Our School Year in Focus - Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term Highlights

This half term at Our Lady of the Rosary, our pupils have enjoyed a rich variety of learning experiences, performances, and opportunities to grow in confidence and creativity. From theatre and poetry to trips and workshops, each event has supported our focus on oracy, reading, and aspiration, helping children to express themselves with enthusiasm and pride.

Whole School Mass
The term began with a wonderful whole school Mass that showcased the children’s musical talent and enthusiasm for singing together. Our liturgy band provided exceptional accompaniment, and every pupil joined in with confidence and joy. The quality of singing and musicianship created a truly uplifting atmosphere, reflecting the dedication of both staff and pupils to developing performance skills and teamwork through music.

Extra-Curricular Clubs Begin
Our wide range of extra-curricular clubs began this term, offering opportunities for every child to discover new talents and interests. From sports and choir to coding and drama, the clubs promote teamwork, self-belief, and communication skills. It has been wonderful to see so many children participating enthusiastically and growing in confidence beyond the classroom.

Our school community came together to support the Macmillan Coffee Morning, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and the important work it carries out for people living with cancer and their families.

The event brought parents, carers and members of our school community together to enjoy refreshments, share conversation and contribute towards a cause that touches the lives of so many families.

The coffee morning reflected our school mission of Joy, Excellence and Service, demonstrating the importance of compassion, generosity and supporting others. It was also an opportunity to strengthen the relationships within our school community while making a positive difference beyond our school.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on 7th October, holds particular significance for our school as we honour our patron saint and reflect on the special place of Mary in our Catholic faith.

Our whole school joined members of the parish community at Our Lady of the Rosary Church for a special Mass to mark this important feast day. It was a wonderful occasion for children, staff, families and parishioners to worship together, strengthening the close relationship between our school and parish.

An important tradition at our school is the presentation of rosary beads to all children who have joined us during the year. These rosary beads are a gift from the school, welcoming the children into our community and encouraging them to develop their own relationship with Mary through prayer. During the Mass, the rosary beads were blessed, making this a particularly special moment for our newest members of the school community.

As a school dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, this feast day is an important part of our Catholic identity, reminding us of the significance of prayer, our devotion to Mary and the values that underpin our school mission of Joy, Excellence and Service.

Feeling Good Week

Our annual Feeling Good Week provided children across the school with opportunities to explore the importance of looking after their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Throughout the week, a wide range of activities encouraged the children to discover different ways to feel positive, manage their emotions and develop healthy habits that support their wellbeing.

Physical activity was an important part of the week, with children enjoying energetic Wake and Shake sessions and Years 4, 5 and 6 taking part in Zumba workshops led by one of our parents. These activities helped the children recognise the positive impact that movement and exercise can have on their mood and mental health.

Other activities encouraged creativity, cooperation and spending time outdoors. Children worked with their buddies to enjoy board games, planted bulbs and vegetable seeds, and took part in creative projects. Year 5 children also worked alongside their Reception buddies to make rockets, bringing to life the explanation texts they had written in English. Storytime sessions and additional opportunities for outdoor play provided further ways for children to relax and enjoy time away from their usual classroom routines.

As part of the week, children were invited to contribute to our Feeling Good Gallery, completing creative projects at home to share the different things that help them feel happy, calm and positive.

Feeling Good Week reinforced the importance of making time for our mental health, helping children recognise that there are many different strategies they can use to support their emotional wellbeing, both in school and at home.

EYFS Stay, Play and Read Sessions
Our youngest pupils and their families have enjoyed taking part in Stay, Play and Read sessions throughout the term. These sessions have provided valuable opportunities for parents to see early reading in action, share books with their children, and explore playful ways to develop language and communication skills. The sessions have been joyful, interactive, and an important way to strengthen the home-school partnership.

Harvest Festival 

Our Reception and Key Stage 1 children led a special Harvest Festival, bringing our school community together to reflect on the importance of gratitude, generosity and helping those in need.

Through their presentation, the children shared the message of harvest and reminded us of the importance of being thankful for the food we have, while recognising that others in our community may not have enough.

Families generously contributed donations of food and essential items for Manna Foodbank, supporting local people experiencing difficulties. Following the festival, members of our Year 6 Pupil Chaplaincy Team helped to organise and load the donations ready for collection by foodbank volunteers.

The Harvest Festival provided a meaningful opportunity for our youngest children to put our school mission of Joy, Excellence and Service into practice, demonstrating how even small acts of generosity can make a difference to others.

Year 4 Trip to The Teaboat Project

Our Year 4 children enjoyed a visit to the Teaboat Project, where they had the opportunity to explore the natural environment and develop a greater appreciation of the world around them.

The children took part in a nature treasure hunt, searching for different natural features and discovering the variety of plants, trees and wildlife in their surroundings. They also spent time practising mindfulness, using their senses to focus on the sights, sounds and textures of the natural world. This encouraged them to slow down, observe their surroundings more closely and experience how spending time in nature can support emotional wellbeing.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for the children to connect with nature, develop their observation skills and recognise the importance of looking after both the environment and their own mental health.

Our Year 5 and Year 6 Pupil Parliament representatives had the privilege of visiting the Council Chamber to meet the Mayor of Spelthorne, Councillor Sandra Dunn, and Councillor Tony Burrell.

During their visit, the children learnt about the Mayor’s responsibilities, her work within the local community and the importance of effective leadership. They had the opportunity to ask questions about her role and discover how she represents and serves the people of Spelthorne. Councillor Burrell also shared an insight into his work as a ward councillor and his responsibilities towards local residents.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for our Pupil Parliament representatives to develop their understanding of democracy, community responsibility and public service. Experiencing local democracy first-hand encouraged the children to reflect on their own responsibilities as pupil leaders and consider how they can use their voices to influence decisions and make a positive difference within our school community.

Black History Month

Throughout October, our children took part in activities to mark Black History Month, exploring this year's theme, 'Honouring Our Communities'. The theme encouraged children to recognise the achievements and contributions of Black people, both past and present, and to reflect on the importance of community, belonging and the positive difference individuals can make to the lives of others.

A particular highlight was a visit from Selwyn Boothe BEM, who spoke to our Key Stage 2 children about the importance of community, believing in themselves and making a positive difference. Drawing on his own experiences, he encouraged the children never to allow others to limit their ambitions and reminded them of the importance of supporting and raising up those around them. The children also had the opportunity to see his British Empire Medal up close and learn about the recognition he had received for his contribution to the community.

Our Pupil Parliament One World Committee played an important role in helping to organise activities across the school, encouraging children to explore different cultures, celebrate achievements and develop a greater understanding of the diverse communities to which we belong.

Black History Month provided valuable opportunities for our children to deepen their understanding of diversity, challenge stereotypes and recognise the importance of ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued and able to contribute positively to their community.