Aid to the Church in Need- Red Wednesday

Today, Beech Class joined the global initiative Red Wednesday, wearing red to show support for those who suffer persecution for their faith. This simple act reminds us of the importance of religious freedom and our call to stand with those who cannot worship freely.

Through this gesture, our children are living out their faith in action—showing compassion, courage, and a commitment to justice. It is a powerful witness that even small acts can make a big difference in raising awareness and offering hope.

As Scripture reminds us: “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3)

Aid to the Church in Need is a Catholic charity that helps Christians who are persecuted, oppressed, or in need. They provide emergency aid, rebuild churches, support priests and religious communities, and advocate for religious freedom globally. Their mission is to ensure faith can flourish even in places of hardship and danger.

Jesuit Virtues of Learned and Wise

This term, Beech Class has been reflecting on two important Jesuit virtues: Learned and Wise.

Learned means using our gifts and talents to grow in knowledge and understanding, so we can make a positive difference in the world. Wise means making good choices, guided by faith and reason, and seeking what is truly good for ourselves and others.

We live out these virtues by working hard and being curious learners, listening carefully and thinking before we act, and using our knowledge to help others and promote fairness. These actions show that learning and wisdom are not just about what we know, but how we use that knowledge to serve others.

These virtues link closely to the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Common Good—working together so that everyone can flourish. When we act for the common good, we show love and respect for all people, just as Jesus did.

In Scripture, we see Jesus living these virtues when He was found in the temple at the age of twelve (Luke 2:41-52). He was Learned, asking questions and sharing His understanding of God’s Word, and Wise, knowing that His mission was to do His Father’s will.

We Listen to God's Word at Mass

This term, our RE learning has focused on how we listen to God’s Word during Mass. We explored why Scripture is at the heart of the Liturgy of the Word and how it helps us grow in faith.

The children enjoyed using their own Bibles to find passages from both the Old and New Testaments, discovering stories that teach us how God speaks to His people. We reflected on how God calls us to listen, just as He called Samuel in the Old Testament. Samuel’s response, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10), reminds us that God still speaks to us today through His Word at Mass.

As part of our learning, we created beautiful artwork inspired by Old Testament stories and the symbols that remind us of God’s presence. These creative pieces helped us understand how Scripture and symbols come together in the liturgy. The children even wrote their own psalms and brought them to life by performing them on the glockenspiels, creating a joyful and prayerful atmosphere in our classroom.

To conclude our unit, the children planned and led a special prayer service using the Psalms. They chose verses that spoke to them and wrote their own prayers of praise and thanksgiving. It was a wonderful way to celebrate what we have learned and to listen to God’s Word together as a class.

Faith in Action: Celebrating Our Children's Spiritual Journey

We are delighted to see the children continuing to grow in faith beyond the classroom. By taking the Prayer Bag home, they have embraced the opportunity to lead prayer with their families, showing a beautiful commitment to their spiritual development.

In school, preparations for Advent are well underway. During hymn practice, the children have been joyfully singing about the coming of Jesus, reflecting on the hope and anticipation that this season brings. Their voices and enthusiasm remind us of the true meaning of Advent—a time of waiting and preparing our hearts for Christ.

These experiences highlight the importance of faith in action. Through prayer, song, and reflection, our children are not only learning about their faith but living it in meaningful ways. We are so proud of their dedication and the example they set for all of us.

Lord, pour forth Your grace into our hearts, that we who have known the message of the angel may by Your Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of the Resurrection. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Remembrance Day

As a class, we acknowledged Remembrance Day by joining the whole school assembly, where we learned about the importance of remembering those who have served and sacrificed for peace. We observed a respectful two-minute silence to honour their memory. Afterwards, we worked together to create a beautiful poppy wreath, which we displayed in our prayer area as a sign of remembrance and hope. Some children even went the extra mile by creating their own poppy artwork at home, showing how deeply they understood the significance of this special day.

Lord, we thank You for the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for peace. Help us to be peacemakers in our world today. May we always remember them with gratitude and live in hope for a future filled with love and harmony. Amen.

The Angelus

Every Friday at noon, we join together  as a class to say the Angelus. The Angelus reminds us of the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she was to be conceived of the Holy Spirit and to have Gods son; Jesus.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

 Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done  unto me   according to Thy word.

Hail Mary…

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 
Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the  incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Reconciliation 

As part of our RE learning on the topic of Reconciliation, Year 3 explored the importance of saying sorry, making peace, and receiving God’s forgiveness. Inspired by the Act of Contrition, the children wrote their own heartfelt prayers, reflecting on times they may have made wrong choices and how they can grow closer to God.

To conclude our unit, the children led a beautiful class liturgy. They read the story of Zacchaeus, a man who changed his ways after encountering Jesus’ love and mercy. Moved by this story, the children each wrote a personal prayer asking for God’s forgiveness. These were linked together to form a colourful and meaningful prayer chain, symbolising our shared journey of reconciliation and unity.

It was a thoughtful and prayerful end to a special topic, showing how even the smallest voices can express big faith.

Act of Contrition

O my God,

because you are so good,

I am sorry that I have sinned against you,

and by the help of Your grace,

I will not sin again.

Amen

Harvest Celebration

We are incredibly proud of the brilliant effort shown by the children in Beech Class during our recent Harvest collection. Their generosity and enthusiasm were truly inspiring, as they gathered donations to help those in need within our local community.

As part of our learning, we spoke about how these contributions will support families who may be struggling. Through this, we are learning to live like Jesus—showing compassion, sharing what we have, and caring for others.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Harvest appeal. Your kindness helps us live out our values and bring hope to others.

Harvest Prayer (CAFOD)
God of all,
We give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their richness and for the harvest of the sea.
We praise you for the beauty of creation and the miracle of growth.
Bless the work of our hands and provide for those who have little or nothing.
May your justice rule in all lands and may we live in peace with each other and with the whole of your creation.
Amen.

Faith in Action: Celebrating Our Children's Spiritual Journey

We are incredibly proud of the children for their heartfelt engagement in our Religious Education activities. Their dedication to taking the Prayer Bag home and leading their own prayer services has been truly inspiring. These moments have not only deepened their personal faith but also enriched our school community with their thoughtful reflections and leadership.

In addition, the children rose to the challenge of our RE homework by creating their own rosary beads—a beautiful expression of creativity and devotion. Each set of beads tells a story of care, reverence, and understanding of the power of prayer.

Their efforts remind us of the words from 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech…”

Promoting Peace

Year 3 came together for a thoughtful and prayerful Class Liturgy in honour of Black History Month. During this special time, we reflected deeply on the importance of promoting peace in our school and wider community. We explored how peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, love, and inclusion.

As part of our reflection, we learned about the life and legacy of Saint Martin de Porres, the Patron Saint of Social Justice. His humble service, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to equality inspired us to think about how we can follow his example in our daily lives. Saint Martin welcomed everyone—regardless of race or background—and worked tirelessly to bring healing and unity to those around him.

This liturgy also helped us understand the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Promoting Peace, which calls us to be peacemakers in our relationships, our communities, and the world. Peace is a gift from God, but it is also a task entrusted to each of us. We are called to build bridges, not walls, and to ensure that every person feels safe, valued, and loved.

We ended our liturgy with a powerful quote from Saint Martin de Porres that reminds us of our mission:

“Everything, even sweeping, scraping vegetables, weeding a garden and waiting on the sick could be a prayer, if it were offered to God.”

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Today, we joined children from across the globe in a special act of faith and unity by taking part in “One Million Children Praying the Rosary”, a campaign led by Aid to the Church in Need. Together, we prayed the Rosary, asking Our Lady to bring peace to our world and comfort to those in need.

This beautiful initiative reminds us that prayer is powerful—especially when we pray together. Our voices joined with millions of others, lifting up prayers for peace, for those who are suffering, and for anyone who feels lonely or afraid. It was a moment of hope, reflection, and connection with the global Church.

We ended our time of prayer with the Hail Mary, asking for Our Lady’s loving intercession:

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Cancel Debt, Choose Hope

We received a letter from Al Carns thanking us for all the work we did on the Cancel Debt, Choose Hope campaign last year. He said he firmly believes the younger generations should have a say in the future of our world.

We know that we need to be Stewards of God’s Creation and take a stand in caring for it. The Bible teaches us in Leviticus 25:10 about the Year of Jubilee, a time when debts were to be cancelled and land returned to its original owners. This reflects God's desire for economic fairness, mercy, and hope. 

Inspired by this, we continue to act with compassion and justice, knowing that our voices and actions can help build a more hopeful and fair world.

CAFOD Club Assembly

 Ahead of Family Fast Day, our CAFOD Club members led the school in a meaningful time of prayer and reflection. We listened to the Gospel of St Matthew, where Jesus reminds us of our responsibility to care for those in need: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Inspired by this message, we pledged to help bring clean water to communities overseas by donating what we can this Family Fast Day. It was a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

The Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

Today, our Liturgy Leaders guided us in a special liturgy to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham. We remembered the moment when Our Lady appeared to Richeldis de Faverches in Walsingham, sharing a vision of her home in Nazareth—where the Angel Gabriel announced that she would become the Mother of God’s Son.

To honour this sacred feast, we prayed the First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: The Annunciation, and together we recited a Decade of the Holy Rosary, reflecting on Mary's faithful “yes” to God.

This feast reminds us of the importance of listening to God’s call and trusting in His plan, just as Mary did. As Our Lady of Walsingham once said:

“Go to Walsingham and build there a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth, that all who come may find help in their need.”

May we continue to turn to Our Lady in prayer, seeking her guidance and comfort in our lives.

Roles in the Church

Beech Class had the honour of attending Mass today to celebrate with Father Michael, who was recently ordained in Nigeria. It was a joyful and prayerful occasion, and we were grateful to be part of such a special moment in his journey as a priest.

After Mass, we had the opportunity to speak with members of the parish and learn more about the many roles people play in the Church. We were amazed to discover just how many individuals support Father Sean each day to help prepare for the Celebration of the Eucharist—from sacristans and altar servers to readers and musicians.

As a class dedicated to St John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, we reflected on his example of humble service and deep devotion. His life reminds us of the importance of every role in the Church, no matter how big or small, and how each person contributes to the life of the parish.

“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” – St John Vianney

Baptism Lesson

In our RE lesson, we have been learning all about the Sacrament of Baptism. We loved bringing in our own Baptism photos and candles to share with the class—it was a special way to celebrate how each of us began our journey in God’s family.

We explored the meaning of Baptism and created beautiful artwork to represent its symbols, such as water, light, and the white garment. These helped us understand how Baptism connects us to God and to one another as members of the Church.

We also listened to the story of Jesus’ Baptism in the Gospel of Matthew 3:13–17, and looked at Leonardo da Vinci’s interpretation of this significant moment. It helped us reflect on how Jesus, though without sin, chose to be baptised to show us the way.

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17

This verse reminds us that through Baptism, we are also called beloved children of God.

Blessing of the Classroom

Today, Deacon Tim visited our class to bless our room and our Prayer Altar as we begin the new school year. He reminded us that during difficult times, we can turn to God in prayer and use our Prayer Altar as a space for quiet reflection.

Loving God, bless our classroom and all who learn and grow here.
Guide us through this school year with joy, peace, and kindness.
Help us to support one another and walk in Your light each day. Amen.

Catholic Social Teaching Assembly

Our assembly today focused on the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Stewardship. We learnt about how God calls us as stewards to care for and respect His Creation. As CAFOD reminds us, “It is our Christian vocation to care for creation”, and Pope Francis teaches that “everything is interconnected, and all of creation praises God”. 

We then got into our house teams to make pledges to be stewards this school year. We are going to reduce where possible, recycle all paper, and pick up any litter from the playground.

Catholic Social Teaching

Today, we thought about the CST principle Distibutive Justice and how the saints, St Vincent de Paul and St Katharine Drexel, lived out this in their life. St Vincent de Paul helped poor people by giving them food, clothes, and love, showing that everyone deserves to be cared for. St Katharine Drexel used her money to build schools for children who were treated unfairly, so they could learn and have a better life. We then produced some stain glass window art work inspired by the stained glass windows in the Church and included our Saint as the focal point. 

“If we live the Gospel, we will be people of justice and our lives will bring the good news to the poor.” St Katharine Drexel. 

The New School Year
 

We had a wonderful start to the school year! We explored our School Mission, thinking about how we can love, learn, and live like Christ. We also researched our new Class Saint, Saint John Vianney, and reflected on this term’s virtues of being Eloquent and Truthful.

To end the week, our Liturgy Leaders led a beautiful prayer service where we offered bubble prayers to God, asking Him to guide us through the year ahead.

Loving God,
Thank You for the gift of a new school year.
Help us to grow in wisdom, kindness, and faith.
Guide our words to be truthful and our hearts to be open.
May we follow Christ in all we do. Amen.