What’s Been Happening?
What's Been Happening?
Autumn
Care for Creation Festival: Our Lady’s have participated in this festival along with other primaries in our new Holy Family Catholic Multi-Academy Trust (HFCMAT). Our Mini Vinnies and Prayer Leaders have led the way. They created a turtle called ‘Trash’ from recycled plastic which is not exhibited in an art gallery on the Wirral. They ‘took over Chester Zoo’ for a day, speaking confidently to inform the public about the problems of plastic in our oceans. Our Y5 visited a ‘green’ careers fair too!
Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis: Some of our Mini Vinnies spent a day in Wythenshawe at St.Anthony’s parish, learning about this remarkable young man who, in his short life, was an inspiration through his dedication to Christ and to helping others. After a spiritually rewarding day, including a beautiful mass, the Mini Vinnies helped Mr Gilby share what they had learnt about Carlo to the whole school… long may Carlo inspire us!
Harvest Festival: Our pupils and their families responded brilliantly to our request for donations to help a local charity, St.Joseph’s Family Centre.
Advent: Our Prayer Leaders led our Advent assemblies superbly while classes enjoyed creating their Jesse Trees. And of course, our younger ones delivered a heart-warming Nativity play!
Carol Singing: Our pupils sang their hearts out at various events during Advent – they sang in the heart of Warrington, at local care homes and even in Liverpool’s Cathedral!
Spring
Jubilee Year: Our Lady’s pupil’s used their artistic skills to help create our very own Holy Door at the entrance to our hall; each class reflected upon the actual door and the school’s version with it’s gospel quotes… Every pupil also made a pledge, to give hope to others both near and far, which went into our whole school book as a reminder of what we wish to do in this Jubilee year…
Hope in a Bag: Our Lady’s supported Cardinal Newman’s initiative to donate bags and items that could support the homeless in the local community. We had a great response and our donations were offered during a service at our parish, St.John Henry Newman church, before being taken to those in need…
Lent: Our Lady’s were very active in supporting 2 charities during Lent: Educaid and Cafod. The school had an online video meeting with the Headteacher and children at a school in Sierra Leone. It brought home how our efforts could help children there with their education. Our pupils also took part in Cafod’s Big Walk around the community, raising much needed funds for Cafod’s great work. Our older pupils also ran Lenten stalls to raise funds with pupils spending pennies to try and guess the name of the teddy, knock over the cups, guess the sweets in the jar, score a penalty and so on… every class also had a special Lenten Day when they donated pennies to wear PJs, watch or movie or break the rules!
All our efforts meant we raised over £800 for Educaid and Cafod! We’re proud of all our pupils, their supportive families and the community…
Stations of the Cross: Each class spent time on a prayer walk around the school grounds visiting each station, reflecting upon it and leading prayerful responses…
Easter Assembly: Our Y6 led a reflective Easter assembly for the whole school about Christ’s journey and what it meant for each of us. They did us proud.
Summer
Sacrament of the Eucharist: Some of our Y3 pupils spent the spring term completing sacramental preparations with Fr Peter and then in May celebrated receiving their First Holy Communion. It was a very special time for them and their families…
Faith in Action: Our Y6 were awarded their Faith in Action certificates after producing journals which outlined the many ways they had lived out their faith and followed the school’s gospel-inspired values.
Shrewsbury Diocesan Icon: Our Lady’s was just the third school to receive Bishop Mark’s icon depicting the Visitation. Our year groups were given the opportunity to learn about the image and reflect upon what it meant to them. They reflected, sang and prayed in response to the icon. Then, a group of our prayer leaders took the icon to St.Monica’s and delivered a short assembly outlining the image’s meaning.
Catholic Social Teaching: This year each class embraced a principle of Catholic Social Teaching to understand and champion. Each class delivered an assembly to their families and the whole school extolling the importance of such principles and the need to live them out in our daily lives. In the summer term it was the turn of our youngest pupils to remind us of God’s beautiful Earth and also our Y5 reminded everyone about the dignity of all workers.
Cafod – Cancel the Debt: Our Y6 were introduced to Cafod’s drive to cancel world debt for the poorest nations. They learnt about debt and loans and interest and how hard it was for the poorest of nations to provide for their own. The pupils produced persuasive posters and 2 pupils wrote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing St. Two weeks later and they were delighted to receive a reply thanking them for raising the issue!
