Dpen Day

23 January 2009

PUPILS at the  school went round the world in a special day of learning last week.

During open day at Llantilio Pertholey Church in Wales Primary School each classroom was a different country and all the pupils had their own passports which they stamped when they visited each classroom.

Reception class was China with members of staff dressed in the traditional Chinese costume, while Class 1 was India where there were saris and Indian boys' clothes and head dresses for visitors to wear.

Italy and all things continental  came to Class 2 while Class 3 represented Sweden. Class 4 was France and Class 5 was Down Under Australia.

Class 6 representing Ethiopia which the school has links with through a primary school in Yirgacheffe, the region visited by the Abergavenny twinning committee which set up all the links. Teacher Mrs Tracey Pugh wore a traditional costume which someone from the committee brought back from Yirgacheffe.

Some of the girls dressed in typical oriental costumes.

Mrs Pugh in a typical Ethiopian costume.

Ruth Wyatt and Natalie Attwood in Australian gear.

Some Spanish girls.

Teacher Simon Oram in Swedish costume.

Teacher Jan Thomas and two pupils in Indian clothes.

Links With The Church

As a voluntary controlled Church in Wales Primary School, the school enjoys close links with our parish of Llantilio Pertholey.

There are three Foundation Governors – myself as Vicar of the Parish together with Pam Burnell and Natalie Johnson, both with strong personal links, which underline their commitment to the school.

The Foundation Governors role is to maintain and promote strong links between the Church and school and ensure that a strong Christian ethos within the tradition of a Church in Wales School is fostered.

During the past year the children have come to St. Teilo’s. as a school, on three occasions. The first was last December when a Christingles Service was held, members of the congregation having previously gone up to the school to help the children make the Christingles. In March of  last year, on a second visit an Easter Service was held, led by the school choir. The third visit was an end of term service led by year six pupils who lso chose the hymns. At this service the Diocesan School Officer, the Revd. Keith Denison, was invited to present Bibles to all the leavers, these being provided with the help of the charity ‘Bibles for Children’. Also with their aid, the school was presented with story Bibles (one per child) for the other classes in school.

Apart from these whole school visits, various smaller groups have come to St. Teilo’s, mainly as part of the Religious Education syllabus.

The Vicar has continued to visit the school on Tuesdays to take a whole school assembly and he is link governor for Religious Education and Personal and Social Education. He also, in the spring Term, went into school regularly on Fridays to take confirmation lessons with Year Six, one of these lessons being taken by Bishop Dominic. During this term the Vicar also visited the parents of the children wishing to be confirmed so that the reasons and issues behind Confirmation could be explained. The Confirmation. Conducted by Bishop Dominic, took place at St. Teilo’s on Palm Sunday evening, March 16^th. This year it is hoped to begin explanation and preparation about the meaning of deciding to be Confirmed, in the Autumn Term so that the choice is made in a more informal way. Having the Confirmation before Easter (which it is intended to be again this year) enabled those Confirmed to receive communion when they, with the rest of Year Six, attended some of the Wednesday morning services at St. Teilo’s during the Summer Term. Those who wished had the opportunity to read, serve and lead the prayers.

During the year, the congregation have again increased their involvement with the school, helping on parent’s evenings, reading with the children and helping them with the new allotment plots.

If you have any concerns about your child’s pastoral or spiritual welfare, please feel free to contact me.

Fr. Marc Winchester.

(Priest in Charge of Llantilio Pertholey and Chair of Governors)