Religion in School
Headteacher Assembly 7th October - From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 17:5-1: The Reward of Faith
Brighten Up For Harvest Cafod Family Fast Assembly - 1st October 2019
Headteacher Assembly 23rd September 2019 - From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 16:1-13 : The Dishonest Steward
Headteacher Assembly 16th September 2019 - From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 15:1-32 : Forgiveness
Headteacher Assembly 9th September 2019 - From the Holy Gospel according to Luke : The Cost of Discipleship
Come and See Timetable of Topics Spring Term
Dear Families,
The Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office have purchased the rights to a Jesse Tree Advent Devotional digi-book and ornaments, available for download as a gift to all primary school families across the Diocese of Brentwood this Advent.
Many of your homes will be filled with traditions as you make preparations for Christmas through the season of Advent. This year, the Marriage and Family Life team have purchased a fantastic resource, which we have made available FOR FREE to all families in our Diocese, in order to help with spiritual preparation.
The Jesse tree is a family Advent devotional, which helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. Each day through Advent, we decorate a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Each ornament tells the story of God and his relationship with the ancestors of Christ in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history.
This is a really lovely way to spend time with your children, and with God this Advent. The guide we have purchased is designed for families with young children, put into terms that are easy to read and discuss. There are pre-coloured or colourable ornaments available for those looking for a craft activity.
You can request a copy of the free digital book, printable tree and ornaments from anna.mccormick@dioceseofbrentwood.org
Wishing you a happy and holy Advent and Christmas.
Anna McCormick
Project Officer – Marriage and Family Life
Diocese of Brentwood
anna.mccormick@dioceseofbrentwood.org
07972438179
Some Ideas for Parents/Cares on Ways and Ideas To Foster Prayer at Home
Thank you to all who attended our afternoon tea in the school hall last Friday. Our Year 6 children worked extremely hard in preparing and serving tea, coffee and a selection of cakes to all who came. A big 'shout out ' to Mrs Hafeez without whose help and organisational skills this event wouldn't of happened!
The 24th - 28th April is our whole school 'Other Faith Week'. Our other chosen faith is Islam.
Muslims are followers of the religion of Islam, which began in Saudi Arabia around the seventh century. they believe in one God, Allah. there are two main groups of Muslims, Shi’ah and Sunni. the Sunnis are the larger group. their beliefs are similar but they differ on the forms of leadership. what the children learn in this programme of study is a middle way, offering what is most general in Islam. the spelling used is Makkah rather than the common version Mecca to avoid confusion.
Below is an overview of topics taught in each year group.
Age Theme Topic LOOK DISCOVER RESPECT
|
Early years N/R |
Special days/ ritual objects |
Prayer mats |
special objects |
Prayer mats and the Qur’an |
What is special for Muslims |
|
year 1 Fs 1 |
Stories |
Muhammad |
Special stories |
Muhammad |
Muhammad is important for Muslim people |
|
year 2 Fs 2 |
Prayer/home |
Prayer at home |
Quiet times |
Prayer five times a day |
Prayer is important for Muslims |
|
year 3 |
Places for worship |
The mosque |
special buildings |
Friday is a day of special prayer. Call to prayer |
How Muslim people worship |
|
Year 4 |
Holy Books |
The Qur’an |
important books |
The Qur’an. 99 beautiful names of God |
The importance of the Qur’an for Muslims |
|
Year 5 |
Beliefs and festivals |
Ramadan and Pilgrimage |
special times |
Shahadah Ramadan, id-ul-Fitr, id-ul-adha, hajj |
Respect for the special occasions for Muslims |
|
Year 6 |
Belonging and values |
Guidance for Muslims |
Guidance in life |
The 5 pillars Zakat |
What is important for Muslims |
The Aquinas Teaching & Learning Trust, which is made up of a number of primary and secondary schools based in the Waltham Forest deanery, celebrated its first annual Mass at Our Lady & St George Church, Walthamstow recently. On 8 March, over 400 students and accompanying staff from schools in the Trust came together for the service. Fr Maurice Gordon (OLSG), Fr Kevin Conway (St Patrick’s, Walthamstow) and Fr Jim Kennedy (St Joseph’s, Leyton) concelebrated the Mass, which began with a colourful procession of school banners and mission statements. Schools in the Trust are: Our Lady & St George; St Patrick’s; St Mary’s; St Joseph’s Infant and St Joseph’s Junior Primary Schools; Holy Family School & Sixth Form; St John’s School; and Trinity High School. The primary schools were represented by pupils from years 2 and 6. The representatives from secondary schools included St John’s choir, a group of year 8 students from Trinity and prefects from year 7, 8 and 6th Form from Holy Family. The readings, bidding prayers and offertory were undertaken by the schools, with special thanks to St John’s School Choir who signed the entrance hymn and pupils from Our Lady & St George Primary School who sang and signed the post-communion hymn. Chaplaincy team member Denise Grierson said: “It was lovely to hear wonderful singing from the students, filling the church with sound. It was a joyous occasion, much appreciated by students and staff alike.” During Mass, the congregation remembered Yvonne Inije, head of RE at St John’s, who died recently. Fr Maurice Gordon said it was wonderful looking out at all the schools, united in their belief and education. Dr Andy Stone, headteacher of Holy Family School, concluded: “What was really evident to me was a powerful sense of unity among all our schools and a real sense of community and togetherness. You may not know but, while about one in 10 of pupils in the Aquinas Trust schools are here today, altogether you represent around 4,500 children and young people; and there are also more than 500 staff in total. We really benefit from working together and myself and all the other headteachers and staff are really proud and pleased to be working together for the benefit of all our Catholic schools in the Aquinas Trust.”
Journey in Love
(PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS)
Journey in Love is the Brentwood Diocese Personal Relationship programme. In order that children may grow and develop healthily and holistically toward an understanding of successful future relationships, they must be at ease with themselves and grow in self-knowledge.
The following is an outline of what each class covers:
Reception
GOD LOVES EACH OF US IN OUR UNIQUENESS
The children will know and understand that God has made them unique and that although we are all different we are all special to him.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
Year 1
WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN OUR FAMILY
The children will know and understand that they are growing and developing as members of their own family and God’s family.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
Year 2
WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN THE COMMUNITY
The children know and understand that they are growing and developing in a God-given community.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
Year 3
HOW WE LIVE IN LOVE
The children know and understand the virtues essential to friendship e.g loyalty, responsibility… and experience the importance both of forgiving and being forgiven and of celebrating God’s forgiveness.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
Year 4
GOD LOVES US IN OUR DIFFERENCES
The children will know and understand that they are all different and celebrate these differences as they appreciate that God’s love accepts us as we are and as we change.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual. In physically the children will look at the difference between a boy and a man’s body parts (Same for girl – women). They will also look at the growth of a baby from conception – 20 weeks.
Year 5
GOD LOVES ME IN MY CHANGING AND DEVELOPMENT
The children will know and become aware of the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty – sensitively, mood swings, anger, boredom, etc. And grow further in their understanding of God’s presence in their daily lives.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
The children will also discuss puberty and the many changes they will face in this stage of their development.
Year 6
THE WONDER OF GOD’S LOVE IN CREATING NEW LIFE
The children will develop, in an appropriate way for their age, an understanding of sexuality and grow further in their appreciation of their dignity and worth as children of God.
The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.
The children will also discuss puberty and the many changes they will face in this stage of their development.