FOR pupils and staff at Our Lady & St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Abergavenny, Christmas is one of the main religious festivals of the year.

Preparations for nativity plays, a multi-cultural day and a whole school carol service to mark the season that leads up to Christmas Day began in earnest at the start of December.

“As a faith school it is so important to put on a nativity play as part of our Christmas celebrations,” explained headteacher Rosalind Trigg.

“It also helps the children to develop literacy and numeracy skills and is very much a part of our learning.”

Last week the whole school attended a carol service in Our Lady & St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, led by Years 3 and 4. Earlier this week the school held a Christmas lunch on its multi-cultural day.

Mrs Trigg added: “Each class has been looking at Christmas traditions in Wales as well as other countries as we have a very diverse population here.”

“We have pupils from Italy, Poland, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, France, Germany and Spain. The children opted to wear what they usually wear on Christmas Day or their national costume instead of their uniform and enjoyed dishes such as Panetone and Stollen cooked in our on-site kitchen.”

“They paid £1 not to wear school uniform which was donated to the Catholic aid agency CAFOD.”

“It’s important for us to celebrate the diversity of the children here because they all have something different to bring and for us to understand their cultures in their home countries.”

Three foundation classes have been performing their nativity play entitled ‘Jesus’ Christmas Party, with their last performance today.

Mrs Trigg added: “The children have been absolutely brilliant in their play, while the singing was beautiful in the carol service.”

Years 5 and 6 are taking part in a Christmas musical called Five Gold Rings this week. It is based on the theme of friendship and how that is the best gift at Christmas.

Mrs Trigg, who is in her third year at the school, is passionate about driving the school forward and introducing new initiatives and opportunities for her 187 pupils.

One such ground-breaking primary school initiative that was introduced at the beginning of the term is ‘Mini Vinnies’.

The group is made up of children aged between seven and 11 and is named after the St Vincent de Paul Society – an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and the disadvantage by providing practical assistance to those in need.

“The group focuses on working with the local community. It is very much about Abergavenny and has its own president and secretary.

“They have been working on a community project with residents at Avenue Road care home. They regularly spend time with the residents, as well as singing and playing musical instruments for them. The group, which meets once a week, also raised funds to buy residents toiletries after finding out what they needed the most.

“It’s not just about the gifts, it’s about spending time with the residents,” explained Mini Vinnies president Sophia Stromberg and vice-president Will Chiplin.

The school’s eco council and fairtrade groups have joined together to form the Global Citizenship group. Made up of pupils from Years 6, 4, 3 and 2, it looks at issues in the local and wider community as well as global issues with the aim of raising awareness.

Another initiative that Mrs Trigg has successfully launched this year is a numeracy library. This enables pupils to borrow maths games and take them home for a week to play with their parents.

“It is about raising the profile of numeracy by practising basic numeracy.”

“It’s about making learning interactive and interesting.”

“It makes maths easier for the children to understand and means they can sit at home with mum and dad and play it.”

Music lessons are held on a weekly basis as part of the school’s brass programme. The children begin learning in Year 3 and continue for a year with the support of Gwent Music. After that they can have one-to-one lessons if they wish. Pupils are eagerly learning a range of instruments from the trumpet to the cornet and euphonium.

“We are keen to develop independent rounded young people who are ready for adult life,” explained Mrs Trigg.

The walls and corridors are decorated with eye-catching artwork and projects. Most recently, Year 4 studied the Romans as their topic and visited Abergavenny Library and Museum as part of the studies.

Separate to the school but based on-site is the Ladybirds playgroup for two to four year-olds.

The playgroup can be found in a bright airy classroom that boasts a large covered outdoor area and has access to the vast school grounds, which includes an adventure trail, willow maze and large playground and playing field.

When we visit the children are busy in role play area which features a mini post office. Elsewhere in the classroom there is a book corner and painting area.

When it comes to after-school clubs pupils are spoilt for choice with sessions in netball, rugby, multi-skills as well as hockey and running. There is also a Glee Club for music and drama.

The school’s mission statement is ‘learn to love and love to learn’.

Mrs Trigg added: “Part of our ethos is that we care about other people and the greater good.”

“We are a close-knit community and all about nurturing.”

“I’m very lucky to have very hardworking and committed staff who are working to make sure we provide the best for our children.

“We are supported by the parents in The Friends of Our Lady & St Michael’s who work hard to fundraise for the school.”

FACTFILE

Our Lady & St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Pen y Pound, Abergavenny.

Headteacher: Rosalind Trigg

Deputy headteacher: Mary McCarthy

Chairman of governors: Paul Ward

Parish Priest: Father Richard Simons

Pupils on roll: 186

Ages: four to 11

Last Inspection

In the school’s last inspection in 2009 Estyn Inspector, Edward Goronwy Morris found the school to be good with many strengths. He said there are outstanding features in the way in which learners are cared for, guided and supported and in particular, the quality of provision for pupils with additional learning needs.

He said pupils benefit from the staff’s dedication and commitment and that pupils make good progress and achieve well.