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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"
RE
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Discover more about what we explored in each branch by clicking this link!
Proposing a Whole-School Campaign for the 4Rs - Letters to the Headteachers
Building a Church with Lego
Heart-Warming Visit to the Elgin Centre (with TimeGivers)
Year 5 had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Elgin Centre, where we spent quality time with the elderly in the neighborhood. We had a lovely time together, painting flower pots, chatting, coloring, laughing, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
This visit beautifully reflected the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the value of solidarity and dignity of the human person. By showing care, kindness, and respect to the elderly, you helped to foster a sense of community and ensured that everyone felt valued.
Miss Poon is incredibly proud of how kind and genuine each of you were. It was truly heartwarming to see how your kindness really brightened their day!
GS Mardi Gras Hosted by Year 5: A Celebration of Faith, Learning, and Fun
Today, Year 5 proudly hosted the Good Shepherd Mardi Gras celebration, filled with creativity, faith, and excitement. The event was split into two parts: first, a vibrant morning parade, followed by engaging stations and booths where all the children in the school were invited to learn and have fun. Now, let's take a look at the photos from today’s celebration!
Part 1: A Parade of Christian Themes and Creativity
Year 5 children created cam parade floats based on Christian themes, a unique twist on the traditional Mardi Gras floats. Using Spheros, which we programmed ourselves, the floats were pulled through the parade as we danced and sang to a special Mardi Gras song we created. As the floats paraded, we introduced each one and explained the themes behind them, connecting everything to our faith and values.
Alongside the parade, we had a Mardi Gras booth where we showcased our work: writings, metacognition frames, posters, and pictures related to our Mardi Gras projects. While we celebrated this fun tradition, we made sure to remember the true significance of Shrove Tuesday—thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice and preparing for Lent. We kept in mind that our celebration was not just about the festivities, but about reflecting on our faith.
Part 2: Stations of Faith and Learning
After the parade, Year 5 returned to the classroom and completely transformed it into a Mardi Gras exhibition! We rearranged the tables and chairs and set up six engaging stations:
- Station 1: Mardi Gras Colours
- Station 2: The History of Mardi Gras
- Station 3: Symbols of Mardi Gras
- Station 4: Lent and Sacrifice
- Station 5: Ash Wednesday and Repentance
- Station 6: Pancake Station
Each station featured fun activities such as games, quizzes, photo booths, drawing booths, fact files, and more. It was a perfect mix of fun and learning! Before we officially opened the exhibition, we took a moment to pray as a class, asking God to guide us and give us strength and wisdom as we organized and shared our exhibition with others.
The excitement didn’t stop there! Children from Reception to Year 6, along with teachers and adults, came to visit our exhibition. We explained what we had learned, and everyone left with new knowledge and, of course, a piece of pancake!
We Are Ready!
Reception Has Arrived!
Meet the Amazing Teachers & Staff!
Nursery and Year 2 Joins the Fun!
Year 6 is Here - Say Cheese!
Year 3 and Year 4 Stepping Up!
It was a fantastic morning, and Miss Poon is incredibly proud of Year 5 for their independence, dedication, and passion in making this event happen. Their hard work, creativity, and faith truly shone through!
As we reflect on all we’ve done today, we are reminded of these words from 1 John 4:9-10
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Well done, Year 5! You’ve truly made this Mardi Gras celebration meaningful and memorable.
Sharing with Sister Judith and Teachers from Other Schools
A few weeks after the GS Mardi Gras, we welcomed head teachers, teachers from other schools, and Sister Judith to explore our whole-school presentation. Each class, from Nursery to Year 6, set up their own booth to showcase their amazing work and share their learning experiences. The visitors were impressed, and our students felt proud to present all they had accomplished!
Whole School Assembly - Sharing Our Learning from Branch 3
In today’s whole-school assembly, Year 5 shared what we have been learning in RE during Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem. We talked about the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments, the Greatest Commandments, our debates, and relay writing activities. To wrap up, we highlighted the importance of the Beatitudes by singing and dancing to our Beatitude song. We invited everyone in the hall to join in so that we could all remember the eight Beatitudes together!
Parable Relay: Writing Together to Show the Great Commandment
We created parables about the Great Commandment through a relay writing activity, adding to each other’s stories as we moved seats. I learned that loving our neighbors means collaborating, sharing ideas, and showing kindness, just as we did in this activity.
Reflecting Christ’s Love Through Service
We gathered as a community during the Advent season to reflect on Christ’s teachings of love and service. Through readings from the Gospel of Matthew, we were reminded of the importance of serving others and how these acts bring us closer to Jesus. As a symbolic activity, we created a sun from written acts of service, emphasizing that Jesus is at the center of our mission to spread love and continue His work in our daily lives.
Metacognition Frame for Mardi Gras
In this activity, we used a metacognition frame to explore Mardi Gras, comparing and contrasting its elements. We discovered that, despite the many modern additions, Mardi Gras has Christian origins and symbols. Working independently in groups with devices, we researched and sorted Christian and non-Christian elements of the celebration. This research will help us later as we design our own Christian version of Mardi Gras, considering Shrove Tuesday, Lent, and the significance of Christ.
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.
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.
RE and History - Seasons of Change
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.
Advent Journey
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
RE and Science - Vessels of Honor
In our "Vessels of Honour" celebration, we gathered to reflect on purpose and readiness to serve God. As a response, each student drew a vessel they aspire to be, symbolizing commitment to be "set apart for honourable use" in God's service. For our mission, we agreed to daily prayer and Scripture meditation, beginning each morning and after lunch to stay spiritually prepared. We then read from 2 Timothy, reflecting on how each of us can be a "vessel for honourable use," dedicated and ready for every good work.
Exploring the Prophets
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.
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.
David the Shepherd King
In this lesson, we learned about King David and combined our computing skills from iDraw to create a digital image of him. Using Sketchpad and shapes, we designed King David with meaningful symbols and added our favorite verse from Psalm 23 around the image. It was a creative way to bring the story of King David to life!
Judaism Workshop
Worship (The Little Light of Mine)
Everyday, children have the opportunity to nominate a worship song. Today, we gathered as a community to sing 'This Little Light of Mine,' a beautiful reminder of our call to let our faith shine brightly in the world. The children participated with great enthusiasm, embracing the message of sharing God’s love and light with others.
The Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Today, we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux through a special "Celebration of the Word" service. The children reflected on her life of kindness and simplicity, learning how even small acts of love can have a big impact. Together, we prayed and shared how we can follow her example in our own lives.
Celebration of the Word: Meditation
Today, we had a beautiful meditation session where we reflected on a Bible verse that connects to our science lesson on the human body.
We focused on Psalm 139:13-15: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."
We thought about how God created each of us with unique talents and a purpose, reminding us of the positive impact we can have in this world by sharing His love. Each of us wrote down the gifts and talents we believe God has given us, and then we combined these into one larger picture—symbolizing how, though we're all different, we come together to create something greater, filled with God's love and purpose.
Role-playing (Catholic Social Teaching)
Class Saint (Facts and Portraits)
