Month: December 2020

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Chaplaincy team

We are proud to introduce the Chaplaincy Team for 2023-2024. The children were blessed and welcomed into the service of our school in the Mercy Mass by Father Francis in September. They were also privileged to meet a previous Head teacher of St Adrian’s, Sr Margaret. Sr Margaret shared with the Chaplaincy Team the history of the Sisters of Mercy and what an honour it is to serve our school by helping others.

The Chaplaincy Team will be taking part in the masses and liturgies throughout the school year.

Thank you children for your dedicated service.

  • Visits to Feed, our local Food Bank
  • Smile at Someone

This year, the Chaplaincy Team have visited Feed, the Food Bank in St Albans to find out more about this charity. As a result of this visit, they helped to organise our Harvest Appeal and a great deal of items were collected to support families in need in St Albans.

On Sunday 5th February, Racial Justice Sunday will take place. The Chaplaincy Team led our assembly thinking about what it means to be fair and just and how we should treat everyone with kindness. We talked about us all being part of the human race and we are all united! We also sang a lovely song called ‘ Children United’

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Some events which the Chaplaincy Team lead throughout the year:

Praying the Rosary for the Month of October

Leading a Harvest Assembly to encourage donations for the local food bank

Remernance Assembly for November

Advent Assemblies leading up to Christmas

Dressing of the Tree and the Advent Celebration Ceremony

Lenten assemblies

Stations of the Cross and Easter Assembly

Crowning of Mary Celebration

Praying to Mary in the Month of May

Throughout the year the children also lead Masses both in school and at St Bartholomew’s Church.

In the Summer term, we will aim to write a school prayer as well as lead assemblies about Catholic Social Teaching.

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Teaching British Values

At St Adrian’s we promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of Law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

We are committed to serving our community and local area and in so doing, we reinforce these British values regularly in the following ways:

Democracy:
Pupils have their voices heard through our School Council, Pupil Committees and Pupil Voice interviews. The process of pupil voting for the School Council contributes to the elections of Head boy, Head girl and School Council representatives.

British Value in action: We help to make decisions that improve our school

The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules are consistently reinforced in the classroom, as well as through school assemblies. Pupils are taught to understand the need for laws, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

British Value in action: We understand that rules help us to be safe and happy

Individual Liberty:
Pupils are encouraged to be independent learners, constantly making choices, within a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to understand their personal freedoms and are taught how to use these rights to best effect. All pupils are keen to support charities, whether local, national or global. They are taught consideration for others through our Religious Education curriculum and PSHE lessons.

British Value in action: We understand that freedom comes with responsibility

Mutual Respect:
Our school’s ethos and our behaviour policy are based on Gospel values, with the important commandment being, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. Assemblies constantly promote respect for others and the importance of good manners. All pupils are taught the importance of self-respect, honest and open communication with others and fair play. Pupils work collaboratively and value others’ opinions.value others’ opinions.

British Value in action: We have respect for ourselves and for others

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
As a Catholic worshipping community, pupils are reminded of their place in a culturally diverse society. This is achieved through our Religious Education curriculum and the spiritual life of the school. Assemblies and class work promote the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race. Members of different faiths or religions both within and outside the school community are invited to contribute through sharing their knowledge and to enhance learning within assemblies and in class.

British Value in action: We understand and accept that our friends may have different beliefs and opinions

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Learning in Year 2

As ever, we continue to be very busy in Year 2, combining a focus on Maths and English with many other areas of the curriculum.

As part of our topic focussing on People who Care, past and present, the children learned about Florence Nightingale and Saint Teresa of Calcutta as well as nurses who care for us so well today. Next, we will learn about other nurses, such as Mary Seacole.

The children had great fun creating a sculpture of a modern day nurse and we linked this to our Design and Technology topic on Structures. The children explored what makes a structure stable and the classroom is now filled with paper rollercoasters, 3D shapes made out of construction kits as well as playdough sphere structures. Following their investigations, the children concluded that a structure needs a flat and wide base in order to be both stable and strong. They are using this information well this week as we hold our Speed Stacking Competition along with the rest of the school.

We are all looking forward to enjoying Advent together and today, we will start making our classroom look much more Christmassy! Please do read our RE home learning page to find out more about what we are learning in RE between now and Christmas.