit in all of the fruits and gifts in us, so the holy spirit is part of Gods spirit and he loves us all and helps us always.

Join Thy Kingdom Come prayer campaign plea

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension (May 10) and Pentecost (May 20) for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. From small beginnings it has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.

The hope is that people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family – as a church, individually or as a family and that people will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to find new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

For more details see of events across our Diocese see: https://www.rcdea.org.uk/join-thy-kingdom-come-prayer-campaign-plea/

For how we are getting involved as a school read the following information sheet Thy Kingdom Come Prayer

Fundraising – GO-GO hares

As part of the GO-GO hares work that the school did, we had a “mad hair” day to raise money for the “Break” charity. It was good fun and we raised £185!

Resurrection Cross Competition

Here are the winners from our resurrection cross competition. We were thinking as a school about the joy of the resurrection. The children were challenged to consider how they could represent this joy and new life in a cross shape.

Reconciliation Day

Year Four, Five and Six had a very exciting day on
Friday when we were visited by the Ignite team. We explored the big question, “What is reconciliation?” Each class had a workshop and at the end of the day we were joined by Father Antony and Father Alex for a reconciliation service. We experienced the sacrament of confession as part of our preparation for Lent.

School’s Prayer Day

We joined in the day of prayer for schools an event that takes place across the world. Prayer website

All the classes had the opportunity to join in with a variety of different prayer activities. here are a few pictures of what we got up to:

Father Philip’s last Mass at SMSP and commisioning of Mini Vinnnies

On Friday the 20th of October we had a Mass to celebrate the time that Father Philip has spent in the Parish and with the school. As part of the Mass Father Philip commisioned our new MInni Vinnie Members. We have been meeting for a couple of weeks now, but we were very excited to get our certificate and our badge to show that we are now offical members. Father told us about the SVP and we found out that Bertie who regularly joins us for Friday mass is a member of the grown up group. We look forward to our degular meetings and “turning concern into action” as our motto say.

Launch Assembly for Mini Vinnies

This afternoon we had an assembly to explain the work of the MIni Vinnies and to invite KS2 children to consider joining the group that will run during a lunchtime in the school. Barbara visited from the organisation and explain the history of the group and what sort of activities we might get involved in if we became part of the group. A letter went home with the children who were interested.

Mini Vinnie letter

If you would like to find out more about the Mini Vinnie organisation follow this weblink MINI VINNIE

First Holy Communion Celebration

Thank you to all the parents who supported our special celebration Mass. The children looked lovely in their special clothes. We really enjoyed sharing this special part of their Faith journey with them.

Visit from the Bishop

On the 28th of April the Bishop came and celebrated Mass with us. We listened to the story of doubting Thomas during the Gospel. In the Homily the Bishop reminded us of three important people who met with Jesus after he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene, Thomas and Peter. After Mass the Bishop came and visited our classrooms and we were able to ask him lots of questions.

Year Four Discover more about Pentecost

Year Four traveled to St Francis Primary in Norwich to share a day discovering what Pentecost is all about with other schools in the MAT. They had a good time working with others and learning more about this important celebration of the Church.

Diocesan Schools Mass to celebrate the Year of Mercy

On 29th of September Year 6 went to St John’s Cathedral in Norwich to celebrate Mass with schools from across the Diocese. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alan Hope. During the mass we received a special Year of Mercy candle to take back to school with us. After Mass we were lucky that the rain had stopped and we were able to enjoy a picnic lunch in the gardens.