Search Results

Holy Family Parish Parish Holy Family St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School is in the parish of Holy Family Church. "Greetings to all parents and parishioners, May the peace of God be with you and your families. You are always welcome to visit our church" Father Fretch Ballesteros (SDV) is our priest at Holy Family Church in Small Heath. The parish was founded in 1901. The church was built in 1928 and extended in 1966 Tuesday - Friday Mass 10:30am. Sunday Morning Mass: 10.30am. Weekend Mass times at Local Parishes Parish Saturday Sunday Holy Family 4 pm 10.30 am and 5.15 pm St Thomas More 5.30 pm 8.30 am and 10.30 am Corpus Christi 6 p m 10.30 am Holy Souls 5pm 8.30 am, 10 am and 12pm (Noon) The Holy Rosary - 9.30 am and 12 pm (Noon) Fr. Fretch Ballesteros History of Holy Family Church A brick building of the 1920s by George Drysdale, built on a Greek cross plan, and significantly enlarged in the 1960s to accommodate a large influx of (mainly Irish) Catholics, attracted by jobs in local industry. The interior is a fine barrel vaulted space. An intended campanile was not built, the result being that the townscape contribution of the church is relatively minor. The mission in Small Heath was founded by the Revd James Wright in 1901 from St Anne’s in Digbeth and Mass was said in a workshop in Green Lane until a school-chapel was built in 1903, then Mass was said in the upper floor of the new school (this was destroyed by enemy action in 1940.) Subsequently, the first Parish Primary School (Holy Family) opened its doors in Holy Family Church on 11 January 1904. The permanent church opened in 1928. The church is orientated roughly north-south, but this description follows conventional liturgical orientation, as if the altar was to the east. The church was built in two phases. The first, in the 1920s, was on a Greek cross plan, and was built of local purple brown bricks, with Green Westmorland slate roofs. The eastern arm of this was demolished and the nave extended to form a Latin cross, using complementary materials, in the 1960s. An intended northwest campanile was not built. So the present church originated as a Greek cross design by George Drysdale, seating 400, and opened in August 1929 (builders William Sapcote & Sons). It was described in The Tablet as ‘a quiet design …unity of character has been sought in the architecture, in the treatment of furniture and fittings, and also in the arrangement of the forecourt’. The 1920s church had open pediments on the north and south faces with moulded brick string courses and a row of arched clerestory windows. The east end was apsidal. The interior was an impressive barrel vaulted space, with a groin vault at the crossing. Although externally expressed, there is no internal separation into ‘nave’ and ‘aisles’, the nave is one wide space, with the barrel vaulting springing from great steel joists spanning east to west. There is a gallery and narthex at the west end, with a mosaic roundel of the Holy Family fixed to the gallery front (figure 2), possibly from the 1929 church and possibly by Pippet. In the narthex are brass panels to Fr Wright, founder of the mission, and Fr J. P. Dowling, benefactor. At the east, arched openings are located at the corners of the Greek cross. The sanctuary is placed in the eastern arm, and is dominated by a large freestanding altar, with a crucifix and tabernacle in the apse. Side chapels were placed at either side. There is a large organ of 1903 by Steele & Keay of Burslem, acquired c.1993 from Pitts Hill Methodist Church, Stoke. The forecourt was developed in the 1960s when, following a large influx of (mainly Irish) Catholics drawn by jobs in local industry: Birmingham Small Arms;the Chrysler Factory; JJ Gallagher the Builder. The local population used to say that they were either coming out the Blues ground or Holy Family Church. And so the priest, Father O'Keefe extended the church in 1966, and that's why it is so big now. The nave was extended to form a Latin cross plan, increasing the seating capacity to approximately 1,000. The architect for the additions was J. T. Lynch of Jennings, Homer & Lynch, and the extended church was blessed on 25 October, 1967. New sacristies, meeting rooms, a cry room and confessionals were also built, but an intended 100ft campanile was never realised. The total cost was for the built additions was about £120,000. In that period a second Parish Primary School was built on Hob Moor Road, (St Bernadette’s) which served the Irish community. Previously, St Benedict's Church of England School had been used for some of the children because of the enormous numbers. The 1960s additions were a modern and simplified version of the original work. The west front had a brick pilaster/piers at the corners and an open pediment framing a large central ‘feature panel’ faced in Portland stone. A crucifix was placed against this. Below this, solid oak entrance doors were placed beneath a flat canopy, with windows on either side. Flanking the entrance, low flat-roofed wings with recessed stone faced bays incorporating windows were presumably built as the baptistery and a side entrance. Above these, a round arched window on either side lit an internal gallery. Beyond this were raised (but not as high as the nave) and plain ‘aisle’ walls, the ‘aisles’ lit by one rectangular window per bay. The present church was consecrated on 10 June 1976.

Pastoral Support Please take a look at the following websites where you will be able to access support from various organisations if needed. BARNARDO’S – Support for children, young people and families in need. Contact details: www.barnardos.org.uk , Helpline telephone: 0121-550-5271. SHELTER - Housing advise and homelessness. Contact details: www.shelter.org.uk , Telephone helpline number 0300-330-1234 MIND - Adult support for mental health, benefits and housing. Contact details: Birmingham mind.org.uk, Telephone 0121-262-3555 Support for key worker practical advice for staying at home taking care of your mental health support for work, benefits, and housing talking to children about coronavirus how to talk to your anxious child or teen about Coronavirus and much more WOMEN’S AID - Provides front line domestic violence and abuse support to women and children in Birmingham and Solihull area. Contact details: https://bswaid.org/ Contact telephone number: 0800 800 0028 (freephone helpline)/   07891 492327 for anyone who would have accessed the drop-in centres. Any women at risk of homelessness as a result of domestic violence and abuse in Birmingham can call the Housing Options HUB. Telephone number:  0800 169 9604   EDWARDS TRUST - Support for Children and Families facing loss and surviving bereavement across the West Midlands. Contact details: admin@edwardstrust.org.uk Bereavement telephone: 0121-454-1705 CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE - Support for Children and Families facing loss and surviving bereavement. Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm Contact Telephone number: 0808 808 1677 Email: www.cruse.org.uk BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S TRUST - https://www.@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY - Offer family telephone support for those living in Solihull - 5 days a week  Contact telephone number: 0121 779 1734 Email: socialsolihull.org.uk How best to look after your own and/or your child mental and emotional wellbeing on a daily basis How to talk with children about COVID - 19 and their worries relayed to it How to support children to engage with learning at home How best to maintain social connections whilst complying with social distancing How to manage behaviour that can be challenging or difficult to manage  FOOD BANK VOUCHERS - These can be obtained from school. Your local Children’s Centre will also be able to offer you advice and may sign post you to other appropriate organisations. We also know that lots of children will be over hearing adult conversations, listening to the news, and have access to social media etc. all of which may leave them feeling confused and frightened. Please have a look at these links with your children to help them understand about coronavirus, social distancing and self-isolation as they may benefit from a simple explanation; https://nosycrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Coronavirus_INSwith-cover.pdf Further support can also be accessed through: CHILDLINE- 0800 1111 SHOUT 24/7 - free text service for children- text to 85258 CHILDMIND HTTPS://CHILDMIND.ORG/ARTICLE/HOW-MINDFULNESS-CAN-HELP-DURING-COVID-19/ provides simple mindfulness activities to do with children PAUSE - is a drop in mental health and emotional well-being service for under 25s it is currently offering telephone support from 10 am - 6 pm 7 days a week for children and their parents. contact no: 0207 841 4470  email: askbeam@childrenssociety.org.uk OUR ROOTS CIC offers free telephone counselling (CBT or talk therapy) info@ourrootscic.co.uk Telephone : 0121 439 9045  For support, advice and information in a crisis please contact one of the following: - YOUR GP or out of hours service - SAMARITANS on 116 123 free 24hr support - POLICE -Call 111 (open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) - SANELINE on 0845 767 8000 (open 4:30 pm – 10:30pm every day) - CALM HELPLINE 0800 58 58 58 open 5pm – Midnight 365 days a year

St Bernadette's Governors Information School Governors Governor Portal Governors: About Us St Bernadette's Governing Body Our Governors are an amazing group of volunteers who serve the parish of Holy Family in Small Heath. They support our school in educating children in a happy, calm and safe environment where they feel surrounded by God’s love. Governors play an important role in the leadership and management of the school. They are involved in the recruitment of staff, formulating the school budget and ensuring the curriculum we offer to the children in school is engaging, challenging and appropriate. The Governors are regular visitors in school, offering support and challenge in equal measures and holding the Head and senior leadership team to account. The Governing Body's aim is to work closely with the Headteacher, the leadership team and the staff, in order to help the children at the school achieve their full potential. They meet as a Full Governing Body four times a year and in addition to this, will meet in smaller sub- committees to focus on finance, staffing, admissions or curriculum. Our Governing Body is made up of 7 Foundation Governors who are appointed by the diocese, two parent governors, appointed by the parents, a Staff Governor and a Local Authority Governor. All serve for a term of four years. If you would like to contact the Governing Body, please forward hard copies of mail to Mr John Lenihan c/o St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Hob Moor Road, Yardley Birmingham, B258QL. Emails to be sent to m.smallwood@stberns.bham.sch.uk and given the title 'For the attention of Mr John Lenihan'. The School Governors Mr John Lenihan Chair of Governors (FG) Curriculum Governor / Finance Governor / Mathematics Governor Mrs Quinlan Vice-Chair Parent Governor / Foundation Governor Mrs Gemma Wrench Chair of Finance / Curriculum Governor Mrs Maria Winters Foundation Governor / RE Governor / Chair of curriculum Fr Fretch Ballesteros Foundation Governor / R.E Governor Mrs Vas Panayiotou Parent Governor / Safeguarding Governor Mrs P Moran Foundation Governor Mr Carlos De la Cruz Foundation Governor / Finance Governor Mr Iqbal Local Authority Governor Mr Carroll Staff Governor / SEN Governor / Finance Governor Services 4 Schools Clerk to Governors Admissions Committee Pupil Discipline Committee School Hearings Committee Curriculum & Standards Committee Terms of Reference Resources Committee Governor Information Terms Of Reference Dismissal Appeal Terms of Reference Curriculum & Standards Terms of Reference School Hearings Terms of Reference Admissions Terms of Reference Pupil Discipline Presentations to Governors RE KS2 English.pdf KS1 English.pdf PE.pdf Maths.pdf School Financial Benchmarking Governors: List Any correspondence to the Governors should be addressed c/o St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School. Miss A Cowings Head Teacher I joined St Bernadette’s School in 2002 as Deputy Head and was appointed as Head Teacher in 2006. Since my appointment I have always been a member of the Governing Body and work closely with the dedicated team of volunteers to develop provision within school. As Head teacher it is my duty to deal with the day to day management of the school. As a member of the Governing Body we provide the strategic management. We set the general direction of the school and consider ways that it can best be developed. As a team, we monitor the school’s progress and set annual targets for the school’s performance. The team of governors act as a critical friend to the Head, whilst providing me with the necessary support required to lead the school. John Lenihan Chair of Governors I was appointed as a Governor in March 2019. I am currently a member of the Resources Committee. I previously served as a Governor at Corpus Christi School in Stechford. After spending 50 years in the Printing Industry and having grandchildren in the school I am now looking forward to supporting St. Bernadettes pupils and staff in the challenging world of education. Mr C. Dela Cruz Foundation Governor I have been a school governor for a number of years and have seen a lot of changes throughout the years. I have really enjoyed being on the school governing board, and doing my best to contribute in ensuring the school provides the very best facilities, support for the teaching & non-teachingstaff, and to ensure all pupils to have opportunity and encouragement toreach their full potentials. Kristin Quinlan Foundation Governor I've been a Foundation Governor at St Bernadette's since 2016. My day job is working as Head of Legal and Company Secretary at a water company, so I have experience of working in corporate governance and I hope that I bring some of my skills and experience from that role to my role on the Governing Body. For me, the role of the Governing Body is to support and provide healthy challenge to the leadership team at St Bernadette's for the benefit of the pupils, and I really enjoy playing my part in that. G Wrench Parent Governor I have been a parent governor at St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School since 2018. As part of my role, I am the link Governor for Literacy and also the Chair for the Resources Committee and a member of the Admissions Committee. I believe the children’s education, progress, personal welfare and development should be at the heart of all decision making at school. I am happy to be part of the Governing Body that will support the school in order to get the best outcomes for the children. T Moran Foundation Governor I was appointed as a Foundation Governor in February 2023. I was a teacher at St. Bernadette’s for thirty-three years, and I retired from St. Bernadette’s and teaching almost seven years ago. I hope that I can bring some of my skills and experience from my years of teaching to my role on the Governing Body. I look forward to supporting the pupils and staff of St. Bernadette’s in any way that I can. Fr Fretch Ballesteros Foundation Governor Vasiliki Panayiotou Parent Governor I would like to introduce myself as the new Parent Governor of St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School. My name is Vasiliki Panayiotou (please refer to me as Vas) and I joined the Board of Governor's on 20th December 2019. I am honoured and privileged to have been given this opportunity to represent the parents of the children that attend the school by Miss A Cowings. I will do my utmost for the best interests of all concerned, in connection with the school. Before I became a full time mother to our 2 girls I worked in telesales for a wholesale food distribution company for around 8 years and prior to that, I co-owned a business in floristry for around 20 years in Solihull. My eldest daughter, who is five, is in Year 1 at St Bernadette's and our youngest is 16 months old, going onto 6! I can't speak highly enough about St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School or all the staff in connection with the school. I remember when we visited the school during an open day and my first thoughts were about the impeccable behaviour of the children. Also, during the classroom visits we observed how the teachers interacted with the children and we saw the passion and commitment they have in everything they do. I turned to my husband and said, this is where I want our daughter to come and he agreed. We feel blessed that our children are and will be attending the best school Alex Carroll Staff Governor I have worked at St Bernadette's since 2001 and have been staff governor since 2020???? It is my privilege to be part of such a vibrant and hard working school community, both as a member of staff and governor. Cllr Zafar Iqbal Foundation Governor I was previously a Governor at St Bernadette’s, I have a long association with the school and was previously a Governor some years ago when my son attended. I am now an LEA appointed governor and as I live close by I have a genuine interest in supporting my local schools. Governors: List Governors: List

St. Bernadette Our Patron Saint was born January 7, 1844 and baptized Marie Bernarde Soubirous. The oldest of six children, born to devout but poor parents, she was known by the pet name Bernadette. Bernadette was a sensitive, sickly child, plagued by chronic asthma. She was a notably good girl with a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin. On February 11, 1858, Bernadette, her sister and her sister’s friend went to gather wood on the bank of the Gave river in the French Pyrennes. To reach the gathering site, the three girls had to cross a small millstream. While the two younger girls went on ahead, Bernadette stopped to remove her shoes and stockings. Just then she heard a rustling sound which caused her to look up toward a small cave. There, in the opening of this little grotto, she saw “a girl in white, no taller than I, who greeted me with a light bow of the head.” The vision was very beautiful, clad in white with a blue girdle, whilst a long rosary hung over the arm. She seemed to invite the child to pray, and when Bernadette took her rosary from her pocket and began to say it, the vision also took her rosary into her hand and passed the beads through her fingers, although the lips did not move. When the five decades were finished, the vision smiled and disappeared. This was the first of 18 visions of the Blessed Virgin given to this humble peasant girl. The last one took place July 16th of the same year. The story of Lourdes is well known. Millions of people have visited this remote spot where Our Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette almost one hundred and fifty years ago. Bernadette remained a shy, sensitive child of God, shunning the attention of the world that the apparitions afforded. She delivered the message of Our Blessed Mother only to the proper authorities of the Church and left the outcome to God. Finally, in 1866, at the age of 22, she filled one of her heart’s desires when she was accepted into the convent of the Sisters of Notre-Dame de Nevers. Her work at Lourdes was done. The shrine to the Mother of God that Mary had requested was being visited by ever increasing numbers. Mary’s message of prayer and penance had been delivered to the world. God had blessed the work with miracles. Gladly, Bernadette faded from the picture. She likened herself to Our Lady’s Broom: “Our Lady used me, they have put me back in my corner,” was her way of expressing it. But her work for souls was not done. Our Blessed Mother had asked for penance at Lourdes. While many were cured of their afflictions in the waters at Lourdes, the heavy cross of illness still lay on Bernadette’s shoulders and she suffered this penance throughout her life. On April 16th 1879, in her 36th year, she died peacefully in the arms of her sisters in religion at the convent of Nevers. Her life of suffering was over. In 1933, just 54 years after her death, Pope Pius XI added the name of this humble peasant girl to the canon of the Saints. For all time in the official records of the Church, she will be known as Saint Marie Bernarda, but in the hearts and on the lips of faithful she will always be St. Bernadette, little Bernard. May Bernadette, our glorious patroness, remember us, and with her prayers intercede for us at the throne of God, and may she direct toward us the mercy and kindness of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. The Grotto at Lourdes Full website for The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes can be found here https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/ Live stream from the grotto at Lourdes can be accessed below

Our Class Saints Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day: 11th February The Patron Saint of Lourdes, Bodily Ills, Sick People, Asthmatics, and Protection from Diseases. Of course, Mary, Jesus’ mother, is the greatest saint. She has appeared to many people over the centuries. Each place she has appeared, she has been given a different title. Our Lady of Lourdes was the title she was given after she visited Bernadette Soubirous, a fourteen-year-old girl, in 1858. Bernadette lived in a poor house in Lourdes, France, with her parents, two brothers, and a sister. It used to be a jail! One day Bernadette was out with her sister and a friend to gather wood for the fire. Bernadette, who had asthma and was often sick, did not cross over the stream to gather wood on the other side with her sister and friend. While they were gone, Bernadette heard a noise near a cave-like area and went to investigate. There, Bernadette saw a lovely lady dressed in white who had a blue sash around her waist and a rose on each foot. She was beautiful! Bernadette prayed the rosary with this lady before she disappeared. The lady asked her to come back again. The lady appeared to Bernadette a total of eighteen times. Bernadette was teased and laughed at; many believed that she was either imagining the appearances of Our Lady or making it up. When a spring miraculously appeared after one of the visions, many who doubted her began to believe. Those who bathed in the spring were often cured of serious sickness or disability. Eventually, the lady identified herself: “I am the Immaculate Conception,” she told Bernadette. It was then that people realised it was Mary, the mother of God, appearing to Bernadette. Our Lady’s appearance at Lourdes to a simple, poor girl, can help us see the beauty in poverty and can remind us that our Mother knows us, loves us, and is always with us. ‘For those you believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible,’ (The Song of Bernadette). Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette Feast Day: 16th April The Patron Saint of Illness, People Ridiculed for their Piety, Poverty, Shepherds, Shepherdesses, and Lourdes, France. St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France, on 7th January 1844. Her parents were poor, and she was the first of nine children. She was baptised at the local parish church St. Pierre’s, on 9th January. As a toddler, Bernadette contracted cholera and suffered extreme asthma. Unfortunately, she lived the rest of her life in poor health. On Thursday, 11th February 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette was sent with her younger sister and a friend to gather firewood when a very beautiful lady appeared to her above a rose bush in a grotto called Massabielle (Tuta de Massavielha). The woman wore blue and white and smiled at Bernadette before making the sign of the cross with a rosary of ivory and gold. Bernadette fell to her knees, took out her rosary, and began praying. Bernadette later described the woman as ‘uo petito damizelo’, meaning ‘a small young lady’. Though her sister and friend claimed they could not see her, Bernadette knew what she saw was real. On 18th February, Bernadette said ‘the vision’ asked her to return to the grotto daily for a fortnight. When Bernadette began to visit the grotto, her parents were embarrassed and attempted to stop her but could not do so. On 25th February, Bernadette claimed to have had a life-changing vision. The vision had told her ‘to drink the spring’s water, to wash in it and to eat the herb that grew there’ as an act of penance. The next day, the grotto's muddy waters had cleared, and freshwater flowed. Though many townspeople believed she had been seeing the Holy Virgin, Bernadette's story created a division in her town. Many thought she was telling the truth, while others believed she had a mental illness and demanded she be put in a mental asylum. Some believed Bernadette's visions meant she needed to pray for penance. Church authorities and the French government rigorously interviewed the girl, and by 1862 they confirmed she spoke the truth. Since Bernadette first caused the spring to produce clean water, 69 cures have been verified by the Lourdes Medical Bureau, and after what the Church claimed were "extremely rigorous scientific and medical examinations," no one could explain what caused the cures. Following the miracles, Bernadette decided she did not like the attention she was getting and went to the hospice school run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, where she was taught to read and write. Though she considered joining the Carmelites, her health was too fragile. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone in her right knee and could not participate in convent life. She died in the Sainte Croix (Holy Cross) Infirmary of the Convent of Saint-Gildard at the age of 35 on April 16, 1879, while praying the holy rosary. St. Bernadette, pray for us. St. Patrick Feast Day: 17th March The Patron Saint of Ireland and Nigeria. When Patrick was about sixteen, he was captured by pirates from his home in Roman Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he looked after animals. He lived there for six years, and during this time, he learned the local language and became closer to God. Patrick escaped captivity and returned to his family in his early twenties. He later travelled to France, where he trained in a monastery, possibly under Saint Germain, the Bishop of Auxerre. He dedicated his life to learning. Twelve years later, it is thought he returned to Ireland sent with the Pope's blessing. As he knew the language, he could preach to people and baptise them, and he also married couples. He established monasteries, schools, and churches. He brought Christianity to Ireland and converted people to his religion. He is credited as the first bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland. Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the holy trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). We cannot be certain exactly when Patrick was born or died, but there is evidence of him being in Ireland in the 5th Century. Saint Patrick's Day is observed on 17 March, the supposed date of his death. It is celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday. In the dioceses in Ireland, it is a holy day of obligation. All around the world, St. Patrick and Ireland are celebrated on this day. St. Patrick, pray for us. St. Teresa of Calcutta Feast Day: 5th September The Patron Saint of World Youth Day, Missionaries of Charity, Archdiocese of Calcutta. Agnes Bojaxhiu was born in the city of Skopje, which is the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, in August 1910. Her mother died when she was eight years old, and her father brought her up. At eighteen, she went to Ireland, joined the Sisters of Lorreto, and became a missionary in India. Based in Darjeeling, she learnt the language to teach in a local school. Eight years later, she made her solemn vows and took the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1946 she had what she called “the call within the call” and experienced interior visions that led her to the conviction that Christ was calling her to serve “the poorest of the poor.” Inspired by what she was doing, many other women joined her. This is how the Missionaries of Charity were formed, and she became known as Mother Teresa. Her legacy continues today through the work of over 4500 sisters who care for people worldwide and run schools, soup kitchens and homes for orphaned children. During her life, she won awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India’s highest civilian award in 1980. In 2003 Pope John Paul II began the process of making her a saint, and she was canonised as St. Teresa of Calcutta in September 2016 by Pope Francis. St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. St. George Feast day: 23rd April The Patron Saint of England St. George was raised a Christian and always wanted to be a soldier. When he was old enough, he joined the army. The man in charge of the army, Diocletian, hated Christians and had many put to death. Diocletian decided that everyone in his army must worship him and the Roman gods instead. George refused even though the army officials begged him to deny the one true God. Knowing that he would soon be arrested and executed, George gave all his money to the poor and prepared himself for death. He was cruelly tortured and then beheaded on April 23, 303. He is most famous for the legend of St. George and the Dragon. In a city called Silene lived a dragon who breathed fire. The dragon poisoned the countryside. To please the dragon, the people of Silene gave it a sheep every day for food, and when there were no more sheep, they gave their children to the dragon. The children were chosen by a lottery. One year, the lottery chose the King's daughter. The King, sad and desperate, asked the people to take all his gold, silver, and half of his empire - but only if his daughter could be saved. The people refused. The daughter was sent out to the lake, dressed in white as a bride, to be a fine meal for the dragon. Not knowing this, St. George rode past the lake the same day. The princess, terrified and trembling, tried to send him away, but George said he would stay and protect her. The dragon came suddenly out of the lake while they were speaking. St. George made the Sign of the Cross, jumped on his horse and advanced toward the dragon. He used his long spear to hurt the dragon badly. Then he asked the princess to throw her long belt at him. He put the silk belt around the dragon's neck, and the dragon followed the girl. The Princess and St. George took the dragon back to Silene, where the people were terrified to see the dragon enter. But Saint George told them not to be scared. He said that if the people became Christians and went to Church to be baptised, he would kill the dragon immediately. The king and the people of Silene converted to Christianity; George killed the dragon with his sword, 'Ascalon', and its body was taken out of the city on carts. Fifteen thousand men were baptised, not counting women and children. The king built a Church for the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. George on the site where the dragon died. On St. George's Day, some people in England wear a red rose or put an English flag in their window. The flag of England is white with a red cross. The flag’s design is often called 'The Saint George Cross'. St. George, pray for us. St. Joseph Feast Day: 19th March The Patron Saint of Fathers, the Catholic Church, Unborn Children, Happy Death, Carpenters, Pilgrims, and Immigrants (to name a few). Joseph was the husband of Mary and Jesus’ foster father. Saints Luke and Matthew both comment that he is a descendant of David, considered the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). From the Bible, we learn that he was a carpenter and a hard-working man. He was not thought to be rich as when he and Mary presented Jesus in the temple; he offered two turtledoves as a sacrifice, which was allowed if you could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24). There are no spoken words recorded by Saint Joseph in the Bible. Joseph was a man of action and protected Jesus when God told him to go to Egypt and protect Jesus from King Herod. He was compassionate and loving towards Mary and Jesus and listened to and respected God. Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death or resurrection, many believe Joseph probably died before Jesus entered public ministry. It is believed that he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary, so he is the patron of a happy death. Saint Joseph’s feast day is 19th March which is always during Lent. Many countries worldwide celebrate and remember Saint Joseph’s life and example today. In Spain, people celebrate Father’s Day, El Dia del Padre, on this day. St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Cecilia Feast day: 22nd November The Patron Saint of Music and Musicians. Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman who had given her heart to Christ. Cecilia's parents gave her in marriage to a young pagan noble, Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia is considered the patroness of music because, during the wedding celebration, the lovely bride sat apart, singing a hymn of love to God in her heart and praying for his help. Cecilia told her husband, "I have a secret to tell you. You must know that I have an angel of God watching over me.” Valerian was surprised and said kindly, "Show me this angel. If he comes from God, I will do as you wish." Cecilia said, "If you believe in the one true God and receive the waters of Baptism, then you will see my angel." Valerian went to Bishop Urban and was received with joy. After he had professed his belief, he was baptised and returned to St. Cecilia. Thereby the saint's side, the young man saw the splendid angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads and offered Valerian a favour, and Valerian asked that his brother also be baptised. Valerian's brother, Tiburtius, learned of the faith from Cecilia. She spoke so beautifully of Jesus, and as a result, he was baptised before long. Together the two brothers performed many works of charity and mercy, like burying dead martyrs. When arrested, they bravely went to death rather than give up their new faith in Jesus. St. Cecilia lovingly buried their bodies before she, too, was arrested. As St. Cecilia was dying, she lay pointing three fingers on one hand and one finger on the other to profess her belief in the Blessed Trinity. When her tomb was opened about one thousand five hundred years later in Rome, her body was still found perfect and incorrupt. St. Cecilia, pray for us. St. Catherine of Siena Feast Day: 29th April The Patron Saint of Italy. She was born in Siena and died in Rome. She promoted peace in Italy and is one of Italy’s two patron saints: Saint Francis of Assisi. She was born Katerina de Benincasa in western Italy, the 25th of 25 children. She was born during the Black Death or Bubonic Plague. Although it probably killed many she knew, she did not contract the disease and survived the epidemic. She had a twin sister, who died several months later. Her family was part of the lower classes, and she did not become literate until 1378. At the age of six, Catherine had a vision of Jesus Christ. She continued to receive many visions throughout her life. At age 12, Catherine cut off her hair and was obligated to serve her family, living in small quarters in the basement. At 16, she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic and later became a Dominican nun. She wrote a book called Dialogue, which taught that if you love your neighbours, it is loving God. She also devoted her life to improving the Catholic church, helping the ill, poor, and spiritually underprivileged. Catherine persuaded the pope to return from Avignon, France and back to Rome. She also tried to start a new Crusade to the holy land, Jerusalem. She died of “holy anorexia” as she ate very little in the name of God. She became a saint in 1461 and was later made a Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI and a patron of Europe in 1999. St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us. St. Augustine of Hippo Feast Day: 28th August The Patron Saint of Converts to Christianity, Printers and Theologians. Augustine was originally from North Africa. Also known as Augustine of Hippo, he was born in the Roman province of Numidia (modern-day Algeria) to a Christian mother and a pagan father. The young Augustine attended school for several years, where he became acquainted with Latin literature after showing an aptitude for his studies. Despite his academic brilliance, Augustine never managed to master Greek: his first teacher had been strict and beaten his students, so Augustine rebelled and responded by refusing to study. He never managed to learn properly later in life, which he said was a deep regret. He was, however, fluent in Latin and could make comprehensive and clever arguments. He was ordained a priest in Hippo and later became the Bishop of Hippo in 395. He preached between 6,000 and 10,000 sermons in his lifetime! In 430, the invasion into Roman Africa besieged Hippo. During the siege, Augustine was said to have miraculously healed an ill man. He died during the siege on 28 August, spending his final days absorbed in prayer and doing penance. Influenced by Greek and Roman philosophers, Augustine helped shape and create some of Western Christianity’s key theological ideas and doctrines, including those around original sin, divine grace and virtue. He is remembered today as one of the key theologians in Christianity, alongside St. Paul. St. Augustine, pray for us. St. Peter Feast day: 29th June The Patron Saint of Popes, Rome, and many cities that bear his name, such as St. Petersburg and Saint-Pierre. As a Former Fisherman, he is the Patron Saint of Netmakers, Shipbuilders, and Fishermen, and because he holds the “Keys of Heaven,” he is also the Patron Saint of Locksmiths. St. Peter, named Simon at birth, was a fisherman from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee. Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen before Jesus called them to follow him. One day as Peter and Andrew were mending their fishing nets, Jesus called out to the brothers. Jesus said, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Both brothers left their nets to become disciples of Jesus. After Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was among the first to see him alive. Peter’s given name was Simon, but Jesus gave him the name ‘Peter’, which means ‘rock.’ Jesus entrusted Peter with an extraordinary task. He appointed him the leader of the Church. Jesus said, "You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Peter received the Holy Spirit with the other disciples at Pentecost. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enabled him to carry out the mission of Jesus to witness the Gospel. He encouraged the early Christians to spread the Gospel message to people of all nations. Peter bravely accepted suffering for the sake of Christ as well. He was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. When he was released, he continued his mission. Then he went to Rome to preach the Gospel there. When a persecution of Christians broke out, Peter was arrested and killed. On 29th June, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Peter the Apostle. The historical accuracy of the accounts of Peter's role in Rome is a matter of ongoing debate. In art, he is often shown holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven (interpreted by Roman Catholics as a sign of his primacy over the Church), a reference to Matthew 16:19. Christian tradition says Saint Peter was the first leader of an early apostolic community for at least 34 years. At that time, the word Pope or ‘Papa’ was not used to name the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. At that time, there was only one Christian Church. Later, the Roman Catholic Church would say that Peter was their first Pope. St. Peter, pray for us. St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day: 4th October The Patron Saint of Animals, Merchants, and Ecology. Founder of the Franciscan Order and born at Assisi in Umbria in 1181, Francis enjoyed a rich, easy life growing up because of his father's wealth. He was originally named Giovanni Francesco Bernardone. From the beginning, everyone loved Francis. He was constantly happy, charming, and a born leader. If he was picky, people excused him. If he was ill, people took care of him. No one minded if he was so much of a dreamer or if he did poorly in school. No one tried to control him or teach him. As he grew up, Francis became the leader of a crowd of young people who spent their nights at wild parties. Like his father, he loved the country and songs of France. He was first interested in French troubadours, known as wanderers, who improvised songs on a stringed instrument. He was also good at business. However, Francis wanted more than wealth. He wanted to be a noble, a knight. Battles were the best place to win the glory and prestige he longed for. He got his first chance when Assisi declared war on their long-time enemy, the nearby town of Perugia. A call for knights for the Fourth Crusade gave Francis a chance for his dream. But he never got farther than one day's ride from Assisi. There he had a dream in which God told him he had it all wrong and told him to return home. And return home, he did. What must it have been like to return without ever making it to battle -- the boy who wanted nothing more than to be liked was humiliated, laughed at, and called a coward by the village. Francis' conversion did not happen overnight. God had waited for him for twenty-five years, and now it was Francis' turn to wait. He started to spend more time in prayer. He went off to a cave and wept for his sins. Sometimes God's grace overwhelmed him with joy. But life couldn't just stop for God. There was a business to run, customers to wait on. One day while riding through the countryside, Francis, the man who loved beauty, came face to face with a leper. Repelled by the appearance and the smell of the leper, he nevertheless jumped down from his horse and kissed the hand of the leper. When his kiss of peace was returned, Francis was filled with joy. As he rode off, he turned around for a last wave and saw that the leper had disappeared. He always looked upon it as a test from God... that he had passed. Francis’ father was not happy with his son’s conversion to humility and disowned him. Wearing nothing but castoff rags, Francis went off into the freezing woods -singing. And when robbers beat him later and took his clothes, he climbed out of the ditch and went off singing again. From then on, Francis had nothing... and yet everything. Slowly companions came to Francis. He knew he now had to have some kind of direction in this life. "Here is our rule," Francis said. He would do what no one thought possible anymore by the Gospel. Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation. Much has been written about Francis' love of nature, but his relationship was deeper than that. He felt that nature and God's creations were part of his brotherhood. The sparrow was as much his brother as the Pope. Years of poverty and wandering had made Francis ill. His final years were filled with suffering as well as humiliation. Praying to share Christ's passion, he had a vision that received the stigmata, the marks of the nails and the lance wound Christ suffered in his own body. Francis never recovered from this illness. He died on 4th October 1226, at the age of 45. On his feast day, many churches have a ceremony for people to bring their pets and working animals to church. St. Francis, pray for us. St. Margaret Clitherow Feast Day: 26th March The Patron Saint of Businesswomen, Converts, Martyrs, Catholic Women's League, and Latin Mass Society. Clitherow was born Margaret Middleton in 1556, one of five children of Thomas and Jane Middleton. Her father was a respected businessman, a wax chandler, and Sheriff of York in 1564. He died when Margaret was fourteen. She married John Clitherow, a wealthy butcher and a city chamberlain, in 1571 and bore him three children. Margaret converted to Roman Catholicism in 1574. Although her husband belonged to the Established Church, he was supportive as his brother William was a Roman Catholic priest. He paid her fines for not attending church services. She was first imprisoned in 1577 for failing to attend church. Two more incarcerations at York Castle followed. Her third child, William, was born in prison. Margaret risked her life by harbouring and maintaining priests. She provided two chambers, where she kept priests hidden, and Mass was celebrated through the thick of the Roman Catholic persecution. Her home became one of northern England's most important hiding places for fugitive priests. She sent her older son, Henry, to the English College in France to train for the priesthood. Her husband was summoned by the authorities to explain why his oldest son had gone abroad, and in March 1586, the Clitherow house was searched. A frightened boy revealed the location of the priest’s hole. Margaret was arrested for the crime of harbouring Roman Catholic priests. She refused to plead innocent or guilty to prevent a trial involving her children being made to testify and being tortured. Although pregnant with her fourth child, she was executed on Lady Day, 1586 (which also happened to be Good Friday that year) in the Toll Booth at Ouse Bridge by being crushed to death. The two sergeants who should have carried out the execution hired four desperate beggars to do it instead. Following her execution, Queen Elizabeth I wrote to the citizens of York, expressing her horror at the treatment of a woman. Because of her gender, she argued, Clitherow should not have been executed. St. Margaret of Clitherow, pray for us. St. Nicholas Feast Day: 6th December The Patron Saint of Children, Coopers, Sailors, Fishermen, Merchants, Broadcasters, the Falsely Accused, Repentant Thieves and Brewers. St. Nicholas was born in the third century in Patara (modern-day Turkey) into a wealthy Christian family. When he was still very young, his parents died of an epidemic. He then sold his inheritance to help the poor and the suffering. Nicholas became the bishop of Myra when he was still a young man. He joined Saint Ambrose and Saint Severus in being appointed bishop without serving as a priest. He soon became widely known for his generosity and willingness to help those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. During the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned for about five years. Bishop Nicholas died on December 6, 343. He was recognised as a saint before canonisation became a formal process in the 10th century. In those days, saints were declared by acclamation, which is the unanimous consent of the people. It is said that every year, the relics of St. Nicholas give off pure water that smells like rose water and is called manna or myrrh. The water is believed to have miraculous powers. It gradually seeps out of the tomb and is collected annually on St. Nicholas’ feast day, the 6th of December. The ‘manna’ helped to spread and foster the growth of the devotion to St. Nicholas. Throughout the years, history and legend have blended regarding the life of St. Nicholas. A well-known story established the tradition of St. Nicholas as a gift-giver. There was a woodcutter who had three daughters. In the days of Nicholas, when daughters were married, a father had to offer the potential husband a dowry – something valuable. A woman was likelier to marry a good man with a larger dowry. The poor woodcutter’s daughters had no dowry and would be sold into slavery. However, mysteriously, on three different nights, a bag of gold was tossed through an open window, landing in some stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry. Because of this gift by Nicholas, the three daughters were saved from slavery and given a future. Because of this story, the tradition of leaving shoes by the fireplace on St. Nicholas’ feast day began. On the feast day of St. Nicholas, it is customary for children to place their shoes by the fireplace, windowsill, or bedroom door for St. Nicholas to fill with toys, fruit, chocolate, and coins. Giving gifts on this feast day can re-centre the focus of Christmas on the birth of Christ instead of on presents. Every 6th December, St. Nicholas should remind us that true joy lies not in receiving but in giving! St. Nicholas, pray for us. St John Paul II Feast Day: 22nd October The Patron Saint of World Youth Day. Karol Wojtyla, known as Pope John Paul II, was born in Wadowice, a small city in Poland, on May 18, 1920. He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Upon graduation from high school in Wadowice, he enrolled in Cracow's University in 1938 and in a drama school. The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939. Young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the chemical factory to earn his living and avoid being deported to Germany. In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the seminary of Cracow. After the Second World War, he continued his seminary studies until his ordination in Cracow on November 1st, 1946. He later became the Bishop of Ombi in 1958 and the Archbishop of Krakow in 1964. He was made a Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1967, and in 1978 became the first non-Italian Pope in more than 400 years. Pope John Paul II is remembered for his successful efforts to end communism, as well as for building bridges with peoples of other faiths and issuing the Catholic Church's first apology for its actions during World War II. As the leader of the Catholic Church, he travelled the world, visiting more than 100 countries to spread his message of faith and peace. He was a vocal advocate for human rights and used his influence to effect political change. He died in Italy in 2005. It was announced in July 2013 that he would be declared a saint in April of the following year. St. John Paul II, pray for us. St. David Feast Day: 1st March The Patron Saint of Wales, Vegetarians and poets. David was born in Wales and wanted nothing more than to serve God. He studied hard at school and excelled in studying the scriptures. David later became a monk; he founded ten monasteries where all the monks lived the same simple life as David, working hard and studying hard to serve God in the best possible way. David was kind to everyone who needed help but quickly corrected those who made mistakes. At this time, a group of people were talking a great deal of nonsense about God. A meeting was called regarding this matter, and David demonstrated that he was a great defender of the faith. As a result of this was made head of the church in Wales. It is said that St. David was preaching to a large crowd of people. The people at the back could not hear him. He made the ground below him form a hill so that the people at the back could hear and see him better! His last words to his followers came from his sermon just before he died: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.” He is now buried in the City of St David’s in Wales in St David’s Cathedral. St. David, pray for us. St Anthony of Padua Feast Day: 13th June The Patron Saint of Lost Things. Anthony’s birth and baptismal name was Fernando Martins. He was born in Portugal in 1195 to a wealthy family, yet he felt called to the priesthood and chose a life of poverty. At the age of fifteen, he travelled to the capital of Portugal to study to become a priest. After his ordination (when he became a priest), he lived at an abbey and cared for visiting guests. Once when some Franciscans were visiting, Fernando felt called to join their order. When he took the vows of this order, he changed his name to Anthony. The plan was for Anthony to travel to Morocco to help spread the Catholic faith. While there, he became very sick. Because he was so ill, his superiors decided to send him back to Portugal. On the way home, a storm blew his ship off course. Instead of landing back in Portugal, they landed in Sicily, close to Italy. They then travelled to Tuscany, which is in the middle of Italy. Being ill and weak, Anthony’s superiors decided to have him stay with some local friars to regain his health. He spent a long time there praying and studying. One day, Dominican friars arrived, and there was confusion about who would give the homily at a Mass. Somehow, it was determined that Anthony should give it. Anthony was not known for his preaching abilities, and his superior told him, “Just say what the Holy Spirit wants you to.” (In other words, don’t prepare anything, and God will give you the words to say.) His homily was so well received that he was from then on asked to preach to various groups. He became known as a great preacher. What was so special about Anthony’s preaching? Anyone, young or old, educated, could understand what he was trying to teach. Books back in this time were rare and highly treasured. Anthony had a book that he often used for reference when teaching. One day it was stolen. St. Anthony prayed that the thief would return it. His prayer was answered. The thief even eventually became a member of his religious order! It was deemed a miracle. This is why people pray to St. Anthony when searching for lost items. "Dear St. Anthony, please come around: something is lost, and it cannot be found." St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us. St. Jude Feast Day: 28th October The Patron Saint of Lost Causes and Hopeless Situations. St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, which means 'generous and kind', was a brother of St. James the Less and a relative of Jesus. St. Jude was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus and is referred to in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, sometimes called ‘Jude of James’. Ancient writers tell us that Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. He returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and assisted in the election of his brother, Saint Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. We often see pictures and statues of St. Jude with a flame on his head. This represented his presence at Pentecost when he received the Holy Spirit with the other Apostles. Sometimes we see him in a boat to symbolise that, as an Apostle, he was a fisher of men. Another common attribute is Jude holding an image of Jesus Christ, known as the Image of Edessa. Little is known about Jude's life other than that he was a good man who followed the Lord. He asked Jesus at the Last Supper why he would not manifest himself to the whole world after his Resurrection. He is thought to have been martyred in Beirut around 65 AD, along with fellow apostle Simon the Zealot. He is sometimes depicted showing a club or axe, symbolising how he died. In the Catholic church, he is known as the patron saint for hopeless causes. Jude became associated with desperate situations because of a letter he wrote to the Churches of the East. In it, he says that the faithful must keep going even in harsh or challenging circumstances. Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, I place myself into your hands at this difficult time. Please help me to know that I am not alone. Please pray for me, asking God to send me comfort for my sorrows, bravery for my fears, and healing for my suffering. Ask our loving God to strengthen my faith and give me the courage to accept His Will for my life. Thank you, St. Jude, for the hope you offer to all who believe in you. St. Jude, pray for us. St. Valentine Feast Day: 14th February The Patron Saint of Marriage. St. Valentine lived a lo ng time ago when Emperor Claudius II was the ruler of Rome. There were two important things to know about this king. First, Claudius II did not like Christians. Second, he loved having lots of soldiers to fight in his wars! Claudius II thought having soldiers for his wars was so important that he made a law that people could not get married. Claudius II believed that if young boys got married and had families, they would not want to go off and fight in his wars. This made things tricky for the Christians following God. First, they knew that God wanted them to worship Him, not the false gods of Claudius II. Second, they knew God wanted them to marry and start families. St. Valentine had the special job of being God’s helper during this time. He was a priest, so he would marry the men and women who wanted to get married. This is why he is called the patron saint of love and marriage. Emperor Claudius tried to no avail to convert Saint Valentine. Regardless of what was asked, however, Valentine would not renounce his faith, so Claudius sent him to prison. The guard where Valentine was imprisoned listened as he preached day in and day out. As the legend goes, the guard, Asterius, had a daughter who was blind. He asked Valentine to hear her confession, which he did. Afterwards, Valentine put his hands over the girl’s eyes and chanted: “Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten your handmaid because You are God, the True Light.” Immediately, the little girl regained her eyesight. Because of this miracle, the guard and many of his family members converted to Christianity and were baptised. Upon hearing of the conversions, Emperor Claudius condemned them to death. He was killed on 14th February 269. St. Valentine, pray for us. St. Oscar Romero Feast day: 24th March The Patron Saint of Persecuted Christians. Oscar Arnulfo Romero was born into a family of ten on 15 August in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. His father was in charge of the local telegraph office. Sometimes the young Romero helped his father to deliver telegrams. Oscar learned to be a carpenter, making tables, chairs, and doors. When he was 14 years old, Oscar wanted to be a priest, so he went to study at the junior seminary. When his mother was ill, and they needed money for medicine, Oscar left the seminary for three months and worked in the gold mine in Potosí. He earned about 4p a day. In 1937, Oscar went to Rome to study and stayed there during World War II. His father and brother died while he was in Rome. In 1942, Romero was ordained a priest and returned to El Salvador. He became famous for his sermons. He also did a lot of parish work, like visiting prisons, organising catechism classes, and working with others in the Church to provide help and food for the poor. Romero’s compassion for the poor earned him great admiration from many Salvadorans. Romero was made a bishop on 21st June 1970. Violence increased in El Salvador by the mid-1970s as the government and army began killing poor people who stood up for their rights. When the army killed three people in the village of Tres Calles in Romero’s diocese, he comforted the families and wrote to the President to protest about the murders. In 1978, Romero became Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Some rich people were happy because they thought he would stop priests from helping the poor to stand up for their basic rights. But a few weeks later, his friend Fr Rutilio Grande was shot and killed, along with two companions. The following Sunday, Romero allowed only one Mass in the whole diocese - at the Cathedral - where he spoke out against the murders. From 1978-1980, as the violence in El Salvador continued, Romero continued to speak out. Every Sunday, his sermon was broadcast by radio. The whole country listened. Romero’s life was often threatened. In his sermon on 23rd March, Romero ordered the army to stop killing people: “In the name of God, and in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I beg you, I implore you, I order you, in the name of God, stop the repression!” The next day, a shot killed Romero as he said Mass. A UN report later found that Major Roberto D’Aubuisson had ordered Romero’s death. Thousands came to the funeral. The army fired into the crowd. Thirty people died, and hundreds were injured. The civil war in El Salvador continued until 1992. His canonisation took place on 14 October 2018 in Rome. St. Oscar Romero, pray for us. St. Thérèse of Lisieux Feast day: 1st October The Patron Saints of Missions and Florists. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is regarded as a Doctor of the Catholic Church, which means that her life and writings are considered particularly important for Catholics. She is also called the ‘Little Flower of Jesus.’ Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin was born on 2nd January 1873, in Alençon, France, the youngest daughter of a watchmaker and a lacemaker. After her mother died in 1877, Thérèse moved with her family to Lisieux, where older sisters and an aunt raised her. Thérèse’s strong faith developed early in her home's deeply religious atmosphere. At the age of 14, she requested admission to the Carmelite convent at Lisieux with two of her sisters but was refused because she was too young. On a pilgrimage to Italy in late 1887, she asked the Holy Father to be allowed to enter the convent during an audience with Pope Leo XIII. Eventually, permission was granted, and in April 1888, she entered the Carmel. Her romantic ideas of convent life and suffering soon met up with reality in a way she had never expected. When her father suffered a stroke, he was physically and mentally affected and was admitted to an asylum. Unfortunately, as a nun in the convent, Thérèse was not allowed to leave to visit him, which troubled her greatly. Thérèse knew that as a Carmelite nun, she would never be able to perform great deeds. However, she took every chance to sacrifice, no matter how small it would seem. She smiled at the sisters she didn't like. She ate everything she was given without complaining, so she was often given the worst leftovers. She was once accused of breaking a vase when she was not at fault. Instead of arguing, she sank to her knees and begged forgiveness. Thérèse continued worrying about how she could achieve holiness in her life. She didn't want just to be good; she wanted to be a saint. Then in 1896, Thérèse coughed up blood. She kept working without telling anyone until she became so sick a year later that everyone knew it. Worst of all, she had lost her joy and confidence and felt she would die young without leaving anything behind. Her sister Pauline had already had her writing down her memories in a journal so they would have something to share about her life after her death. Her pain was so great, but she tried to remain smiling and cheerful - and succeeded so well that some thought she was only pretending to be ill. Her one dream was the work she would do after her death, helping those on Earth. "Upon my death, I will let fall a shower of roses; I wish to spend my heaven in doing good upon the Earth." She died on 30th September 1897, at 24 years old tuberculosis. Mother Teresa chose her name in honour of her. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us. St. Paul Feast day: 29th June The Patron Saint of the Missionaries, Writers, Journalists, Authors, Public workers, Rope and Saddle Makers, and Tent Makers. After Jesus Christ, St. Paul is often considered the most important person in the history of Christianity. He was one of the leaders of the first Christians. Paul’s life and his writings make up 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament in the Bible. His most significant impact on Christian history comes from the letters he wrote. They played a significant role in the development of Christian beliefs. Paul was given the name Saul at birth in about 4-5 AD in what is now Turkey. He was Jewish and initially persecuted the followers of Jesus. He travelled to synagogues and suggested that any Jew who accepted Jesus as the Messiah (saviour of the Jews) be punished. The story of Saul’s conversion to Christianity is a popular Christian story. He was travelling to Damascus when a bright light shone on him, and Jesus spoke to him. After this experience, he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. From that day on, he used the name Paul. After his conversion, Paul went to Jerusalem to meet Peter, chief of Jesus’ apostles, to learn how Jesus had lived. Paul then became one of the greatest missionaries of all time. For the next 20 years, he established churches in Asia Minor and Europe. As a result of Paul’s work, Christianity soon became a worldwide religion. Paul returned to Jerusalem in the late 50s. He was arrested for bringing non-Jews into the Temple. After a series of trials, he was sent to Rome. He was held in Rome for two years. It is unknown how Paul died, but it is believed that Emperor Nero had Paul beheaded between 64 and 67 AD. Paul believed his purpose was to preach to and convert Gentiles (people who were not Jewish) to Christianity. His greatest impact on Christian history comes from the letters he wrote. His thoughts on Jesus, Jewish law, and the relationship between God and Jesus were the foundation for the development of Christianity. He shares his feast day on 29th June with St. Peter. St. Paul, pray for us. St. John the Beloved Feast day: 27th December The Patron Saint of Authors, Booksellers, Burn Victims, Art Dealers, Editors, Friendships, Government Officials, Notaries, Printers, Scholars, Tanners, Theologians and more. According to the New Testament, John the Apostle (c.AD 6-100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Generally, he is listed as the youngest apostle. His brother was James, who was another of the Twelve Apostles. He is sometimes referred to as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder and the Beloved Disciple. Church tradition has held that John is the author of the Gospel of John and five other books of the New Testament — the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. In the Gospel of John, the phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved" or "the Beloved Disciple" is used five times but not in any other New Testament accounts of Jesus. John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater). Their mother was Salome. Zebedee and his sons fished in the Sea of Galilee. The brothers were the first disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus then called Peter, Andrew and these two sons of Zebedee to follow him. James and John are listed among the Twelve Apostles. Jesus referred to the pair as "Boanerges" (translated as "sons of thunder") because although their nature was calm and gentle, when their patience was pushed to its limits, their anger became wild and thunderous, causing them to speak out like an untamed storm. A gospel story relates how the brothers wanted to call down heavenly fire on a Samaritan town, but Jesus refused them. John lived for more than half a century following the martyrdom of his brother James, the first Apostle to die a martyr's death. John was the only one of the Twelve Apostles who did not forsake Jesus in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when the Saviour made him His Mother’s guardian. It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and outlived them. He is said to have lived to an old age, dying at Ephesus sometime after AD 98. John's traditional tomb is thought to be located at Selçuk, a small town in the vicinity of Ephesus. St. John is the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships, and authors. He is often depicted in art as the author of the Gospel with an eagle, symbolising "the height he rose to in his gospel." In other icons, he is shown looking up into heaven and dictating his Gospel to his disciple. St. John the Beloved, pray for us. Maximilian Kolbe Feast day: 14th August The Patron Saint of Amateur Radio Operators, Political Prisoners, Families, Journalists, and Prisoners. Maximilian Kolbe was born Raymund Kolbe on 8th January 1894 in Poland. His life was strongly influenced by a vision he had of the Virgin Mary when he was 12 years old. As a priest, Kolbe worked to convert sinners and enemies of the church. He travelled around Poland, promoting Mary and set up a religious printing press. Later, he founded monasteries in Japan and India. Kolbe returned to Poland in 1936 due to his poor health. When World War II broke out, he was one of the only Franciscans to stay in the monastery and opened up a hospital for those injured. He also provided shelter for refugees. Kolbe refused to sign paperwork that he would be recognised as a German citizen, and when the monastery was shut down, he was arrested. After 2 months in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, some men were chosen to be starved to death. Kolbe was not one of them, but he took the place of a man with a family. After 2 weeks, he was the last person still alive and was given a lethal injection. It is said that he calmly raised his arm and awaited death. On 10 October 1982, Pope John Paul II canonised Kolbe and declared him a martyr of charity. John Paul II declared him "the patron of our difficult century". Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us. Carlo Acutis Feast Day: 12th October The Patron Saint of Youth Computer Programmers. Born in London (3 May 1991) and raised in Milan, Carlo’s wealthy parents were not particularly religious. Upon receiving his first communion at age seven, Carlo became a frequent communicant, making a point of praying before the Tabernacle before or after every Mass. In addition to Francis of Assisi, Carlo took several of the younger saints as his models, including Bernadette Soubirous, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and Dominic Savio. At school, Carlo tried to comfort friends whose parents were undergoing a divorce, as well as stepping in to defend disabled students from bullies. After school hours, he volunteered with the city’s homeless and destitute. Carlo spent four years creating a website dedicated to cataloguing every reported Eucharistic miracle worldwide. He also enjoyed films, comics, soccer, and playing popular video games. Diagnosed with leukaemia, Carlo offered his sufferings to God for the intentions of the sitting pope—Benedict XVI—and the entire Church. His longtime desire to visit as many sites of Eucharistic miracles as possible was cut short by his illness. Carlo died in 2006 and was beatified in 2020. He was noted for his cheerfulness, computer skills, and deep devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life. Carlos Acutis, pray for us.

St Bernadette's School Council School Council Making a Difference St. Bernadette’s has an active school council in which 2 elected members from Years 1-6 meet and discuss views and ideas in our school, community and world. The Election Process Years 1-4: Children had to express to their teachers why they wanted to be in School Council and what qualities they could bring. Teachers discussed all candidates and voted for their Year bands councillors. Years 5-6: Children had time to write a speech on why they wanted to be a representative for their peers. They explained changes they wanted to make and ideas they had to continue to make our school a positive and welcoming environment. They then had to present this speech in front of their Year bands and teachers. The children were then asked to vote for 2 chosen candidates from their year bands using a ballot process. Each of the children were given a voting slip which they had to exchange for a ballot paper. The children then had to go to the voting booth and select their candidate by placing an ‘X’ in the box. What is our Vision? To have a school which is dynamic, a school that not only listens, but acts upon the views of its pupils. To further promote and express the voice of the child, not just within our school but within the City of Birmingham and with schools around the World. We hope to extend and share our ideas through further communications with other schools across the globe. What is our Aim? To raise people’s awareness that children have valid ideas. To be a voice for the children in our school. To make our school an even more friendly and pleasant place in which to learn. To make suggestions as to how our school could be improved further. To further improve our school environment. To raise money for charities. February This month, we are looking at how we can improve pupil wellbeing. We have been in talks with Mrs Worth, our school cook, to see how we can improve our school lunches. An addition of barbeque sauce has been made to our Friday’s which we are very excited about! We have also had to choose 4 new Golden Choices. We are so pleased that pyjama day won and can’t wait to celebrate with it at the end of Spring 1 term. Our new choices are Disco, Extra Playtime, Cinema Afternoon and Crazy Hair Day. Let’s see which one wins this time! January School Council were tasked with a job by Mrs Canning. We had to decide 4 options for our Golden Choices scheme. We chose 3 different options which the children would vote for with tokens, then whatever had the most, we would get at the end of a half term! We decided on a disco, art afternoon, games afternoon and a pyjama day! We’re looking forward to seeing what wins! November For the month of November, School Council were thinking about being thankful and how lucky we are to have the things we do. In order to help others, School Council decided to collect for the Trussell Trust food banks. The Trussell Trust provides food and toiletries to families when they need it most. Councillors spread the message throughout school and encouraged their peers to donate. They organised the food and prepared it ready to donate. We managed to collect a huge 34kg of food and toiletries! October School Council were asked by Mrs Canning to choose a name for our new space in school. This space will be used for pupils who need some time away from class, to continue to explore and learn. We would like the room to be a calm environment and the name to reflect that. After many discussions and a vote, we decided on The Moonlight Room. We can’t wait to see the sign up soon! September School Council have been set a task by Mr Carroll! We were asked to discuss ideas for new Track-it prizes for the school. We met last week and brainstormed ideas, deciding on what prizes could be used for less and more points. We thought about what we would find useful as a prize, as well as things we would just enjoy. School Council went back to their year groups and gathered ideas from their peers. On Tuesday, we met with Mr Carroll and pitched our ideas to him. He was impressed with how well thought out our ideas were and we hope to see a few of them soon.

Safeguarding Safeguarding Policy Designated Safeguarding Leads Miss E Finnegan Head Teacher Mr A Carroll Deputy Head Teacher If you have any concerns about the safety and/or welfare of a child or young person please contact school. Miss Finnegan is the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Carroll, Miss Di Pierri, Mrs Taylor & Mrs Hill are the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. You can make a referral directly to Children's services by calling the Children's Advice & Support Service (CASS) on 0121 303 1888 or via secure email; ehst@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk

RSE at St Bernadette's RSE Relationships and Sex Education in Schools In June 2019, the Government released the final guidance document of what schools will need to deliver around RSE as part of the basic school curriculum. This guidance replaces the SRE guidance of 2000 The new statutory requirements come into effect from September 2020, although the DFE is encouraging schools to begin teaching the new curriculum now. As a minimum, all schools will be required to cover a number of themes and topics by the end of the primary or secondary phase. Relationships education Families and people who care for me Caring relationships Respectful relationships Online relationships Being safe Physical health and mental well being Mental wellbeing Internet safety and harms Physical health and fitness Healthy eating Drugs alcohol and tobacco Health and prevention Basic first aid Changing adolescent body Delivery Many schools currently deliver these topics as part of their timetabled PSHE (personal social and health education) The content also complements national curriculum subjects such as science, PE and computing. It is a requirement that all schools have a written policy in place for RSE and this is freely available to parents and stakeholders. The policy should reflect the needs of the children, parents and the community they serve. Schools are allowed to devise a policy that reflects the faith background of their pupils. Right to withdraw There is no right of parental withdrawal from Relationships Education or Health education elements. Parents do have the right to withdraw from some or all of the sex education, outside of the mandatory requirements ie that stated in the science national curriculum. RSE at St Bernadette’s At St Bernadette’s we have subscribed to an online RSE Programme provided by a Catholic company called Ten:Ten. Ten:Ten are an award-winning theatre, film and educational organization working in Catholic Primary Schools throughout the UK. We currently use the Collective Worship and Assembly materials provided by Ten:Ten. The program provided by Ten:Ten is called Life To The Full. It is being promoted by the Birmingham Diocesan Education Service. Further information can be found by downloading the PDF presentations below. RSE - KS1 RSE - KS2 RSE: Text

Charity Fundraising The total raised for charity so far this year is £6456.55 "Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them." Proverbs 19:17 At St. Bernadette’s we are committed to educating the whole child which includes instilling a sense of moral and social responsibility, as well as recognising the importance of following the call of Jesus to live our lives with a commitment to the greater good. Through being committed to works of charity we are providing our children with the opportunity to practise selflessness, generosity and compassion, while teaching them the importance of serving others. This helps our children to understand the responsibility that has been placed upon us to do what we can to show our support and solidarity with all members of God’s Family. Our commitment to the support of those less fortunate than ourselves leads us to support both local, national and international organisations and charities in their work with those in need. This helps our children foster a sense of purpose and fulfilment that transcends academic achievement and helps create well-rounded individuals who are committed to making the world a better place. “So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over. Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.” Luke 11:41 Each half term, the children in each year band take the main responsibility for charity work and are encouraged to adopt a charity of their own c hoice. EYFS £944.55 Save the Children's work saves and improves children's lives around the world. They work to ensure children have healthcare, food and shelter, as well as learning and child protection services when children need it most. Nursery and Reception had a wonderful morning making Dens with our family and friends. You helped us to £208.55 for this fantastic charity. You also helped us to raise a further £736 for Nancy, a little girl in our nursery, who was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. We held a disco for Nancy, and all of her friends, and we partied the afternoon away! Thank you to everyone for your generous donations. Nancy and her family are truly grateful for the love and support they have received over the last few months. Year 1 £678 Mission Together is the Catholic Church’s official children’s charity for overseas mission. They are part of a global Catholic organisation, which helps children around the world follow the example of Jesus: praying and sharing to support all God’s children, everywhere, regardless of background or belief. Money raised through Mission Together funds children’s projects in 157 countries. Year 1 organised a disco after school and held a ‘Guess the name of the Teddy and Dog’ competition. A group of children from year 1 then attended a special celebratory Mass at St. Chad’s Cathedral on Saturday 11th March where they read the prayers of intercession. The children were also presented with a certificate, thanking Year 1 for their fundraising efforts. Year 2 £1060 The British Red Cross has been helping millions of people in the UK and around the world get the support they need when crisis strikes. They are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities and when the crisis is over, we help people recover and move on with their lives. Thank you to everyone that bought a raffle ticket to help Year 2 raise money for the British Red Cross. Year 3 Year 3 are busy deciding on their charity for this half term! Year 4 £367.50 WaterAid work with partners in some of the toughest places in the world. Since 1981, across 28 countries, they’ve reached 28.5 million with clean water, 29 million with decent toilets, and 27.8 million with good hygiene. With these basics, entire communities have been able to unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. WaterAid have convinced governments to change laws, link policy makers with people on the ground, pool knowledge and resources and rally support from people and organisations around the world, making lasting change happen on a massive scale. Year 4 sold raffle tickets for their Holiday Hampers. Year 5 Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a leading, specialist paediatric centre, delivering some of the most advanced treatments, complex surgical procedures and cutting-edge research to over 90,000 children and young people from across the UK and beyond. Every patient and family benefits from their charity, but the impact of fundraising is much more than purely financial. It makes a real difference to the spaces, treatment and equipment they provide to children and their families. Year 5 held a charity disco to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital! Year 6 Heartlands Hospital Charity supports patients, families and staff at Heartlands Hospital & the Birmingham Chest Clinic by funding equipment, facilities and research through donations and fundraising. Year 6 will be raising money by selling tickets for their end of year production - Matilda! At St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, we also lead whole school charity events. This year we raised £158 during our MacMillan Coffee Morning. We took part in Jolly Jumper Day to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and raised £473. We asked everyone to wear their favourite festive pullover and donate £1 per person (or a donation of their choice). Over twenty members of staff from St. Bernadette's Primary School climbed Mount Snowdon in 2021 to raise money for two members of our school community. We raised £13,176. We helped Holy Family Church raise money by helping at the Christmas fayre. The children and staff from St Bernadette’s supported the church by holding a chocolate tombola! On Thursday 4th May, we celebrated the King's coronation in school. On this day the children were invited to wear red, white and blue and bring in a 50p donation and we raised £212. This money was used to raise funds for The Prince's Trust - a charity that is close to the King's heart. The Prince’s Trust believes that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter what their background or the challenges they are facing. Year 5 and 6 performed for a Carol Service at Holy Family Church. They asked for a £1 entry charge with all proceeds going to Holy Family Church. The Mini Vinnies from Key Stage 2 held a cake sale for Father Hudson's Good Shepherd Appeal and raised an amazing £325 in one day! We also raised an additional £403.50 through the Good Shepherd boxes. We held an ‘Own Clothes Day’ on Thursday 15th December to raise money for the bereaved families, one of whom was a pupil at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Kingshurst. We aimed to raise £500 but as always, families demonstrated incredible kindness and generosity and as a result we raised £1395. This has now been sent to St Anthony’s to pass on to the families. Thank you and please continue to keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. We sold raffle tickets for our annual Easter Egg raffle week. We raised £440 which was donated to The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of our past pupil, Darcy. In many ways, the mere act of being charitable is its own reward. But being compassionate to people who are less fortunate is also something that God will reward. As part of our Lenten almsgiving, we collected food for the food bank at Lily’ Tea Parlour. Lily's is the first community project of its kind, supporting people with Dementia, Parkinson’s, Cancer and those people who need company. This project helps spreads awareness and gives support to those who may need it. Staff at school organised an afternoon tea social for the residents from Aran Court Care Home. Fun was had by all! FareShare Midlands said a big thank you to Haris and Niamh for their amazing help during our Tesco Food Collection! They helped to collect long life food, like pasta, rice and tins to be redistributed to charities across the Midlands, including food banks, homeless shelters and community cafes. FareShare Midlands relies on the dedication and generosity of volunteers, so they are very grateful for support! Nursery and Reception children decorated their own bonnet/hat to commemorate Holy Week and the coming of Easter. The children took part in a parade and were joined by some of the residents from Aran Court Care Home. We were so proud to have filled the shelves at SIFA Fireside with donations from our very generous families. SIFA Fireside support adults who are experiencing homelessness, or those who are at risk of homelessness in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. We offer coats to parents on a "Swap Shop" basis, the swapped coats can then be washed and hung ready for another parent whose child needs a new coat. “Love is not patronising and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same — with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.” St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Bernadette's Policies & Admissions Admissions Admission Arrangements If you would like your child to attend St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, please read the information below and follow the steps for the relevant entry point. School Visits We hold school tours in November. If you are unable to attend, please contact Mrs Smallwood to arrange a visit. Miss Finnegan, our Headteacher, will be delighted to show you around. Tel: 0121 783 7232 Email: admissions@stberns.co.uk Nursery (ages 3 and 4) How to apply: · Nursery applications are made directly to the school. · Please complete the online Nursery Application Form or get a hard copy from the school office. · We currently offer 52 full-time places (30 hours per week). Documents needed: · Child’s Birth Certificate (copy) · Proof of address · Baptismal Certificate (if applicable) Reception How to apply (September intake): · Applications are coordinated by Birmingham City Council (BCC). Please submit your Reception application via the BCC School Admissions portal by the published deadline. Catholic Supplementary Information Form (SIF) · In addition to your BCC application, please complete our Supplementary Information Form (SIF) so that the correct Catholic admissions criteria can be applied. · Provide proof of Baptism (if applicable) with the SIF and return it to the school office. · Documents to include with SIF · Child’s Birth Certificate (copy) · Proof of address · Baptismal Certificate (if applicable) In-Year Applications (Reception – Year 6) You can apply at any time outside the normal Reception admissions round. Children will be admitted where places are available. How to apply: · Complete the In-Year Application Form (available at stberns.co.uk ), or request a hard copy from the office (Tel 0121 783 7232 | Email admissions@stberns.co.uk ). · Return completed forms to: Mrs M. Smallwood , St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Hob Moor Road, Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8QL , or email admissions@stberns.co.uk . If there are more applications than places: · We will apply our published oversubscription criteria (see the full Admission Arr angements). · If no places are available, your child will be placed on the waiting list. Details will be included in your outcome letter. Appeals If your application is unsuccessful, you have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel. · Late appeals will be heard at the same time as previously scheduled appeals or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged. · Decision letters are normally sent within seven school days of the hearing. Key Contacts Contact: Mrs M. Smallwood, admissions@stberns.co.uk 0121 783 7232 Admissions 2025-2026 Admissions 2026-2027 Nursery Admissions 2026-2027 In Year Application Form Supplementary Application Form Appeal Timetable 2025 Consultation: Proposed Admissions Policy 2027–2028 We are consulting on our proposed Admissions Policy for 2027–2028 If you have any comments, please email Mrs Smallwood at admissions@stberns.bham.sch.uk Parish Boundaries for the Archdiocese of Birmingham

St. Bernadette's Staff Senior Leadership Team Miss Finnegan – Head Teacher Mr Carroll – Deputy Head (On secondment) Mrs Hill – Assistant Head Miss Di Pierri - Assistant Head Mrs. Canning - Acting Deputy Head Mrs Taylor - SENCo The Hub Miss White - HUB Teaching Assistant Miss Mohamed - HUB Teaching Assistant Mrs Kehoe - HUB Teaching Assistant Year 6 Miss Z Boron - 6ZB Teacher / History and Geography Co-ordinator Mrs C Brownhill – 6CB Teacher Miss Connaire - 6CC Teacher/KS2 Co-ordinator Mrs O Armanaviciute – Year 6 Teaching Assistant Year 5 Miss M Friar - 5MF Teacher Miss C Grant - 5CG Teacher / MFL Co-ordinator Miss Taylor - 5ET Teacher Mrs K Yakoob – Year 5 Teaching Assistant Miss Elliot – Year 5 Teaching Assistant Year 4 Miss K Lakin – 4KL Teacher / English Co-ordinator KS2 Mr A Markham-Jones – 4AMJ Teacher / PE Co-ordinator Ms F Mohamed - 4FM Teacher Mrs S Khan - Year 4 Teaching Assistant Ms Baker – Year 4 Teaching Assistant Year 3 Miss E Gibbs - 3EG Teacher Miss D Adu - 3DA Teacher Miss Di Pierri – 3DH Class Teacher Mrs Hill – 3DH Class Teacher Mrs T Emilton - Year 3 Teaching Assistant Mrs S Richards– Teaching Assistant Year 2 Mrs S Hussain - 2SH Teacher/Science Co-ordinator Miss E O'Brien - 2EOB Teacher Mr R Wayne - 2RW Teacher / DT and Art Co-ordinator/KS1 Co-ordinator Mrs J Robinson – Year 2 Teaching Assistant Year 1 Miss O Bowden – 1OB Teacher/EAL Co-ordinator Miss O’Toole – 1CO'T Teacher / English Co-ordinator KS1/EYFS Mrs Clarke – Year 1 Teaching Assistant Mrs Begum – Year 1 Teaching Assistant Reception Mrs L Canning – REL Reception Teacher Mrs Lennon - REL Reception Teacher Miss C Belcher - RCB Reception Teacher Miss L Coley - RLC Reception Teacher Mrs Colclough – RCB Teaching Assistant Mrs Thomas – Reception Teaching Assistant Ms T O'Neill – RLC Reception Teaching Assistant Mrs McCartan - Reception Teaching Assistant Mrs Mayers – Reception Teaching Assistant Nursery Mrs S Rainey - Nursery Teacher / EYFS Co-ordinator Miss E Barron – Nursery Teaching Assistant Mrs S Buchanan - Nursery Teaching Assistant Miss Nield - Nursery Teaching Assistant Miss Thomas - Nursery Teaching Assistant Mrs J Docker – Teacher Ms J Ryan - Teacher Miss C Corkery - Teacher Mr E Baker - Teacher Mrs K Harston – Teacher Mr Lavin – Teacher Miss Lavin – Teacher Miss Finn– Pastoral Support Maternity Leave Mrs C Kidner – Teacher/Computing Co-ordinator Mrs Jones – Teacher/EYFS Co-ordinator Mrs Smallwood – Office Mrs Byng – Office Miss K O'Neill – Office Mrs Apted – Technician Mr Abbott – ICT Operations Manager Mr Malone – Building Site Supervisor Mrs Worth - School Cook

Reading at St Bernadette's Reading At Saint Bernadette’s, we recognise that being part of a child’s early reading journey is a privilege. We as staff understand that we are teaching and building a skill that our pupils will rely upon day after day throughout their lifetime. We encourage our children to view reading as a gift, a gateway to worlds that are different to theirs, a source of knowledge and empowerment. The Five Plagues From Nursery to Year 6, children study the 'Five Plagues' in whole class reading sessions. These five plagues represent five different challenges presented in literature: Archaic texts (stories written in older language) Non-linear time sequence (books which treat time in an unusual way) Complexity of the narrator (stories which are challenging because of the narration) Complexity of story (books with a challenging plot) Resistance texts (texts which are written to be deliberately difficult to understand) We believe a steady exposure to these different challenges will help to prepare our pupils as life-long readers. Reading tricky texts provides our students with a toolkit for future reading. Within these lessons, children will also explore a range of non-fiction texts; develop their understanding of new and challenging vocabulary; listen to their teacher's 'thoughts' as they read and improve their fluency. Non-Fiction Texts We believe that pairing non-fiction texts with fiction books helps to increase absorption rate of both texts. Children are more likely to remember the non-fiction because they are then applying it within the story they are reading, and they are more likely to understand the story because they then have the non-fiction background. Across the school, children are given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of non-fiction texts in conjunction with their plague text on topics such as: asthma, bullying, dementia, refugees, deaf awareness, and the holocaust. They also explore non-fiction texts and poems which link to the science, history and geography curricula. Reading Culture Reading for pleasure is of paramount importance and we work hard to ensure that all pupils develop a love of reading. We publish Book of the Month recommendations; have reading challenges within every year band; create links with authors, through visits and video calls; have timetabled story sessions throughout the school and build a reading community through constant book talk. Reading at Home It is vitally important that children are heard read every night at home. We recommend that parents work with their children for at least twenty minutes a day on their reading. Research states that children who are heard read at home for this length of time will hear 1,800,000 words per year and will, on average, fall in the 90th percentile. Reading at home may involve your child reading to you or you reading part of a story to them. This could involve sharing a book or reading a magazine or newspaper. Try to promote book talk as much as possible in the home. Accelerated Reader We use the Accelerated Reader system as our home-school reading system for Key Stage 2. Children will complete a 'Star Assessment' termly and are given a ZPD score. Books in our school library are organised by ZPD and pupils may choose their own books from the selection within this range. When they have finished a book, children take a quiz to see if they have thoroughly read and understood it. Passing these quizzes gives them points and they can get certificates based on their reading achievement. Accelerated Reader: Parents Guide Reading: About Us Phonics We begin this journey with RWInc phonics and the teaching of letter sounds. Staff teach children to use their knowledge of sounds to decode and blend words enabling children to access phonically matched reading books from the RWInc programme. We develop the children’s love of stories, poems and other genres through daily story sessions and book talk. It is through book talk that we develop the children’s comprehension skills in their EYFS years before they move onto written comprehension tasks in KS1. Through the combination of learning to read with RWInc phonics and listening to and discussing a range of stories, above a level that can be independently read, we aim to foster a love and enjoyment of reading in our pupils. Comprehension At St Bernadette’s School we adopt a strategy based approach whereby pupils are exposed to a variety of texts, question types and are taught strategies (tips) to support them to fully comprehend challenging texts. While the children are reading RWInc books, they will have weekly comprehension lessons based on the RWInc book they are reading. In these lessons they will answer a range of questions including literal retrieval, inference and deduction, vocabulary and summarising. What is the two-week cycle? In week one pupils read the text and focus on identifying any links to the text, retrieving information from the text, clarifying new vocabulary as well as summarising the text. In week one pupils are also taught how to make sensible predictions based on prior knowledge. How do we ensure reading is an active process? Before reading the text, pupils are set a challenge so that they read the text with intent and are actively engaged throughout. What happens during the reading process? Strategies for following the text are modelled by the teacher -for example pupils may be encouraged to follow the text with their reading finger. A variety of approaches are used to read the text and these include the teacher reading the text aloud, pupils filling in word-gaps as the teacher reads as well as independent reading. At St Bernadette’s School we stop at key points in the text and encourage pupils to think aloud. During this process, they may consider how a character is feeling or they may even make a sensible prediction about what may happen next. After reading, pupils summarise the text . This is a key skill. Once pupils have been submerged in the text, we model how to be selective and retell the text in our own words –sequencing the events as they occurred. Did you know 1/5 of the 2018 paper tested vocabulary? After reading we return to the words pupils may have been puzzled by and clarify their meaning. We teach the pupils how to methodically skim and scan for key words or phrases and give them strategies to make this process efficient. We model how each question starter gives the reader a hint as to the response required. Pupils are encouraged to circle the key word in the question and other key words so they carry the information in their head. Pupils are exposed to all the question types. We ensure that pupils are presented with questions in different formats so they become increasingly familiar with the many question styles. Our role is not only to expose them to all the question types but to give them strategies to answer each question type, ensuring that they annotate the text first Once the pupils are familiar with the text it means that in week two they can dig deep and be text detectives (they realise the answers are not explicitly in the text) and infer information. This mind set means they grasp inference and are quite excited about the challenges ahead. In addition, pupils consider how the text is organised and discuss why the author has used certain language choices and their effect. Assessment to inform planning. During the two-week cycle, key objectives are assessed and should the need arise pupils will have a drill down lesson whereby they close the gap in a specific area to ensure the skill or strategy is secure before moving on. Reading Tips for Parents We ask that parents listen to their children read every night at home. With the younger children, this will help them to improve their word recognition, therefore building up their sight vocabulary and fluency. However, for those children who are fluent readers, parents should concentrate on developing their child’s understanding of the text. It may not be necessary to listen to fluent readers every night, but instead to question them about the text that they have read. Reading with children and helping them practice specific reading strategies can dramatically improve their ability to comprehend. We have included a number of questions that parents can use with their children to develop their comprehension skills. It is not expected that parents cover all of these questions every night, but rather that they concentrate on two or three questions each day. KS2 Parent Reading Leaflet: Click image to download The school follows the Read Write Inc Phonics, which teaches children to ‘learn to read’ so they can then ‘read to learn’. In the Spring term, children in our Nursery are introduced to letter sounds and throughout the Reception year and KS1, they are exposed to new sounds until they are confident identifying all 44 phonemes. Parents can support their children throughout the scheme by reading with their children every night and revising their speed sounds on a regular basis (link to speed sounds and pronunciation ). As children become more confident in recognising the sounds they will begin to blend the sounds to form real words and nonsense words. The link attached illustrates a range of real and nonsense words for each of the set 2 and set 3 sounds. These are useful charts which will encourage children to use their phonic knowledge to decode a variety of words. Phonics Set 2 Sounds Quick Read 'oy' Quick Read 'ow' Quick Read 'ou' Quick Read 'or' Quick Read 'igh' Quick Read 'ee' Quick Read 'ir' Quick Read 'oo' as in zoo Quick Read 'oo' as in look Quick Read 'ay' Quick Read 'air' Quick Read 'ar' Anchor 1 Set 3 Sounds Quick Read 'ur' Quick Read 'u-e' Quick Read 'tious' Quick Read 'tion' Quick Read 'ow' Quick Read 'oi' Quick Read 'o-e' Quick Read 'cious' Quick Read 'ea' Quick Read 'ear' Quick Read 'er' Quick Read 'ew' Quick Read 'i-e' Quick Read 'ire' Quick Read 'oa' Quick Read 'aw' Quick Read 'ai' Quick Read 'ure' Quick Read 'are' Quick Read 'a-e' Children are encouraged to progress through the scheme at a rapid rate. They will not necessarily need to cover every book in the scheme, and may be capable of accelerating through the scheme if they demonstrate a sound knowledge of words. In every year band, children are set according to ability and assessments are conducted every 6-8 weeks. As a result of these assessments, children may move up or down into a new setting group. An example of the assessment is here . The national phonic test is administered to pupils in Year 1 in June. On average, pupils need to be able to read 32 of the 40 words in order to pass the test. If they are able to read all set 1,2,3 sounds, they are likely to pass the test. If they score below 32, they will need to repeat the test in Year 2. School Library