St Pius X Catholic Primary School

To make the most of the beautiful spring weather and in celebration of World Book Week , we decided to take today’s reading session outdoors. Surrounded by the fresh air and sunshine, it was the perfect setting for diving into our latest chapter. Today, we explored Chapter 16 (Goodnight Mr Tom) , which sparked a lively discussion about language. The open-air environment seemed to inspire even more thoughtful insights and reflections from everyone, making our literary conversation richer and more engaging.

Thank you to all who purchased books from our recent book fair! This has rasised a wonderful £98.66 in rewards for the school! We can use this money to purchase books from scholastic to continue the children's love of reading here at St Pius X!  Thank you so much! 

 This half term, we are developing our ball skills during PE. We started today by learning how to dribble a football.  Everyone had a football and moved around the space using small, gentle touches to keep the ball close to their feet. The children pretended they are witches and wizards with “magic feet,” using their powers to control the ball carefully as they travel. We also practised receiving the ball using our feet instead of our hands.  'I can balance the ball on the cone to help me'- Ethan 'Get ready it's coming'- Henry 

  🌱 Year 1 Launches Their New IPC Unit: Green Fingers ! This half term, Year 1 have stepped into the wonderful world of plants as we begin our brand‑new IPC unit, Green Fingers . The children have already shown so much curiosity, teamwork, and enthusiasm — it’s been a joy watching them become little botanists. 🌼 Entry Point: What Do Plants Need to Grow? We kicked off our learning by exploring the essential things plants need to survive and thrive. Through hands‑on discussion and observation, the children thought carefully about water, sunlight, soil, and air — and then put their ideas into action. To bring our learning to life, each child planted their own watercress seeds . They carefully sprinkled the tiny seeds, watered them gently, and placed them in a spot where they could get just the right amount of light. Over the next few weeks, the children will be keeping a weekly growth record , observing how their plants change and using their scientific skills to notice patterns. Al...

There is something truly transformative about 8,000 voices singing in perfect harmony. This week, our Year 5 and 6 students didn't just attend a concert—they were the concert. Led by Mrs Wallace, our Young Voices choir finally headed to the London O2 Arena . It was the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work, and what a spectacular finale it was! The day was a whirlwind of energy and music. Our students spent the afternoon in an intensive rehearsal with thousands of other children from across the UK. It was here that the scale of the event truly hit home. As the sun went down and the arena lights flickered on, the atmosphere shifted from focused practice to pure electric excitement. 'It was really really fun and there were loads of lights flickering. My favourite song was 'Power in me' because everyone sang it really loudly.' - Niamh Year 5 'I really liked how big the stadium was and I loved singing with my friends. The best song for me was the disco medley....

  Today, our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils took their maths learning to the next level by stepping into the role of party planners! Using Google Sheets, the children created their own budgets for a birthday party, combining digital skills with real-life maths. The lesson focused on helping pupils understand how to organise information using cells and how to use simple formulas to automatically calculate totals. After listing items such as food, decorations, entertainment, and party bags, the children worked out the costs and kept track of their spending within a set budget. This activity not only strengthened their understanding  of addition and money but also introduced them to the importance of financial planning and decision-making. Pupils quickly discovered that planning a party requires careful choices — should they spend more on decorations or save money for extra treats? As they worked, the children developed their confidence using Google Sheets, learning how spreadsheets...

Year 2 Litter Picking! To mark the end of our IPC topic 'Live and Let Live!' Year 2 decided to help out around our local area. They have been learning about habitats and life cycles in science, and have researched endangered animals as part of a homework project. They have been reminded that our world is precious and that we all have a responsibility, as God's stewards, to take care of the earth. We can do this is big ways but also small acts of service that can make a big difference! They worked fantastically in pairs, sharing equipment and helping each other to collect rubbish. They were astonished at the amount of litter they found along the pavements, in bushes and around the local park! Here's a selection of projects... lots of information about pandas, tigers, elephants! Well done Year 2 - some amazing homework projects and excellent citizens helping out our local community.

🐉 Lunar New Year! Today Year 2 learnt about the exciting festival of Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival). They watched a video showing how this is celebrated, including traditions of food, decorations, fireworks and parades. It was interesting to learn about other cultures, tradions and celebrations from around the world. They also found out what animal they were based on their birth-year: 2018 is the year of the dog and 2019 is the year of the pig! 2026 is the year of the horse. To finish, they made their own Chinese New Year dragons! Happy New Year from Year 2! 🐉

This week, Year 4 took part in a real class debate. Our big question was: Should social media be banned for children under 16? We organised our debate properly, just like a real one! We split into two teams: The Proposition – They agreed that social media should be banned. The Opposition – They disagreed and thought it should not be banned. Each team chose a captain to introduce the team and three speakers to read their prewritten arguments. Each team took turns reading their arguments and then the other side got a chance to form a rebuttal. We really had to incorporate all our persuasive writing skills and public speaking skills. We also had a c hairperson who made sure everyone took turns and followed the rules, and a timekeeper who made sure speeches were not too long. "Both sides argued really well. It was so close."

  Year 1 Pirate Day – A Swashbuckling Adventure! Year 1 set sail on an unforgettable Pirate Day , arriving at school dressed as the fiercest, friendliest, and most imaginative pirates you could ever meet. From captains with feathered hats to tiny deckhands with treasure bags, the children threw themselves into the adventure with huge smiles and brilliant enthusiasm. The day began with a treasure hunt around the school , where the children worked together to crack a series of hidden clues. Each clue brought them closer to breaking the secret pirate code. They searched high and low—under benches, behind doors, and across the playground—using teamwork, problem‑solving, and plenty of pirate determination. Back in the classroom, the children became real pirate makers and creators. They designed and built their very own pirate compasses , learning how pirates used tools to find their way across the seas. They also crafted shiny pirate gold coins , carefully decorating them with patterns,...

As we reach the end of this half term, we have also been marking Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 (9–15 February), led nationally by Place2Be . This year’s theme, “This is My Place,” has focused on belonging — feeling safe, valued and accepted within our families, friendships, schools and communities. Belonging is fundamental to positive mental health. When children feel secure and understood, they are more confident learners, more resilient when faced with challenges and better able to build healthy relationships. Throughout the week, pupils have taken part in thoughtful activities and discussions exploring what makes them feel that they belong and how they can help others feel included. Today, we also held our Zones of Regulation Day , which is an important part of our ongoing work to develop emotional literacy across the school. Through the Zones of Regulation approach, children learn to recognise and name their emotions, understand that all feelings are valid, and develop pr...

This week, our Year 3 pupils became young technology explorers as they celebrated Internet Safety Day by learning about Artificial Intelligence (AI). The children were excited to discover how AI is part of their everyday lives and more importantly, how to use technology safely and responsibly. We are incredibly proud of how thoughtfully Year 3 engaged with such an important and modern topic. Their curiosity, sensible questions and creative ideas show they are well on their way to becoming responsible digital citizens. Well done, Year 3... the future of technology is in safe hands! It is important to check where your information is coming from Alex

What are the Mini Vinnies involved with at the moment? The Mini Vinnies are very busy. We have weekly meetings and right now we are beginning St. Vincent De Paul's Lenten Campaign. This year’s  SVP Heart to Heart Lent campaign   focuses on   loneliness , a hidden issue that affects people of all ages, even in busy schools and communities. The message is simple and powerful:   reach out and have a conversation . Inspired by  St Pier Giorgio Frassati , an SVP member who believed in friendship and lifting others  verso l’alto  (“to the heights”), the campaign shows how caring for others helps us grow too. The Heart to Heart campaign will be a 5 week Lenten journey.  Each week we will explore stories of Jesus listening to and caring for those who felt lonely or forgotten.  We will be doing activities that build towards a final challenge where we have a 'heart to heart' conversation with someone in our community.  We have started with Week 1 ...

We kicked off the morning by joining the BBC Live Lesson , which was broadcast straight from a safari park. The lesson tackled some big questions: Is AI a person? Can it be my friend? Should I trust everything it says? The children were quick to spot the difference. While a chatbot might use friendly language or even tell a joke, the students learned that it doesn't have feelings, a heartbeat, or a conscience. 'AI can tell 'lies' you can't always trust it and you can never trust it with your emotions.' - Yana  'Not all things you see online are true - it's important to double check information.' - Elodie  'It can replicate anything and it is only as good as the coder.' - Isabella  To see how AI "thinks," we turned our classroom into a science lab using Google’s Teachable Machine . The children learned that AI is essentially a "teachable machine"—it only knows what we tell it through data inputs . The challenge was simple: ...

 Today was Safer Internet Day and had the focus on using AI and technologies around us.  We started by thinking about what the internet is.  ‘It makes our TV’s and electronics work’ Ethan ‘We have the internet at home’ Elijah ‘No internet means your telly doesn’t work ‘ Idrees Then we discussed why we use technology and which apps we know.  'Snapchat is yellow'- Macie  'I watch YouTube at home'- Logan Finally, we discussed Roo's new friend. She was described as being very smart, magical and powerful! But we didn't expect the friend to be Alexa!  We shared how using these devices can be useful- they can help us to answer questions or play our favourite music. Then we also thought about what they can't do- give us a hug, make dinner and be our friend.  ‘I have an Alexa’-  Logan  'An Alexa doesn’t have any hands' -Quinn ‘I ask my Alexa to play music'- Henry  ‘Alexa is actually not real people’ - Idrees  ‘It’s just a robot’ - Lydia

Safer Internet Day: Smart Tech, Safe Choices Today is Safer Internet Day and the theme is ‘Smart Tech, Safe Choices - Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI.’  As technology becomes an everyday part of children’s lives, it is important that we help them use it safely, responsibly and with confidence. Many primary-age children already interact with technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI), such as voice assistants, games, learning apps and online content recommendations. These tools can support learning, creativity and curiosity when used appropriately and with adult guidance. However, while AI can be helpful and engaging, it also presents risks that young children may not recognise. AI tools can sometimes provide inaccurate information, expose children to unsuitable content, or encourage them to trust what they see and hear too easily. Some platforms collect personal data, blur the line between what is real and computer-generated or present content in ways that feel ...

Our next computing lesson has incorporated using musical instruments to demonstrate how music is created to a rhythm. We learnt about 'pulse' and clapped to a beat. Then we used coloured counters to create a rhythm patterm with our partner. This was then mimicked when using the Chrome Music Lab rhythm tool. We enjoyed making music and experiemnting with different rhythms and instruments - both real and digital! 

Year 2 were wondeful at recalling prior learning about staying safe online! We had already discussed AI so we watched this informative video by Minecraft Education which explains how AI works in a simple way. To consolidate this further, we looked at a few short videos about AI, sharing photos and digital footprints. Mrs Griffiths explained that the internet has a memory that can remember what you search for and that this can be helpful but can also have its disadvantages too! For example, it can remember what you bought when online grocery shopping, so that you don't forget that all important chocolate bar next time! However, you can get pop-up adverts that can get annoying! We also considered how seding a photo to one person can sometimes mean that photo ends up with a complete stranger.  Sharing photos video Digital footprint video Then Year 2 made their own digital footprint by drawing around their own feet and writing the things they use the internet for, including: netflix r...

To mark Safer Internet Day, our Year 6 pupils took part in an exciting live lesson alongside schools from across the country. This year’s theme, “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI,” gave children the opportunity to learn more about how technology is shaping their lives and how they can use it safely and responsibly. Throughout the session, the children explored how artificial intelligence works and discussed the many ways it is used in everyday life. They learned about the importance of thinking carefully when using smart technology, understanding that while AI can be helpful and powerful, it is important to make sensible and informed choices. The lesson encouraged the children to become confident, responsible digital citizens who know how to stay safe in an increasingly digital world. Well done to Year 6! For more information about Safer Internet Day visit: https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2026 BBC Online Safety...

  Catholics believe we are called to take care of each other, especially those most in need. 🌟The Story of Zacchaeus We began with a warm‑up called “Who Needs Help?” . The children looked at pictures of people who were sad, lonely, hungry or unwell. They shared thoughtful ideas about who might need help and how we can show kindness. This prepared them beautifully for our Gospel story. We listened to the retelling of Luke 19:1–9 , the story of Zacchaeus. Together we explored new words like Jericho , tax collector , greedy and sinner , and the children quickly understood that Zacchaeus had made some unkind choices. They were fascinated that Jesus chose to spend time with him anyway. The children learned that: Zacchaeus cheated people He was rich but not liked Jesus called him by name Meeting Jesus changed him completely We talked about how Christians believe Jesus can help us change too. Using thumbs up and thumbs down, the children sorted words like greedy , kind , selfish and he...

 This week we have been very lucky to have been able to see chicks hatch in school. We had a special delivery of eggs on Monday, which at first we thought might be for some baking but then we learnt all about incubators and discovered that we thought these eggs might hatch into chicks. We have been very excited during the week as we've watched the eggs start to hatch. On Wednesday morning we came into school to find there were 6 chicks so far. During the day another 2 hatched, which we were very lucky to catch on camera and on Wednesday evening 1 more hatched, meaning by only Thursday we already had 9 chicks! The chicks have started to be moved into their brooder box, where they will live for the following 2 weeks. Now in the brooder box, they will start to eat and drink, although some of them prefer to sleep in their food! They are still very young at the moment so we can't hold them just yet but hopefully by Friday or Monday we should be able to give them lots of cuddles.  W...

⚘🐛 ' Live and Let Live' is the IPC topic for Year 2 this Spring half term. It's been the perfect opportunity to see things in action, developing their understanding of life cycles, food chains and how animals adapt to different habitats. This week Year 2 have planted poppy and pansy seeds and will make regular observations in order to track the changes from seed to flower in real-time. Last week the children were enthusiastic and excited to design their own bug hotels ! They used their knowledge of materials and thought about what bugs would want - a safe shelter! This week, using as many natural or recycled materials as possible, they used (and adapted) their plans to make their hotel. It has been brilliant to watch their curiosity and creativity whilst putting many skills into action: decision making - choosing appropriate and available materials resilience and problem-solvin g - finding ways to overcome challenges when things don't go to plan. collaboration - he...