St Pius X Catholic Primary School

 Thursday 18th June 2026 Cakes, Coffee and Celebrating!! It is fast becoming a tradition!  Our 3rd Year of The Mini Vinnies holding a Cream Tea at  St Pius X Primary School and invititing some of our older members of our local community.  We had many of our regulars along with some new visitors.   It was a fab afternoon as always.  Plenty of cakes and coffe and lots of chats.  Year 6 then entertained everyone with a preview of all their Production Songs from their Leaver's Production, The Wizard Of Oz. They were amazing!  All in all it was another fantastic afternoon with our friends from the Community we thank you so much for coming and sharing this wonderful event and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon. The Mini Vinnies

As part of our PSHE curriculum, we have been thinking about the qualities of a good friend , and when certain actions are appropriate or inappropriate. This includes what we say, how we say it, and how we behave. Year 2 had some great ideas, some of which linked to our learning powers of showing RESPECT and RESILIENCE as well as considering strategies we can use to help us make good decisions.  Matthew 7v 12 reminds us to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. This is Jesus's Golden Rule! To conclude and celebrate, we made 'friendship jars,' adding ingredients that would make a good friend, before singing along to our friendship songs - Count on Me and You've Got a Friend in Me (which we have been learning to play on the glockenspiels too!)

  Catholics believe the cross is a symbol of Christianity Over the past two lessons, Year 1 have been exploring one of the most important symbols in the Christian faith: the cross . The children have approached this learning with curiosity, respect, and lots of enthusiasm — and we’re excited to share what they’ve been discovering. ✝️ Lesson 1: The Cross as a Christian Symbol We began with an I Spy Cross Hunt , looking closely at photographs to spot where crosses appear in everyday life — on churches, jewellery, buildings, artwork, and even in unexpected places. The children loved finding hidden crosses and talking about why they might be there. Learning the Sign of the Cross We introduced the Sign of the Cross , a short prayer Catholics say often. The children learned the simple movements: forehead chest left shoulder right shoulder And the words: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” We explained that this prayer reminds Christians of the Trini...

 On Friday 22nd May 2026, we The Mini Vinnies celebrated World Cultural Diversity Day.  We asked children and parents if they would like to present some interesting facts about their culture and share any traditions,  photos, powerpoints and cultural clothes at our assembly that we held.  We had a lovely time, because everyone got the chance to learn more about so many different cultures.  We could not have done this without the help of some our parents who so kindly gave up their time to come and share their culture with the school in the assembly, Mrs Kenning - Spain, Mrs Prasanna - India, Mrs Stepegeu - Romania and Mrs Tumber who went over and above by arranging for these fabulous parents to come to the school and they put together a powerpoint to present.  Mrs Tumber also brought in clothes for the younger children to try on and musical instruments to play.  We all learnt so much about different cultures, traditions, food and dancing. This was such...

 On Wednesday, Reception class took a walk down to Blessed Sacrament to see our learning in real life. We have been learning about the features within a church and were kindly welcomed by Father Paul and Clare into the church for a look around all the features. The children spotted the pews, altar and cross and found statues of Mary and Joseph.  'Joseph is holding the tools because he did building'- Grace Back at school, the children had the opportunity to 'fix' the church, by placing all the special features in the correct places, as well as labelling key features.  The children had a great time and loved being able to see their learning in person. A big thank you to the parents who were able to support us on the walk, as this would not have been possible without extra adults. 

 This week in RE, we have continued learning the story of Pentecost. The children worked together to act out the story starting from when Jesus died on Good Friday.  We waved our arms above our heads to represent the wind, twinkly fingers to represent the fire and then practiced speaking in different languages.  The children then went around to each other to share the news of Jesus and his miracles.  'This is the Holy Spirit'- Nina  'It's a miracle'- Ethan  'Jesus is the God of life'- Valentina 'It was a miracle, he resurrected and then ascended'- Elijah 

🌏 COMPETITION 🌏  Wow - we certainly have some creative pupils here at St Pius! We wanted to celebrate Earth Day , thinking about why our world is precious and how we can be responsible citizens by looking after our environment.  We have been overwhelmed with entries and the quality, effort and important messages that have been included is just amazing. Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition.  It has been incredibly difficult to choose a winner from KS1 and KS2! Every entry has been awarded 20 house points and all posters are proudly displayed around the school. KS1 Winner - Joelle!   Her 3D Earth was decorated with beautiful watercolours and some reminders on how to look after the Earth! KS2 Winner - Austin!   His 3D save the earth poster had lots of important messages!  

  Year 1 R.E – Learning Focus 3: The Holy Spirit Helps Us Change This week in Year 1, we explored a very special question in our R.E. lessons: Why do Christians believe the Holy Spirit can help people change, like the apostles did? Across two thoughtful and creative sessions, the children learned about Jesus’ promise to His friends and how Catholics believe the Holy Spirit continues to guide, strengthen, and inspire people today. The week ended with a joyful celebration as the children made their own “God is Here” badges to remind them that God is always close. ✨ Lesson 1 – The Promise of the Holy Spirit We began with a fun retrieval game, “What am I?” , using props and images from earlier stories such as Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, and the Resurrection. This helped the children reconnect with the events leading up to Jesus’ final promise. 📖 Scripture Focus – Acts 1:1–5 We shared a child‑friendly version of the moment when Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Ho...

  Year 1 R.E. - The Road to Emmaus This week in R.E., our Year 1 children have been exploring one of the most joyful stories from the Bible — Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus after the Resurrection (Luke 24:13–35). Through creative storytelling, discussion, and hands‑on activities, the children have been learning that Christians believe Jesus is always with us, even when we don’t immediately recognise Him. Lesson 1 — Recognising Jesus We began with a lively “What am I?” game using props from earlier stories — Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection — to help children recall what they already know about Jesus’ journey. Then we read a child‑friendly retelling of The Road to Emmaus , discovering how two friends walked with Jesus without realising who He was. Children created a story map to sequence the story, showing each key moment — walking, talking, breaking bread, and finally recognising Jesus. This helped them understand that sometimes we don’t s...

 This term in Religious Education, our Year 3 class explored the powerful and thought-provoking story of the Road to Emmaus. Found in the Gospel of Luke, this story tells of two disciples walking to a village called Emmaus after the events of Easter, feeling confused and saddened. Along the way, they meet a stranger who walks and talks with them, only later do they realise that it is Jesus himself. To bring this story to life, the children took part in a creative and collaborative activity, recreating the journey in small groups. This hands-on approach allowed pupils not only to understand the sequence of events but also to reflect more deeply on the emotions and meaning behind the story. It carries a very important message Blessed

As we come to the end of another successful term, I would like to take a moment to thank all of our staff for their continued hard work and dedication. Their commitment ensures that our pupils continue to thrive and it's important to pause and reflect on how lucky we all are to be part of such a great school community.  It has been wonderful to see the progress the children have made across the school. A special thank you goes to our Year 3 and Year 4 pupils for their truly wonderful Easter production. The children brought the story of Holy Week and Jesus’ resurrection to life with confidence and enthusiasm. Their acting was excellent, especially remembering all those lines and we were treated to some beautiful singing, including impressive solo performances. They told the story with great care and helped remind us all of the true meaning of Easter: a message of hope, love and new life, as we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, and the promise of eternal ...

 This week, all of Year 3 and 4's hard work has paid off for the Easter production: Easter Praise. Both classes did an amazing job and are very proud of themselves. Year 3 sang beautifully while the Year 4s dazzled us with some brilliant acting. Harley took the lead as Jesus, while Olive (Judas) and Florence (Peter) delighted the audience with a solo each. The play drew to a close with a duet from Tolu and Michelle (the Marys). All of their hard work came together in the highly enjoyable play.  On Monday, they performed in front of the school for their dress rehearsal.  Guests for our local community. For the first time, on Wednesday, we opened the performance to the local community. We were joined by Mr Coen (the Head Teacher of Saint John Payne), Some representatives of the Knight of Saint Columba, the SVP, the Wisdom Club and others in the local churches. It was very nerve-racking to perform in front of strangers, but they did a super job and our guests thoroughly enjo...

 A Wonderful Time at The Wisdom Club! What a wonderful visit The Mini Vinnies had this morning at The Wisdom Club, this is a regular event now and everyone has the most enjoyable time.  The younger members of the community meeting with the older members of the community.  There was a lot of singing with the children singing some of their favourite songs, and many members of The Wisdom Club joined in with the Abba songs!! The children shared their work with their friends at the club, they were particularly excited to show their IPC work of WW2.  Cakes and drinks were served which always goes down well. Olive and Agnes the Year 4 Mini Vinnies invited the members of The Wisdom Club to a special performance of their Easter Production next week, so we are looking forward to seeing some there. We received a lovely email from the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre Pauline McAloone saying, ' A BIG THANKYOU -  Thank you and the children so much for entertaining us today....

  Why do Catholics believe that Palm Sunday is special? This week in Year 1, the children have been exploring the story of Palm Sunday and learning why it is such an important celebration for Catholics. Over two lessons, we focused on hearing the story from Scripture and celebrating the symbols and actions that help Catholics remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 🌟 Lesson 1 – Palm Sunday (Hear) We began by looking at a picture of a donkey and asking a simple but powerful question: Why might Jesus choose a donkey instead of a horse? The children shared thoughtful ideas about peace, gentleness, and humility. We then listened to the Palm Sunday story from Luke 19:28–38 , where the crowds welcomed Jesus with joy, waving branches and shouting “Hosanna!” Together, we explored new vocabulary such as procession , hosanna , and cloaks , helping the children understand the meaning behind the actions. For their activity, the children created a story map , drawing the key e...

This week in our liturgy, the children listened to a passage from the Gospel of John about the woman at the well. In the story, we hear how the woman was not popular in her town. She avoided the other people because she knew they judged her and did not accept her. Yet when Jesus met her at the well, he did something remarkable. As a stranger, he spoke to her and asked her to fetch him some water. As they talked, Jesus explained that the water from the well would quench thirst for a short time, but soon she would be thirsty again. However, he spoke of another kind of water, the 'living water.' This water represents the gift of God’s love and a life lived with Jesus. Unlike ordinary water, this living water leads to something far greater: eternal life with God. This story reminded us that Jesus’ love is for everyone. Even those who feel left out, those who are judged by others, or those who have made mistakes are never beyond his care and compassion.  Despite being disliked by ot...

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.

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 ...

  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...

Year 5 gathered for our very special Class Mass . It was a wonderful opportunity for us to pause, reflect, and celebrate our faith together as a community. We were delighted to welcome Father Paul , who joined us in the classroom to lead the service. His presence always brings a sense of calm and joy to our school, and it was a privilege to have him guide us through our worship. Year 5 showed spiritual maturity during the times of reflection and participated fully in the worship.  Thank you to those parents who were able to join us for the service. We are already looking forward to our next Mass. 

A very warm welcome back to everyone, and may I wish all our families a happy and blessed New Year. It has been a joy to see the children return to school so settled, enthusiastic and ready to learn. This week we marked the feast of the Epiphany with a whole-school Mass, led by Fr Paul. It was wonderful to see so many parents and relatives join us to celebrate together. Your presence means a great deal to the school community and truly enriches these special occasions. The children did a fantastic job with the readings, reading clearly and confidently, and they should be very proud of themselves. During Epiphany, we are reminded of the journey of the Wise Men, who followed the light of the star with faith, patience and trust. Their journey encourages us to look for signs of God in our own lives and to remember that we are all called to share our gifts with others. As we begin this new year, this message feels particularly important: to move forward with hope, kindness and a willingn...