It was all aboard for our Year 2 pupils as they visited the Sea City Museum in Southampton as part of their Titanic study.  Ahead of the trip, the children had learnt lots of Titanic facts, such as the fourth funnel not issuing smoke as it was there for show not necessity, or that coal had to be taken from the White Star Line’s sister ships for Titanic’s maiden voyage as a recent strike had led to a coal shortage.  Did you know these facts?  As well as receiving great guided tours at the museum, the Year 2 pupils also gifted a book of their own writing to the museum as a thank you for the visit, and some extracts from this book went straight onto the museum’s FaceBook page to reach a wider audience.  As always, great thanks foes to both the school staff for organising the trip, and to family adult volunteers who accompanied the trip, making for a rich and unforgettable learning experience for the pupils.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

The St Peter’s Catholic Primary School community gathered in full on Monday 17^th April to celebrate the risen Lord at Easter.  Over 420 pupils came together to reflect upon our Lenten and Holy Week journey that we undertook before the fortnight’s holiday, and then to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and Eastertide.

It really is quite a sight to see so many young faces gathered together for prayer, song and worship, and a real joy and honour to be able to lead this on a weekly basis.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

In this final week of term, St Peter’s pupils gathered twice to look ahead to the events of Holy Week.  On Tuesday, using montage, narrative and prayer, the pupils participated in the Stations of the Cross during a service of Penance.  On the final afternoon of term, Friday 31 March, the school then gathered for a Liturgy centred on Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.  These services helped the children to reflect on the events of Christ’s final days in Jerusalem, and we will return on Monday 17 April to celebrate with joy the resurrection of the Lord.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Our librarian Mrs Porter has done a lovely display to remind children of our Easter Egg charity collection for Stella Maris.

Thank you Mrs Porter, and thank you families for all of the Easter Eggs that have been donated so far.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

This week at St Peter’s we launched our Lenten Appeal for acts of charity during this season of preparation for Easter.  For Lent 2023 we are supporting Stella Maris in collecting Easter Eggs to give to visiting seafarers from around the globe when their ships dock in Portsmouth over Holy Week and Easter Week this year.  The appeal will be open for 3 weeks until Monday 27 March, and if any families would like to donate one Easter Egg to our collection to pass to Stella Maris before the end of the spring term, we would be incredibly grateful to receive them at school.

Stella Maris Chaplains and Volunteer Ship Visitors will be visiting ships in our Southern ports during Holy Week and after Easter, and expect to bring this great celebration to many hundreds of seafarers who remain confined to their ships at this time, without the prospect of taking shore leave or visiting a church.
Together with faith materials, Stella Maris would like to offer Easter Eggs and chocolates, the international symbol of celebration of this Solemnity of Solemnities, and would greatly appreciate the support of St Pewter’s in their Stella Maris Easter Egg appeal.
We need to prepare now. Can you help us by donating Easter eggs and chocolates?  Your gift may be the only gift a seafarer receives this Easter.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

In marking the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, St Peter’s pupils were keen for the school to again collect essential items to go to those people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.  Below is a picture of just some of the stock of various toiletries that were donated to St Peter’s and given to Stella’s Voice charity in Havant for transportation from the UK.

We are grateful for all that we received in this act of Lenten charity.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

After pancakes for pudding with school lunch on Shrove Tuesday 21 February, pupils from St Peter’s gathered the following day for Liturgies to mark Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.

To make the Liturgies more involved and age-appropriate, pupils from 2 year groups at a time joined in worship both in the school hall with Mr Cunningham and in Oaklands’ chapel with Miss Heath.

Pictured here are the youngest pupils in the school, children in Reception Year and Year 1 aged 4 to 6, gathering to hear the Gospel, join in penitential prayer and receive ashes.

St Peter’s has been able to keep up its commitment to charitable acts as 2022 has progressed into 2023.  Before Christmas, our school Carol Service collected £306 which was donated to the Waterlooville Food Bank in supplement to the festive food treats the pupils brought into school.  The school staff also made use of one of the autumn training days to hold a MacMillan coffee morning which raised £84 for cancer support.  At the moment, in marking the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, the school is again collecting essential items to go to those people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.  If any family wanted to add to the stock before it is given to Stella’s Voice for transportation from the UK, we would gratefully receive donations of any of the following items (when we return to school on Monday 20 February after the half-term holiday!):

Toothpaste and toothbrushes 

Bars of soap, shampoo and shower gel 

Nappies, pull-ups and baby wipes 

Sanitary pads, face cloths, disinfectant sprays or wipes 

Disposable masks, combs and hairbrushes

With great thanks for any donations you may be able to provide, and wishing you all a restful and enjoyable half-term holiday

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher