Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus at Christmas. On Friday afternoon, our school community gathered together to celebrate Advent with the Christingle. Pupils from across KS2 led a Christingle service with hymns, prayers and a period of examination of conscience. Every pupil in our school made Christingles in class which were then used to decorate our service. 

A Christingle reminds us to celebrate Jesus, the light of the world, coming into a world of darkness’s sharing His light and hope with others. The candle planted deep inside the world represents that Jesus made his home among us. The ribbon wrapped around symbolises the love shown on the cross. The fruits and sweets are signs of all good things made by God. 
 

Thank you to our Community Champion Sam from Morrisons Newport Road for donating hundreds of oranges to help facilitate the making of the Christingles. 
 

Our Christingle service is available to watch on our school website. 

School Environment: Month of the Holy Souls 
At St Philip Evans RC Primary School, we ensure that our physical environment is an integral element that embodies the genuine community values of the Catholic tradition.
 

It is the responsibility of Mini Vinnies Committee to maintain the altar areas and religious displays in and around our school environment, ensuring that these physical and visible signs embody the community ethos of Catholicism.

Key Stage 2 Classroom Altars Month of the Holy Souls
Classroom altars are at the heart of every class in our school. Appropriate items are on display including Bibles, crosses and candles to support pupils in their spiritual development. Prayer areas are attractive and well cared for. An array of statues and pictures help to create a sacred space. Class chaplains help with the planning and maintenance of the prayer area. Evidence of children's work, including prayers are a prominent part of the classroom displays and altar areas.

Foundation Phase Altars November 2022
November is a very special month, where we remember those who have died. In school, the pupils in each class have designed and created their own classroom altars which reflect the liturgical year. Foundation phase pupils have used their express arts skills to make their altars an attractive focal point in their classroom. A prayer area is prominent in each class which consists of pupil's work, traditional prayers, appropriate books connected to the current topic, and statues and pictures which help create a sense of sacred space. 
 

Rosary Club
During the month of October, Rosary Club met on a weekly basis to honour Mary, mother of Jesus. We prayed a decade of the Hail Mary and we used our fingerprints and paint to create our own Rosary beads.

Hymns for Pentecost and the Holy Spirit