St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

Final Mass of the Year

Monsignor Timothy Menezes, the Dean of St. Chad’s Cathedral, celebrated a live stream Mass on Monday 6 July at 12.15 p.m. Staff and children celebrated Mass virtually.  This was the last Mass of the academic year for our school community.

Learned and Wise Award

 

This half term the two Virtues that will be a focus for us and the other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Birmingham are to be ‘learned’ and ‘wise’. The challenge is to be learned, finding God in all things; and wise in the ways we use our learning for
the common good.

 

Children were awarded with a Learned and Wise certificates.In these pictures you can see the children making altars for their classroom.  

Bible Alive

Bible Alive gave us a number of free copies of Bible Alive.  The children really enjoyed reading Bible Alive.  Thank you.

Mass Good Shepherd

 

We celebrated the Good Shepherd Mass via live stream from St. Chad's.Year 6 children had planned fund raising activities which should have taken place during Lent.  They had just started some of the fund raising activities before the lock down started.  After the Mass the children watched a video on ways Father Hudson Care  helps people.

Pentecost

Pentecost will be celebrated on Sunday 31 May, 50 days after Easter Sunday.

It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ.

Events at St Chad's Cathedral


Pentecost Vigil - Saturday 30 May - 6pm

Mass on Pentecost Sunday - Sunday 31 May - 11am - celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley

https://www.stchadscathedral.org.uk/

Thursday 21st May THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

9am Live Stream from Westminster Cathedral 

https://www.churchservices.tv/westminster

https://www.birminghamoratory.org.uk/live-stream/

Today we joined in the celebration of Mass on the The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.  The Mass was live streamed from The Oratory.   

 

 

Today the children read Scripture  Acts 1:6-11.  The children they took part in activities related to Ascension of the Lord.  They made clouds and used straws and cups to show Jesus as he was taken up into Heaven.

 Saint John Paul II 

Pope Francis "Tomorrow (18.05.20) marks the centenary of the birth of Saint John Paul II. Let us remember him with great affection and gratitude. At 7:00 AM, I will celebrate Holy Mass, which will be broadcast all over the world, at the altar where his mortal remains rest."

 

The children used different materials to make a picture of Saint John Paul II.  They learnt many facts about Saint John Paul II.   How can you be like Saint John Paul II?

 

 

 

 

May- The Month of Mary

 The children gathered together and said a decade of the Rosary.

 

 

 

 

Mary 

The children looked at different images of Mary.  They made a statue of Mary and a grotto. 

The Year of the Word

“Let it be done to me according to your word” Luke 1:26-38

Covid-19 Resources from the Diocesan Education Service and Other organisations

Weekly Worship and Song: Dan and Emily

Weekly Worship and Song: Dan and Emily. This week the prayer is for use on Good Friday and can be used in either home or school settings. It is to be used at any time apart from at 3:00 when we are encouraging everyone to join in the Good Friday Liturgy in any of those churches which are livestreaming.

Please find below the link to this week’s Weekly Worship and Song

15.04.20 

https://youtu.be/c9oohwnp-tY

 

10.04.20

 Good Friday https://youtu.be/a5ERfa0YmqM

Prayers

 

Children may use this time to learn new prayers.  Please click on Catholic Life ( Left drop down menu) and follow the link to class prayers.

 

TEN TEN

In this unprecedented time of church and school closures, Ten Ten is offering all schools the opportunity to access FREE prayer resources for the home.

 

Ten Ten: Sunday Liturgy for Families

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

 

Ten Ten :Daily Prayers for Families

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/homeprayer-2020-03-23

 

Ten Ten : 15 Prayers during school closure

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/15-prayers/

 

Wednesday Word 

 

Wednesday 25th March  Part 1 Part 2 

 

Wednesday 1st April

 

Wednesday 8th and 15th April

 

Wednesday 22nd April

Mission Together- learning packs

https://missiontogether.org.uk/school-closures-home-activities/

CAFOD-learning packs

https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-teaching-resources/Home-learning-primary

 

 

Collective Worship week beginning 27.04.20

27.04.20

28.04.20

29.04.20

30.04.20

01.05.20

 

Collective Worship The Road to Emmaus

Daily virtual singing sessions from the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme are now available at 2pm every weekday.

www.schoolssingingprogramme.org.uk 

Easter- Jesus has risen

The children read the Scripture John 20.  They created a tomb with a roll backed stone and white cloth inside the tomb.

 

" Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he is risen as he said."

Mt 28:5-7 

Pope Francis called for the world to pray the Lord’s Prayer   

Last week,  we joined Pope Francis live via Vatican TV and we said the the Lord's Prayer.   The children and staff then said their own personal prayers.

 

Year 4 Lenten Roadshow 

Victoria and Oskar were chosen to take part in the Year 4 Caritas Christi in Urbe Lenten Roadshow. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 the Roadshow was cancelled.  Thank you to Victoria and Oskar who had given their time to rehearse and learn their words.

 

Caritas Christi in Urbe Maths Day

Mrs Roberts took a group of children from year 5 to a Maths competition.  The children did really well.

Lent

The Faith Ambassadors gathered and planned a Lenten display.  The children selected the purple material.  The children made three crosses and placed them in front of three large stones.

The Faith Ambassadors are thinking of ideas of how to use the time of Lent to support others.

Ash Wednesday Mass

Caritas Christi in Urbe

Four children went to St.Paul's Secondary School with Miss Shirley to take part in an Inclusion Day with children from the other Caritas Schools.  The children learnt hymns, took part in drama and celebrated Mass. 

 

Please read their reports about the day.

 

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 Final Mass of the year led by the Faith Ambassadors

 

The Faith Ambassadors led the final Mass of the school year.  The children read confidently and the Readings and Bidding Prayers reflected upon the importance of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus.

 

Infant Nativity Junior Nativity

The Infant Nativity was a joy to watch and the children told the story of  the birth of Jesus so beautifully, through acting, readings and song.

On the evening of the 17th December, eighty-one children of the Junior classes and their families went to St.Teresa's church for our Carol Service.  The children were wonderful as readers, actors and a choir.  The children sang, acted and read, explaining the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Dinner for reception children and Grandparents

On Tuesday 17th December the children had their Christmas dinner.  The Reception children had their dinner a little later in the afternoon.  Some of the children were joined by their grandparents.

Christmas Fair


Thank you to everyone who came to the Christmas Fair last Saturday afternoon and helped to raise £2236.66 which has been divided equally between the school and the parish, each receiving £1,118.33.

 

Year 3 Reconciliation Service

Please continue to pray for those children in Year 3 who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confession and Eucharist.

Advent Displays

At the start of December all the corridor display boards were changed and the purple backing paper went up.  Classes began work on telling different parts of the Christmas Story.

 

 

 

 

November 2019

November: the month of the dead


During November, the Church community gives special thought and prayers to loved ones who have died. The Faith Ambassadors placed a  box in the entrance hall for children to place the names of loved ones that they wish to have remembered in our prayers.

Harvest Mass

Visits to Places of Worship

Year 6 went to Birmingham Central Mosque

Year 5 went to Shree Geeta Bhawan Temple

Year 4 went to St John's  Church

Year 3 went to Singers Hill Synagogue

Year 2 went to Guru Nanak Gurdwara

The school received emails from different group leaders to say how well the children behaved and to praise the children for the great questions they asked.  Well done!

Praying the Rosary with Archbishop Bernard

October - Holy Rosary

Children in Year 6 worked in pairs and planned and led a decade of the Rosary each day in school.

 

On Wednesday 9 October at 2:00 the children gathered in the hall to join Archbishop Bernard (via live stream),   who prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. 

 

Birmingham  Hospital Garden

Faith Ambassadors  from years 3-6 and House Captains from Year 6 went for a day retreat to Birmingham Hospital Gardens.  We met our leaders for the day  James and Sam  who had planned a packed day of activities with  moments to pause and reflect on God's creation.

 

"What is rubbish?"asked Sam,  as he emptied a bucket of waste.  

"A banana skin.  Is that rubbish?"asked Sam.   " How can it be rubbish? God made it, so therefore it cannot be rubbish."

 It really made us think about what we view as 'rubbish'.

The children got stuck into picking out worms from the soil for the wormery.

 

Sam showed the group a tree which was made from a plastic bottle.  Rather than throwing the bottle away, it was carefully made into a tree and sol rather than just throwing the bottle into the bin.

 James led the group in a walk along the canal.  There were many times to stop and look at the environment and give thanks to God for his creation.

In the afternoon the children dug the soil and panted seeds, which they hope to be able to go back and see growing.

 

Staff Retreat

After school the staff went to the Hospital Garden for a retreat.   Everyone got stuck into the activities- even digging for worms! 

Saint Teresa's Feast Day

We celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Teresa.  We came to school in our own clothes.  We walked to Church and took part in the celebration of Mass.  

 

Reflecting on the life of Saint Teresa, what little thing can you do really well today?

 

Faith Ambassadors began to look at the school environment 

Have you noticed any changes in the entrance hall?  Thank the Faith Ambassadors!

The Faith Ambassadors spent a number of lunchtimes walking around the school with clipboards and pens looking at the school environment.  They identified what they felt was needed to improve the environment.  Mr Corkery took their suggestions on board and began to work with a design  company who were able to work with some of the ideas the Faith Ambassadors had suggested.

 

Please look at the before and after photographs.    Well done to the Faith Ambassadors!

 

 

Month of Mission

 James Trewby came to St.Teresa's and led sessions for children in Years 4-6 with the focus on Mission.  There was an attempt to connect with a Missionary in the Philippines  via Skype, however technology got the better of us. As James had worked in the Philippines, the children were able to get an insight into the work of a Missionary.

The God who Speaks: The Year of the Word

The God who Speaks: The Year of the Word, is an initiative which focuses on celebrating, living and sharing God's word throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales from 30th September until the end of December 2020.

 

"The Bible cannot be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books for the benefit of a privileged few. It belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognise themselves in its words…The Bible is the book of the Lord’s people, who, in listening to it, move from dispersion and division towards unity. The word of God unites believers and makes them one people." Pope Francis

 

 

The School bought 32 new Bibles, which were presented in Mass and blessed by Father David.   We will use these Bibles to support us grow in knowledge and faith during the Year of the Word.  There will be lots of activities throughout the year for everyone to join in with.

 

Scripture Quotations

We are going to use these quotations as a focus within prayer areas each half term. They will also form the basis of a whole school liturgy and the weekly time of extended prayer in class. They will also be used as a focus for display. The quotations below have been selected as each of them express something about the Word.

 

Autumn 2:     “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us ”         John 1:14

 

Spring 1:       “Here is the light you will reveal to the nations”        Luke 2: 32

 

Spring 2:         “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said”       Luke 1:38

 

Summer 1:     “These have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah,

the Son of God”                                                                       John 20:31

 

Summer 2:     “Go throughout the whole world and preach the Gospel to all people”                  Mark 16:15

 

Autumn 1:    “In the beginning the Word already existed;

the Word was with God, and the Word was God”                                       John 1:1

 

Autumn 2:     “The word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us”         John 1:14

 

 

Dignity of the Human Person


Well done to Year 4 who raised an amazing £160 for Helping Hands of Birmingham, a charity that supports homeless people in Birmingham. With the money Year 4 bought 10 scarfs, 20 hats, 10 pairs of gloves, 30 pairs of socks, 12 tubes of toothpaste, 18 packs of baby wipes, 15 deodorants and 12 sleeping bags. I urge you to go to the Year 4 page of the school website (via the ‘Classes’ link) and to scroll down the Year 4 page to see a special thank you from Claire, the founder of the charity, who came into school on Wednesday to meet the class, talk about the work she does and collect the items that Year 4 have provided. Thank you to all involved in this super work, truly ‘The Dignity of the Human Person’ in action.

 

Dignity of the Human Person

On the evening of Friday 13th September children from Years 3-6 came back to school in the evening, to experience what it is like to be homeless.  The children in Year 3 and 4 slept in the school hall, this represented a space acquired in a hostel for the night. children in Years 5 and 6 use boxes to build shelters and slept in the playground.  Conversations with the children proved very moving.  Now we need to think: How can we act safely to use our knowledge, time and skills to bring change in a purposeful way?

Macmillian Coffee morning

 The children came into school wearing green for Macmillian Coffee Morning.  The enjoyed a drinks and cake and raised money to help others.

 

 

 

Communication

Would you rather write your ideas/work or talk about your ideas/work?

It was a split decision throughout the school. Helen Langbourne led an assembly about speaking and listening.  How can you use your voice to support other people?

Saint Chad's Sanctuary 

The Faith Ambassadors visited St. Chad's Sanctuary in town.   The children developed understanding of what life can be like for asylum seekers in Birmingham.  They learnt about the different reasons why people leave their homes and the difficulties they face at the end of their journey.  The Faith Ambassadors came back to school empowered with knowledge and though of what they could do to support others.  They decided to ask parents and children to collect different items each week.  Thank you to everyone for their support.  The Faith Ambassadors are working on ways to support our neighbours in the city of Birmingham.  We look forward to hearing their ideas.

 

 

 

Faith Ambassadors

The Faith Ambassadors were elected in September.  Children had to prepare a short speech explaining why they wanted to be a Faith Ambassador and what they would do in the role.  The children in each class voted for the person they wanted to be the Faith Ambassador for their class.

 

 

    

Butlers Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 2NY

0121 554 9581

enquiry@stteresa.bham.sch.uk