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The Good Shepherd
Catholic Primary School
“I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me”. John 10:14"
Branch 2 Prophecy & Promise
In Branch 2, we will be learning all about King David’s journey from a young shepherd to a faithful and courageous king. We’ll explore key stories from the Bible, such as David’s victory over Goliath and his rise to become king, as well as the promises God made to him. By studying these events, we’ll understand what it means to be a faithful leader and how David's trust in God guided his life.
We’ll also look at the prophets and their prophecies, including those of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah, to understand how they viewed David and his role in God’s plan. This will help us see the connections between David’s life, Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise to David, and the teachings of the Church. Through gospel passages, we’ll explore how Jesus is seen as the continuation of the promises made to David and how these promises link back to God’s covenant with Abraham.
Additionally, we will study the Psalms, with David as a model of prayer. By reading some of the psalms he wrote, we’ll learn how prayer can bring us closer to God and inspire us to serve others with love. We’ll also learn about the Rosary as a way to reflect on the life of Christ, focusing on the joyful mysteries and what they commemorate.
Christmas Shoebox Project: Sharing Joy with Children in Need
As part of the Christmas Shoebox Project, we gathered new or gently used toys, stationery, and hygiene items from home—things we no longer need but that could bring joy to children in difficult circumstances. With so many unused toys at home, this project gave us a chance to share our blessings with children who have so little.
These simple gifts will reach children in countries affected by poverty, bringing smiles to faces who may never have received a gift before. This experience reminded us of the importance of kindness, generosity, and helping those in need. By participating, we embraced the values of compassion and "option for the poor," showing that even small acts of giving can make a big difference in the lives of others.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - St. Margaret of Castello
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We learned about the Rosary and focused on the Joyful Mysteries.
As part of our activity, we explored what it might feel like to be blind. Some of us gave instructions while others, blindfolded, worked to pick up information and pictures from a hoop and match them to the correct Joyful Mysteries.
We also learned about St. Margaret of Castello, a remarkable woman who was blind and physically disabled but lived a life filled with faith, love, and kindness. Her story reminds us that every person is a gift from God with their own unique strengths and abilities.
Through this activity, we deepened our understanding of the Joyful Mysteries while gaining greater empathy for the challenges faced by people with disabilities. We reflected on Catholic Social Teaching, especially human dignity, and how we are all created in God’s image and deserving of respect. Inspired by St. Margaret, we also remembered the option for the poor and the importance of caring for those who are vulnerable.
Guitar Practice and Worship Leadership
Our children have been practicing guitar together, and they’re excited to soon lead the worship in class. They’ve been working hard to prepare and look forward to guiding the class in a meaningful time of worship.
Advent Journey: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Advent is here, and we’ve started our Advent calendar! Each day, we enjoy a Bible story and come together for a special prayer. Here’s how we’re celebrating each week:
Week 1: We’re praying for hope—a renewed spirit of anticipation as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
Week 2: Our focus is on peace—asking Christ’s message of reconciliation to inspire leaders and bring harmony to our world.
Week 3: It’s all about joy—praying to feel God’s presence in our lives and to share His happiness with others.
Week 4: At home, the children will pray for love—a love that brings families, schools, and communities closer together.
Advent is such a meaningful time, and we’re making every moment count!
RE and Art - Exploring Psalm 23 Through Abstract Art
This half term, we are exploring Psalm 23 and connecting it with our art lessons. While learning about abstract art, we took time for quiet reflection, listening to calming music, and thinking about how Psalm 23 describes the Lord as our shepherd, always protecting us through both joy and sorrow. Inspired by our feelings, we created abstract paintings, choosing colours and shapes that reflected the message of Psalm 23. Afterward, we shared our artwork with the class, explaining the meaning behind our choices and how they connected to the Psalm.
The Prophecies Corridor
We explored Old Testament prophecies about Jesus as the promised Messiah. In the corridor, we searched for key prophecies from the Book of Isaiah, Book of Jeremiah, and Book of Micah, deepening our understanding of how Jesus was foretold. We also realized how intricately God's plan was woven through history!
Celebration of the Word: Seasons of Change (Linking to Our History Topic)
We celebrated the Word by connecting it to our current history topic, Ancient Greece. The event began with a reading from the Book of Daniel: "He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. The Word of the Lord." In response, we stood in a line, holding hands, and collaboratively created a story. Each person contributed a sentence, building on the previous one, while incorporating keywords related to themes of change. The story highlighted that, despite life's changes, God's love remains constant. We reflected on the importance of seeking God's guidance, thanking Him for His unchanging power, and allowing this time to help us grow in wisdom while staying connected to Him throughout the day.
Messages for Elders
Today, we wrote heartfelt messages for the elders living in the Upper Room, which will be delivered alongside the cakes made by the nursery. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the principles of Option for the Poor and Vulnerable and Solidarity, we took time to think about what would brighten their day and shared our kindness through these notes. It was a special way to show love and care for the elders in our community, reflecting our commitment to serving others with compassion and respect.
Following David
Today, we had a fun and interactive lesson where we explored the life of David. We used a staff to represent David, and whoever held the staff became David for the moment—talking, acting, and answering questions like him. We passed the staff around and took turns playing the role of David, making the experience engaging and lively.
We also worked together on a Defining Thinking Frame to explore the question, "Who is David?" and then read scripture to deepen our understanding of his life and role in the Bible. As we read, we reflected on the connections between David, the covenants in the Old Testament, and how these lead to the kings and prophets we will study next. It was a great way to bring the story of David to life and connect it to our larger study of the Bible, with lots of discussion and insightful discoveries along the way!
Creating David
Today, we had a cross-curricular lesson where we combined what we learned in Computing with our study of David in RE. Using the digital tool Sketchpad, we applied functions like creating shapes, resizing, rotating, and using vector fill to design an illustration of David as both a shepherd and a king. We used objects such as a staff, a crown, and sheep to represent different aspects of his life and story. This activity allowed us to creatively express our understanding of David while practicing the new digital skills we’ve been learning in Computing. It was a fun and productive way to connect our subjects and bring the story of David to life through technology and art!
Psalm 23 - David as Shepherd and King
Yesterday, we created illustrations of David as both a shepherd and a king on Sketchpad. Today, we printed out our artwork and, inspired by Psalm 23, wrote words and phrases from the psalm that resonate with us. These meaningful words were arranged around our illustrations, connecting the message of the psalm with the image of David as a symbol of guidance and leadership.
Building a Timeline of God’s Promise
We worked together to create a timeline of biblical characters, with each of us representing an important figure in God’s promise. We secretly wrote descriptions of our characters (like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Joseph, or Jesus) but didn’t include their names. Without speaking, we had to figure out the correct order and arrange ourselves in a line. It was challenging but exciting, and we learned how teamwork helps us achieve goals. We also thought about how each person has a unique role in God’s plan.
Celebration of the Word: Vessels of Honor – Purpose and Materials Linking to Our Science Topic
As a class, we reflected on how we can be vessels for God’s service, inspired by a reading from 2 Timothy. Each of us drew a vessel on the board to represent the kind of vessel we want to be—set apart for honorable use and ready for good works.
We also created a class mission: to pray daily for strength and wisdom, meditate on Scripture, and stay connected to God throughout the day by starting our mornings and afternoons with prayer and Scripture reading. This activity helped us commit to growing in faith and being ready to serve God.
Prophets Project
We researched the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah at home and created presentations to share what we learned. It was a great way to explore their messages and the impact they had on the people of Israel.
Honouring Remembrance: November Poppy Sales for Peace and the Common Good
In November, we are selling poppies to honour those who have sacrificed for our freedom and to promote peace. Through this initiative, we reflect on the values of "Lest We Forget" and "Remember Peace," with the proceeds supporting veterans and their families. One of our children in Year 5 created a poster for the Poppy Appeal, which Mrs. Moore-Jaunaii showcased during our school assembly. This activity encourages us to contribute to the common good and remember the importance of working together for a more compassionate world.
Discussion on Prophecies and Promises with Father Mark
Today, Father Mark visited our Year 5 classroom, and we had a great discussion about prophecies and promises.
We talked about many important topics, including the Bible, King David as both a shepherd and king, and how Jesus fulfils the promises made to David. We also discussed sins, the significance of Babylon, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, as well as figures like Saul, Samuel, and the act of anointing.
This conversation helped us understand how the Bible connects the past to the present, and how God's promises unfold throughout history. It was a thoughtful and engaging discussion that deepened our understanding of the key themes in the Bible.
Anti-Bullying Week and the Dignity of the Human Person
This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and our whole school took part in creating anti-bullying posters, each including a thoughtful prayer.
Year 5 children not only made their posters but also gave an amazing presentation to share their work and ideas with the rest of the class.
Guided by the Catholic Social Teaching of the Dignity of the Human Person, we reflected on the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness. This activity reminded us that every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with love and compassion, helping to create a school environment where all are safe and valued.
Amelia in our class also brought in a giant rosary bead, and together we prayed the rosary, lifting up our prayers for peace, unity, and kindness within our school community.
Feast Day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Today is the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a very special occasion for us as Clemmie in Year 5 is a relative of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.Reception invited Clemmie to their class,
where she gave a presentation about her connection to St. Rose and shared fascinating facts about her life. It was inspiring to learn how St. Rose Philippine Duchesne dedicated her life to helping others, bringing education and faith to those in need. Reflecting on her story reminds us of the importance of courage, kindness, and perseverance in following God’s call.
Learning About Gregorian Chant
Today, Luke taught us about Gregorian chant, explaining how it evolved from ancient Jewish chant into what we now know as Gregorian chant. We explored its history in the Church, practiced singing it in Latin, learned the English translation, and reflected on its meaning. It was a fascinating session, and we learned so much!
Exploring the Joyful Mysteries with Complementary Colours
We recreated pictures of the Joyful Mysteries using complementary colours from the colour wheel we learned about in Art. This activity helped us connect our faith to creativity and reflect on the meaning of the Joyful Mysteries in a new way.