With Christ at our side to guide us,
we shine in all that we do.
Our Reception children had a magical outing this week as they visited the Post Office to post their very own letters to Santa!
The children were so excited to share their wishes and carefully posted their envelopes into the post box, ready for their journey to the North Pole.
Now we’ll all be waiting eagerly for Santa’s reply…
This week, our Year 5 pupils led a Celebration of the Word on the theme of Hope, sharing their reflections on Advent with their families. The focal point was the Advent wreath, reminding us that this season is a time of waiting in joyful hope for the coming of Jesus.
Through readings, prayers, and a litany of rejoicing, the children explored what it means to wait with hope and purpose. Parents were invited to join in singing a joyful hymn and to write messages of hope to hang on our tree.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. May this Advent season fill your hearts with hope and joy!
In Advent, as we wait and prepare for the coming of Jesus, the children have been invited to join our special project called ‘The Travelling Crib’. Starting this week, each child will take turns bringing home a pack to share with their families.
This is to help us remember the journey Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem, and as a family take time to stop and think about the true meaning of Christmas.
Children in KS1 will bring home The Christmas Story, while children in KS2 will bring home a book called ‘When the Stars Shone Bright, A Christmas Tale’ telling the Christmas story from the perspective of the three wise men.
We had the incredible privilege of performing at the Salvation Army, and what a memorable afternoon it was! The children sang beautifully, filling the room with joy and warmth. Their voices were full of energy and harmony, and they truly touched everyone’s hearts.
We couldn’t be prouder of these talented young singers. Their dedication and enthusiasm made the event extra special, and they represented our community wonderfully. A huge thank you to the Salvation Army for hosting us and to all the families who came to support.
This was more than just a performance—it was a celebration of music, teamwork, and the spirit of giving. Bravo to our amazing choir!
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Our Reception children had a fantastic day visiting the Urban Factory, where they took part in an exciting Coordination Challenge!
The challenge was all about developing balance, agility, and teamwork through fun, active games. The children climbed, jumped, and navigated obstacle courses designed to help them improve their coordination skills.
It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they tried new activities and supported each other along the way. The smiles on their faces said it all – they had an amazing time!
A big thank you to the Urban Factory team for making the experience so enjoyable and to our parent helpers for ensuring the day ran smoothly. We are so proud of our Reception class for their enthusiasm and determination!
This week, our Years 3–6 pupils had a fantastic opportunity to learn about careers in the music industry as part of our careers-related learning programme.
We were delighted to welcome Thomas Bagnall, Head of Programmes at a local music development agency, who visited each class for an informal 15-minute session.
Thomas shared insights into the wide range of roles in music – not just performing, but all the exciting jobs behind the scenes that make the industry thrive. From sound engineering to event management, the children discovered how creativity and teamwork play a huge part in bringing music to life.
The sessions sparked lots of curiosity and questions, and we hope they’ve inspired some future music professionals among our pupils!
The Sportshall Athletics team achieved a brilliant team silver in the District Finals today in an event containing 24 teams!
Consequently, we have qualified to represent South Tyneside in the County Finals on Friday 9th January – what an exciting start to the new year this promises to be! Our children will compete against the best schools from Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Gateshead.
Our athletes have shown great dedication to train for the competition and everyone performed superbly at today’s event. There were many fantastic performances, which saw many of our children produce personal bests!
I was so proud of how everyone supported each other; congratulations to everyone in our squad! Thank you also to our fantastic parent helpers today who supported the children so well throughout.
Yesterday, the children in Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic visit from Mavis and Tracey from Asda as an exciting hook for their DT Kitchen unit. This term, they’ll be learning all about making healthy sandwiches, and what better way to start than with expert guidance?
Mavis and Tracey kindly donated a variety of healthy ingredients and showed the children how to create a delicious, nutritious sandwich. We were so proud of the children for trying something new! They discovered that you don’t need butter to make a tasty sandwich and enjoyed experimenting with both white and brown bread.
It was a wonderful hands-on experience that has inspired the children to think about healthy choices in their own meals.
Year 1 have been busy scientists this week, putting their five senses to the test through a series of exciting investigations! The children explored their sense of smell by trying to identify different fruits just by their scent, and tested their taste buds in a crisp-tasting challenge. They also carried out hands-on activities using sight, hearing, and touch to discover how each sense helps us understand the world around us.
Alongside the fun experiments, we also discussed why our senses are so important for keeping us safe and alive. The children thought carefully about the difficulties we might face if we lost one of our senses—and shared some brilliant ideas!
It’s been a fantastic way to learn how amazing our bodies are!
This term, Year 2 have been learning how to add shade and tone to their drawings as part of our art unit. Inspired by the work of Paul Cezanne, the children studied his still-life compositions and discussed how he used light and shadow to create depth.
This week, they created their own observational setup featuring Cezanne-inspired items such as fruit, a metal jug, a tablecloth, and flowers. To make the arrangement personal to our school, they added a cross as a central element. The children thoroughly enjoyed observing the details and completing careful drawings of what they could see, applying their new skills in shading and tonal variation.
Alongside this, the children have been developing their sketchbook skills, using them to record ideas, practise techniques, and reflect on their own work and the work of others. This reflective process has helped them think critically about their artistic choices and celebrate progress.
© 2026 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.
