St Pius X Catholic Primary School

 As part of Service Week, Year 3 decided to share kindness around our school. We wrote special notes of affirmation to give to teachers, staff and other students. On each note, we wrote positive words like “You are amazing,” “Keep going,” or “Thank you for all you do.” We decorated them with bright colours to make them cheerful and fun. When we handed out the notes, people were surprised and very happy. This activity taught us that helping others doesn’t always mean doing something big. Even small actions, like writing a kind note, can spread joy and make a difference.

  Year 6 have been learning all about climate change as part of our topic Earth as an Island .  We discovered what causes the planet to warm, the effects it has on people, animals and the environment, and – most importantly – what we can do to help. As part of Service Week , we decided to put our learning into action. Service is one of our school values, and we wanted to show how we could serve others by raising awareness about climate change and encouraging people to make a difference. Each pupil wrote a personal letter about climate change to share our views and concerns. This have been sent to Ms. Marie Goldman MP.  Well done, Year 6!

The crayons are not happy! Our class book is 'The Day the Crayons Came Home' by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. You can read the story here . We have explored the different emotions the crayons have shown towards their owner, Duncan, including anger, pride, anxiety and joy! The crayons write postcards to Duncan so we decided to write one too. We had to imagine how we would feel and give reasons. Here are some examples of our wonderful writing...

This year, pupils in Year 2 are being given the opportunity to take home our C lass Liturgy Book .  Each week, a child is given the book which contains scripture relevant to our RE topic, the Catholic Liturgical Calendar or relevant world events and celebrations. Their task is to practise the short Bible verse to read during our Class Liturgy later in the week and to add their own thoughts and reflections (pictures, prayers) to the book. So far the children have really enjoyed sharing their learning with family at home and the added responsibility of taking part in the Class Liturgy! We hope this will continue to add excitement, inspire personal reflection and encourage a time of sharing and reflection at home. Well done Year 2!

 This week, Year 3 are beginning their exciting new topic all about light and sound ! To kick things off, the children took some instruments outside and carried out their very first investigation into how sound travels. They had the chance to explore what happens when they play sounds in open spaces, noticing how vibrations move through the air and reach our ears. The fresh air setting gave them room to experiment with different volumes, rhythms, and distances, sparking lots of curious questions. Over the coming weeks, Year 3 will be learning more about how light helps us see, how sound is created and moves, and the many ways we use both in our daily lives. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect scientific ideas with hands-on experiences, and the children are already showing fantastic enthusiasm for their new topic. The closer I was to the instrument, the louder I heard the sound Nina

Year 5 class had the wonderful opportunity to visit Blessed Sacrament Church. The visit was not only a chance to explore a place of worship, but also a special moment to be welcomed as members of the parish community. Throughout the visit, the Year 5 children showed excellent behaviour, demonstrating respect, curiosity, and reverence during their time in the church. They listened carefully, showing a genuine interest in learning more about the Catholic faith and parish life. 'It was fun to go to the church.' - Niamh  'It was nice walking to Blessed Sacrament. When I was in the mass I felt thankful.' - Isabella  'It was exciting. The service was calming.' - Evangelin

This week we have been exploring the story  Handa’s Surprise . The children used describing words to talk about the different fruits in Handa’s basket and we had a lot of fun tasting some of them too. We explored their colours, textures and flavours - there were plenty of funny faces as we tried new things! The mango was definitely our most popular choice. Afterwards, the children coloured in their own fruits and thought carefully about words to describe them. We also talked about Handa and Akeyo’s friendship in the story. The children shared their own ideas about how we can be kind and caring friends, just like Handa and Akeyo. 'The mango is my favourite because it is juicy and sweet.' - Arthur 'The mango is soft and tasty.' - Caasie 'The avocado is squishy and smooth.' - Abiya 'The pineapple feels spiky.' - Denzel It has been lovely to see Year 1 enjoying their  learning this week, using exciting describing words and thinking carefully about friendship...

  At St. Pius X Catholic School, we take a Maths Mastery approach to help our pupils become confident mathematicians. Below are links to some useful websites that children may enjoy using at home. Please note that none of these activities are compulsory, and no homework needs to be returned to school. White Rose Home Learning Workbooks - Y1 to Y6 Top Marks Maths Games - Reception to Y6 BBC Bitesize KS1 BBC Bitesize KS2  Y5 and Y6 Corbett Maths Revision Workbooks       Homework links: Times Table Rock Stars Y6 SAT’s Bootcamp

This week in our IPC unit Earth as an Island , we learnt how to use 6-figure grid references to find exact locations on a map. First, we explored atlases to understand how maps are set out and how grid lines help us. Then, we put our new skills to the test by locating places using 6-figure references. It was exciting to see how these numbers can guide us to very specific spots—just like real explorers! We also discussed how the use of maps has changed over time and asked the question: With advances in technology, are paper maps still relevant today? Well done Year 6!

  It’s hard to believe we’re already a few weeks into the new school year—and what a wonderful start it’s been.  Our first few weeks together have already shown how full of promise, kindness and quiet determination our school community is. In our Tuesday assembly, we explored the theme of faithfulness —not just in the big moments, but in the small, everyday choices we make. We looked at the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. ” It’s a powerful reminder that the little things we do—acts of kindness, responsibility, and care—matter deeply. We reflected together on what this could look like in school life: being kind in the playground, helping at home, holding doors for others, or simply being a good friend. The children shared some thoughtful and sincere reflections, and it was clear they understood just how much impact those ‘little’ things can have. I shared a small example from my own week—helping my neigh...

 On Tuesday this week, Reception started to learn about the Creation Story and to support their learning of all the things God created, we went on a walk around the school grounds to find all the beautiful things God has made.  The children were noticing the clouds, each other and even small insects.  Then later on in the week, they started to draw what God has created to help us to learn the creation story further, which we can use to go on display in the classroom.  "God made rain" Brian  "On the first day God made light" Grace  "On the second day God made the Earth" Jeevan Additional learning:  In phonics we have learnt the sounds s, a, t and p. The children have taken to their new learning very well and are showing a great interest in learning to read and write.  In maths, we have been exploring the concept of sorting, grouping and matching. At the start of the week, the children had to match the socks on the washing line, not only building th...

 This week, Year 4 are looking at numberlines. We're thinking about how to make them, what the rules are and how they can help us in with our arthematic. To help us visualise and understand how to construct a numberline, we created human numberlines with whiteboards and rulers. We started simple, adding 100 each time. Then we worked out what the missing numbers on the line would be. Finally, with only the first and last number, we worked out how much each interval was increaseing/decreasing by.  "We because there are ten spaces, we need to divide 30 by 10 which is three so it's going up by 3 each time." Harley

We have been learning about how our eyes work! First we used mirrors to take a closer look at our eyes and collected data about the eye colours in our class. We made a bar chart using our photos.... dark brown was the most popular! The we observed how our pupil changed size when the light changed! "Wow! My pupil got bigger when it was dark!" Ivy "I think your pupil gets bigger to help you see more," Leona "We blink to keep our eyes clean," Nicole

  Year 5 had a brilliant time in their latest PE lesson, where they were introduced to the fast-paced and thrilling sport of tag rugby. It was fantastic to see them dive into the challenge with such enthusiasm and energy! The lesson was a great opportunity for the children to develop their attacking and defending skills. Working in pairs, they took turns being the attacker and the defender, mastering the art of a quick-footed side step to evade a tackle, and the crucial skill of keeping their eyes on the opponent's tags. The focus on teamwork was evident as they communicated with their partners, offering encouragement and advice to help each other improve. The highlight of the session was an exciting game called Foxes and Farmers. The farmers had to chase the speedy foxes and grab their tags, which served as their 'tails'. The children sprinted, dodged, and weaved, all while trying to protect their tags or snatch one from a friend.  It was wonderful to see the pupils demons...

  The Mini Vinnies are back! It's the new academic year and we are excited to meet again each week with our ideas and actions. We welcomed 2 new members to the Mini Vinnie group, Shakira and Emma from Year 6.  They took the Mini Vinnie promise and were given their badges.  They are very excited to join the group.  Raveena, the President, and Ivy, the Vice President introduced Vincent the Mini Vinnie Bear to KS1.  They told the children that the adults working with them will be looking out for random 'acts of kindness.'  If chosen Vincent Bear would be able to sit on their desk for the day and have a few cuddles. Vincent Bear will be in Year 2 for the Autumn Term and then will be going to Year 1 for the Spring Term and finish the year in the Summer Term in Reception Year.  We will be back with some more updates when we have them! Hannah Communications Officer 

           Today in History, Year 5 took part in a lively debate to decide whether it would have been better to live in Athens or Sparta. The children explored a range of sources to learn about life in each city, carefully choosing evidence to support their ideas and considering how the context of the time might have shaped people’s experiences. Before the debate, they completed a Diamond 9 activity to rank which points were the most important to their arguments, helping them focus on the strongest evidence and ideas. During the debate, they compared the societies, looking at the roles, beliefs, and daily lives of men, women, and children, and examining the cultural, social, and political differences that made Athens and Sparta unique. The class also explored the origins of democracy in Athens and reflected on how these ancient civilisations have influenced the world we live in today. "I think that a good reason to live in Sparta is you were given military...

This week in Year 1 we have been learning about the Nicene Creed. As Catholics, we believe that God made everything - not just the things we can see, but also the special things we can’t see. The children came up with lots of lovely ideas. Our  visible gifts  included animals, trees, flowers and (a very popular choice!) McDonald’s. For our  invisible gifts , the children thought of laughter, friendship, happiness and love. In small groups, the children created their own murals to show all the gifts they are thankful for. They worked so carefully to put the words in order and then decorated their paper with drawings and symbols that meant  something to them. ‘I am thankful for drawing and having fun with my family.’ -  Serah ‘I love my brother and I am thankful I get to play with him.’ -  Chenai ‘I am happy we have so many fruits to eat. I love strawberries and apples.’ - Lottie Well done Year 1! You worked very thoughtfully this week and showed such care in...

  It has been lovely to welcome our final group of children into Reception this week. They have settled in amazingly, have already formed some lovely friendships and have slipped into our routines beautifully. This week, Reception have continued to explore the school grounds. Our topic this half term is 'Ourselves and Superheroes', where we have been painting self-portraits and using play dough to make expressive faces.  During literacy this week, the children have been practising writing their names and drawing and labelling their family members; telling us all about who they live with and who else in in their family. It has been lovely to hear the enthusiasm in which the children are discussing their families.  On the maths table, children have been exploring patterns and tangrams using an array of shapes.  In phonics, we have been listening to and singing a range of nursery rhymes, listening for rhyming words and alliteration. We have also been practising our pre-...

 This week in Year 3, we’ve been diving deeper into place value and exploring how numbers can be partitioned in different ways. At first, we practised recognising the value of each digit in a number; hundreds, tens and ones. The children used place value counters and base ten equipment to build numbers, which helped them see how a number is made up of different parts. Once we were confident, we moved on to partitioning numbers in more than one way . Well done Year 3 for all your brilliant mathematical thinking, keep up the great work! Learning about maths is so fun! Norah

  What an incredible day of football it was for St Pius X at the Chelmer Football Tournament! Both our boys’ and girls’ teams showed skill, determination and fantastic teamwork and came away with brilliant results to make our whole school community proud. Boys Crowned Champions  Our Key Stage 2 boys’ team played with energy, spirit and resilience throughout the tournament – and their efforts were rewarded as they lifted the trophy! Across their matches, the boys scored an impressive 15 goals , while conceding only 4.  A record that shows just how strong they were in both attack and defence. Perhaps their most memorable moment came in a tough game where they found themselves 3–1 down . Lesser teams might have given up, but not St Pius! With grit and determination, the boys fought back to earn a 3–3 draw – a result that proved vital on their road to victory. Their teamwork, resilience and never-give-up attitude truly embodied the spirit of St Pius X. Girls Take Third Place...

 This week in RE, Year 4 have been learning about the story of Abraham and Isaac . It's a powerful story about faith, trust, and obedience , and we explored it in a really fun and meaningful way — by acting it out! We began by reading the story together and discussing what it might have felt like to be Abraham, Isaac, or even one of the servants who went with them. We talked about how Abraham must have felt when he was asked to make such a difficult choice.  Then came the fun part — we got into groups and acted out the story! Some of us played Abraham, others were Isaac, and some took on the role of the angel or the ram.  "The story shows that God wanted Abraham to have faith in him."

We have been solidifying our understanding of place value in Year 2. This has included using pictures, cubes, dienes. counters and digits to represent numbers.  Year 2 have been amazing at counting in tens to make things easier and at justifying their ideas by explaining their working out. We have played some games too to consolidate these concepts; a great opportunity to practise reciprocity, speaking and listening skill and patience! Well done! "You can't have twelve ones in the ones column! It looks wrong!" Arsha "We need to swap the ones for a ten," Benjamin "There are 5 tens and 4 ones, That makes 54" Gianni

  Superhumans! We had an exciting carousel of activities to kick-start our new IPC topic! We used talk partners to gather ideas about what makes humans amazing! Ideas included that we can learn, move, rest, make choices and try new things! We used role-play to be opticians and check each other’s eyesight, played the shopping game and went on a senses walk around the school!                                

This week, our Year 5 class continued their exciting journey through Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief   by Rick Riordan. After the mysterious and action-packed first chapter, we moved on to Chapter 2: "Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death." With a title like that, it’s no surprise the children were instantly hooked! As we read the chapter together, the room was filled with curious questions and insightful connections.  To explore this chapter more deeply, the children worked in groups to complete " See, Think, Wonder" grids.  "I wonder if the three old ladies are connected to Mrs Dodds in some way."  Emanuela "I think that the three old ladies will attack Percy and I wonder if he will survive."  Oscar It was a joy to see how thoughtfully they approached the task and how well they all worked together. It was a brilliant example of the learning power reciprocity  - listening carefully to each other, sharing ideas, buildin...

Welcome back to school Year 2! What a fun, busy time we have had already. We have been settling into our new classroom environment, learning new routines and working hard! In RE, our focus is question is: What is a new beginning? We have read the story of Noah's Ark from Genesis and thought about why God made a covenant and sent a rainbow. To help us remember, we created colourful rainbows and practised our fine motor skills by decorating them with coloured string.  'God promised he would never flood the world again,' Eva 'Noah sent a dove and it came back with an olive branch,' Hannah 'God sent a rainbow!' Jorel 'Another word for promise is covenant!' Leona

Welcome back to Year 1! It has been wonderful to see everyone’s smiley faces each morning and to watch the children settle into their new classroom so brilliantly. This week we have been busy exploring all the exciting toys and provision areas and learning our new routines. We have also been talking about our big feelings and how we can manage them in positive ways.  'I was a bit worried coming back to school but I am having a great day. I am feeling happy!' - Theodor 'I am feeling calm because I like to be at school' - Joelle Together we used the Zones of Regulation to think about different feelings we might have during the day and worked as a team to come up with some great ideas for how to feel calm and ready to learn. 'When I feel happy, I like to play calmly with my family' - Elysia ' I f we feeling like the red monster  we could do some deep breaths or five finger breathing .'  -  Nyle We also learnt about how our brains help us to learn new thing...