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Supporting Our Wellbeing in Reception: Feelings & Emotions Workshop

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This week, we were delighted to welcome Marie, our Educational Mental Health Practitioner, into school to lead a special workshop all about feelings and emotions.

Marie worked with the children to help them understand the different emotions we experience every day and how we can recognise them in ourselves and others. Through interactive activities, discussion, and storytelling, the children explored:

  • How our bodies give us clues about how we feel
  • Why all feelings—big or small—are normal
  • Strategies we can use to manage overwhelming emotions
  • Ways to talk to a trusted adult when something is worrying you

We are grateful to Marie for supporting our ongoing commitment to promoting emotional wellbeing and helping our children develop healthy, positive ways to express how they feel.

Thank you, Marie! We look forward to welcoming you back next week for another session.

Star Academy Infant Nativity

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Our infants took centre stage in this year’s Nativity, “Star Academy,” and truly wowed us with their amazing singing and acting skills.

The children brought the story of the Nativity to life with confidence, joy, and creativity. Their hard work and enthusiasm shone through every moment.

A huge thank you to our incredible pupils, supportive families, and Mr Richardson, who wrote the play, for making this a magical event – you were all stars!

Reception’s Special Trip to the Post Office!

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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…

Reception’s Exciting Trip to the Urban Factory!

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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!

Reception’s Spooky Library Adventure!

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Reception had a brilliant time on their visit to the library this morning. They listened to some fun (and slightly spooky) monster-themed stories that had everyone giggling and guessing what might happen next!

After the stories, the children got stuck into designing their very own scary monsters. There were lots of wild eyes, sharp teeth, and crazy colours—each one was totally unique and full of imagination!

To finish off the trip, everyone chose a book to bring back to school. These special picks will be shared each day during story time. Well done Reception!

Reception Celebrate National Poetry Day!

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Reception had a wonderful time celebrating National Poetry Day this week! As part of our learning about our bodies, we listened to the poem, “We Can” by Michael Rosen.

The children were captivated by the rhythm and movement in the poem, which encouraged us to think about all the amazing things our bodies can do — from jumping and stretching to clapping and dancing! We joined in with actions, explored new words, and celebrated how unique and capable we all are.

Well done, Reception — you certainly showed us what you can do!

Road Safety in Reception

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This afternoon, the students took part in an exciting and educational Road Safety Workshop, designed to teach them the importance of staying safe while walking, cycling, or travelling near roads.

Led by Melissa from South Tyneside Council, the workshop included interactive activities, real-life scenarios, and practical demonstrations. The children learned how to:

  • Cross the road safely using the Green Cross Code
  • Use a zebra crossing correctly
  • Follow the directions of a LollyPop Person
  • Be alert and aware of their surroundings

The session was both fun and informative, and the children showed great enthusiasm and curiosity throughout.

A big thank you to Melissa for teaching the children how to stay safe!

Reception Visit Hall Hill Farm

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Despite the grey skies and a bit of rain, our trip to the farm turned out to be a fantastic adventure! The children were full of excitement as we explored everything the farm had to offer. We had the chance to feed and hold a variety of friendly animals—from fluffy chicks, and hungry lambs to curious goats!

The highlight for many was the tractor ride, which gave us a bumpy but fun tour around the fields to see the Highland Cows and Llamas.

Afterwards, the rain eased off just enough for us to enjoy some time in the play park.

A big thank you to the farm staff for making us feel so welcome, and to everyone who helped make the day such a success!

Incredible Illustrations with Liz Million

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We were thrilled to welcome Liz Million to our school this week for a fun and inspiring visit. The day began with a whole-school assembly where Liz introduced herself and shared the story of how she became a professional illustrator. Liz’s energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and the children were fascinated to hear about the books she’s worked on and the creative process behind her illustrations.

Throughout the day, each class took part in hands-on workshops led by Liz, where they learned some of her top tips for drawing. With a theme of ‘All God’s Creatures,’ the children explored how to bring animals to life on the page using simple shapes (like tacos, potatoes, and door arches) as the building blocks for their drawings. It was incredible to see how quickly Liz could create a character and even more exciting to see the amazing artwork the children produced using her techniques.

The day was a wonderful celebration of creativity, and it was clear from the smiles and laughter that Liz inspired a lot of budding young artists!

Easter Mystery

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On the last day of term, children in EYFS and KS1 will be given a copy of The Easter Story to share with their families at home.  KS2 children will be given a copy of the Stations of the Cross, with images drawn by the Mini Vinnies, to take home to share with their families also.

By sharing the Easter story and the Passion of Christ, we remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  As a family, please take time to stop and think about the true meaning of Easter.

We wish you all a happy, healthy and holy Easter!

© 2026 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.