Year 2 RE
Trip to the Sikh Temple
On Monday June 18th, to begin our Other Faith’s Week studying Sikhism, we went to visit a Sikh Temple. We had to cover our heads and legs as a mark of respect, as all Sikh people do when visiting the Temple. We were then welcomed inside by Mr and Mrs Phullar and told lots of fascinating facts about the religion. We had juice and a biscuit and then removed our shoes and washed our hands before going upstairs silently to the room where the Holy Book, The Guru Granth Sahib, is kept. We joined in playing instruments as the hymns were sung and we looked at the little room where the Holy Book is kept at night. The children had a wonderful time and especially enjoyed the food and drink and playing instruments.
‘Rules’ Retreat Morning
During our Retreat Morning on Monday 4th June, the children were thinking about rules at home and in school. We talked about the importance of having rules and what happens if they are not followed. The children thought about times when they have not followed rules and created a short drama to show this. They then discussed how they can show that they are sorry. They wrote sorry prayers and washed their sins away in bowls of water. The morning finished with a Liturgy about forgiveness.
Holy Week – March 2018
On Monday afternoon, each class went into the hall to learn about the Stations of the Cross with our Chaplain, Frances. It was a beautiful, reflective activity. On Tuesday, the Year 1 and 2 children enacted Palm Sunday for our whole school assembly. On Wednesday, Years 3 and 5 children enacted The Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane. On Thursday, the children in years 4 and 6 enacted the events of Good Friday.
Thanksgiving Retreat Morning
On Monday February 26th, Frances led a retreat morning with Year 2. They began the morning thinking about their friends and picked one name to write a thank you prayer for. They also acted out dramas of times we say thank you. They then moved on to think about The Mass and the story of the Last Supper. They planned and took part in a Liturgy to say thank you to God for all He has given us.
Lenten Reflection Day 2018
On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, we had a day of reflection and prayer throughout school.
The day began with a whole school assembly to share the meaning and significance of the day lead by the Chaplaincy Team. We all then attended Mass in Church and received our ashes.
After that, Year 2 answered some questions on a prepared sheet and thought more about Ash Wednesday. They then wrote their Lenten promises on feet and decorated them. This was to show that we are trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. They also decorated crosses and thought about what will happen at Easter and why we must prepare ourselves.
The day culminated in a special Liturgy to celebrate and reflect together. We have constructed an ‘Acts of Kindness Tree’ in our classroom and children have written a job for each day of Lent on a heart. Their ideas are acts like ‘Share a joke with someone’, ‘make a new friend today’ and ‘help Mum with the dishes tonight.’
The day began with a whole school assembly to share the meaning and significance of the day lead by the Chaplaincy Team. We all then attended Mass in Church and received our ashes.
After that, Year 2 answered some questions on a prepared sheet and thought more about Ash Wednesday. They then wrote their Lenten promises on feet and decorated them. This was to show that we are trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. They also decorated crosses and thought about what will happen at Easter and why we must prepare ourselves.
The day culminated in a special Liturgy to celebrate and reflect together. We have constructed an ‘Acts of Kindness Tree’ in our classroom and children have written a job for each day of Lent on a heart. Their ideas are acts like ‘Share a joke with someone’, ‘make a new friend today’ and ‘help Mum with the dishes tonight.’
Epiphany Retreat Morning
On January 8th, Year 2 welcomed Frances, our school Chaplain, to lead a retreat, thinking about the feast day of the Epiphany when the wise men came to visit baby Jesus.
The children thought about the star they followed and how special it must have been. They also thought about why they brought the gifts they did.
After this, they thought about the gifts we have been given from God and how we can let them shine each day.
We ended the morning by thinking about the gifts and qualities of our friends and the children wrote them down on their friend’s crown.
The children thought about the star they followed and how special it must have been. They also thought about why they brought the gifts they did.
After this, they thought about the gifts we have been given from God and how we can let them shine each day.
We ended the morning by thinking about the gifts and qualities of our friends and the children wrote them down on their friend’s crown.
Advent Reflection Day in Year 2
On Monday December 4th, the whole school took part in an Advent Reflection Day to mark the beginning of our preparation for Christmas.
Each class took part in reflective and prayerful activities throughout the day.
In Year 2, we thought about the ways in which we prepare for Christmas and why they are important. We made Advent promises for our class display and together we made an Advent Wreath. In the afternoon we made Hope Stars to decorate our tree. Everybody wrote a prayer of hope on the back of their star.
Finally, we thought about the significance of all the parts of the wreath.
The day culminated in a sharing assembly where members of each class came to the front to talk about the activities covered by their class. We then lit the first purple candle of each class Advent Wreath which signifies ‘Hope’.
Each class took part in reflective and prayerful activities throughout the day.
In Year 2, we thought about the ways in which we prepare for Christmas and why they are important. We made Advent promises for our class display and together we made an Advent Wreath. In the afternoon we made Hope Stars to decorate our tree. Everybody wrote a prayer of hope on the back of their star.
Finally, we thought about the significance of all the parts of the wreath.
The day culminated in a sharing assembly where members of each class came to the front to talk about the activities covered by their class. We then lit the first purple candle of each class Advent Wreath which signifies ‘Hope’.
Baptism Re-enactment in Church
On Tuesday October 31st, Years 1, 2 and 3 visited St Mary’s Church to learn about the Sacrament of Baptism from Father David. Children were chosen to play the parts of the parents and Godparents and Father David led the children in a re-enactment of the ceremony.
They learnt lots of extra information about the signs and symbols involved, which will help them in their new Come and See topic and RE assessment task.
Once back at school, Year 2 was split into small groups to role-play the ceremony.
They learnt lots of extra information about the signs and symbols involved, which will help them in their new Come and See topic and RE assessment task.
Once back at school, Year 2 was split into small groups to role-play the ceremony.
Baptism Retreat Day
On October 30th, Year 2 welcomed Frances, our School Chaplain, to lead a retreat morning about ‘Baptism’. They were introduced to the signs and symbols of Baptism and then asked to think about what sins they would want washed away. They wrote down their ideas on small hearts which were then placed into bowls of water so that the sins were washed away. After play they made friendship bracelets to show they are friends with God and the morning ended with a reflection on their learning about Baptism.
World Prayer Day for Peace-October 18th 2017
On October 18th the whole school joined in with prayers being said by children all over the world to promote peace. We had a very special assembly at 9am and prayed a decade of the Rosary together to pray for peace and unity throughout the world.
Our Y1 Work
Y1 and Y6 Liturgy
On Thursday February 9th, Year 6 came to the Year 1 classroom to help lead us in a liturgy. They led us in prayer and reflection through Bible stories and songs. A strong message was portrayed to the children about being able to reach their goals and achieve anything they want to. The children were given time to think about their goals and given the mission to think of ways they could achieve them.
Special Meals Retreat
On Monday 6th March, Year 1 welcomed Frances, our school chaplain, who led us in a retreat afternoon focusing on special meals.
The children thought about the special meals that they enjoyed with family and friends and what food they ate. They also thought about the special meal that Jesus shared at the Last Supper. Each child was given a host and a chalice, on which they drew pictures of things they were thankful for.
They ended their afternoon by completing a meditation. The children all closed their eyes while Frances read them a story.
It was a really lovely afternoon and certainly helped to teach the children a powerful message about the Last Supper.
The children thought about the special meals that they enjoyed with family and friends and what food they ate. They also thought about the special meal that Jesus shared at the Last Supper. Each child was given a host and a chalice, on which they drew pictures of things they were thankful for.
They ended their afternoon by completing a meditation. The children all closed their eyes while Frances read them a story.
It was a really lovely afternoon and certainly helped to teach the children a powerful message about the Last Supper.
Special Meals Assembly
To end our topic about Special Meals, Year 1 performed an assembly for their parents and the rest of the school.
We worked hard to incorporate all our learning and ensured we were able to pass on the important message of the Last Supper.
Every child was given an important role saying lines, acting, dancing or writing prayers.
We all thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with everybody and showing off what we had learnt.
We worked hard to incorporate all our learning and ensured we were able to pass on the important message of the Last Supper.
Every child was given an important role saying lines, acting, dancing or writing prayers.
We all thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with everybody and showing off what we had learnt.
Special People Retreat
On Monday 23rd January, Year 1 was very lucky to celebrate a retreat morning with Frances. We began by singing songs and saying prayers about the celebration of Mass and how we gather together as a Parish community. The children explored the different jobs of special people in church, including musicians, readers and welcomers. Each child then chose one person to draw from the range of special people and stuck them inside a drawing of a church. After this, the children took on the roles of different special people and completed role plays. Year 1 finished the retreat with a reflection and prayer. It was evident that, throughout the morning, the children’s understanding of special people in the church deepened and they were thoroughly engaged during the activities.
Special People
On Thursday 19th January, Year 1 was very lucky to have some special people come and visit. First, we had a visit from Father David who explained his job as a priest and all the different things this requires. The children were able to ask him questions, such as, what was his favourite part of being a priest and did he do anything outside of church? Later, Mrs Carberry came to the class to explain her job as a Eucharistic Minister. We were very lucky, as she showed us the scapular she has to wear and the pyx she puts the bread in when visiting the sick. Again, the children asked her many questions, such as, did she have to train to do her job? It was very evident that the children learnt a huge amount about the jobs of these special people.
Advent Reflection Day
On Monday November 28th, the whole school took part in an Advent reflection day to mark the beginning of our preparation for Christmas.
Frances, our school Chaplain, began the day with a beautiful assembly to help the children to begin thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. We all then returned to our classrooms and took part in reflective and prayerful activities throughout the day.
The day culminated in a sharing assembly, where members of each class talked about the activities covered by their class.
During our Advent reflection day, the children focused on the different ways that we prepare for Christmas. They could recognise and describe the different signs and began to prepare for the celebration. We created decorations to put on our class Christmas tree and wrote promises to put in an Advent calendar. Year 1 also completed our class wreath, where we explored the number and different colours of the candles and their meanings. Finally, the children made their own Christingles to represent the light of Jesus and his never-ending love.
Frances, our school Chaplain, began the day with a beautiful assembly to help the children to begin thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. We all then returned to our classrooms and took part in reflective and prayerful activities throughout the day.
The day culminated in a sharing assembly, where members of each class talked about the activities covered by their class.
During our Advent reflection day, the children focused on the different ways that we prepare for Christmas. They could recognise and describe the different signs and began to prepare for the celebration. We created decorations to put on our class Christmas tree and wrote promises to put in an Advent calendar. Year 1 also completed our class wreath, where we explored the number and different colours of the candles and their meanings. Finally, the children made their own Christingles to represent the light of Jesus and his never-ending love.
Baptism
On Tuesday October 18th, Key Stage 1 and Year 3 had a trip to St Mary’s Church to take part in the re-enactment of a Baptism ceremony with Father David.
All year groups are studying Baptism as part of their Come and See RE topics. Watching and taking part in a ceremony helps to bring the Sacrament to life for the children.
As part of the Come and See topic ‘Belonging’, the children in Year 1 have been learning about the important Sacrament of Baptism. We have focused on the symbol of water and how it symbolises the washing away of sins. As part of a liturgy, the children all completed a sorry message on a heart shape and placed this in a bowl of water. As we listened to music and reflected about our messages, we saw them slowly disappear and disperse into the water. This showed us that, when we say sorry to God, we will be forgiven.
All year groups are studying Baptism as part of their Come and See RE topics. Watching and taking part in a ceremony helps to bring the Sacrament to life for the children.
As part of the Come and See topic ‘Belonging’, the children in Year 1 have been learning about the important Sacrament of Baptism. We have focused on the symbol of water and how it symbolises the washing away of sins. As part of a liturgy, the children all completed a sorry message on a heart shape and placed this in a bowl of water. As we listened to music and reflected about our messages, we saw them slowly disappear and disperse into the water. This showed us that, when we say sorry to God, we will be forgiven.
Families
On Monday 19th September, Year 1 was very lucky to celebrate a retreat afternoon with Frances. During the retreat, we focused on our RE topic ‘Families’. We talked about our own families, what we do with them and how we show them love. As a class, we discussed how we all belong to lots of different families: our school, church and God’s family. We also learnt more about Jesus and listened to stories of Him with his family. We went into groups and role-played these different stories, each taking the part of someone special to Jesus. Later, we had a go at drawing these stories. Finally, we finished our retreat with a liturgy, reflecting on what makes our family special and how lucky we are. We wrote messages to our families and took them home to share.
