Our faith year
September
In September, we welcome the new school year. Our altar cloths are green to represent ordinary time. Each class learns about their Class Saint. We celebrate a whole school Mass on the field with our families and give thanks for a lovely summer and look forward to an amazing school year together. Parents gather together for coffee and cake at the start of school one day as we mark the MacMillan Coffee Morning and support one of our National charities.
We form a new Chaplaincy team and plan for a wonderful year of events.
October
In October, Year 1 help us to remember the importance of the land, farming and the importance of food in our communities. We give thanks to all those who feed us. Many children in Year 3 will start their First Holy Communion preparation in their parishes. October is the Month of the Rosary and we say a simplified rosary in assemblies and sometimes during breaktimes.
November
In November we remember those who have died. We say the Eternal Rest prayer when we pray and remember members of our family and friends who have died. We have Mass for All Saints Day and give thanks for the lives of the Saints. One of our classes helps We start to learn Advent hymns and Christmas Carols in preparation for the start of Advent.
December
December marks the start of Advent, a special time of prayer and reflection. Advent is represented with the colour purple. We have a service of reconciliation where we think back and reflect upon our behaviour and say sorry for our wrongdoings. Year 2 and one class in Year 4 prepare for their Nativities. We have special assemblies where we can reflect upon the meaning of Christmas and prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Father celebrates an Advent Mass with us. Just before school closes for Christmas we come together for a special Carol service where we can appreciate the beautiful voices of our Choir.
We have a special tradition where we sing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" together before breaking up for Christmas.
January
We often start the new school year with a Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. January is a quiet month where we have a chance to focus on friends and schoolwork. Ordinary time is represented with the colour green.
February
In February we mark the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday and all children receive the ashes on their foreheads. Lent is represented with the colour purple.
We have special assemblies in Lent to prepare for Easter and Father celebrates a Lenten Mass with us. We set ourselves daily challenges with the Lenten Calendar.
During Lent with think of those less fortunate than ourselves and "give alms" or raise funds for a good cause, our international charity CAFOD.
March
Our Year 4 classes visit the "Easter Experience" where they help volunteers at the Baptist Church to act out Christ's final week on Earth.
As we break up for Easter we have a special assembly where we sing our special Easter Song and complete our Lenten reflection with an Easter prayer.
April
We usually enjoy a two-week break in April and some lovely family time. We return to school in Ordinary time, with the colour green.
May
May is the month of Mary and we say special prayers to Our Lady this month. We have a special assembly where we crown a statue of Our Lady with flowers. The children donate flowers which we present to the patients at St Raphael's Hospice. We learn about when Christ visited his apostles after his death at Pentecost. Our children in Year 3 receive their First Holy Communion in May and June.
June
In June we come together as a community at Sports Day. We celebrate our special talents on the sports field.
July
In July we have special events to say goodbye to Year 6 as they make their way to High School. We give thanks for the school year that has been and have special events to say farewell to staff who are leaving.
