Whole School Worship - Remembrance
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, our collective worships this week are all about taking time to reflect on those that have sacrificed themselves to keep us all safe. We have been learning about what Remembrance Day means to our nation and also to us personally. Mrs Ham explained the significance of the poppy and she shared some stories of extreme bravery and self-sacrifice demonstrated by those in the services during the World Wars. We considered which Christian values these people showed and Mrs Ham invited some children to share how they will be remembering our service men and women, past and present, this Remembrance Day.
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Reception: Child Initiated Learning
The children were very excited to set up their own coffee shop today. They came up with their own drinks such as chocolate milkshakes and malteser hot chocolates and took turns to serve each other. A huge thank you to Sophia from 1617 for supplying us with lots of goodies to use.
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Year 3 Join the Great Big Live Assembly for Black History Month
Today, Year 3 took part in the Great Big Live Assembly for Black History Month 2025, hosted by Chris Kanday, Jeriah, and Gemma Hunt. The assembly explored the theme of “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”, celebrating the achievements and courage of Black individuals throughout history and today. Pupils learned about Rosa Parks and how one small, brave act helped spark huge social change. The presenters also discussed the St. George’s Cross, explaining how symbols can carry different meanings and how important it is that everyone in our communities feels welcome, valued, and respected. Through videos, discussions, and messages from inspiring guests, children reflected on how they can show kindness, courage, and fairness in their own lives. The children were thrilled, and a little surprised, when their class appeared on the big screen during the live broadcast! It was an exciting moment that made the experience even more memorable. They were inspired to speak up against injustice, celebrate diversity, and remember that even small acts of bravery and kindness can make a big difference.
Year 5 - RE -Bible Translation
In RE this week, Year 5 were looking at how the Bible has been translated into over 7000 different languages. We started by discussing what we thought the word ‘translate’ means, why does it need to be translated and if the children thought it would be easy to translate. Following this we watched two video clips. One was about how the Bible used to be banned in China but a man named Robert Morrison spent 25 years translating it so that as many people could access it as possible. The Bible Society now distribute all over China with members of the church walking for several hours just to access a Sunday Service .
Scrumptious Production- KS2- Message of change and friendship
This afternoon, KS2 enjoyed a delightful end-of-year summer treat with the charming and magical production of 'SCRUMPTIOUS!' This gently interactive musical play told the sweet story of Sylvie, a sweetshop owner who loves her routine but learns to embrace change when a mysterious stranger arrives. The show beautifully conveyed the moral of the story: that while change can be daunting, it often leads to wonderful new experiences and friendships, encouraging us all to live life to its fullest. It was particularly fitting for the children as they prepare for big transitions, like moving from primary to secondary school or into a new class. The story was great with delightful descriptions of ice creams and different sweets, and even a magical book that played a key role. Getting the children involved in the narrative helped Sylvie be brave and adapt to her changing world, making for a truly memorable, funny, hopeful, and charming performance, the perfect treat to round off the summer term!
Edstart Jag Tag Tournament
Today we took part in the Edstart Jag Tag Tournament at Our Lady St John. We played against other schools from across the Borough and managed to secure some wonderful results. St Barnabas vs St Paul’s Hoddlesden - 12-0 win St Barnabas Vs St Anthony’s 8-0 win St Barnabas Vs Audley 14-6 win St Barnabas Vs Daisyfield Once we progressed to the Semi Final we met Audley again which resulted in a 18-0 win and then the final game was against St Anthony’s and we managed to come away with a sixth consecutive win of 12-0. Huge thanks to Marcus @Edstart for organising the tournament- it was fantastic to see everyone taking part with huge smiles on their faces and showing super sportsmanship. What a way to end such a successful sporting calendar! Go Team B!
Lancashire Schools Bee Stinger Netball
What a fantastic day we have had at the Lancashire Bee Stinger Netball Finals. We had the honour of representing the Borough after winning the Blackburn with Darwen School final a few weeks ago. We started off with an impressive 7-1 then went on to play several other matches which were a real mixed bag, but the children fought hard for every point and worked so well as a team. We are really proud of all of our children and it is such a big achievement to reach the Lancashire Schools finals. Small but mighty definitely sums us up!
BwD School Games - Y3/4 Quad Kids
This afternoon some of our children from Years 3 and 4 represented the school at the Blackburn with Darwen School Games Quad Kids event at Witton park. The children did four events which included a 60m sprint, 400m long distance, vortex throw and long jump. Every single pupil represented the school wonderfully and really encouraged each other to push to their limits. We now need to wait to see how we’ve done once every school has completed the events. Fingers crossed for Team B !
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Years 2 & 4 - RE: Exploring the Church
Both Year 2 and Year 4 are currently studying the Church in RE. To develop the children’s knowledge and understanding, Rev Ben invited both classes to church to explore the features and talk about why they might be found in a church. The Year 2 children have been learning about various features and labelling them, which was further developed through experiencing how they are used and why. The Year 4 children have been learning about the similarities and differences between different churches and other places of worship, and they have been finding out about how some common features are connected to the Bible. Thank you for inviting us, Rev Ben. The experience definitely enhanced the children’s learning.
Year 3- English-Diary Planning
Today, our Year 3 writers are exploring the themes of resilience and displacement through the book My Name Is Not Refugee. They worked hard planning key events and personal feelings for their diary entries. From the heartache of saying goodbye to old friends and leaving their homes with just a small bag, to the challenging days of walking and sleeping in strange places, the children thoughtfully considered every step of the journey. They also reflected on the new sensory experiences, like tasting new foods, seeing interesting sights, and hearing different languages, alongside the emotional challenges of loneliness and cold. Tomorrow, they'll use these carefully planned events to write their diary entries, bringing their stories to life on paper.
Whole School Worship - How Can We Flourish Together?
Today, in our collective worship, we shared ideas of what it means to flourish. The children had some fantastic thoughts, including being the best you can be, persevering, sharing with others and appreciating what God has given us. We looked at each one of our Christian values and decided how they could help us to learn and grow together. Mrs Ham reminded us of some of the “wows” and the “ows” in the world and we discussed how they make us feel. We reflected on the part we can all play by taking action to prevent the suffering in the world. We ended our worship with a reminder and a celebration of the ways we at St Barnabas have affected change in our communities and in the wider world. These included supporting our local refugees, collecting preloved coats for the homeless, raising money for East Lancs Hospice and collecting tinned food and toiletries for our harvest appeal. The children articulated that we all flourish when we aim to make the world a better place.
The Great Live Assembly- World Refugee Day 2025
This morning in Year 4, we took part in The Great Live Assembly for World Refugee Week. 43 million young people and children have had to leave their country for various reasons including persecution and war. We met two children from Kenya - Ajok wanted to be a teacher and had to flee due to civil war. He had to walk over 500 miles to reach his final destination. We then watched an interview with the author Michael Rosen who has recently written On the Move, which uses poetry to highlight the struggles of a refugee. This teaches us that ‘Home is where the Heart is’ and we should really appreciate and support the sacrifices that the refugees across the world have to endure.