Remembrance was a key feature to learning and worship at St Peter’s last week as the nation marked 100 years since the Great War Armistice.  In the week running up to Friday 9 November, pupils’ curriculum work focused especially on History in readiness for a ‘Deep Learning Day’ on a range of Great War topics on the Friday.  To start the History Deep Learning Day, a teaching assembly centred on the work of the Royal British Legion and the significance of Remembrance, noting the fact that well over half of the pupils are in uniformed groups that take part in local war memorial parades and services.  The learning focus for the younger years especially was on the power of peace overcoming conflict, and reconciliation being the way to lasting peace.  Older pupils in the school worked particularly on the personal experiences of those in the conflict on the Western Front, and how their lives were relayed in letters, poetry and news reports.  Each year group got to present their work to the rest of the school in a special assembly.  I must thank all colleagues for constructing their learning around the Remembrance theme, and especially Miss Allen for coordinating the History week events.

The culmination of Remembrance at St Peter’s was a whole school worship on the Monday after Armistice Day, beautifully led by Mrs Pearson.  Alongside the prayers, candles and poems, the most moving part was a reading of The Beatitudes by pupils from Year 6.  This was shared in the style of ‘call and response’ for each line by pairs of pupils in different parts of the hall, such that the Word of the Lord was truly circulating within the pupil congregation and throughout the school community.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

At St Peter’s we often play host to a range of visitors who come to work with our pupils and enhance their learning provision. This week was no exception, with 2 very different guests.

On Monday afternoon author Guy Bass came to work with pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6. Having spoken to all of the pupils in the year groups, and thoroughly entertained them with his telling of tales, Guy than had a smaller group of competition winners with whom he worked in an additional session. It is such a treat for pupils to meet the people behind the books they love, and once again Mrs Domblides our librarian delivered a great experience for the children.

On Wednesday the school was visited by Sir Robin Bosher. He came to St Peter’s to conduct an Ofsted monitoring visit, assessing the pace and impact of the progress the school has made since the last inspection in September 2017. Once again, the pupils were exemplary in their behaviour and hard work, and Sir Robin complimented the positive attitude of every pupil he spoke to during the day. In due course, Sir Robin will write a letter to the school to summarise his observations and judgements made during the visit, and this will be shared with families as soon as possible upon receipt.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

As we approach the hundredth anniversary of the World War I Armistice, St Peter’s is marking the event in a public display of poppies. Mrs Pearson’s cryptic requests for empty plastic bottles have come to fruition in a wonderful piece of installation art at the front of our school grounds. We have a host of poppies standing tall and proud, and a rock mosaic on the grass, as a public testament of our gratitude for all those who gave their lives in global conflicts throughout the twentieth and twenty first centuries. My thanks go to Mrs Pearson, the pupils who painted the poppies and the parents who gave up their time to help construct the artwork.

The school has a selection of Royal British Legion items which are available for a suggested donation of between 50p and £1:00, as well as the traditional paper poppies which are available for any amount of donation. The work of the of Royal British Legion with veterans and their families remains as important today as when it was founded in May 1921, and we as a school will do all we can to support their good work.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

The Friday assembly this week was prepared and presented by pupils from Year 5 to showcase their recent trip to The Sustainability Centre in Clanfield between 8^th and 12^th October. This amazing place, just 10 miles from school, offers a completely different outlook on the countryside that lies just to the north of Havant and Waterlooville. For some children, this was their first time spending 2 nights away from home, and the setting is ideal as the accommodation is cosy and homely, and the site is calm and well maintained. Although so close to home and school, the pupils felt as if they were a world away from their everyday life during the visit.

During the assembly, pupils recounted tales of their favourite activities from den building, clay oven making, night walking and farm visiting to name a few. There were plenty of photos to show and anecdotes to share, as well as tales from the campfire and games galore. As ever, it is a big undertaking for staff to arrange a residential visit, especially when it involves the school using a location for the first ever time. I am delighted to add that every single child from the year group was able to take part in the trip, building strong bonds between classmates that will aid their learning back in the classroom. So on behalf of the children and their families, thanks go to Mrs Edge, Mrs Crozier, Mrs Pearson, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Pelling and Mrs Richardson for facilitating such a great experience for the pupils.

With best wishes for a restful and enjoyable half term holiday

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

The sun came back for the fourth day of the year 6 Fairthorne residential and the children made the most of the sunshine by enjoying the water on stand up paddle boards. These are the latest fad in water sports, and plenty of children broke new ground, well new water really, in having a go. Children continued to develop their skills of persistence and teamwork while building crate towers, tackling Jacob’s Ladder and scaling the vertical assault courses. It has been great to see the pupil groups getting higher and moving faster on these challenges as the week progressed, reflecting the development and growing confidence of the children.
Changing the pace a little, groups of children got creative during the Land Ecology session where they used leaves, twigs and mud to create natural art. Pupils also played detectives looking for animal tracks and making bug hotels. The outside fun will continue this evening with a camp fire, hopefully with songs aplenty and endless marshmallows.
Friday morning has time for two activity rotations before packing up and heading home to St Peter’s to be ready for collection as normal at 3:15pm from the north playground. As this is the last blog from Fairthorne, I must thank Mr Pratley, Mr Land, Mrs Wibberly, Miss Stapley, Mrs King, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Chapman, Mrs Jonas, Miss Burch, Mrs Knight, Mrs Moore and Miss Honeywell for giving up their time, energy and enthusiasm to organise and run this residential trip. And finally, to you all, good luck with the laundry this weekend!
Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It may have been rainy on Thursday, but it certainly didn’t dampen spirits as the Year 6 children took part in activities that required teamwork, perseverance and commitment. One of the activities was den building where children worked together to build a structure that would be waterproof, provide warmth and be large enough to fit the group of 5 children inside. What the pupils produced was very impressive. Children went on to develop their survival skills further by learning how to build and light fire; no easy task in the rain!

Teamwork continued with an assault course requiring balance, strength and stamina whilst listening and talking to others to complete the course as a team. The final activity, ‘camo-tracking’, encouraged the children to get nice and muddy in order to hide in the forest, playing a number of games that required the children to move stealthily through the forest area without being seen. The children embraced all the challenges with admirable persistence.

They are now getting dressed up ready for this evening’s entertainment…the disco!

Mrs L Knight
Assistant Headteacher

Day 2 at Fairthorne Manor saw the Year 6 pupils take on new challenges in outward bound adventures, in the morning even basking in beautiful autumn sunlight. The pupils are split into six groups, and each group will rotate around every activity over the course of the week. Today, the morning session was built largely around heights, as pupils took part in the Jacob’s Ladder climb, the aerial assault course, the zip-wire and the crate stacking challenge. All of these height based activities were led by trained Fairthorne staff who deliver not just safety briefings, but also humour, encouragement and praise to all of the children on each of their personal achievements. The afternoon session saw the pupils take to the water in two rotated activities. Pupils were guided on how to build their own log and barrel rafts, and they then put these to the test on the lake with some fun action songs performed afloat. The children also earned their water wings during a kayaking session, with Fairthorne staff and St Peter’s teachers being never far away in kayaks of their own. During this watery afternoon, every child took to the water aboard one craft or another, and each pupil achieved their own personal goal when meeting a new challenge. Well done to them all. This evening was spent in the sports hall, with colossal games of dodge ball designed to burn off the fish suppers everyone ate, and tire the children out once and for all for a good night’s sleep. Well, here’s hoping!
Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

A blog for a Monday for a change, as Year 6 today ventured into new ground for St Peter’s in going to Fairthorne Manor near Botley for their residential. The year group were transported with bags small and large, and even very large!, to the wonderful grounds of Fairthorne Manor. Having settled into their four person shared rooms, the pupils were given a quick tour of the central site to find their bearings before a picnic lunch in the old orchard. The afternoon was spent on the main field, an enormous expanse of grass and woodland. Pupils took part in orienteering, sensory games and a blindfold woodland challenge, with much fun had by all. After a substantial dinner of chicken or veggie kebabs and cake, a fire drill was practised before heading out to the evening games. The pupils were set a series of challenges to work their way out of a jungle, using teamwork and torches to scour the area around the manor house at night time. When the time came for hot chocolate before bed, both were much needed. St Peter’s staff are spending their time supervising smaller groups of children in activities, during free time and at meal times, so future blogs will be posted well into the late evening during the week. Furthermore, Wi-Fi internet connection in the accommodation block is a challenge (I am writing this in my kitchen having returned home from Fairthorne after lights-out), so please be patient for updates.
Climbing and water activities start on Tuesday.
Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Pupils from Year 1 celebrated a wonderful Liturgy around the creation story this week.  The worship had as its centre piece a beautiful arts and craft realisation of the seven days of God’s creation.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Well done to all the pupils who created an explosion of colour at St Peter’s today. As part of CAFOD’s Brighten up the Harvest campaign, the theme for the first of our non-uniform days this year was Wear it bright, and the children definitely didn’t disappoint. Over £400 was raised on the day, and children can keep on fundraising and donating in the month of October to support CAFOD’s good work. The efforts of CAFOD are captured in this prayer, which was offered at both staff briefing and in assembly:

God of all that is good,
you make the sun rise across the earth,
you breath wind through the fields,
you pour water from the mountains.

We hold in our hearts
the hopes and dreams of your children
who long to break free from poverty.

Move us to change our lives,
and bring the power of your love,
so that all may flourish.

Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher