After the busy schedule of December and all that the season of Advent brings to a primary school, the start of January has seen us settle back into a calmer school life. Part of this return to ‘Ordinary Time’ in the second half of the month has been the return to Liturgies and Masses at school rather than Nativity Plays and Carols Services.

Pictured here is Fr James Lewis celebrating Mass with Years 3 and 4 and their families this week in school.

Fr James admitted to the pupils that Priests aren’t perfect (no mention was made of Headteachers at this point in his homily though) and that on occasions we admit that there are some people we like less than others, choosing instead to spend more time with those we do have common interests with. Using the example of the Good Samaritan, Fr James encouraged us all to try to spend a little more time with those of whom we may be less fond, learning about them and learning to love them as a way of living a Christian life.

Last week the pupils in Year R celebrated their first Year Group Liturgy with Fr Jeremy. A theme of Creation saw the 4 and 5 year old children retell the story of Creation in words and pictures, with a live piece of artwork created by the children during the Gospel reading. As always, my thanks go to Mrs Semple, Oaklands’ Lay Chaplain, for preparing our worships, to Fr Jeremy and James for celebrating with us, and to the families who join us in school as part of the St Peter’s community.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 who live in and around Waterlooville were involved in a consultation exercise this week looking at the major redevelopment of the town centre. The children were asked to give their ideas on transport, access and activities in the Waterlooville, and what they may like to see for their home town in the coming years.

Well done to all the pupils involved for giving such insightful and creative ideas to the development plan. For more information on the project, see here: Waterlooville Town Centre Masterplan | Havant Borough Council The latest phase of the engagement – the Waterlooville Town Centre Festival of Ideas – is taking place between Monday 22 January and Thursday 25 January. Based in the vacant ‘GAME’ unit on the main precinct, this event aims to bring together all those with an interest in the town centre to collaboratively explore and shape the future for the area. You can register your place at the Festival of Ideas here and find out more information about the Waterlooville Town Centre Masterplan. 

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

2024 marks the 60th, or Diamond, Anniversary of St Peter’s School. Over the course of the summer term 2024, we will be marking this occasion with learning and curriculum activities for the pupils, and fundraising campaigns from the brilliant Friends of St Peter’s to mark the event for families and provide mementos for the children. Our ever popular annual St Peter’s Summerfest will have a 1960s theme both in appearance, music and outfits, so start thinking about what groovy gear you will wear to the best show of the summer on Friday 21st June 2024.

As we know, St Peter’s is like a village school in a town setting, so there are many generations of families who have passed through the school either on its original site on London Road or here now on Stakes Hill Road. In due course we will be asking for memories, artefacts and photos from parents, carers and grandparents of their time at St Peter’s during the previous six decades. Watch this space.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

As we mark the Feast of the Epiphany, and on our return to school, we wish everyone in the St Peter’s community a Happy New Year 2024.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

The autumn term at St Peter’s finished off with a very traditional focus on the celebration of Christmas.  After the Nativity Plays, which raised £120 in programme sales to go to a charity called Sophie’s Legacy which supports families with children in long-term hospital care, the school gathered at Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle for our Carol Service.  This was incredibly well attended with standing room only, and the retiring collection of £500 was donated to Action for Children, whose Christmas campaign seeks to house and feed families who find themselves without accommodation at Christmas.  After turkey and all the trimmings served to over 400 pupils, the final afternoon of school brought the term to a close with a Christmas Liturgy.  After all the public events of the final fortnight, and the festivities along the way, it is always a delight just to have pupils and staff gathered in quiet and reflective worship before setting out on their Christmas break. 

The whole community of St Peter’s Catholic Primary School wish each and every one of you a Happy Christmas and  prosperous New Year – please remember to keep our school, its pupils, staff and families in your prayers over the Christmas season and into 2024.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It was time for singing, dancing and acting with mountains of audience participation this week as The Treehouse Theatre Company visited St Peter’s once again for our annual pantomime.

Galloping their way through 2 performances and several role and costumes changes (for a company of just four actors!), and with the help of a few pupil actors and a very receptive audience, the show was a roaring success and enjoyed by all.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

This week we have enjoyed wonderful Nativity Plays and Liturgies from our pupils in Years R, 1 and 2. As ever, the story of Advent and Christmas was brought to life with song, dance and acting. Over the course of 6 performances in total, several hundred parents, carers and extended family members were able to watch our traditional Nativity Plays and bring themselves into the Advent season with joy and warmth.

Thank you to all the staff who make these shows possible each year, and well done to all of the pupils.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

The parish church of The Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle was filled with 370 children and over 40 staff as pupils from Years 1 to 6 celebrated the St Peter’s School Advent Service this week.  Music, scripture and acting brought the story of Advent to life for the children, and Fr Jeremy and Fr James led a reflection using a tea spoon! 

As we move ahead through Advent, St Peter’s Catholic Primary School warmly invites everyone in our local community  to our Carol Service at the Church of The Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle on Tuesday 12th December 2023.  The Carol Service begins at 6:30pm, is open to everyone even if they do not have a family child at St Peter’s, and will last for approximately 1 hour. 

This celebration will move the story on from the Annunciation and the Visitation to take us closer to the celebration of the birth of Christ.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Now, I know we are not even in Advent yet, but the pupils at St Peter’s have been busy collecting items of goodwill to send to children around the world in areas of conflict and hardship.  Bringing together essentials and treats, from toiletries to toys, we filled over 50 shoeboxes to give to The Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child”. 

Pictured with me here are Clementine and Noah from Year 1, the year group that has been behind this whole-school initiative.  Because these care packages will be travelling many miles across the world, they needed to be packed and sent away in good time for delivery by Christmas.  (I got to the end of this piece with only mentioning the word Christmas twice in November!)

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

Pupils at St Peter’s have been donating money to this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

This is always well-supported in school, with the 2022 collection amounting to £435 – that’s a pound per pupil in honour and remembrance of the fallen.

Pictured here are Michael and Sebastian in Year 3 proudly wearing their poppies in front of the library display at the heart of St Peter’s.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher