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Faith Council discussed and spoke to their peers about the main charities we should support this year.

They decided upon;

CAFOD

Little Havens Children’s Hospice

World Wildlife Fund

Fr Francis - African Family

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Within the KS2 playground we have a beautiful memorial friendship bench in honour of former pupil Immanuel Olugbode.

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Reflection areas - Creation and Covenant 

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Reflection areas - Creation and Covenant 

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Galilee to Jerusalem

'The Star'

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Galilee to Jerusalem

'Follow the Star'

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Chalk creations of the Temple

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Water colour John the Baptist

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Pastels of the centurion

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Art work 'Who do you say I am?'

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Beatitudes

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Galilee to Jerusalem

Pastels 'angel'

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Faith Council decided upon a cake sale

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We are together as a Trust. We all received a symbol of the Jubilee Year

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We though about our mission at Holy Cross with a Head Teacher Celebration of the Word thinking about the Holy Cross and what it means to us.

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School Value Focus - Autumn Term - Respect

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School Value Focus - Autumn Term - Respect

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This week, we launched our school value focus of the term - Respect. This term our teachers will be looking out for the children who are always showing respect to others.

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This week, we launched our school value focus for the term. This term, we are focusing on our school value of Honesty and we will be thinking about this value in our weekly Celebration of the Word.

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This week, Thurrock Foodbank arrived to collect the food from our Harvest collection. Our Catholic Social Teaching Group helped load up the Thurrock Foodbank van to make sure they had all the supplies we collected for families in need in Thurrock.

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This week, all the children learned about Anti-Bullying Week and took part in activities across the school to highlight the issue of bullying and how we can work together to prevent bullying of any kind.

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This week, we shared poems and prayers for Remembrance Day. Our catholic Social Teaching Group organised our fundraising events for the British Legion by selling poppies.

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This week, we organised a Toy Sale with donated toys to raise money for our school and to help every child share and get new toys!

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This week our school marked Holocaust Memorial Day with a time of reflection and prayer. Together, the children learned about the importance of remembering all those who suffered during the Holocaust and those whose lives are affected by war today. 

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This month we have been learning about Saints from all over the world.

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For our Advent fundraising Faith Council decided we should hold a cake sale for BCCS. Bernadette from the charity came to collect the monies raised and to talk to the children about the important work it will support. We were reminded of the catholic social teaching principles of participation and caring for those who are vulnerable.

“Give and it will be given onto you”

Luke 6:38

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Children from Year 6 are joining KS1 at break times to support and develop play.

#thecommongoodcst

#participationcst

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Children from St Ursula’s joining their peers at playtimes.

#participationcst

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Class reflection areas - Desert to Garden 

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Class reflection areas - Desert to Garden 

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Desert to garden

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Today we are celebrating World Book Day, we are reminded of the incredible power that stories hold. We recognised how reading as a beautiful way to draw closer to God and to explore how we can help each other. We weree reminded of the greatest book ever shared—the Bible. Jesus Himself told many stories and parables, using simple, powerful moments to help people understand God’s love in a way that still speaks to us today. Through stories—both sacred and everyday—we discover messages of love, compassion, courage, and kindness. Reading helps us pause, reflect, and listen more carefully for God’s voice in the world around us.

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This week, the children in Year 4 planned their Celebration of the Word focusing on the Judgement of the Nations. They reminded us of the importance of being like the sheep in the Gospel story—choosing kindness, compassion, and care for others as we follow Jesus in our daily lives. Their thoughtful reflections encouraged everyone to think about how our actions show God’s love in the world.

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Desert to garden

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Desert to garden

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Desert to garden

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Pastels in response to reconciliation sculpture by Josefina da Vasconcellos

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Desert to garden

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Desert to garden

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Desert to garden

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Desert to garden

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We celebrated as a school with an an amazing showcase of talent of Irish dancing.

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As we enter our last week of the Spring term, Nursery and Reception began our retelling of the events of Holy Week .

Hosanna to the King of Kings!

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We continued our recognition of Holy Week with KS1 bringing the events of Maundy Thursday to life. We saw Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with his friends , praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and finally Judas’ ultimate betrayal. We ended in darkness as a sign of the events to come.

#thisismybodybrokenforyou

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Year 3 shared a moving account of the events of Good Friday.

The darkest of moments.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34

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“ He is not here ! He is risen! “ Matthew 28:6

Year 4 brought us the Good News!

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Reflection areas - To the end of the earth

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Reflection areas - To the end of the earth

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Power of the Holy Spirit at Forest School

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Power of the Holy Spirit at Forest School

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Max in year 2 said “ We can feel the Holy Spirit in the wind like the disciples”.

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We have a special assembly today where Imran came to speak to us about the 5 Pillars of Islam. We heard that all Muslims should try to carry these out;

Belief

Prayer

Charity

Fasting

Pilgrimage

It was a very interesting an informative assembly learning about another faith. Year 3 and 4 also had workshops following the assembly.

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Rehearsals have been taking place with Mrs Allen, Mrs Dhannie, Mrs Iwobi ( Foundation Governor) & Mr Iwobi for our choir to sing at this years First Holy Communion at Holy Cross church.

#cstparticipation

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

Watercolour interpretation of the Ascension

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

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To the ends of the earth

Empty tomb collage

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Sponge printing God’s creation

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We began May honouring Mary, the mother of God with a Marian procession.

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We celebrated with Fr Francis, crowning Mary, Queen of heaven, and laying flowers in her honour.

We asked Mary to pray for us, as we sang, reflected and prayed as a school family.

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We begin our SATS week with a moment of reflection remembering that in everything we do Jesus is always walking beside us.

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We heard how Jesus came to the world to show us how much God loves us.

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In readiness for the Bishop’s long awaited visit Faith Council and the Catholic Social Teaching Team worked together discussing questions to ask and what they would like to share about our school.

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A very exciting day for all of us at Holy Cross. Bishop Alan led an assembly, telling us his various roles as Bishop and answered many questions the children had for him. After Bishop Alan met with our Faith Council and Catholic Social Teaching Team who shared lots about our school. We all learnt a lot and were struck by Bishop Alan’s kind and gracious manner. He gave his time freely to the children listening intently and they were all enthralled by him. A wonderful day for us all.

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We celebrated in style with all children and staff invited to wear clothes that represent their culture.

Mrs Power led a Celebration of the Word inspired by the scripture of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak in different languages so they could go and spread the Good News.

With such a vibrant mix within our school community, we all celebrated our differences and recognised that what joins us together is Jesus and His love for us.

Afterwards children from KS2 spoke to one of our governors.

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In the main hall the children helped to create an amazing mural with each class painting an animal that represents a different principle of Catholic Social Teaching.