With Christ at our side to guide us,
we shine in all that we do.

Mrs Brown visits Year 4

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Year 4 invited Mrs Brown, a member of the parish and former dinner lady of St Bede’s, to come and talk to them about the role of the laity in St Bede’s parish.

Mrs Brown talked to the children about what she does in church and the role of the laity in the parish.  She also gave the children a Mass sheet and talked them through the various roles that parishioners undertake throughout the Mass.

Mrs Brown spoke to the children about the various roles within the parish.  These include:

  • Sacristans – People who get the altar ready for Mass.
  • Welcomers – Someone who greets people at the door of the church.
  • Altar servers (there are 2 servers who carry the candles and 1 who carries the crucifix).
  • Readers – the main reader (who processes in with the priest and altar servers). The 1st person reads the First reading and psalm and the 2nd persons reads the Second reading and the Bidding Prayers.
  • Offertory – parishioners who take the gifts of bread and wine to the priest.
  • Parishioners who do the collection during the Offertory – money raised goes towards raising money for the church.
  • Eucharistic Ministers – who share the body and blood of Christ with the congregation.
  • Catechists – People who help children and young people prepare for their First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
  • Stewards – show people where to sit.
  • Choir and Organist
  • Bulletin preparation – people are involved in preparing, printing and folding the newsletter.
  • Flower arranger
  • Volunteer – takes food and money that has been collected from parishioners in the coffee mornings to the food bank
  • Funeral Server – Master of Ceremonies – carries the cross at funerals

Year 4 Visit to the OpenZone – Podcasting

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Year 4 spent a fantastic morning at OpenZone at The Word where they enjoyed a Podcasting workshop learning how to use the GarageBand app.

The children have been learning how to create newspaper reports based on an alternative account of the traditional tale ‘The Three Little Pigs’.  They watched a video as stimulus which sparked their imagination and enthusiasm for the topic.  Following on from the video, the children worked in pairs to prepare a script to use in a podcast, discussing the events of the video in an interview scenario.

During the workshop, the children learnt how to record audio, edit the audio file, add music and sound, fade in and out, and upload their files.

We will further refine these files and develop our podcasting skills using GarageBand over the coming weeks.

Safer Internet Day 2025 – Too Good to Be True?

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Today, the children took part in Safer Internet Day, exploring the theme: Too Good to Be True? Protecting Yourself and Others from Scams Online.

The children had some fantastic discussions about what a scam is and how to stay safe when using the internet. Sometimes things online can look real but might not be what they seem—especially messages, adverts, or offers that seem too good to be true!

To help them remember how to respond safely, the children learned the three key steps:

🔎 Spot it – Look carefully! If something seems unusual, like a prize you didn’t enter a competition for or a message from someone you don’t know, it could be a scam.

🚫 Avoid it – Don’t click on links, open messages, or share personal details if you’re unsure. Always be cautious!

📢 Report it – If something doesn’t feel right, tell a trusted adult straight away. Grown-ups can help check whether something online is safe.

Through stories, role-play, and discussions, the children gained a better understanding of how to be safe online. We were so impressed with their thoughtful responses and their growing confidence in recognising online dangers!

Keeping our children safe online is a shared responsibility, and we encourage families to continue these conversations at home. Together, we can make the internet a safer place for everyone!

Children’s Mental Health Week 2025

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‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’.

‘The more we can understand about ourselves, the more prepared we are to express our emotions and take on life’s ups and downs.’

Being self-aware means getting to know and understand what we are good at, what we find difficult, our likes and dislikes, what makes us feel JOY and what may cause us SADNESS. It is also about understanding what makes us unique and our fears, hopes and dreams. As we build a sense of self, we grow in our ability to connect with others, as well as develop our skills and talents.

This year, we have invited the children to reflect on the most important parts of who they are by designing their very own ‘Personality Islands’. Using their imagination, we wanted the children to design islands that reflect their core traits, passions and values. Each island represents an essential part of their personality, giving them the opportunity to express what’s most meaningful in their lives.

 

World Book Day 2025

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Dear Parents and Carers,

World Book Day is coming up on Thursday 6th March, but we will be celebrating it in school on Friday 7th March. It is a few weeks away, but I wanted to let you know ahead of time in case your child wishes to take part in the following:

  • On Friday 7th March, children are invited to dress up as one of their favourite book characters. Please do not feel obliged to go to great expense buying costumes. There are many fantastic ideas online for easy-to-make outfits.
  • We will also be holding a book-themed diorama competition, where children can create a small scene from a book of their choice using a shoe box. We hope to invite parents into school to showcase the children’s dioramas the following week. There will be prizes for the most creative entries. I have added a few images below of ideas found online.

More details will follow closer to the time, but I hope this gives you a good head start should your child wish to take part in the above activities. As always, there is no pressure for pupils to dress up or to enter the competition. They are completely optional. All classes will be running World Book Day activities on Friday 7th March, so all pupils will be involved in the celebrations.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Mrs Usher

 

Diorama ideas:

NSPCC Number Day 2025

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On Friday, the whole school took part in the NSPCC’s Number Day 2025! Children and staff came to school dressed in numbers, took part in a special assembly and played lots of number games and puzzles in classes. As a school, we have raised just over £140 which will help to support vital NSPCC services like Speak out Stay Safe, which visits primary schools across the UK to teach children about the dangers of abuse and what they can do if they need help.

It was great fun watching the children complete their number activities and puzzles.

Well done every one.

Sharing stories for Storytelling Week

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Storytelling Week

During Storytelling Week, our pupils teamed up across different classes for some shared reading. Children of different ages took turns exploring exciting tales together. It was a wonderful way to spend time together and celebrate the joy of books. What lovely reading we heard, too! 📚✨

 

Reception Number Day 2025

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Today we took part in the NSPCC’S Number Day 2025! We came to school dressed in numbers and played lots of number games with our friends. The money we have raised will help to support vital NSPCC services like Speak out Stay Safe, which visits primary schools across the UK to teach children about the dangers of abuse and what they can do if they need help.

Reception Visit Church

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This afternoon the children visited Father Bill to find out all about celebrations that take place in a church. The children listened carefully to Father Bill explain how different parts/artefacts in church are used during these celebrations. The children then got the opportunity to look around the church themselves, ticking on their ‘I Spy’ sheets when they found the; font, pews, church door, lectern, alter, hymn books, candle and cross.

 

Y3- Our Journeys!

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The Y3 children shared a thoughtful and reflective Celebration of the Word today with their families. They described their own personal journeys with their favourite interests; while acknowledging the supportive family members who guide them and share the joy of their experiences.

© 2025 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.