RE News

Clifford’s Tower Daffodils – Press Article

Have you seen the daffodils at Clifford’s Tower? Last year, Mrs Burt took the children from Y5/6 to join in the volunteer effort on a very soggy November day, planting thousands of bulbs to help restore the beautiful and poignant display that commemorates one of the worst anti-Jewish atrocities of the Middle Ages.

As the daffodils come into bloom, and to mark the anniversary of the massacre, which took place on the 16th March 1190, the York Press have written about this – please click the image below to read the full article.

Click to read the full article on the Press website

A Very Special Ceremony

Year 1/2 attended a very special ceremony at St Lawrence’s church last week… a wedding! We had a bride and groom, parents, bridesmaids and ushers and a best man!! Tinfoil rings were exchanged and the register signed!

Congratulations to our bride and groom!!!

KS1 learn about Holi

Key Stage 1 learnt about Holi the Hindu festival of colour! They experimented with powder paint but refrained from throwing it at the teachers!

We discovered that Hindus remember how good triumphed over evil and the importance of the bonfire! A fantastic hands on session!!

Learning about Holi in 3/4

Holi was celebrated in Year 3/4.

We learnt about how Hindus celebrate this festival by throwing powder paint at their friends.  We threw it onto paper though!  We examined how they remember good triumphing over bad, the relevance of the bonfire and the celebration of Spring. Super active learning – well done Year 3/4!

 

Learning about Shabbat

Key stage one have been learning about the Jewish festival of Shabbat.  Rachael Reeves came in to school to talk to us about what happens during this very special meal which marks the beginning of the Sabbath, for Jewish families.

We learnt that at the start of the meal on a Friday evening, Rachael  lights the Shabbat candle and recites a prayer. The family drinks wine or grape juice from silver goblets and say special blessings. They also eat special bread called Challah bread. Rachael baked some especially for us. It was delicious!  We learnt that Shabbat is a time to talk and celebrate with family, and to catch up on news.

Chanukah!

On Thursday 13th December Ben Rich and Rachael Reeves (parents of Aaron in Year 5) came into school to explore the Jewish festival of Chanukah with Key Stage One.

The children learnt the story of Chanukah, the symbolism of lighting candles and even got to eat donuts!

Thank you Ben and Rachael for coming to see us!

Visiting York Mosque

The Year Y5/6 children visited York Mosque where we were greeted by the friendly Imam, Abid Salik.  Abid talked to us about why Muslims go to the mosque, the features of the mosque, the importance of prayer, and the significance of the 5 pillars of Islam. He also answered our many, many questions!

We also got to have  a peek inside the new mosque. It’s enormous! We wondered what the old mosque will be used for when the new one is finished. Abid said they hadn’t decided yet but it might be used as community room.

Design Competition entries by Year 5/6

Year 5/6 entered an exciting competition, in July, to create a traditional Islamic geometric design, which can be translated onto tiles in order to decorate the inside of the Mihrab in the new Mosque on Bull Lane. The mihrab is the niche at the front of the mosque that shows the direction towards Mecca, and is where the Imam stands to lead the prayer. It therefore acts as a focal point for worshippers at each of the five obligatory daily prayers.

The competition is open to schools in the York are and only 2 entries are allowed per school. We are pleased to announce the winners from Fishergate are Freddie H and Mia K. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges including local artists and dignitaries and members of the mosque around the end of January 2018.

Good luck Freddie and Mia!

A visit to St Lawrence’s Church

On Thursday 29th June Y1/2 visited St. Lawrence’s church in York as part of our RE unit of work ‘What makes some places sacred?’

We learnt about why going to church is important to Christians. We found out about what Christians do in church such as reading the bible, singing songs and saying prayers. In some churches the leader wears special clothes too – some of us even got to try them on! Thank you Rev Jane for making our visit such a lot of fun!