Hello everyone,

I hope that you are all well and that you have been having a wonderful week so far.

Last month, the children enjoyed exploring their new unit of learning on Catholic Social Teaching. We have been following our Gospel Values in order to demonstrate our ‘faith in action’ by ‘Walking hand in hand with God, to make our world a better place’. As stewards of God’s love, we have enjoyed exploring various charities and taking part in community projects this term. We have been inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, ‘Fratelli Tutti’, and we continue to work hard as a school community, to inspire and promote change across the wider world. For example, Year Three have taken part in a stewardship community project with Over the Wall, a UK charity that works to support children with health challenges and disabilities. In addition, please see the example below of our school foyer display that has been produced by Year Five – the children have been considering how we spread hope, love, joy and peace through becoming beacons of light to others as we donate to the World of Books charity collection. This initiative supports many organisations, from large national charities to smaller local hospices, recycling the waste and surplus books sold directly to World Of Books by those charities. On an annual basis, the charities will then benefit from a significant sum as well as making considerable savings in their waste disposal costs.

As part of the children’s spiritual development, pupils across the school community have enjoyed taking part in significant roles in order to spread the Word and inspire others through their faith. Our pupil chaplains, for example, have been enjoying their Christian duties and responsibilities to serve the school community – in particular, they have focused upon creating their very own designs for the school Prayer Garden, a project we shall work towards over the next 3 years. The school governors were delighted to see the children’s views and ideas, and could see how the children had used their research in order to produce suggestions and plans of what they would like to see at St. Peter’s, in order to facilitate calm moments of prayer, reflection and introspection. Please see a few examples of the Prayer Garden designs, below:

As the school term has progressed, we have continued to encourage and nurture the development of pupil roles across the school, supporting them to ‘be the change’ and demonstrate values of discipleship during their own everyday experiences at school. For instance,  many pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 have been taking part in planning, preparing and developing ‘Liturgical Prayer’ – the children have also found it a very valuable experience to reflect and evaluate upon their class worships, in order to adapt elements of their class prayer time for future sessions. Inspired by pupil chaplains, who have already been involved in the organisation and delivery of whole school prayer, worship and events, the children across KS2 have enjoyed this opportunity and they look forward to the possibility of sharing God’s Word and Gospel Values, through hosting Liturgical Prayer to classes across KS1. We have also continued to focus on the values of Catholic Social Teaching, demonstrated by Oscar Romero and our House Saints. Please see the images below…

We have been very fortunate this term, being able to celebrate many events as a school community. We would like to thank all of the children, staff, parents, carers and Miss J. Heath (Oaklands School Chaplain) for their continued hard work in the preparation and delivery of the following, this month and over the coming few weeks:

• Tuesday 1st November 2022: Key Stage 2 All Saints Feast Day Liturgy
• Tuesday 8th November 2022: Year 5 and 6 Mass
• Tuesday 29th November 2022: Year 1 to 6 Advent Service at Sacred Heart Church, Waterlooville
• Tuesday 6th December 2022: Year 2 Advent and Christmas Liturgies
• Wednesday 7th December 2022: Year 1 Nativity Plays
• Thursday 8th December 2022: EYFS Nativity Plays
• Tuesday 13th December 2022: St. Peter’s School Carol Service (6.30pm) at Sacred Heart Church, Waterlooville

I would like to end this month’s RE blog post with a closing prayer:

God asks us to be ready so that we can welcome Jesus when he comes. Together we ask for God’s help…

We pray for all people around the world who are alone or frightened or have had to leave their homes because of conflict:

that they may be welcomed by others and may see their families again.

Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for people who are travelling to visit others or who have a long or difficult journey ahead:

that they may arrive safely and may receive a warm welcome.

Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for our parish, families and friends: that we may always be welcoming to others

and that we may share what we have with those who are in need.

Lord, in your mercy…