As a Catholic school, Christ lies at the centre of all that we do. Prayer plays a very important role in helping the children to recognise Jesus and to promote their spiritual development.
Whole School Collective Worship
Every Monday the children gather for Collective Worship which focuses on the Sunday Gospel reading. During this time of prayer, each class is presented with a weekly challenge linked to the Gospel. Our children also contribute to these times of prayer by offering readings, providing music or performing liturgical dance.
Class Prayer
Our children say morning, afternoon and home time payers every day. The RE curriculum allows regularly opportunities for the children to pray around a class focal point and to reflect on key religious themes. Class liturgies are performed regularly and parents are invited into school to share key class liturgies with the children.
Church and Convent
Our children regularly visit our Parish church of St Mary Magdalen’s for whole school masses and important celebrations. The chapel within the local Convent at Antrim Gardens is also used by our children for class prayer and worship.
Prayer Stations
We have introduced different prayer stations around school which allows children to focus and reflect on areas of need (personal, local and international).
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- Spiritual Garden Prayer Station
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- Spiritual Garden
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- Praying for people around the world
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- Our Prayer Wall
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- Year4 Class Liturgy
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- Year4 Class Liturgy
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- Year4 Class Liturgy
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- KS2 Advent Service
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- Year 3H Class Liturgy
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- Year 3W Class Liturgy
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- Year 3W Class Liturgy
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- Year 3W Class Liturgy
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- Year 3W Class Liturgy
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- Year 2 Class Liturgy
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- Year 2 Class Liturgy
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- Year 2 Class Liturgy
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- Lunchtime Rosary with Mrs Robson
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- Lunchtime Rosary with Mrs Robson
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- Fleetrock Class Liturgy
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- Fleetrock Class Liturgy
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- Reception Class Liturgy
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- Reception Class Liturgy
Our New Bishop
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Robert Byrne as our new Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Bishop Byrne will be the fourteenth Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
Bishop Byrne was born in Manchester on 22 September 1956. He was ordained priest in 1985 and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham on 13 May, 2014. Speaking of his appointment, Bishop Byrne said: “I am deeply humbled by the trust Pope Francis has placed in me with this appointment as Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle…I look forward to making my home in the North East, with its rich Christian heritage, and also getting to know and serve the people, deacons, religious and priests of the Diocese. I ask all of you to keep me in your prayers as I pray for you.”
Bishop Seamus said: “I am delighted to welcome Bishop Byrne as my successor at a time of great challenge and hope in this Diocese.”
‘Creativity of love can overcome isolation’ – Season of Lent – Message to Parents
YMT Cathedral Mass
Our Head Boy and Head Girl attended St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral to celebrate our YMT. It was a lovely service which recognised all the good work our young people do in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
Advent 2018
Our Year 6 welcomed in the Advent season 2018 with a whole school liturgy in church. They lit our first Advent wreath candle and retold the Christmas message through song, dance and prayer.
Youth Friday ’18
On Friday 23rd November our children celebrated a Youth Friday ’18 liturgy in school. Our Year 5 children joined other partnership schools, at St Joseph’s church in Murton, to celebrate this occasion.
Advent 2017
Our Year 6 welcomed in the Advent season 2017 with a whole school liturgy. They reflected on a time of waiting and lit our first Advent wreath candle. The children planned and delivered the liturgy which had a further focus on helping children through ‘Mission Together’.
Mayor of Seaham’s Christmas Service
Our children were centre stage at the Mayor of Seaham’s Ecumenical Service at Christ Church, Seaham. They sang a beautiful piece of music from ‘Peacechild’ and performed a very moving liturgical dance to the music Silent Night. Thank you to all who attended this very festive event.
Youth Friday ’17
On Friday 24th November our children celebrated a Youth Friday ’17 liturgy in school. The focus was to celebrate and remember our diocesan youth service. Our Youth Friday theme was ‘Yes! The mighty has done great things for me.’ Our Year 4 children attended a liturgy at St Joseph’s, Murton, along with our other cluster schools. During this time the children were introduced to our new Partnership prayer as part of ‘Forward together in Hope’. The prayer was written by children from St Mary Magdalen’s and includes parts of the mission statements of all our cluster schools. The logo was designed by Ami Simpson, a past pupil of our school.
International Day of Peace Liturgy
Our Year 6 children planned and led an international day of peace liturgy for the school. It was a lovely moment to reflect on peace.
Season of Lent 2018
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- Class crosses
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- Easter service times
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- Year 6 leading whole school Easter liturgy
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- Year 6 leading whole school Easter liturgy
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- Year 6 leading whole school Easter liturgy
Forward Together in Hope
Read the October 2016 update on ‘Moving Forward Together in Hope.’
YMT (Youth Ministry Team)
Our Head Boy and Head Girl celebrated Youth Friday at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle. They presented a donation to Bishop Seamus, from our school, to support the excellent work of the YMT.
Celebrating Other Faiths
As a Catholic school we show love and kindness to all and treat everyone as Jesus taught. Therefore the children, as part of our RE Curriculum, learn about other faiths and traditions. Throughout the year the children have opportunities to visit other religious places of worship such as a local mosque and synagogue.