Our School Year in Focus - Autumn Term 2

Autumn Term Highlights

Armistice Day

Our school marked Armistice Day with a series of thoughtful activities across the community. Year 5 led a reflective assembly, helping pupils understand the significance of remembrance and the importance of honouring those who served.

At 11 o’clock, the whole school gathered on the playground for a two-minute silence, standing together to remember all who have been affected by war.

Pupil representatives attended the Spelthorne Borough Council service, where they laid crosses in remembrance of local residents who lost their lives in the Great War.

Every child in the school contributed to a special poppy art installation, with pupils painting or sewing their own poppy. The final display brought the whole school’s work together as a shared act of remembrance.

Our Kindness Counts Week was a great success, bringing the whole school together to reflect on how we treat one another and how we can make everyone feel welcome and included. As part of the week, we collected warm socks for The Passage homeless charity. The generosity of our families will help offer comfort and warmth to people who need support during the colder months.

Throughout the week, children enjoyed activities that encouraged them to think about everyday kindness. Classes reflected on how small choices , including the way we speak to one another , can help everyone feel part of our school community. Pupils from Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 also took part in a community litter pick, helping to look after the environment around our school and taking pride in keeping our local area clean and cared for.

We celebrated Odd Socks Day, with pupils and staff arriving in colourful, mismatched socks. It was a fun reminder that our differences are something to value, and that being ourselves is something to celebrate.

Anti-Bullying Workshops 

Each class took part in workshops that explored how our words and actions affect others. Children talked about how to include others, how to support someone who might be feeling worried, and what kindness looks like in real situations.

Junior Parkrun                                                          

Our Lady of the Rosary is proud to be a Junior parkrun school. On Sunday 16th November, several children and their families joined the Laleham Junior Parkrun for our first event as part of the programme. It was a morning full of smiles and enthusiasm, with staff volunteering as marshals and cheering everyone on. This was a wonderful start to our involvement in Junior parkrun, and we are looking forward to many more opportunities for our children and families to enjoy running together throughout the year.

Open Mornings

We opened our doors to families for our Open Mornings, showcasing the heart of our school. Visitors toured our classrooms, experienced the warmth and welcome of our staff, and saw the enthusiasm and confidence of our pupils as they shared their learning. Families also had the chance to meet senior leaders and gain a real sense of the values, community spirit and high expectations that shape everyday life at our school. We were delighted to share what makes Our Lady of the Rosary such a special place to learn and grow.

Pupil Parliament Elections at Our Lady of the Rosary

During UK Parliament Week, children from Years 1 to 6 took part in our annual Pupil Parliament elections. Pupils who wanted to represent their class created a letter or video manifesto, explaining why they would make a strong representative. On voting day, every class visited our school polling station, complete with booths and ballot papers, giving pupils a real experience of the democratic process.

Once the votes were counted, our newly elected Pupil Parliament met for the first time and welcomed local MP Lincoln Jopp. The children asked thoughtful questions about leadership, representation and listening to the views of others, showing real maturity in their new roles.

Our Pupil Parliament has made an excellent start, and we look forward to the positive contributions they will make throughout the year.

Maths Workshop Evening

We hosted an evening maths workshop for parents and carers from Nursery to Year 6. The session explored the approaches used across the school to teach calculations, reasoning and problem solving, giving families an understanding of how mathematics is developed year on year. Staff demonstrated key classroom strategies, including the use of Numicon, part-whole models, tens frames, and other concrete apparatus that help children secure important concepts before moving on to pictorial and written methods. Parents also had the opportunity to see how these resources support the concrete-pictorial-abstract approach used throughout the school. The workshop was very well received and provided families with practical insight into the methods that help pupils become confident, fluent and flexible mathematicians.

NSPCC 'Speak Out, Stay Safe' assemblies and workshop 

Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 took part in the NSPCC’s Speak Out, Stay Safe programme, which supported their understanding of the right to feel safe and the importance of speaking out if they ever feel worried. Through age-appropriate assemblies and workshops, pupils learned in a calm and reassuring way about recognising unsafe situations, identifying trusted adults and knowing where to go for help, including Childline.

The assemblies used engaging stories and carefully designed NSPCC resources to help children explore these themes with confidence. Workshops for Years 2,5 and 6 provided time for discussion, reflection and questions, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding.

Our involvement in 'Speak Out, Stay Safe' strengthened our whole-school safeguarding culture and helped ensure that every child was reminded that they are valued, heard and supported.

EYFS & Key Stage One Nativity performances

The EYFS and Key Stage One nativity, 'Knock Knock! ', brought together children from Nursery to Year Two. The performance shared the Christmas story in a joyful and accessible way, centring on the theme of welcome and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Children of different ages performed alongside one another, reflecting the inclusive nature of our school community. The nativity combined narration, acting and singing, supported by Makaton signing, allowing all children to take part in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.

Headteacher for the Day

Year 5 and 6 pupils were invited to apply for the role of Headteacher for the Day, and the response was incredible. We received a wide range of creative, confident and thoughtful entries. Mr Peachey was selected as the successful candidate.

Members of our school choir were proud to take part in the Westminster Schools Singing Programme Carol Concert at Westminster Cathedral, joining children from across the diocese in this special celebration of music and faith. Performing at Westminster Cathedral was a memorable experience for the children. Singing in such a significant setting, alongside pupils from other schools, allowed them to be part of a joyful celebration of the Christmas story.

We are incredibly proud of all the choir members for representing our school with enthusiasm, focus and maturity.

KS2 Carol Concert - Our Lady of the Rosary Church

All pupils in Key Stage 2 took part in our KS2 Carol Concert at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, coming together to share the Christmas story through carols, readings and prayer.

The concert included carols and prayers in languages representative of our school community, reflecting the diversity and inclusivity of our school.

It was a wonderful evening, and we are very proud of the way all KS2 pupils took part with confidence and enthusiasm.

Grandparents and 'experienced family members' event

We were delighted to welcome grandparents and experienced family members into school for a special festive event, with over 50 attendees joining us. Guests spent time with their grandchildren playing board games, enjoying mince pies and listening to carols sung by the pupils.

It was a truly joyous occasion and a lovely opportunity to celebrate family, community and togetherness.