Spring - First Half Term
The Feast of the EpiphanyFor behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
At Our Lady of the Rosary, we marked the Feast of the Epiphany as a joyful celebration of faith, generosity and service. The Epiphany reminds us of the Adoration of the Magi, who travelled from afar to recognise Jesus as King and offer their gifts with love and humility. As a school community, we reflected on what it means to recognise Jesus in others and to respond with generous hearts.
Children came to school dressed in white and gold, symbolising light and joy, alongside the colours of the Spanish flag, recognising the strong Catholic traditions associated with Epiphany in Spain. Through this, pupils were able to explore how faith is lived and celebrated across different cultures within the universal Church.
As an act of charity, pupils brought gifts for the new-born baby Jesus. These were gathered by the school crib before being shared with families in need through Home-Start Spelthorne and Baby Basics. This act of giving helped children to understand that faith calls us to action, especially in serving the most vulnerable.
The day was further enriched by flamenco workshops, celebrating Spanish culture and allowing pupils to experience joy, expression and community through music and movement.
Through prayer, learning and charitable action, our Epiphany celebration reflected our mission to live out the Gospel values of joy, excellence and service, helping children to grow as compassionate, faith-filled individuals.
Chaplaincy Team and the Feast of the Epiphany
Members of the Chaplaincy Team gathered on the Feast of the Epiphany to share Epiphany blessing prayers and reflect on the visit of the Wise Men and the revelation of Jesus to the world. As part of this tradition, blessed chalk was used to mark the school’s front entrance and classroom doors. The doors were inscribed with 20 + C + M + B + 26, with the letters referring to the Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, and also standing for Christus Mansionem Benedicat – May Christ bless this house. The numbers represent the year and remind us that we ask God’s blessing on all who enter and leave our school throughout the year ahead.
This prayerful practice provided a visible expression of faith and helped to strengthen our shared understanding of Epiphany as a celebration of welcome, protection, and God’s presence within our school community.
Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany with Our Parish Community
As part of our Epiphany celebrations, pupils from Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 joined the parish community for Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, led by Fr. Jim, to mark this important feast within the life of the Church.
The Mass provided a meaningful opportunity for our children to worship alongside parishioners, strengthening the close relationship between school and parish and reinforcing the shared mission of faith formation.
Pupils took on a range of active liturgical roles, demonstrating reverence, confidence and a strong sense of service. Members of the school chaplaincy team proclaimed the readings, helping the congregation to reflect on the Gospel message of the Magi recognising Jesus as light for the world. Our altar serving team served with care and respect, supporting Fr. Philip and modelling quiet leadership within the liturgy.
Music for the Mass was led by the school liturgy band, whose joyful leadership helped to engage the whole congregation in worship. Their contribution supported active participation and reflected the celebration and hope at the heart of the Feast of the Epiphany.
Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany through parish Mass enabled our pupils to experience the Church as a living community, where faith is shared, celebrated and lived out together. It also reinforced the message that every member of the community has a role to play in recognising and responding to Christ’s presence in the world today.
Launch of 'Voices of Hope' Oracy Project - Our Jubilee Pledge
As part of our active response to the Jubilee Year of Hope, Year 5 and Year 6 launched the Voices of Hope project through drama workshops that focused on using spoken language to promote justice, dignity and hope.
Rooted in our Catholic Life and commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, the workshops encouraged pupils to reflect on how their voices can be used to speak up for others and respond to the needs of the world around them. Through drama-based activities, pupils explored how voice, tone and body language can communicate messages that inspire positive change.
Year 5 focused on care for creation, developing persuasive speeches about climate change and rising sea levels. This work was rooted in the message of Laudato Si’, which calls us to care for our common home and recognise our responsibility for both people and the planet. Pupils explored how the Care of Creation theme of Catholic Social Teaching challenges them to act responsibly and advocate for environmental justice.
Year 6 explored issues of injustice and inequality, creating public arguments that promote fairness, solidarity and hopeful action. Their work encouraged them to consider how faith calls them to respond to injustice with courage and compassion.
Both workshops supported pupils in listening respectfully, expressing ideas thoughtfully and recognising the power of their voices in living out our school mission. Pupils engaged with the sessions with maturity and creativity, demonstrating faith in action and hope put into practice.
Caritas Ambassadors: Putting Faith into Action
The Caritas Ambassadors carefully organised all of the gifts brought in as acts of charity for the new-born baby Jesus on The Feast of the Epiphany. They then met with volunteers from Home-Start Spelthorne and Baby Basics to formally hand over the donations, which have now been collected and shared with families in need.
This experience allowed pupils to see the direct impact of their generosity and to understand that faith is not only something we celebrate, but something we live out through action. Meeting the volunteers helped deepen pupils’ understanding of service, responsibility and solidarity with others, reinforcing the message that even small acts of kindness can make a real difference.
Through this process, pupils were able to reflect on how the message of the Epiphany calls us to respond with compassion, particularly towards the most vulnerable in our community.
