February 2020

Article of the Month

You have the right to play and rest.

(Article 31)

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January 2020

Article of the Month

You have the right to a good quality education.

(Article 28)

This month, we have been thinking about our Dreams and Goals. During our Friday assembly, Mrs O'Sullivan asked us to think about what we want to achieve by the end of this month, the end of the year and by the time we go to secondary school. We spoke about the difference between dreams and goals, that goals are something that we are going to achieve and a dream is something that we hope will happen. We learnt that by coming to school and working hard, we can achieve our dreams and goals for the future. 

This month was Martin Luther King day, we learnt about who he was and why he is important. We were shocked to learn that when Martin Luther King was a boy, children could not go to certain schools because of the colour of their skin. We thought about how Martin Luther King stood up for what was right and his effort meant that all children could go to the same school:

"Intention plus character- that is the true goal of education." - Martin Luther King 

December 2019

Article of the Month

You have the right to special protection and help if you are a refugee.

(Article 22)

During our special time of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the first coming of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ, we thought about how his parents prepared for his birth. Once the Wisemen left, an angel appeared telling Joseph “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you" (Matthew 2:13). The Dom Squad presented the article of the month to each class and explained to them the importance of the article. They reminded them that Joseph, Mary and Jesus sought refuge in another country because they were not safe; the children thought about ways that they could help others in our country who have too sought refuge. 

On Sunday 15th December, was the annual Caritas Christmas event where elderly and lonely people in our local community come together to enjoy delicious food and great entertainment. St Rose’s was invited back to support Caritas again this year, so volunteers from Year 2 came along with Mrs Gavin and Miss James to sing a selection of songs from their Nativity play. They were fantastic! All of the children sang really well and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to the parents and children who gave up their time on the weekend to support this good cause; you truly did bring joy to all those watching. On Monday, the children talked to the whole school in assembly about how they had felt during the experience. Ronnie said he liked talking to the ’old’ people and making them smile. The children lit the pink candle of joy on our Advent wreath and discussed how they could bring joy to the world this week and how Jesus shows us what joy means in the world.

Thank you to Jeff from CAFOD who helped us to understand right 28 Everyone has the right to an education. We learnt that in countries, like Africa, children have to walk up to 5km everyday before school to get fresh water. Jeff demonstrated how hard this is through videos, stories and an interactive opportunity to hold the water bucket, carrying it from one end of the hall to the other. It was hard work! The children were so inspired by this, they have asked if we can fundraise so that communities can build fresh water pumps in remote villages. We will begin fundraising in the second half of Spring term.

After the Nativity performances, we raised £167 for the Catholic Children's Society (CCS) a phenomenal charity which has supported many families at our school. Thank you to the school council for choosing to support this charity. On Tuesday, 17th December we wore jumpers to school for Save the Children, altogether raising £156! Many thanks to the Dom Squad for choosing to support this charity. 

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November 2019

Article of the Month

Everyone has the right to know their rights!

(Article 42)

This month, we celebrated that the rights of the child is 30 years old. Together with the parents, governors, staff and most importantly us the children, we thought about how our rights are upheld here at St Rose's. We have introduced our school charters which can be found in the school entrance, the hall, the dining hall and the playground. These charters help us to understand how St Rose's ensures that our rights are met. To celebrate 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) each year group completed a piece of work to help them to understand more about their rights and the rights of others. Early Years thought about what their ideal world would look like, they designed posters to showcase this including flowers, trees and children playing etc. Year 1 spoke about what they would like their world to look like when they're older. They discussed what they could do to ensure that their world is a happy and beautiful place. Year 2 wrote to their parents asking them to help them to make small changes in their everyday lives to make the world a better place. The parents then wrote back to the children thinking about small changes they could make. Year 2 also wrote to our local MP, Sir Mike Penning, suggesting small changes that we could make to improve the environment and lives of people living in Hemel Hempstead. 

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October 2019

Article of the Month

You have the right to safe water to drink and nutritious food. 

(Article 24)

During healthy living week, parents were invited to come in and join their children learning about different ways how they can stay healthy. The children enjoyed learning about the importance of staying healthy through lots of exciting activities, such as food tasting and cooking.

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September 2019

Article of the Month

All children have these rights. No child should be treated unfairly. (Article 2)

This month, we are learning about our rights and how we have the right to be treated fairly. On Monday, 16th September, we welcomed the NSPCC into our school, they helped us to understand what we needed to do if we're not treated fairly and people are not respecting our rights. The important message that we learnt was to "Speak Out!"

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St Rose’s is a Unicef UK Rights Committed School!

We are a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.  As part of this plan we are working towards recognition as a ‘Rights Respecting School’, an award given to schools on behalf of Unicef UK.

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation working for children and young people and their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

St Rose’s pupils learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. We have achieved the Bronze Unicef Rights Committed award in 2019 and are working towards achieving our Silver Rights Aware award in the academic year 2019 – 2020.

What is a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School?

When schools get involved, the children learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. Children and adults will learn about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which outlines what children need to survive and thrive, becoming the best they can be and achieving their potential.

Why is this happening at St Rose's?

A Unicef UK Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships, whether between adults and pupils, between pupils or between adults. It is proven to benefit everyone in the school community to grow and learn together. Read more about the Award at www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

How will becoming a Rights Respecting School benefit my child(ren) at St Rose’s?

This approach works in many schools across the country to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. Headteachers from schools involved in the Award say it has improved children’s and young people’s respect for themselves and others and contributed to children and young people being more engaged in their learning.

What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention recognised that all children have the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, to be protected, to develop to their full potential and to participate. The rights in the Convention describe what a child needs to survive, grow, and live up to their potential in the world. They apply equally to every child, no matter who they are or where they come from.

The Convention changed the way children are viewed and treated – in other words, as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. It is the most widely ratified human rights treaty – only the United States has not ratified it. The UK signed up to it in 1991.  You can read more about it at www.unicef.org.uk/crc

What is Unicef?

Unicef is the world's leading organisation for children and young people, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything they do. Together with their partners, Unicef works in 190 countries to translate that commitment into practical action. Unicef UK is a registered charity. It raises funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and campaigns to keep children safe. Unicef UK also works with schools, hospitals and local authorities in the UK to put children at the heart of what they do. To find out more about Unicef, go to www.unicef.org.uk