We loved dressing up for our vocations day. We thought about the skills we need to do a good job. We talked about how we can work to serve and help others. 

Builders and electricians keep buildings safe and warm, chefs make us delicious food and doctors help us stay healthy. Soldiers, fire fighters and police officers keep people safe. Boxers keep themselves strong and healthy too.

How can you serve others? 

We went to see the crib in our church. We talked about who was there. We thought about the visitors who came to see Jesus. 

We said a prayer to thank God for sending Jesus. 

Our visit helped us to act out the Nativity story. 

On the last day of term, we enjoyed a Stay, Pray and Create session with our families. We made a stable for the Holy Family to display at home. 

We sang hymns, joined in prayers and listened to a story from the bible about Joseph's dream. 

We go on into Advent filled with joy and love. 

We try to help others in Advent by sharing what we have with people in need. We brought in gifts of food for Father Hudson's Caritas and toys for the Birmingham Irish. 

We had a Danceathon to raise money for CAFOD. We danced and danced and danced. 

How can we help others in Advent? 

We are members of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and parish. We went to see the statues of Mary and Bernadette in the church grounds. 

We heard the story of Our Lady appearing to Bernadette. We asked Mary to pray with us as we joined in with the Hail Mary prayer.

We are very proud of our school badge that reminds of Mary. 

We wore red to school instead of our blue uniforms to raise money for Aid to the Church in Need. We want to support people who are treated unfairly or hurt because of their Christian faith. We heard that Jesus listened and acted when He heard people were sick or hurt. We will listen and help others too.

We joined our school in two minutes silence to remember people who died or been affected by war. We thanked God for their bravery. 

We found Mary in lots of places around our school. Sometimes as a statue and sometimes as a painting. We know she is very important and special. We can show our respect and love for Mary by drawing her too.

We ask her to pray with us. 

YN children have a Prayer Bag to share. It is used at home to prepare liturgies with our families. 

A prepared a liturgy with prayers, hymns and a reading from the bible. 

Our Chaplains help us to learn prayers and hymns. They help us to prepare liturgies and answer our questions. 

Thank you E and S for helping ang guiding us.

Father Sean came to visit us. We had lots of questions for him about being a priest. He told us what he does all day. We found out he says Mass, visits sick people and helps people to learn about God. He also told us about the church. 

Father Sean told us he has been a priest for a long time and he likes it. What would you like to ask Father Sean?

Thank you Father Sean for visiting and helping us to learn about God.

We can help to prepare for a prayer service. We check the colour of the cloth and collect the crucifix and bible. We add special things to help us think about the bible story or special time we are focusing on. 

We especially like to light a candle. We can hold a cross when it is our turn to offer a prayer. 

Sometimes we bless ourselves with Holy Water after. 

How do you prepare for prayers? 

We looked in the mirror for someone special that God loves. 

Who did we see?

God loves us all just the way we are. Each of us is special and here for a very special purpose. We value the Human Dignity of everyone we meet. 

We went to visit our church. We said a prayer to thank God for all He created. We talked about what happens in church. We know that Father Sean leads us in church. We can listen, pray and sing in church.

We sang a hymn called 'Who made the Twinkling Stars?'.

Do you know any hymns? 

Deacon Tim came to bless us and our prayer area. He sprinkled Holy Water on us. This reminds us of our baptism. We prayed together for new beginnings in our school. 

We are learning about Creation. We know that God made the world. We like to look after the plants and little creatures God made. We made a new home for the ladybirds and other bugs we found. How can we be good stewards of Creation? 

We are learning how to make the Sign of the Cross. We say prayers at the start and end of the day. We ask for help and give thanks for all we have.