With Christ at our side to guide us,
we shine in all that we do.
This morning, the children performed a lovely Easter‑themed Celebration of the Word for their families. They spoke so beautifully about the true meaning of Easter and the message of new life.
Well done, children — Mrs Hill and I are very proud of each and every one of you.
This week, our school has been celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, with this year’s theme: “This is My Place.”
The theme encouraged children to think about belonging—what it means, why it matters, and where in their lives they feel truly valued and accepted.
Understanding Belonging
Throughout the week, pupils explored the idea that belonging is more than just being present in a group or a place. It is the feeling of being:
Teachers led discussions about the different ways we know we belong—whether through friendships, family, classrooms, clubs, or the places that make us feel safe and happy. Children shared wonderful ideas about the people and environments that help them feel supported and confident.
Creating Personal ‘Belonging Maps’
To help children explore their own sense of belonging, each child created a personal map. These maps were unique to every pupil and included:
This activity encouraged children to reflect on what makes them feel secure and valued, as well as celebrating the diverse and personal ways we all find our place in the world.
Year 2 had an exciting and delicious Shrove Tuesday celebration this week as they welcomed a very special visitor—Mavis from Asda—who joined the children to make and decorate their very own pancakes!
The classroom was filled with smiles (and a lovely sweet smell!) as the children mixed, flipped, and prepared warm pancakes with Mavis’ help. Once ready, everyone chose their favourite toppings—ranging from chocolate sauce and sprinkles to fresh fruit and classic lemon and sugar. The children took great pride in decorating their creations before tucking into their tasty treats.
Afterwards, the fun continued in the school hall with a lively pancake race, keeping alive a much‑loved English Shrove Tuesday tradition. With frying pans in hand and pancakes at the ready, Year 2 ran, laughed, and cheered each other on in a friendly and energetic race.
It was a fantastic day filled with teamwork, tradition, and lots of joy. A huge thank‑you to Mavis and Asda for helping make the experience so memorable!
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.
During our pupil-led celebration of the Word, it was Paul House’s turn to lead. We explored the story of the Good Samaritan and reflected on practical ways to live out its message in our daily lives as part of our mission.
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To celebrate National Poetry Day, Year 2 took part in a special poetry session exploring the classic poem The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear. The session began with a discussion about what poetry is, helping the children understand how poems use rhythm, rhyme, and imagination to tell stories and express ideas.
Working in small groups, the children orally rehearsed the poem, practising their expression and fluency. They then confidently performed it for their peers, sharing their interpretations and enjoying the playful language of the poem.
Following the performances, the class engaged in a variety of creative activities inspired by the poem, including:
It was a joyful and imaginative session, full of language, laughter, and learning!
Our Y3 Egyptologists enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Oriental Museum in Durham. Firstly, the children used their archaeological skills to interpret the use of a variety of interesting artefacts recovered from Ancient Egypt. We enjoyed an adventurous and informative gallery trail, where pupils even used the Rosetta Stone to interpret hieroglyphics. Another highlight, was seeing a contemporary mummified Egyptian body, which had been perfectly prepared for the afterlife. Meanwhile, the children creatively performed a dramatic weighing of the heart ceremony, where they demonstrated their brilliant role play skills! We had a wonderful day and this was a brilliant launch to our new History unit!
The children in Years 3 and 4 enjoyed a fantastic Christmas party. Here are some photographs of them having fun!
Last week, our Year 2 children had a magical visit to The Word! The morning was filled with festive cheer as we listened to enchanting Christmas stories, sparking imaginations and setting the perfect seasonal mood.
The children then got creative, crafting delightful Christmas-themed pictures to take home and share with their families. Their creativity and enthusiasm shone brightly throughout!
Afterwards, the children explored the library’s wonderful collection of books independently, discovering new titles that piqued their interest. We were thrilled to bring back some exciting books to support our next school topic—our library is looking more vibrant than ever!
A huge thank you to the staff at The Word for making our visit so special. The children left inspired, creative, and ready to dive into their next literary adventures!
© 2026 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.
