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Children in Need Fundraiser

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The Children in Need Fundraiser was a huge success!  The Mini Vinnies and School Councillors sold Pudsey pin badges, pens and wristbands.  They also sold raffle tickets which entered the children into a raffle for a Giant Pudsey bear and 2 smaller Pudseys (as runner-up prizes) as well as a yummy cake to share with their friends in class today.

Due to the generosity of our amazing St Bede’s families, we had enough cakes for all of the children to enjoy another cake on Children in Need Day on Friday.

The kindness of you all has been phenomenal!  Thanks to your fantastic generosity we raised £250.00 for Children in Need.

Key to Life Food Bank

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The Mini Vinnies and the children of St Bede’s wanted to help people in the local community by supporting the Key to Life Foodbank (an operation providing emergency food and support to people in crisis across South Tyneside) with their Halloween Appeal – Donate If You Dare – to Scare Hunger way!

The families of St Bede’s have been extremely generous in their donations.  Here are the Mini Vinnies with the food collected.

A huge thank you to everyone for your kindness!

 

 

 

Year 1 Remembers

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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.

Y4 Youth Village Retreat

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We arrived safely at the Youth Village with everyone in high spirits.  The Youth Ministry team welcomed us, then we met the other schools and got to know them with some ice breakers.  The children were put into teams with their friends plus some children from other schools. The evening meal was lovely then we got settled into our lodge (Bishop Ambrose).  There was a fun filled night with lots of high jinx and eventually we all settled down to sleep.

After a breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and toast we headed to base camp to complete a carousel of activities.

The theme of the retreat for the Jubilee year is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

Pope Francis asked people to make 2024 a year of prayer and preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year, with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.  The opening of the Jubilee Door marks the beginning of the Jubilee Year.  The children will consider how God opens doors in our lives, encouraging us to ‘Ask, Seek, Knock’.

In the carousel of activities, the children enjoyed a selection of craft, social justice, chapel, outdoor, and team building challenges.  They explored what ‘hope’ means for us, each other, our communities, and the world as they completed their Pilgrim Passport!

The lunch was amazing. Here are the children tucking in. Spot our surprise visitor!

The children enjoyed some free time before our nature walk.

We had a bracing walk through the woods then played football and rounders.

Our next activity was an Escape Room.

After the activities, the children watched a movie then went to bed. No high jinx tonight just 27 tired children and 2 tired teachers. Silence!! Everyone was super organised this morning – bags packed, beds stripped, breakfast eaten.

There was a final activity where the children shared their ideas about what a planet they designed might look like.

Our last photograph before leaving the Youth Village!  A great few days was had by all!

 

Year 1 Visit to St. Bede’s Church

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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.

Reception Visit Church

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Yesterday we walked to church to meet Father Bill who talked to us about baptism. He showed us all of the symbols used in a baptism including the font, baptismal candle and the holy oil. The children then asked Father Bill some excellent questions like, “Why do you light the candle?” We would like to say a big thank you to Father Bill for a lovely morning!

Father Bill Visits Nursery

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Father Bill visited nursery to show us how a priest baptises a baby. We talked about our own baptism.

Mini Vinnies’ Behind the Scenes Tour of St Bede’s Church

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After school today, the Mini Vinnies enjoyed a lovely visit to our church to have a ‘Behind the scenes’ tour with Father Bill.

The children had a more detailed look around St Bede’s Church, looking at the Sanctuary, the Sacred Heart Altar, Our Lady’s Altar,  the statues, Font, Paschal Candle, the Stations of the Cross images, and the beautiful stained glass windows.

Father Bill then showed us the beautiful stained glass windows of the 7 Sacraments – Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.  Here are 6 of the windows as one of them is best seen from the Choir loft.

 

The children were very eager to go upstairs into the Choir Loft so were very fortunate to visit that too, getting an amazing view of the church from that vantage point.

The children ended their tour with a visit to the chapel at the back of church, the Sacristy where the Priest and Altar Servers get ready, the Confessional and were lucky enough to see a small relic from the original cross of Christ.

Father Bill, thank you so much  for the tour and for answering our many questions!  We’ll definitely visit again with our other Mini Vinnies group and other classes from school.

© 2025 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.