Parishioners' Garden Party

Each year, the choir performs to the parishioners at their annual summer garden party. This year however, our choir was very small and the children felt apprehensive about performing. So instead, I asked Class 2 if they wanted to perform and they jumped at the chance! We chose a couple of songs from hymn practice, polished up the words and the actions, and excitedly went over to Father's garden to sing.

The children couldn't believe how many parishioners were there, and some children's grandparents were in attendance too which made it extra special. 

The children sang their hearts out and many of the parishioners joined in with some of our songs as well. What a lovely afternoon shared with our parishioners. 

Cafod Jubilee Workshop

We felt privileged today to be joined by volunteers from Cafod who came to deliver a workshop to us all about the Year of the Jubilee. 

It was a really interesting session, the children learnt a lot and the children's impeccable behaviour was commented on by the volunteers too, well done Class 2.

Class 2 - Child led worship

As part of the 'Going Forth' section of our child led worship this week, the children decided they wanted to help out at home to show God's love to their families. What a lovely idea, what else could you do at home to help your grown ups?

Class 1 Baptism

As part of our current R.E. Topic, Class 1 have been learning all about Baptism.  We understand how important it is to be welcomed and after welcoming a baby doll into our classroom with cards and presents, we planned the perfect Baptism to welcome him into God’s family.  The children picked family members and God Parents, wrote prayers and recreated a church with a font.  We baptised out baby in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

World Religion Day 2025

At St Mary's R.C. Primary School, we believe that faith is not just something we learn about, but something we put into practice every day. Our mission is to provide a happy, safe, and inspiring environment where we live by the values of Christ, enabling everyone to fulfil their potential and establish firm foundations for life.

One of the ways we bring our faith to life is through our celebration of World Religion Day. This event is an opportunity for our pupils to learn about the diversity of religious beliefs and practises in our world. After our morning worship, we held a special assembly to introduce the different faiths we would be exploring, including Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism.

Following the assembly, our pupils engaged in a carousel of interactive learning sessions, where they had the chance to learn about each religion in some depth. Working alongside their buddies, they completed a "learning passport" in each session, recording their newfound knowledge and reflections.

These sessions were designed to not only educate our pupils about the beliefs and traditions of others, but to also deepen their understanding of their own faith. By exploring the commonalities and differences between religions, our pupils gained a greater appreciation for the richness of religious diversity and the importance of respecting and celebrating it.

Throughout the sessions, our pupils demonstrated the core values that guide our school community: compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. They listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and engaged enthusiastically in the activities, reflecting the joy and wonder that comes from discovering new perspectives.

As a Catholic school, we believe that faith is not just a personal matter, but a way of life that should be shared and celebrated with our wider community. By opening our doors to people of all faiths and backgrounds, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued for who they are.

St Mary's Advent Read Around 2024

We gathered together as a school family to hear the children retell the story of the first Christmas. Our thanks goes out to those families who were able to come and share this special event with us. We hope you all have a peaceful, joyous Christmas with your families and friends. 

Nativity - Christmas Counts

Class 1 and Class 2 sang, danced, acted and narrated the story of the very first Christmas to a jam-packed hall at both our afternoon and evening performances of Christmas Counts. Well done, we are so proud of you all!

Posada

Each class have been given a Posada and the children have been full of excitement waiting for it to be their turn to take it home for the evening. See below for some information about the Posada and some photos of our families enjoying sharing the Posada together. 

Posada is an old Mexican tradition where young people dressed as Mary and Joseph travelled from house to house asking for a room for the night and telling people about the imminent arrival of Jesus in the weeks leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve they would visit the local church to re-enact the nativity and place figures of Mary and Joseph in a crib.

Modern day Posada uses nativity figures of Mary and Joseph who travel from place to place. This gives each ‘host’ the chance to create their own celebration in their home, worshipping and reaching out to families with the real message of Christmas, making room for Jesus in their lives.