Category: Our Classes

The themes of our next topic are inter-relating and reconciliation.

The Topic is called ” Freedom and Responsibility”.

The children we look at situations where responsibility has been given and how we are required to use our judgement and exercise our freedom sensibly.

In scripture , we will look at the Ten Commandments and discuss how rules give us the opportunity for choice and freedom.

How do the Ten Commandments contrast with the Beatitudes?

Finally, we will see how, when rules are broken, the need for forgiveness and reconciliation are paramount.

The Big Question for this topic is: How do rules bring freedom?

PRAYER:

God our Father, you have given us freedom in our lives.

With this freedom we can bring sorrow or joy to ourselves and to others.

Help us always to use our freedom in a responsible way.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY HOMEWORK TASK (For Monday 17 June)

Imagine you were asked to write a Class Charter of about five rules or guidelines.

Write and decorate your Class Charter .

Think about ( for discussion), why you chose these rules and guides and what actions should be taken if someone breaks the rules.

Thursday PM

There were opportunities for chatting in the sunshine, perhaps some games or that final fine tune to the talent show act.

Then came learning about and preparing for Mass.

Father Mark gave Mass in the chapel and was brilliant with the children, explaining the theology and history behind the prayers and rituals during the Mass, making complex ideas very simple and well, obvious. Even the adults came away thinking: ‘So that’s why we do that’ or ‘I never thought of it that way before’.

The Talent Show

The evening started off with a rendition of ‘My Lighthouse’ by the Year 5 resident Boy-Band with everyone off their feet joining in with their coordinated moves and grooves.  Then some breath taking gymnastics ; mesmerising magic from our own man of mystery; a brilliant solo dance display to ‘Count on Me’; powerful singing with vocal dexterity homage to Imagine Dragons; and finally we all went wild when an impromptu duet led us all through the routine for ‘Hold my Hand’.

After prayers it was bed.

In the words of Dinah Washington: ‘What a difference a day makes’. The children were begging to go to bed and a much quieter (and restful) night was had by all.

Friday Morning:

We’re all packed up. There is time for a few activities, a final explore and play before lunch and home.

The children have had a fantastic time. The setting has been breathtaking. Good, wholesome meals and above all, fabulaous staff here at SPEC who have made our stay one that will bring lifelong happy memories.

Breakfast over, it’s time for meditation and prayers. A very calming experience and for several of the boys – eyes closed, drifting away listening  to the gentle strains of waves upon the shore proved to be too much after last night’s exertions and they had to be shaken from their slumber at  the end of the meditation.

Next it was learning about the Mysteries of the Rosary which involved identifying certain mysteries to complete their own Rosary Beads. Then came artwork based on discipleship.  Lunch and then more fun and games where the children had their latent, inner  child of the 60s or 70s awakened and enjoyed the delights of running around playing tag or similar in the woods with not a an electrical device in sight.

That worked up our appetites!

Some work on the Beatitudes now before preparing for tonight’s Mass and of course taking some time out for rehearsing for the Talent Show.

After some time in the chapel, it was time for the campfire with cocoa.  The children joined in with some rousing songs followed by a haunting melody played on the harmonica by one of the children displaying their talents as if by way of a prelude for tonight’s talent show.

We got the children as tired as we could but now we could not put off the moment we adults had been dreading- bedtime! Nineteen boys in one room, 14 girls in another,  away from home for the first time. What could go wrong?

To allay any fears, we told them they could, in an emergency, reach us instantly, at any time in the middle of the night, by pressing the doorbell to our rooms. We gave them the definition of emergency outlined by the Oxford Dictionary:

EMERGENCY – ‘a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action’
Oxford Dictionary:

However, something was lost in translation-

The Year 5 definition of emergency:

“I heard some of the other boys talking”; “I know you said we could use the toilet but I just thought I’d check”; “Is it time to get up?”;  “I’m not sure about my toe.”

Needless to say, there were no emergencies (adult definition) and although lively, the children were all happy; safe and sound and there were no tearful situations in the night.

We are all ready for the day ahead.

Now off to breakfast!

The atmosphere was buzzing as we embarked on our journey.  The sun was shining and everyone was looking forward to SPEC and wondering if, in reality,  it would be as pretty as the photos. Upon arrival, it felt like we had landed in Eden! After a brief orientation session, the children were shown to their rooms. 

The day consists of sessions in small groups punctuated by periods of down time where the children can relax in the grounds or play football.

Relaxation and free time

Orienteering:

Spiritual Sculpture

Outdoor Drama

Meals

Mealtimes can often be a flash-point with children being notoriously picky eaters. Not so year 5. A healthy appetite everyone.

A bit of football to work off the meal then some games, chapel and the campfire before bed.

Our RE topic is based around the theme of Spread the Word.

Key words for the topic are: risen resurrection Holy Spirit Ascension witnesses blessing Pentecost promise Good News

As part of this topic, we will consider the Big Question ‘Why should we spread Good News’?

The children will read from the bible to find out how the women at the tomb were asked to tell the disciples that Jesus has come alive again.  We will hear Jesus’s message that he would give them a special helper called the Holy Spirit and then find out about the effect of the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the disciples at Pentecost as they then went out to spread Jesus’s word on the streets of Jerusalem.

RE home learning

As part of their home learning, the children will think about how they can pass on the Good News that Jesus is alive in each and every one of us.  Read John 14: 18-19 and Acts 2: 1-4 together and talk about how the Holy Spirit helps and guides us.   Your child will bring home a flower with the phrase ‘Jesus is alive in me’ at the centre, with a space where they can draw a beautiful self-portrait. 

Talk to your child about the different things that they do which show that the Holy Spirit is working through them.  These things can include

• reading the bible, maybe about the experience of Jesus and the disciples after the resurrection
• telling other people about the life and message of Jesus
• examples of how your child follows Jesus’ message to love other people through their actions and service
• talking about your child’s prayer life and what they pray about
• talking about ways in which your child contributes to the Common Good by giving time or money to charities so that they can do good works

Through a combination of images and writing, ask your child to fill in each petal with a different way in which they show that Jesus is alive in them.  They need to write their sentences in their own words (not a direct copy of the bullet points above!) and ensure that their handwriting is neat and correctly punctuated as the flowers will all contribute to a classroom display.

We are looking forward to seeing the finished flowers and you will be able to see them on display during our next Sharing Friday.

I will be holding a meeting for parents to give an outline of the trip and answer any questions/concerns you might have.

Venue : Year 5 Class

Date : Tuesday 7th May

Time : 6 pm.

Hope to see you there. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to see me for clarification on any issue. I will put any materials used for the meeting on the Year 5 web page.

In the meantime, please complete the health /diet questionaire that your child will collect on Monday and return to me as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support,

Mr Creaton