Skip to main content

Posts

Ash Wednesday - the beginning of our Lenten Journey

Today is the start of our Lenten journey. We marked this special day through a liturgy for EYFS and KS1 and an Ash Wednesday Mass for the KS2.     Every child in the school, from nursery to Year 6, received their ashes today, understanding that we turn to Jesus to put things right and that we are assured of his love.  It was wonderful to be able to fill St Joseph's with our juniors.  This was a beautifully moving Mass & Father Nigel, commented on the very tangible prayerfulness of our children. They take their liturgy seriously and are so keen to engage. I was so very proud of them and have been around to each class to tell them since we have arrived back. Our children in Year 5 & 6 carried out their ministry of the Word so well and with such dignity  and the singing at the end was beautiful! 'Jesus you can use my hands'  by Dan Callow (One Life Music) is fast becoming one of our favourite hymns.  Thank you to our friends in Year 4 for leading us in signing this to
Recent posts

PREPARING FOR LENT 2023

Apologies - it has been some time since I have used the 'Blogger' facility to communicate but I am keen to re-open this channel of communication. I hope that everyone has experienced a refreshing half term break ... or maybe even a busy one if that is what you prefer. On a personal level, I have been to visit my eldest son at Manchester and have enjoyed some catch up TV and some audio books whilst also spending some time in the garden, sorting out the greenhouse and pond ready for the season ahead. It has been good to spend time with family, even if we are in the middle of the tensions of GCSE revision for my middle son! Life is so busy for all of us. And as we return, we will soon enter the liturgical season of Lent . The school has 'gone purple' in preparation! Ash Wednesday (22nd Feb) marks the start of Lent. Fr Nigel has kindly agreed to put on an extra Mass so that pupils in KS2 can attend and receive their ashes (parents are all welcome at 11 am) and pupils in EY
 We are all looking forward to welcoming back the full school community on Monday 8th March 2020. This film might help you to discuss some important matters before the great return: Please do contact us if you need any additional support in relation to planning for the return to school
 There seem to be so many things to worry about at the moment and maybe you are anxious with all of the things that our children have to deal with currently. Life can be complex but it needn't overwhelm. Your children are great at sharing with each other the things that can help them to be feel grounded. They are also great at teaching us what we need to do to feel better!  Next week marks the start of our special wellbeing focus week where we will develop the brilliant theme of 'express yourself'. As well as exploring what makes each of us uniquely individual, throughout this week we will also prioritise a range of wellbeing techniques which will help us to be grounded and more mindful. We hope that our children are keen to share their learning with you this week! Mr White launches the week by sharing a journey through mindfulness with 'happy':
 Well my learning was challenged this evening. It has been quite a while since I published the last Friday Vlog and I had to jump feet first into the Learning Pit to rediscover how to do it! Hence the Friday Vlog that arrived early on Saturday!!!! Well, here it is anyway ... Mr White's take on what learning means for those at home and those in school and how the learning struggle is so important. Lockdown presents us with a real opportunity to focus on independence in learning; equally, however, it could do the opposite ... so let's ensure that we all support the independence and celebrate the struggle before jumping in to help too soon! In the long run, it will create much better learners who are resilient and able to adapt to new situations.  If you want to find out more about the learning pit, check out James Nottingham's website here:  https://www.challenginglearning.com/learning-pit/ Find out about Professor Guy Claxton's Building Learning Power and 17 Characterist

REMOTE EDUCATION OFFER

It has been a strange time with some pupils working at home and others working at school. All pupils at home and at school are currently working on the same materials. Materials are uploaded to Purple Mash and these are used in school as well as at home in order to ensure a parity of experience.  The following document aims to explain our current approach to remote learning: Remote Education Offer Draft Jan 2021 The Teaching & Learning Committee of our Governing Body met to consider our Remote Offer after exploring the materials available to pupils and parents. The school review document for this is available here:  School Review Remote Offer Jan 21 Our Remote offer is a work in progress and is continually open to review. Constructive feedback is always welcome via feedback@stvincent.herts.sch.uk Please do let us know how you are feeling about our offer; we can't promise the world, but we will always listen and act upon your opinions where we can. Thank you for your partnership

From Mission Statement to action: the charism of our school ...

 Our children are great at making daily use of the school mission statement. It trips off their tongues so easily and is accompanied by their beautiful signing. But what does it really mean for them and how does the charism of St Vincent de Paul influence their daily life in school? Check out our recently premiered charism film here: As always, our young people can always teach us a thing or two. It is often so humbling to hear them talking of their faith so naturally, entwined with their very being and reflected in their interactions at school and beyond. They talk with such passion about what it means to be a person of faith and how this impacts upon their lives in the classroom, at home and in the wider community and are so keen to make a difference in the world. It gives me great pleasure to watch this: our children are our future and the world is in their safe hands!  Thanks be to God!