Service to others
1D Celebrate the Harvest Assembly – (2024)
During the Autumn Term we celebrate our Harvest Festival with a special class assembly led by 1D. All children were asked to contribute non-perishable food items which were displayed as part of the assembly. The Chaplaincy then carried them around to Fr Peter Wilson at St Pius X Church . When the food arrives at the Church, the Parish Youth Group arrange the food into hampers which can be dispersed amongst needy families in the Parish at Christmas.
For information about the tradition of Harvest Festival click here.
The Chaplaincy deliver our Harvest Food to Fr Peter for distribution around the Parish.
The Christmas Raffle
Every Christmas the staff of the School donate items of food and drink that can be used as prizes for a Christmas raffle. All money raised is converted into Sainsbury’s vouchers and presented to Fr Peter during our School Carol service. Fr Peter gives the vouchers out to needy parishioners and families identified in the Parish to help them during the Christmas period.
Performing for the Carmelite Sisters
At Christmas and Easter time the School Choir and Orchestra visit the Sisters of Carmel in the Convent next door. They sing carols and songs and play classical pieces of music to entertain the Congregation of Nuns.
The Sisters look forwards to these events ad the children enjoy performing for them.
At the end of the Autumn Term we always donate our Christmas Tree to the Sisters. They are very grateful and always look forward to receiving it.
On a National Level
Alan Morkill Care Home
Alan Morekill Care home is situated in St Mark's Road, very close to the School.
At Christmas and Easter we take children to visit the care home to sit and chat with the residents.
The children will sing carol's or songs from their recent assemblies and our musicians play pieces of music to entertain them. .
The residence look forward to these visits and the children are regular invited back.
The Catholic Children's Society
Each year we support the Catholic Children's Society Lenten Appeal. Children are given a box to collect loose change or donations of money from their family or friends during Lent. We also have an own clothes day for a £1 donation.
The money is collected after Easter and presented to the Society during their Good Shepherd Mass at Westminster Cathedral.
Our Year 6 pupils attend this and take part in the offertory.
We also support the CCS by attending their annual Christmas Carol Service, again at Westminster Cathedral. Our Year 5 children attend the service and present our donation during the arrival of the three kings.
For more information about the work of the CCS click here.
The British Legion Poppy Appeal
Every November, we support the British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Every child and member of staff donate £1 for a poppy badge which is worn during our Remembrance Service on 11th November.
For more information about the work of the British Legion click here.
Macmillan Cancer Support Charity Coffee Morning
Each October, the staff and school raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support charity.
All staff. parents and carers are invited to bake/buy cakes and biscuits to sell after School.
This is so well supported that we usually need a second coffee morning to sell the remaining cakes.
Any cakes unsold are sent next door to the Carmelite Monastery for the Sisters to enjoy.
More information about the work of the Macmillan Cancer Support Charity click here.
The NSPCC
Every two years, we invite a representative from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to visit the School and to lead an assembly outlining the important work they do and where donated money is spent. The Chaplaincy then organise a sponsored event to raise funds. In the past these have included a sponsored read and a sponsored spell. In 2023 we raised £2,716.80
On an International Level
CAFOD
This year we will be working closely with CAFOD as part of our Jubilee Journey as Pilgrims of Hope.
Della from CAFOD came to the School to begin this work. She led a whole School assembly and told us about Chirri and her family living in Africa, whose lives are affected by the effects of droughts.
For less than £5 we can provide a chicken for a family in Africa. These special chickens do not require much water and can lay 3 times more eggs then normal chicken.
We plan to hold a sponsored walk during Lent to raise money to but as many chickens as we can.
The Chaplaincy will also be organizing an event in the Summer term to raise funds to buy a cow for an African village.
