St Pius X Catholic Primary School

  Rejoice!  The Lord is near! This week we are talked about the true meaning of Christmas, and how we prepare for Christ's Coming. The children were reminded about the importance of staying connected to God throughout Advent by praying and listening to His Word as we do in Whole School Liturgy.   It is very easy through Advent to get caught up in the preparations for the big celebration but the children were asked to look deep within and think about how they will prepare as we get closer to Christmas. On behalf of governors and staff at St Pius X, we wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas. May the blessing of our loving God come upon us; may we prepare to meet him and feel the presence and power of his Spirit always. Amen

Today, we had a class circle time and considered all of the learning we had done within the topic of Advent (the lead up to Christmas) and how we could apply some of these teachings to our own lives.  We recapped all of our learning about preparing and waiting, which included the Advent wreath, the Christingle, and the Nativity story.  As a class, we carefully considered deeper questions such as:  How do we feel when we are waiting? Why can waiting be difficult? How can we help others to wait? Our final BIG question that we answered individually was: How can you use what you have learned about Advent in your own life this year?  Some of our answers included: "We can wait with our family and light a candle from the Advent wreath" - Jorel "We can pray while we are waiting" - David "We can be kind when we are waiting and help our family decorate the house" - Benjamin  "We can retell the Nativity story and think about Jesus" - Mia 

 Year 3 have been testing their computer skills and learning how to create a stop motion animation. This involves taking lots of still photographs and editing them together to give the illusion of movement! They created some wonderful battle scenes set within the Roman colosseum. Some children even had flying heads and lions involved, like an old gladiator scene! I really enjoyed watching mine back, it looked like the characters are moving -  Harley

To begin wrapping up our Maths learning covered over the past Autumn term, we revisited and recapped key objectives such as correct number formation, recognising numbers in words, pattern seeking and number bonds, and counting backwards and forwards within 20.  We practised our number formation, used magnetic letters to recap numbers in words, and played games such as dominoes and snakes and ladders!  Well done Year 1! We covered lots of skills this afternoon! We also had to use resourcefulness and reciprocity (two of our 4 Rs) to ensure we used all of the equipment fairly and respectfully with our friends. 

KS1 have enjoyed a fantastically festive afternoon today. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 joined together to have a Christmas party afternoon while KS2 went to the Pantomime.  We had a range of activities available for the children including: festive biscuit decorating, Christmas games, Christmas card making, salt dough decoration making and many more! The children loved dancing to the Christmas music and enjoyed some time together as a key stage. We also enjoyed a short film together at the end of the day to top off our wonderful afternoon!  This was a fantastic way to celebrate the children's success this week with their wonderful Nativity play!  We are all feeling very Christmassy now... Merry Christmas everyone! 

The Mini Vinnies are up and running.  Our first meeting was 2 weeks ago where we chose our leadership team.  Members of the group nominated themselves and gave a presentation and then a vote was taken.  The roles are as follows: President - Raveena Vice President - Ivy Communications Officer - Hannah Secretary - Olive. Yesterday we had our second meeting.  We took time to think about the last kind thing someone had done for us and then how that made us feel.  We listened to 'Roberta's story,' and how a simple act of kindness, whilst she was in hospital helped her feel so happy and less lonely.  We learnt about the impact the SVP has on the people they help.   In our next meeting we want to identify the needs in our local community.   Hannah Communications Officer

This term we have been focusing on fundamental movement skills in our PE sessions.  We have been moving in a range of ways and using different equipment. One of our favorited PE games is the 'Animal game'. The children enjoy moving like different animals, focusing on how they can manipulate their movements to mimic the animal. e.g scurrying quickly and in a sideways fashion like a crab and then stomping slowly like an elephant.  We have practiced changing speed and direction as we are travelling. We have enjoyed moving through, underneath and around different equipment through our lessons too. The children loved our hoop tunnels in which they had to race through the hoops against the other teams.  This term the children have developed their listening and attention skills in environments other than the classroom and they have made some wonderful progress! These lessons provide the perfect opportunity for our pupils to develop their reciprocity through helping each other a...

Well it was that time of year again!!  Last Friday we held our traditional  Santa Stroll.  As always, much fun was had.  We were delighted to welcome so many parents/grandparents/carers along to support the children and the school.  Festive costumes were worn and festive music was played.  We sang, danced and walked many laps around the playground.  Ralph - Year 6 - I enjoyed the Santa Stroll because I like dancing and playing with my friends.   Grace - Year 6 - Head Girl -  It was absolutely amazing.  I loved the music and all my friends and I danced.  This was the best and our last Santa Stroll.  Ella - Year 5 - The Santa Stroll is the best place to talk to friends and enjoy music, so if you love Christmas this is just for you!

Children in Reception and KS1 were invited to design the cover for the Nativity programme for this year's performance 'A King Is Born.' There were some lovely entries, all of which have been displayed around the school! It was very difficult to choose a winner so there are 4 designs on the front cover! Well done and congratulations to: Theodor, My-An, Reuben and Ajooni!

  On Tuesday, Year 6 participated in a special Reconciliation Service, a meaningful part of their spiritual journey. The service included scripture readings and prayers, encouraging reflection and seeking forgiveness.  

For the season of Advent, in KS1, the children are given the opportunity to take home our travelling crib. This is an opportunity to set up the Nativity scene at home, light a candle and spend some time as a family reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas.  We also encourage the children to draw or write about what Christmas means to them and to say a prayer with their families.  The first entries we have had in Reception this week have been wonderful and the children are excited for their turn to take home the crib scene!  'I loved having the crib, My mummy read the story with me.' - Urane We welcome any opportunity to link our in school worship and learning with you at home and think this is a lovely connection between home and school during this advent period. 

  This week, Year 4 have started their Advent journey. In the last week of November, the class drew pictures depicting the Nativity which we've turned into our very own class advent Calendar. We also have started adding figures to our Crib. We've incorporated both of these into our pupil-led worship and have enjoyed uncovering the class's wonderful pictures.

 Please find a link to this week's Wednesday Word below:

 In Year 2 we have been learning about the Annunciation , when Angel Gabriel was sent to give Mary the important message from God - she was to have the Son of God! After hot-seating Mary to think about about how she might feel after receiving this news, we studied some examples of paintings of the Annunciation. Then we had a turn at creating our own art work! We used sponges to dab paint, creating a beam of light. We used foil to create a halo and then decorated the Angel and Mary.

Today, we reflected on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). This lesson served as a spiritual and practical preparation for the Year 6 Reconciliation Mass tomorrow. Prayer - Act of Sorrow  Oh my God, I thank You for loving me, I am sorry for all my sins;  for not loving others and not loving You.  Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen Steps of Reconciliation: Examination of Conscience  Confession  Contrition Penance Absolution To deepen students’ understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To explore the themes of forgiveness and mercy in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. To prepare students for active and meaningful participation in the Reconciliation Mass.

  Christ the King This week we are celebrating the solemnity of our Lord, Christ the King. In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, who asks him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus answers, 'Mine is not a kingdom of this world......Yes I am a king,  I was born for this, I came into the world for this; to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of the truth, listen to my voice.' We are reminded that Jesus' kingdom is within our hearts.  Jesus the king, died on the cross to show us all his eternal love.  By choosing to follow Jesus, following the school values and principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we show that Jesus' kingdom is alive, within each one of us.

 

In Reception, we enjoy learning through play. Our topic of 'Let's Celebrate' has allowed us to have a range of fun and engaging play opportunities.  Through these opportunities in the classroom the children are developing their communication, collaboration, fine motor skills alongside their maths and English skills. The provision also encourages the delopment of all of our learning powers: resourcefulness, reflectiveness, reciprocity and resilience!  'My favourite thing in the class is the messy play - I like that I can feel different things in the tray.' - Caasie  'I like to play with the dolls in the home corner. I make up games and stories with my friends.' - Joelle  'I like to play with the shapes and pasta. I like to play in the kitchen as well, we have been pretending to have a party. It's fun with my friends.' - Freddie  'I like to do the maths. I like cutting and sticking numbers and working with my friends.' - Coby  We believe th...

 Please find a link to this week's Wednesday Word below:

  Today, students researched the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Students experimented with oil pastels to make a self-portrait, Jean-Michel style! They used bright and vibrant colours for the background, with a main focus on layering. Students listened to music as they completed their artwork, just as Jean-Michel did, and let the music influence their strokes with the pastels. Then, for the final layer, students used a black pastel to draw their self-portraits, making them pop off the page! Students were thrilled with their final products! This activity is linked to our current IPC unit, 'A Day in the Life', where we are learning all about different jobs in our community! We've got some amazing artists here in Year One!

 Today in our Religious Education lesson, students learned about the Story of Moses and expressed their knowledge through role playing the story in small groups. The story is linked here . We had a class discussion about how God guided the Jewish people to freedom. Attached is a picture of a group during the role play activity! In this picture Jorel is acting as the Egyptian Pharaoh who changed his mind and decided to chase after the Jewish people, after he had agreed to free them. David is pretending to be Moses, who split the Red Sea, allowing for the Jewish people to escape. "What helped Moses speak to the Pharaoh?" "God told Moses to go and help his people. After Moses asked the Pharaoh, he let them go after the 10th plague" - Logan "God said 'go back to your people and free them'" - Ivy "God told him to go free the Jewish people so they could go to the promised land" - David "When Moses went to the burning bush, God spoke to h...

 Year 3 had such an amazing time visiting the Saffron Walden museum today and learnt so much about Ancient Egypt. Our day began by looking at artefacts including canopic jars and amulets. The children had to draw them and detail what they were used for. Then came the fun part... we gutted tomatoes and mummified them! We followed a step by step process of how to mummify an ancient Egyptian! Heavenly did a brilliant job at being our dead person, as we removed her organs and wrapped her in bandages. Finally, we all got to have a look around the museum and learn more about this fascinating time in history! Ancient Egypt is very interesting. I learnt a lot today including what organs are put into canopic jars Kasper

In RE, we have been hearing the Nativity story in sections in our RE lessons. We first heard about the Annunciation, then the journey Mary and Joseph had to take. This week, we have been thinking deeply about the crib scene.  We made a manger in the class room with straw. We thought about what it might be for and the children came up with ideas such as:  'That's food for animals.' - Noah  'That's what a horse sleeps on.' Anishka We read the scripture from our Bible stating that Jesus was born in a manger in a stable, surrounded by the animals, we then placed a baby in the manger. The children reflected on how this humble start to Jesus' life shows that he came for ALL.  'Jesus was a special baby but he didn't even get a bed. He didn't cry in the manger.' -Caasie  We read a wonderful story called  Song of the Stars  in which animals are preparing for Jesus' birth. The animals all call Jesus by a different name. Such as 'The mighty king...

 WOW! A huge well done to our tennis team from year 4 who walked away with gold medals from the recent tennis tournament at SJP on Monday. They competed against 15 other schools, eventually walking away from the final after winning 13-5! They had to show reciprocity by working together in teams of two to compete in doubles matches. Mr Cook was proud of the way you supported each other throughout, always tried your best and played some amazing tennis!! A massive well done from both Mr Cook and Mr Kelly, we are proud of you! Everyone did really well and I can't believe we won! Mia

Yesterday, our chaplaincy team demonstrated outstanding leadership in prayer and liturgy by organising a moment of prayer in the prayer garden at lunch time.  The children decided to share the Lord's prayer with the other pupils and then gave them an opportunity to reflect on their own intentions. "We all quietly reflected with our own prayers and then we prayed the Glory Be together." Estera, Year 6

Mrs Derbyshire talked about change with the children in Whole School Liturgy this week.  She reminded the children of the pictures she had shared back in May of her two Cocker Spaniel puppies, Eva and Millie.  Mrs Derbyshire showed new photos of the puppies, now 7 months old, sharing how much they had changed and grown! Everything continues to change around us and even though, we can't control things constantly changing, like Eva and Millie, what we do know is that   God's love is a constant in all of our lives .   God's love always remains the same and that should bring us great comfort.