Pupils in Years 5 and 6 had a great combined event this week when they were lucky enough to receive an author visit from Polly Ho-Yen.  Polly used to be a primary school teacher who would get up early before work to pen stories (I don’t know where she found the energy!), and is now a full-time author.  After a general presentation, Polly then did writing workshops with each class in Years 5 and 6.  Pupils in Years 5 and 6 have studied Polly’s book Boy in the Tower, ‘a fable of fear and hope, loneliness and friendship’, and were able to get signed copies at the end of the day.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Please keep the St Peter’s school community in your prayers over the coming weeks of winter … and spring.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

St Peter’s takes its commitment to teaching pupils about cyber-safety very seriously.  In November, pupils from our Cyber Ambassadors scheme prepared and presented to classes information on how to protect personal details and be conscious of their digital footprint when using resources on-line.  The power of this message came from the fact that the pupils, whilst supported by adults in the school, researched their own resources to use in the presentation.  This meant that the content was relevant to what interests children when using the internet for playing games and watching videos on-line.

This week, we built upon this education with presentations for year groups from Lee Hayward, who works as a cyber-safety consultant to local schools.  The focus of his presentation was twofold; firstly helping the children to spot the signs and dangers of fake social media content, and secondly to be wary of befriending individuals on-line who may play the same games or visit the same sites on the internet.  The importance of keeping on-line safety education up to date is that the virtual world is constantly changing itself, meaning that we will continue to bring in support and advice to help our pupils become responsible and safe citizens of the internet world.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It has been a busy week for school trips this week at St Peter’s.  The Year 5 classes went to Winchester Science Museum as an introduction to their science topic of space, taking the opportunity whilst there to explore other topics of scientific interest.  Our youngest learners in the Reception Year also went boldly forward by taking their first group trip to Waterlooville Library.  As they walked from school into town, they received many compliments from members of the public about how polite and well-behaved they were.  And finally, 20 children from Years 2 to 6 went to Chichester Festival Theatre to watch a performance of ‘Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World’.  These children were drawn out as prize winners from all those who completed our autumn term reading challenge.  It is not small undertaking to plan an off-site trip for children, so great thanks must go to colleagues who prepare these adventures, and the many family adult volunteers who give up their time to support with supervision.

From all of the pupils and staff at St Peter’s, gathered here for our outdoor carol service, we wish you a very Happy Christmas.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

There was cause for celebration and congratulations at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School this week as we were officially awarded the Developer Level (level 2 of 3) of the Romero Award.  The Oscar Romero Award supports schools in realising and living the unique calling of a Catholic school to empower young people, and all who work in the school, to become true agents of the change they want to see in the world by putting their faith into action.  Young people have a very strong sense of justice and fairness, and are constantly seeking to be supported and encouraged in their effort to bring about a fairer society that recognises the human rights of all.  St Peter’s is only the 4th school nationally to achieve Developer Level of the Romero Award, with the school’s work in making Catholic Social Teaching explicit and recognisable being highly commended by the validators.  Thanks go to all the pupils and staff at St Peter’s, and especially Mrs Pike who led our award project, for their effort towards this achievement over time.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

What a lovely greeting to a rainy morning gate duty on Wednesday 1st December.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It was with great joy that we were able to return to one of our parish churches this week to celebrate an Advent Service on Tuesday 30th November.  The last time we were able to do this at Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle was in 2019, so after a 2-year gap there was much excitement.  All of the pupils in Key Stage 2 (aged 7 to 11) walked from school to church for a peaceful reflection on the true meaning of the season of Advent, marking out the time of preparation and readiness as distinct from the subsequent season of Christmas.

Great thanks go to our Pupil Chaplains for leading the service, to Oaklands’ Lay Chaplain Miss Heath, and to St Peter’s colleagues Mrs Moore and Mrs Buckingham who lead our Pupil Chaplains.  In addition, thank you to the family volunteers who accompanied us on the walk to and from the church to keep the pupils safe and moving along. And if you want to know what a line of 240 children walking through Waterlooville looks like, look at this picture!

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher