With Christ at our side to guide us,
we shine in all that we do.
The Year 1 Christmas Party was a fantastic way to celebrate the festive season! The children had a brilliant time playing games like Pass the Quoit and Musical Bumps, sharing delicious party food, and showing off their best dance moves.
The highlight was the dancing – from The Conga to favourite chart songs, it was wonderful to see everyone having so much fun together.
This Christmas, the infants delighted audiences with their heart-warming and humorous performance of Hey Ewe! – a fresh take on the traditional Nativity story, told through the eyes of an excitable and curious young sheep.
The youngest ewe in the flock, full of questions and boundless energy, charmed everyone with her inquisitive nature. While the rest of the sheep were happy to stick to their routines, she found herself drawn into the extraordinary events surrounding the birth of Jesus. From shepherds and angels to a very special baby, her curiosity led the audience on a magical journey, reminding us all to see the wonder of the Nativity with fresh eyes.
The children shone on stage, their enthusiasm and joy capturing the true spirit of the season.
A huge well done to all the children who worked so hard to make this year’s production a success. Merry Christmas!
Today was full of Christmas magic as we celebrated Christmas Pyjama Day! The children arrived in their cosiest pyjamas, ready for a day of festive fun.
We gathered around the Christmas tree for a special storytime when, to our amazement, Father Christmas himself made a surprise appearance! The excitement was electric as he joined us by the tree to share one of his favourite stories, The Gruffalo.
After the story, Father Christmas answered some of the children’s curious questions—there were plenty! The children couldn’t wait to tell him all about the mischief their naughty elves had been causing at home.
It was a truly magical moment! Thank you, Father Christmas, for making our day so special!
Year 1 explored the story of the Christingle and created their own as part of our Advent preparations. We began by learning about Bishop John de Watteville, who shared the first Christingle with children in his village to teach them about God’s promises.
Through the story, we discovered that:
The children thoroughly enjoyed making their own Christingles, carefully assembling each part and reflecting on its meaning. We concluded our lesson with a special Christingle Celebration of the Word, where we shared the story of the Christingle and talked about how we can share God’s love with others.
The flickering light of the candles reminded us all of the importance of kindness and hope, especially during this season of Advent.
This morning, Year 1 enjoyed a festive visit to The Word library. The session began with the children listening to enchanting Christmas tales that sparked their imaginations and set the holiday mood.
Afterwards, the children got crafty, creating their very own Santas using paper and cotton wool—there were lots of smiles as they carefully stuck, shaped, and assembled their festive masterpieces!
To finish off the morning, the children were given the chance to explore the library shelves and choose books to bring back to class. We can’t wait to dive into our new stories and continue our love of reading back at school!
The Year 1 children had an amazing time at the Multi-Sport Festival! The event was filled with festive cheer as the children took part in a range of Christmas-themed sports activities. From “Santa Says” to “Snowball Toss Challenges,” there was something for everyone to enjoy.
The festival was a fantastic opportunity for the children to try out new games, work as a team, and stay active while embracing the Christmas spirit.
It was a wonderful way to celebrate the season and promote the importance of staying active. Well done, Year 1!
Year 1 has been explore and learn about their five senses. Through hands-on investigations, the children discovered how each sense helps us understand and navigate the world around us.
Hearing
The children sharpened their listening skills by identifying everyday noises. From ringing phones to sea waves, it was amazing to see how well their ears could detect and differentiate sounds.
Seeing
Next, we challenged the children to draw a house while blindfolded! It quickly became clear how important our eyes are for creating and observing details. With their blindfolds removed, they compared their drawings and enjoyed a good laugh!
Touch
For the sense of touch, we used a “feely bag” filled with familiar classroom objects. The children had to rely on their hands to feel the shape, texture, and size of each item, guessing what it might be.
Taste
In a tasty experiment, the class sampled a variety of crisps. From tangy salt and vinegar to cheese and onion flavours, the children had fun identifying their explain the tastes.
Smell
Finally, we used our noses to sniff out fruity scents. Guessing the fruit based on smell alone was a delightful way to engage their sense of smell.
The children loved these activities, and they’ve developed a deeper appreciation for their senses.
Year 1 took time to learn about Remembrance Day and reflect on why it’s important. The children created beautiful poppy handprints using paint to honor those who have served and sacrificed. Alongside the poppies, they made prayer butterflies as a symbol of hope and peace.
We gathered together to say a short prayer, showing our respect and gratitude. Their thoughtful artwork is now displayed outside, ready to be seen by everyone in our school community. It’s a meaningful reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring others.
This week, our Year 1 class had a wonderful visit to St Bede’s Church, where they met with Father Bill. As part of our RE topic on baptism, Father Bill explained the importance of baptism and how it welcomes people into the Church. The children were fascinated as he showed them some of the special signs and symbols used in the ceremony, including the font where the baptism takes place, the holy water, and the shell used for pouring it. They also learned about the significance of the baptismal candle and the oil of chrism. It was a meaningful experience that helped the children understand the role of these symbols in the sacrament of baptism.
Year 1 enjoyed a wonderful day out at Gibside, where they took part in an ‘Art in Nature’ workshop. The children had a fantastic time exploring the beautiful outdoors and getting creative with what they found around them.
The workshop started with a unique twist on painting – using mud! The children used natural materials to paint, creating artwork with mud and sticks and discovering how much fun it can be to paint without traditional tools. After that, they set off on a mission to collect leaves, petals, and anything they could find to explore nature’s wide array of colours. The children were amazed by how many different shades they could spot in the leaves and flowers.
They also used sticks and leaves to make wonderful nature-inspired pictures, working together to gather materials and build their masterpieces. It was lovely to see their imaginations come alive in such a beautiful, natural environment.
The day finished with a well-earned visit to the playpark, where the children enjoyed the climbing frames, zip-wire, and plenty of running around. It was the perfect end to a day full of learning, creativity, and fun!
© 2024 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.