Dear Parents and Carers,
So much has taken place in school this week!
On Tuesday, Year 1 led a beautiful collective worship that celebrated languages, festivals and culture from around the world linked to their class. The children were so confident and filled the hall with smiles, their words and singing!
We have also welcomed our new Reception intake into school for Stay and Play sessions on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, as well as our new parents for an Information evening. Unfortunately, the World Cup did not liaise with us regarding fixture dates! (We did manage to share the scores at the end of the meeting!)
Year 6 went to Wintershall for a Year 6 retreat day with friends from St. Edmund’s on Thursday and Year 3 had an amazing day at West Wittering finding out about water safety, as well as exploring symmetry of the natural world and getting inspiration for their next piece of writing!
We heard exciting news from Rome, regarding Pope Leo’s decision regarding our new Bishop. Fr Stephen Wang will start his role as our new Bishop in the Autumn. Do click on this link to hear his message.
KS2 sports day was a great event this morning. We will be able to share more photos next week but here is a little taster! It was lovely to see so many parents supporting.
We look forward to KS1 Sports Day next Friday (10th). Please see the separate communication regarding arrangements for this.
The Friends of St. Cuthbert Mayne have worked so hard behind the scenes for our Summer Fayre on Sunday 5th July from 12pm – 3pm at Snoxhall Playing Fields. Do come along and support this community event and raise money for the school in the process. If you can volunteer some of your time do let The Friends or class reps know!
Class photos will take place on the 7th July. Please ensure your child is wearing the correct summer uniform for this.
God Bless,
Mrs. O’Donovan
Collective Worship
Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. In last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to put him at the centre of their lives. He reminds them that following him is not always easy and may require sacrifice, courage and perseverance. Jesus speaks about "taking up our cross" and following him, meaning that we are called to remain faithful even when life is difficult. He also teaches the importance of welcoming and caring for others, saying that even the smallest act of kindness—such as offering a cup of cold water—has great value in God's eyes.
The Gospel encourages us to think about our priorities and to trust God above all else. It reminds us that everyday acts of love, generosity and service are ways of living as disciples of Jesus.
As a family, you might like to discuss:
What does "putting Jesus first" look like in our home?
When have we found it difficult to do the right thing?
How can we help one another to carry our crosses with patience and love?
What small acts of kindness can we offer to others this week?
Who might need a welcoming smile, a helping hand or an encouraging word from us?
Family Challenge:
Choose one simple act of kindness to carry out each day this week. Remember that Jesus teaches us that even the smallest gesture, offered with love, is precious in God's sight.
Learning around the school
EYFS
This month, we visited Fr Alistair in the Church and learnt about some of the things that we find in every Catholic Church – the altar, tabernacle, crucifix, Stations of the Cross, and baptismal font. The Reception children were very interested in the beautiful stained‑glass windows, and Fr Alistair very kindly talked us through all of the religious symbolism in the designs. The children were able to recall many of the symbols from the Bible stories we have listened to this year.
We have also been learning about St Peter and St Paul. The children had the opportunity to 'walk on water,' just as Peter and Jesus did. We learnt that the messages of trust and faith from their stories can help us to live a Godly life today.
Year 1
Year 1 have enjoyed a DT unit on making juices and smoothies, learning to squeeze, peel and chop fruit, as well as selecting ingredients for their own smoothie recipe based on tasting sessions. As the smoothie moustaches attest, they were delicious and very refreshing in the heat! In Science, they have been consolidating all their learning from the year by investigating a different question each week. They have investigated the thickness of tree trunks, measured and compared animal footprints and even made animal homes from natural resources before testing whether they were waterproof or not.
Year 2
In Geography, Year 2 have been learning about the seas, oceans and coasts. They have learnt the names of the seas and oceans around the UK. Then this week they explored the physical and human features of Weymouth using Google Earth!
Year 4
Year 4 have been busy developing their digital photography and photo‑editing skills as part of the Teach Computing: Creating Media – Photo Editing unit. After taking their own photographs using the iPads, the children learnt how digital images can be changed, edited, and reused, exploring a range of creative tools and techniques.
They experimented with changing image composition, including cropping and rotating their photos to improve the final result. They also explored how colour effects and filters can completely transform an image and influence how it makes us think or feel. They evaluated their edited images, thinking carefully about the impact of their choices and how editing can be used responsibly.
We are delighted to showcase the work of four pupils in this newsletter. Their images demonstrate creativity, thoughtful editing, and a growing understanding of how digital tools can be used to enhance photographs.
Year 5
On Friday June 19th Year Five went to Wintershall, Life of Christ. It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day. The event was set over the ample grounds and comprised of the key four scenes:
The angel appearing to Mary and her and Joseph going to Bethlehem where Jesus was born; Jesus as a young boy - at the temple; The Sermon on the Mount and parables such as the prodigal son; The crucifixion and resurrection and Jesus returning to Heaven. The children's behaviour was outstanding and they really enjoyed the play and the many aspects they recognised from our learning. Well done everyone involved and thank you adult helpers.
Year 6
June has been a busy month for Year 6. As well as our Junior Citizen trip earlier in the month, we began preparations for our Year 6 production of Pantastic. Though interrupted by the heatwave, rehearsals have got off to a fantastic start and the children have really impressed us with their acting skills. We can't wait for parents to see it! Year 6 have also all visited their secondary schools this week for their transition days and it has been wonderful to hear about their new schools and new friends that they have already made. Finally, yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting Wintershall for our Leavers' Retreat which was a chance for the children to reflect back on their primary school journey and think about the exciting times, as well as challenges, that will inevitably lie ahead. The beautiful grounds and amazing staff at Wintershall made this a very special day. We are very proud of our Year 6s!
Classes next year:
The children enjoyed their transition sessions in their new classes this week. Please see below regarding teachers in September.
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EYFS
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Ms Peak and Mrs Scarisbrick
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Year 1
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Mrs Patrick
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Year 2
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Mrs Woodhams and Mrs Newland
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Year 3
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Ms Robson
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Year 4
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Mr Reader
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Year 5
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Miss Wilkin and Ms Newman
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Year 6
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Mrs Hasler and Mrs Hua
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Wake Up Wednesday
For many young people, the summer holidays can easily become dominated by phones, gaming, streaming and social media. This guide offers reassuring, realistic advice for parents, carers and educators who want to encourage 11- to 16-year-olds to spend more time offline without making technology feel like the enemy.
From phone-free challenges and micro-adventures to active travel, outdoor clubs and creative alternatives to scrolling, the guide focuses on small, achievable changes. It also highlights the importance of giving teens choice, responsibility and social motivation, helping them build confidence, wellbeing and healthier habits throughout the summer.
Attendance and Punctuality
Thank you for the improved attendance across the school. Let’s keep going with this until the end of term! Can we reach 100%?
Just a reminder that the gates close at 8.50am. If you do not arrive in time to come through the gates, you must take you child into the office and provide a reason for the lateness. There are a lot of traffic lights and roadworks around at the moment that may cause you to be late on one occasion. Once you are aware of this, you do need to think about leaving a little earlier or finding a different route.
If you arrive as the gates are closing, please can children come through quickly – this does mean that KS1 will need to come through alone so that staff can secure the site ready for the school day. Thank you for your support with this.
The Local Authority can proceed with fines for 10 sessions of lateness within a 10-week period (this refers to 10 occasions when a child arrives for school after the register has closed).
