Now I am not really one for practical jokes (I tend to find them frustrating and sometimes more than a touch cruel), but in the name of learning I will confess to condoning two curriculum ‘wind ups’ this week.  Teaching colleagues in Years 4 and 6 asked me if we could stage announcements about changes proposed for St Peter’s as a means of provoking outrage and indignation amongst pupils which would lead them to improve their persuasive writing, reasoning skills and communication.  Year 4 pupils were informed of plans to reduce morning playtime to a 5 minute drink and toilet break, and lunch to a 25 minute refuelling stop, whilst I gravely announced to Year 6 that we intended to sell the school field for use by an electricity company and for the construction of new homes.  The Year 4 project was aided by a formal letter allegedly written by me to go to all families, and Year 6 were further convinced of my field selling plans by the cordoning off of a large section of the field to allow for ‘surveying work’ to begin.  The responses from the pupils were a mixture of shock, dismay and rebellion; chants were prepared, letters were drafted and placards were planned.  I for my part made sure that parent mails to families in Years 4 and 6 were sent to both allay fears of terrible change and also to try to get people on board with the project if debates continued at home.

These exercises revealed two things to me, both of which I knew already but which are always beneficial to have reinforced.  Firstly, it was wonderful to see how quickly, sensibly and passionately the children became engaged in an activity which revolved around their school and what they see to be the great benefits it provides.  Our children clearly recognise and enjoy the value of the social interactions at break and lunchtimes, and the wonderful resource that we have in such a large and diverse open green space in our school field.  We are very lucky as a school to be able to offer the children the time and space to learn and grow outside the classroom in both structured and free-time activities, and long may this continue.  Secondly, the exercises revealed the creativity and commitment of the teaching staff at St Peter’s.  Add to this their willingness to actually encourage a situation where they are working with lots of livid children, and we are fortunate indeed to have at St Peter’s such a wonderful teaching team.

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

So we reach the end of the second term at St Peter’s for the 2016-2017 academic year.  Once again in recent weeks, St Peter’s has risen to the challenge of raising funds for good causes.  With their penny-based efforts, the children have raised over £250 to send to Cafod’s Little Fish into Big Fish Lent campaign, and the school staff have donated over £140 to the Diocesan Bamenda appeal to enable schools fees for 7 children to be paid for a year in our sister Diocese in Cameroon (see my blog from 3^rd March 2017). 

Meanwhile, the Friends of St Peter’s are delighted to announce that the Easter Eggstravaganza raised an incredible £1,160 for school project funds.  I must express an enormous thanks to all of the families who volunteered and gave of their time and energy so willingly in all that went into organising the event.  The travelling book fair was able to raise £255 in commission which has been spent on new library resources, so thank you to Mrs Moore and volunteers for organising the sales. 

And finally, on the last day of term the school was able to officially donate to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance a cheque for over £790 raised in our December fundraising sponsored run (see my blog from 9th December 2016).  The Air Ambulance team delivered a great assembly for the whole school, hosted a special Q&A session for Year 6 with two of the specially trained Air Ambulance medics, and then treated Years R and 1 pupils to an action packed and super informative ‘Be a 999 hero!’ session to teach them about how to get help in an emergency.

Of course, this week in school we have continued with the children’s Lenten journey, with Stations of the Cross for all children.  The pupils in Key Stage 2 followed a route around the school grounds to reflect upon the different Stations of Christ’s Passion, whilst Key Stage 1 and Early Years pupils had a reflective service to focus on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and act of love for all mankind.

So it only remains for me to wish you all a restful, holy and happy Easter, and below you will find a reminder of the services over Easter for our two local parishes

Mr R Cunningham

Headteacher

Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Peter the Apostle, Waterlooville

Thursday 13 April

8.00pm Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Friday 14 April

10.00am Good Friday Stations of the Cross for parents and children

11.15am Ecumenical Procession of Witness begins at Sacred Heart

3.00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

7.30pm Prayers around the Cross (informal service of readings)

Saturday 15 April

8.00pm Easter Saturday Vigil

Sunday 16 April

8.30am Easter Sunday Mass

10.30am Easter Sunday Mass

St. Edmund’s, Horndean

Thursday 13 April

4.00pm Children’s Stations of the Cross

7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Adoration

10.00pm Night prayer and watch until 12.00 midnight

Friday 14 April

10.00am Good Friday, Churches Together Walk of Witness from Blendworth Methodist Church

3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion

Saturday 15 April

7.00pm or Sunset, The Easter Vigil

Sunday 16 April

8.30am Easter Sunday Mass

10.30am Easter Sunday Mass