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St. David’s Day 2022 – Y2 Mass Celebration

Year 2 celebrated a wonderful St. David’s Day Mass on Tuesday with Father Andrzej.

It was a special Mass where were able to take part by reading the Bidding Prayers.

We look forward to returning to Mass in Church in the future! We are very grateful that Father Andrzej brought the Mass to us in our classroom. What a special celebration to mark the Feast of Saint David.

Philosophy for Children, making space to develop children’s thinking

Reception P4C

Koala makes the Right Choice – Raising awareness that choices result in consequences, which can be positive or negative.

After listening carefully to the story we discussed the differences between:-

‘Good Choices’ and ‘Bad Choices.’ We drew pictures and placed them in the appropriate hoop.

Rainbow Fish – Exploring ethics, specifically friendships and sharing.

Question for philosophy enquiry: Do you think Rainbow Fish should have shared his scales? Following our discussion we evaluated our lesson using happy/sad faces.

  • Did you enjoy philosophy today?
  • Were you happy to speak within the group today ?
  • Did you listen well today?
  • Did you do a lot of thinking?


 

Reception/Year 1 P4C

 Question for philosophy enquiry: Would you rather stay at home or come to school?

The children made their first choice when the question was posed, they sat either side of the ‘concept line’ according to their choice.  After listening to their friends reasons for their choice, the vote changed and many children decided that they too would like to change their mind!  In P4C it’s fine to change your mind.
                                                                                                                                 

                                                                           First Vote                                                                                                                                      


Second Vote

Monkey needs to Listen – exploring issues of listening properly to instructions and paying attention.

Before the story was read the children played ‘Simon Says.’  This  game highlighted the importance of listening carefully.

           Question for philosophy enquiry: Has there been a time when you haven’t listened to an adult, what were the consequences?

 

 

‘Simon Says’

                                                                                                                                                      

   After the enquiry the children played:-                                                                                                                                      

                                                                 ‘Chinese Whispers’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                               

                        

Year 1 P4C

Turtle comes out of her shell – A story about why sometimes people feel uncomfortable in certain situations, and how we can try to find ways to  overcome shyness and anxiety.                           

Question for philosophy enquiry: Have you ever felt shy like Turtle in the story?

During our enquiry we discussed ways of overcoming anxiety and shyness.  In the story Miss Bird the teacher suggested taking a deep breath.  The children practised a mindful exercise called ‘Hot Chocolate.’  They cooled their imaginary hot chocolate while focussing on breathing and relaxing and realised that they can help to control their feelings of shyness and anxiety.

 

 

Lion’s in a Flap – A book about feeling worried.  Children have an opportunity to explore what makes people feel worried and how to use coping mechanisms.

Questions for philosophy enquiry :-

Have you ever felt worried?

How does it make you feel?

Can you think of a way to overcome these physical features of anxiety?                                                         

 

   

Year 2 P4C

Croc Needs to Wait – This book gives children the opportunity to explore the idea of being patient and the importance of taking the time to do things carefully.

Question for philosophy enquiry:-

Why is it important to work cooperatively?

Have you ever worked with a friend, how did it go?

Following the enquiry the children were set into pairs with friends they don’t normally work with.   They were  given a giraffe to colour.  It was necessary to share the two crayons that they were provided with to complete the task.

 

The children evaluated their learning, they decided that:-

They liked working with different friends.

It was fun.

It was exciting.

It was good.

It was a pleasure.

Some children said that they would love to do it again!

 

 

Rhino Learns to be Polite – This story gives children the opportunity to explore the importance of having good manners and being polite and considerate towards others.

Question for philosophy enquiry: What makes good manners?

 

 

 

The children made lots of suggestions:-

No interrupting when someone is speaking.

Remember to say please and thank you.

No yawning when someone is speaking.

They were given the opportunity to agree/disagree with their peers, and to state their reasons why?

 

 

 

 

 

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Missio Groups are now up and running in Year 2.  Most pupils have chosen to be part of 4 groups:

Missio

St Joseph’s

Missio Prayer Partners Missio Prayer

Leaders

Missio World
Our local community, St Joseph’s and Our Lady of Margam & Briton Ferry Setting up and helping to lead prayer partnerships Leading and helping to collective worship in school Working with the wider world

Missio World Update: Our charities for this term are Sheler Cymru and Food Bank Port Talbot. Missio members chose potential charities and all classes voted.  Missio St Joseph’s met with Mike Newell to share their imaginative ideas for a new prayer area in the school grounds. They will be organising an art competition open to all in the new year. Watch this space. Missio Prayer Leaders have shared a prayer inspired by Pope Francis

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Advent is here!

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we move into the season of Advent, we remember the four candles on the Advent wreath. Please take a moment to talk about the first candle, the first Sunday of Advent when we focus on Hope. This seems very fitting in these challenging times. Mark’s Gospel reminds us, ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.’

As a whole school community we have revisited our school values. We want our children to be loving and to love God and the wider world.

The Birth of Jesus Please help your child make links in their learning and become faith filled. How? Take some time to read the nativity story with your child. Start with Mary’s good news and read the journey and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Find time to pray.  For traditional prayers, focus on one prayer at a time. Start with the sign of the cross, then the Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be. Prayers from the heart. At bedtime and first thing in the morning try to find some space to talk to Jesus with your child. In Advent, maybe think about a prayer of thanks, of love, of joy of peace.

Living Wisely, Thinking Deeply, Loving Generously. Meet our Missio Prayer Leaders

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Meet our Missio Prayer Leaders

Today we would like to share our Missio prayer with you.

It is taken from one of our assemblies  when we thought about ‘How we can care for God’s world?’

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Our whole school has been working on how we can be well.

We had lots of fun during our Wellbeing Day.

We took time to reflect on our God given gifts from God and time to thank God for our talents during collective worship.

Come have a go at our Rainbow Breathing

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Breathe in for a count of 4, and say  “Live wisely”

Breathe out for a count of 4, and say “Love generously”

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