Spring - Second Half Term
Whole School Lenten MassFor behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Our whole school community gathered together for our Lenten Mass, celebrated by Fr Philip, as we continue our journey through the season of Lent. Lent is an important time in the Church’s year when we are called to pray, reflect, and think about how we can grow closer to God and care for others as we prepare for Easter.
The children played an important role in the Mass. Our liturgy band led the music, helping everyone to join together in prayer through reflective Lenten hymns, creating a calm and prayerful atmosphere throughout the Mass.
Our pupil chaplains took on the important role of readers, proclaiming the Word of God and leading the Prayers of the Faithful. They showed great reverence and confidence as they read, helping the whole school to listen carefully to the scripture and reflect on its message during this Lenten season.
Throughout the Mass, we were reminded that Lent is a time to turn back to God, to make good choices, and to prepare our hearts for Easter. The time for silence, prayer, and reflection helped us all to think about the meaning of Lent and how we can live out our faith in our daily lives.
We are very proud of all the children who took part in the Mass and helped to lead our school community in prayer.
Mother's Day Events
We were delighted to welcome mothers and special women from Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to school as we celebrated Mother’s Day together.
Our Nursery children had a very special time as they welcomed their mums and special mum figures into school to spend some quality time together. There was so much joy, shared laughter and many lovely moments as the children and their families spent time together. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the special bonds between the children and the important women in their lives.
In the afternoon, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 led a beautiful Mother’s Day Assembly for their mothers and special visitors. The assembly included songs, poems and prayers, and was a joyful and prayerful celebration as we came together to say thank you for all the love, care and support shown to the children every day.
After the assembly, everyone was invited back into the classrooms for refreshments, which were served by the children. This was a lovely way to end the afternoon and gave the children an opportunity to spend some special time together in school.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for these special celebrations and helped to make the day so memorable for the children.
Stations of the Cross
Children from Year 1 to Year 6 visited the church with their classes to take part in the Stations of the Cross, which were led by Fr Philip. This was a special opportunity for the children to walk through the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross in a prayerful and reflective way.
Fr Philip helped the children to understand each of the stations more deeply, explaining what was happening at each station and why the Stations of the Cross are such an important part of the Church’s prayer during Lent. The children were very respectful and thoughtful throughout, showing great reverence in the church.
Taking part in the Stations of the Cross during Lent helps us to remember Jesus’ love and sacrifice and gives us time to pray and reflect as we prepare for Easter. It was a wonderful experience for the children to be able to take part in this together during this important liturgical season.
Reconciliation Liturgy and Individual Reconciliations
Our Key Stage 2 children took part in a Reconciliation Liturgy, followed by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation individually with Fr Philip. This was a quiet and reflective time, giving the children an opportunity to think about their actions, say sorry, and ask for God’s forgiveness.
Fr Philip led the liturgy and helped the children to understand that Reconciliation is about forgiveness, mercy and the chance to make a fresh start. The children approached this time with great respect and maturity, and it was a very special part of our Lenten journey as a school.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of the Church’s life, especially during Lent, as it helps us to prepare our hearts for Easter and reminds us that God is always ready to forgive us and help us to begin again.
As part of our Lenten almsgiving, our Year 5 pupils took part in a very special Lenten Appeal to raise money for The Passage, a charity that supports people who are homeless in Westminster.
The children took part in a sleepover in the school hall, where they slept on the floor in solidarity with those who do not have a bed or a home. This experience helped the pupils to begin to understand, in a small way, some of the challenges faced by people who are homeless, and why it is so important that we help others through our Lenten giving.
Throughout Lent, the children worked hard to raise money for The Passage, showing great enthusiasm and commitment to helping others. We are very proud of the way the Year 5 pupils approached this event with such maturity and compassion, thinking about how they could make a difference to the lives of others.
This was a very meaningful way for the children to live out the Lenten call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and to put their faith into action by supporting those in need.
Class Lenten Appeals
During Lent, each class took part in a Lenten appeal to raise money for charity, helping the children to understand the importance of almsgiving as part of the Church’s Lenten tradition. Across the school, there was a wonderful sense of generosity and community as the children took part in a range of different fundraising events.
There was great excitement across the school, with events ranging from an obstacle course to a danceathon, and from sponsored runs and scooter challenges to pyjama days and crazy hair days. The children showed great enthusiasm and supported one another, enjoying the opportunity to take part while raising money for others.
Through these Lenten appeals, the children were able to see that even small actions can make a big difference. It was a meaningful way for the children to live out the Lenten call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and to think about how they can help those who are less fortunate than themselves.
Mass on The Feast of the Annunciation
Our school community gathered for Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, which is a very special feast for our school as Mary is our patronal saint. The Feast of the Annunciation remembers the moment when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and she said yes to God’s plan, showing great faith, trust and courage.
It was a special opportunity for us to come together in prayer and to reflect on Mary’s example of saying yes to God and serving others with love and humility. During the Mass, the children were reminded that, like Mary, we are all called to listen to God, to trust in Him and to respond with generosity and love in our daily lives.
Celebrating this feast together is always an important moment in our school year, as it helps us to remember the special place Mary holds in our school community and to reflect on how we can follow her example.