Author: Sumaiya Osman

In the Judaism workshop, we explored the rich traditions of the Jewish festival of Passover. We learned about its historical significance and why it remains such an important celebration today. We also discovered the symbolic meanings behind each item on the Passover plate. Afterwards, we examined a variety of foods to decide whether they could be eaten during Passover, and we even got to taste some unleavened bread called matzah. To finish, we had the opportunity to look at the Torah and try on a kippah, deepening our understanding of Jewish culture and customs.

On Monday, we went to St Albans Cathedral and took part in two fascinating activities that had cross-curricular links to our geography and art units.

The first activity was called The Land of the Monks, where we delved into the past. We examined a map of St Albans and used grid references to locate different places in the city. After this, we went outside the cathedral with a compass, map, and instructions. We hunted for clues that helped us answer questions about different buildings that existed in the past.

Our second activity involved working with clay tiles. We walked around the cathedral, drawing inspiration from its beautiful architecture and rich history. Then we created and assembled our own clay tiles, focusing on specific clay techniques.

During this half term, our focus in Catholic Social Teaching has been on community and participation. Through class discussions, we explored the meaning of being part of a community and reflected on our unique talents and skills. We considered practical ways to use these gifts to improve and enrich our communities. Additionally, we looked at scripture, reflecting on what God teaches us about building a loving and supportive community.

On Wednesday, we attended Mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. During our RE lesson, we reflected on the significance of this sacred season and shared our Lenten promises.

In English, we have been working on writing non-chronological reports, inspired by the text Cloud Tea Monkeys. As part of our lessons, we’ve been exploring the key features of non-chronological reports. Today, we focused on writing questions and gathering information about different types of monkeys. Here are some photos of us hard at work conducting our research!

We’ve had a fantastic start to the term! At the beginning of the week, we explored the Feast of Epiphany, delving into its significance and traditions. We also celebrated the Feast of St. Adrian, taking time to research his life and draw meaningful lessons from his inspiring work. 

In our recent lessons on Catholic Social Teaching, we explored the principle of the Option for the Poor. Together, we reflected on key scripture passages and discussed meaningful ways we can make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Inspired by this, we created Advent calendars designed to encourage daily acts of giving and kindness for the less fortunate. Take a look at some photos showcasing the creativity and thoughtfulness of our work!

We had a wonderful time participating in the Hinduism workshop, where we explored the diverse forms of Hindu Gods. Here are some photos of us embracing the experience by dressing in traditional clothing!

In RE this week, we completed our unit on promises. In this unit, we explored the promises made during Baptism, as well as the various signs and symbols associated with this sacrament. For our class display, we each wrote a personal promise and reflected on how we can keep our commitments.