Did everyone have a restful half term break?  I do hope so, because here we go again!

Our spring term 2 session started with an inspirational assembly from CAFOD representatives Isobel and Patrick Flynn, who launched the Big Fish Lenten Campaign.  After a fascinating assembly (I never knew that dredging the bottom of a large fish pond will give you a rich fish manure for your soil!) the children have been encouraged to raise funds for families in need in Zambia.

Big fish at St Peter’s Primary Waterlooville

I am sure that the children of the St Peter’s community will set their energy and prayers towards this project.

Meanwhile, the staff at St Peter’s will be responding to the Bishop Philip’s call to raise funds to sponsor the education of children in our partner Diocese of Bamenda in Cameroon.

http://www.bamendaandportsmouth.com/education.php

In addition to our commitment to alms giving in Lent, we were able to mark the start of Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday service led by Monsignor Jeremy and Father Vitalis.  Information about all of our Lenten work is available on the RE blog.

Meanwhile, the school went costume crazy for World Book Day, with a whole host of literary characters appearing for a day of school and stories.  Even the staff dressed up, but sadly as I was at a conference my Dumbledore outfit will need to stay in the cupboard for another year.  The book theme didn’t end on Thursday though, as Mrs Domblides arranged for an author visit from Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore on Friday afternoon where we had not only our Year 6 pupils but also children from 5 other local primaries.  It was a great event, and a good reward for the Year 6 pupils who have been working hard on practice SATs this week, so thank you to Mrs D for all her hard work and inspiration this week.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

I must thank colleagues in Years R, 1, 2 and 6 who all hosted parent information events this week.  If you were not able to attend, please do not hesitate to make contact with your child’s teacher who will be able to provide you with any information or material that you may have missed.  Year 4 ended the week by going completely Goofy.  And Mickey, Minnie, Donald and endlessly Princess, as they had a Disney day on Friday.  Well done also to the pupils in Years 5 and 6 who celebrated a wonderful Mass on Tuesday with Fr Jeremy, where once again we were joined by a large group of family members.  As I always say though, please do not worry if work or other commitments keep you from joining these events; we know how much home support goes into preparing children for these occasions, and we know that everyone in the community is with us in spirit when we gather to celebrate, pray and worship.

Our latest newsletter for the month is available on this website via

http://www.stpeterswaterlooville.co.uk/index.php/letters/newsletters/1122-newsletter-february-2017/file

And that’s it, another half term gone!  Whilst I was out on the playgrounds for end of the day dismissal on Thursday, there was a hint of spring in the air, and on the lawn just in front of the hall windows, the daffodils are venturing forth to burst into bloom any day now.  So, as we say farewell to winter, and prepare for longer days and brighter sunshine, what better way to spend a half term week than relaxing, enjoying some fresh air and passing time at leisure with our families and friends.

Enjoy the half term break

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

This week has seen the second round of pupil progress meetings in school between the Senior Leadership Team and class teachers.  It is our termly opportunity to focus on the progress of each child and decide upon targets and techniques that will make for further academic gains in the coming months.  As is often the case in such meetings, the role of the Headteacher is to always ask for ‘a little bit more’, and with everyone at school already working hard I know that I am like a Formula 1 team manager who wants to shave fractions of a second off each lap time for the sake of marginal gains.  However marginal these gains may be, though, their impact can be great; on the race track it is the difference between winning and losing, in the classroom it is the difference between meeting ambitious learning targets or falling frustratingly short of them.  So, now that we have a renewed sense of what each pupil can achieve as their next step, they will find the expecatations of staff going up a notch or three in the coming weeks.  You can support this by adding to the process with consistent home learning.  This does not need to be huge amounts, and should not make learning a horror for children or families alike, but devoting a set time several days a week to support school learning will really make a difference.  10 minutes of reading, spelling memory games after tea, or setting mini maths challenges into daily tasks around the house all add up to those small steps making a big difference.

Praise this week needs to go to pupils who have flown the flag for St Peter’s in other local schools.  Year 4 sent a team of keen sportspeople to Horndean Technology College for a Tri-Golf tournament, where the boys team brought home a well-deservde silver medal.  Year 5, three pupils (pictured below) gave an exceptional account of themselves in a CAFOD public speaking competition on the topic of ‘What’s for Dinner?’ at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Fareham.  Well done then to all the pupils involved, and thanks to Miss Rayson (Tri-Golf) and Mrs Edge and Miss Fleming (CAFOD public speaking) for devoting their efforts towards these enriching activties.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Well done to Year 5 for boldly going where no pupils have gone before, this school year from St Peter’s at least, and making the trip through the wind and the rain to the Intech Science Centre just outside Winchester.  Thanks you to the staff and volunteers who made this trip possible.  The Year 5 pupils have been astounding me in recent weeks with incredible home learning work on the planets and life in space.  The space topic has inspired the children really well, and who wouldn’t be hooked into doing maths based upon planet temperatures in Star Wars!  Some great models and information posters have been made about our solar system by Year 5, some of which are on display in the school foyer, but you will need to be quick to see them as Year 2 Titanic models are ready to set sail for centre stage during next week.

The talent in school is not just limited to classroom lessons and home learning though.  Pupils in Mrs D’s after school Story Time Club have put together an hilarious story of their own based upon a well-known series, writing ‘Supertato – Classroom Chaos’ in the autumn term.  This amazing publication has been granted the honour of sole residence on Mr Cunningham’s Wow Work! wall outside my office (see below).  In addition, the publication was well received (and reviewed) by the Supertato authors themselves who wrote a wonderful letter to the Story Time Club pupils at the start of the term.  To top of this triumph, ‘Supertato – Classroom Chaos’ was the most borrowed book in our school library in January, so well done to all the pupils involved.

And finally, in the sporting spirit of fair play and neutrality, I hope that any of you who are interested in rugby enjoy all that the Six Nations has to offer, and may the best team (as long as they play in white and have a red rose emblem) win!

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

On Sunday 5th February 2017, a special event is taking place to combine a parish welcome to Monsignor Jeremy Garratt and to strengthen the links between St Peter’s and one of the two parishes from which it draws many children, the Waterlooville parish of The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Peter the Apostle.  At the 10:30am Mass all children in the parish are invited to attend church in their school uniforms to take a lead role in the celebration of Mass, and volunteering if willing to help with readings, the offertory, etc.  When this special Mass was first discussed, I was keen from the start for it to be for all children of any school in the local area to attend Mass in their school uniform, and not just those children at St Peter’s.  So if you know of families with children who are not at St Peter’s but who attend Mass at The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Peter the Apostle, please do encourage them to come along.  In time, it is hoped that such a celebration of Mass can take place in other Catholic parishes in the area, so Sunday 5th February really is a test run.  I know it happens elsewhere, and I have recollections of attending the same when I was a child at St Bede’s Catholic Primary School in Weaverham back in the 1980s (in short trousers with scratched knees and bruised shins as is de rigeur for small boys I am sure), so am keen for us as a school community to place children at the heart of our local parishes.

We were lucky enough this week to host Fr Jeremy as he celebrated Mass with our Year 3 and 4 pupils.  Fr Jeremy then set out on what was intended to be a visit to all the classes, but conversations with Year 3 about their taste in literature and quick-fire questions from Year 1 slowed his progress; a sign I am sure of a great relationship being forged between Fr Jeremy and the children of St Peter’s.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

The main focus of my attention this week has been on observing lessons in St Peter’s.  I have drafted in the help of Headteacher colleagues from local schools and the local authority in order to validate my judgements and provide objective guidance on where we as a school can make progress in the coming months.  I am delighted to report that all of the visitors have praised the work ethic, good manners and excellent behaviour of our pupils.  The origin of such praiseworthy conduct is manifold, coming from pupil self-discipline and motivation, excellent professional instruction and guidance from the staff at St Peter’s, and of course the positive approach to school life that is encouraged and embedded at home.  I am confident in the knowledge that on such firm foundations can be built great academic and personal progress for all of the pupils at St Peter’s in the spring and summer terms of 2017.

Meanwhile, the highlight of the week for the pupils was surely the Italian Day in the canteen, where Mrs Gray and her superb team served over 380 meals to hungry boys and girls ready for a taste of Italy.  With that number to feed, thank goodness we ordered in more than ‘Just one Cornetto!’.  On behalf of everyone, therefore, to the canteen staff I say a heartfelt ‘Grazie’ for all your efforts every day in keeping us well fed and ready for the afternoons.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

In the first two weeks of term, I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm shown by two year groups in particular who have immersed themselves in the history of our wider Hampshire area.  Year 2 visited the Sea City Museum in Southampton to investigate RMS Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage, and then deepened their learning with a Titanic dressing-up day at the end of last week.  It was great to have children in Edwardian garb reading prayers to the whole school as part of my Epiphany worship, and their topic learning has continued with the captivating picture book story of ‘Samson’s Titanic Journey’ by Lauren Graham.  Meanwhile Year 6 spent a day at Beaulieu Museum with a focus not on the classic cars, or the beautifully derelict Cistercian Abbey, but the work done by the agents of the Special Operations Executive during their top secret spy training for World War Two.  Of particular note was the promotion given to the brave women of the SOE who risked their lives on missions designed to, in the words of Churchill, ‘Set Europe ablaze!’ whilst under Nazi occupation.  As ever, thanks goes to the staff who organise the trips, parents who volunteer to help, and of course the pupils who are excellent learning ambassadors for St Peter’s.  And of course, I must thank my colleagues for giving me a decent ‘history fix’ to remind me of my old job in the week when I was appointed to the permanent post of Headteacher, but don’t worry, a whole school project on the significance of the ministry of Sir Robert Peel 1841 to 1846 won’t be rolled out just yet!

This week at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Peter the Apostle in Waterlooville the parishioners said a final farewell to Father Kevin Bidgood (see previous blog of 2nd December 2016 for how St Peter’s expressed our thanks to Fr Kevin) and welcomed Monsignor Jeremy Garrett as the new parish priest.  After the special Mass of transition on Tuesday evening I invited Fr Jeremy to come into St Peter’s as soon as he is able in the busy schedule of getting to grips with a new parish, and we look forward to making Fr Jeremy an integral part of our worshipping school community.

Finally, thank you for the many words of congratulations and encouragement that I have received in the playgrounds this week following my appointment to Headship.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Welcome back to all the children as we start 2017 with great enthusiasm and optimism for the year ahead.

This week, whilst still in the season of Christmas but with the bustle of the commercial season having passed, we took the opportunity in school for calm reflection in our two whole school worships.

We began on Wednesday with a worship centred around the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God.  Our pupils took the time to cast away in their imaginations the clean cut nativity figure scenes that adorn our homes and churches to think instead about the more realistic sights, sounds and smells that would have surrounded the Holy Family as the birth of Christ took place in a stable.  We then all reflected on what we know about the circumstances surrounding our own births, and this weekend would be a great opportunity to remind your children of when and where they were born, who their first visitors were, and any interesting anecdotes surrounding the special event.

In our whole school worship on Friday we turned our attention to the Epiphany.  The children all know that the birth of a child brings gifts galore for the new baby, with Jesus being no different.  What struck me with my own children in more recent years has been the rise of the (dreaded) party bag, where children walk away from parties to which they were invited with gifts of their own – it was a slice of cake in a sticky napkin in my day!  We thought about what we would have in a party bag if we were to leave a celebration of Jesus’ birthday, which in effect is one of the elements of the Epiphany as we return to Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar.  The children were shown how the gifts from the celebrations of Christ’s birth, being Peace, Love, Hope, Joy and Faith, have more significance in our lives than any other gift, and will far outlast anything else that we may receive at Christmas or at our birthdays.  Each class took from the worship a party bag containing these gifts on slips of paper, and these will form the centre piece of class worship on Monday morning.

So, onwards St Peter’s with pride and confidence into 2017.  I wish you all peace, prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful, restful and holy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year for 2017, from all the staff at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School.

Thank you for all of the cards, gifts and good wishes that have been passed to the staff at school; each one is truly appreciated.

Don’t forget to read the December school newsletter for all the end of term and start of term updates you need.  A paper copy will go home with the children, and it is available on the school website via the quick link tab on the right hand side of the screen.

Looking forward to seeing all the children back for the new term at 8:50am on Wednesday 4th January 2017.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Well done to all of the pupils and staff at St Peter’s who rallied round today to run ‘A Mile for Maisie’ to raise money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.  This service, funded entirely from public contributions, gave essential help when our Year 6 pupil needed to get to the teenage trauma unit at Southampton General Hospital at the start of November.  Our fundraising mile run today was our way of saying thank you in return.  Friday started with Mr Maxwell from Fry and Kent estate agents (other estate agents are available!) presenting a £60 cheque to Pets as Therapy when announcing the winners of their design a Christmas Card competition, as Maisie enjoyed visits from one of their pets in hospital whilst separated from her own dog Leo.  When Mr Maxwell saw 430 children in sports kit before him in assembly, he added another £60 to our Air Ambulance fund to get the ball rolling.  As I write we are still counting the donations from today’s event, and will add to that the retiring collection from our Carol Service on Tuesday night, so that a grand total can be announced next week.

Which takes me onto events earlier in the week.  The pupils of St Peter’s once again impressed as they conducted themselves impeccably on the journey to and from Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle Church, earning complimentary comments from members of the public.  Children from every year group made wonderful contributions to our Advent service, and I must thank especially the family volunteers who helped walk with the children for the service.  Then on Tuesday night the school celebrated what I hope will become an annual Carol Service at the church, brining together in one night and one place our Key Stage 2 children and families to set the Christmas spirit.  Add to that the amazing Year R nativity play, and we have had quite a busy week of it.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there, as next week sees two performances of the Year 1 and 2 nativity play on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Christmas dinner for the children on Tuesday (best Christmas apron on for me to serve the gravy!), our pantomime Peter Pan on Wednesday and Christmas jumper day on Friday for the last day of term.

Still, all that is yet to come, and I need to get ready for tonight’s Friend’s of St Peter’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Party!  Mince pie anybody?

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher