St Mary’s Primary School, Yate

As we come to the end of Term 5, I want to share an example Y4’s Guide to Life written as part of the RE curriculum. I couldn’t say it better myself.

Happy half term everyone.

Can I write a guidebook for the journey of life?
On the path of life, you will make many choices. They could be good bad choices, right or wrong but don’t worry, this book will help you decide which way to go. Try to plan for tomorrow but don’t forget to live your life today. You will find on the journey of life that there will un-expected twists and turns, ups and downs, lefts and rights, just always remember to stay true to your heart. There will be hard times, and mis-fortunes will come your way, but celebrate life’s precious moments. Remember you can only go forwards on this journey so make choices wisely. I hope you enjoy your journey of life. If you always are loving, caring, joyful and happy, you will never be far from the right path! GOOD LUCK! ☆

TOP TIPS = Treat others the way you want to be treated.

TOP TIPS = Try to always see the good side in people.

Our Year 4 artists have been creating Egyptian cartouches from clay, inspired by the symbols and patterns used in Ancient Egypt. Swipe to see the inspiration.

The children used a range of sculpting skills including shaping, smoothing, carving and engraving to create their detailed designs, showing great creativity, focus and perseverance throughout the process. Explore, Enjoy, Excel… be amazing!

On Friday, Year 4 returned from an incredible few days at Great Wood — tired, muddy and full of stories! 🌿💦🔥

From stream walks and teamwork challenges to exploring the woods and building resilience together, the children truly lived out our vision to Explore, Enjoy, Excel; Be Amazing!

We were so proud of the courage, kindness and teamwork shown throughout the trip. The children embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, supported one another brilliantly and made memories that will stay with them for a long time.

A huge thank you to the staff and volunteers who made the experience possible — and well done Year 4 for being such amazing Brave Changemakers! ⭐

KS1 had a fantastic morning learning how to safely cut fruit and explore different flavours in preparation for making smoothies next week.

Some of the children showed real courage by trying foods they had never tasted before and we were so proud of the bravery and positive attitudes they demonstrated, alongside their excellent safety skills.

The children practised holding their knife and fork correctly and worked hard to develop their cutting techniques. We have encouraged them to continue practising these important life skills at home during mealtimes too.
🍓🍌🥑🍍🍊🍋🍋‍🟩

At St Mary’s, our curriculum is designed to provide our pupils with the knowledge, skills and inspiration to make a difference in the world.

Some years ago, we chose David Attenborough as the figurehead for one of our Houses. Today, as we celebrate his 100th birthday, we give thanks for all he has done to champion the natural world and for the hope he gives us that, as Brave Changemakers, we really can make a difference.

Happy Birthday, Sir David! 🎉🌍 ;be_amazing

Over the bank holiday weekend, something magical has happened in Reception… our tiny caterpillars have wrapped themselves up into their chrysalis.

A beautiful reminder of our value this term — hope. Just like in spring, even when we can’t see the changes happening, something wonderful is growing and transforming beneath the surface

We can’t wait to see what emerges next… 🦋

So much creativity in our Y5/6 printmaking unit!
This explorer stage is all about trying, testing, and seeing what happens—no right answers, just bold ideas and experimentation.

Pupils are investigating relief printing techniques, developing their understanding of pattern, repetition, and texture, and using sketchbooks to test and reflect on their ideas.

Bonnie the school dog was thrilled to explore the police vehicle this week. I don’t think she was the only one! Thank you to for coming to visit us.

This week, we kick-started our summer term global theme: Sustainable Environmental Development. On Monday, we welcomed Paula from Let’s Go Zero, who will be working with us over the next year to help reduce our school’s carbon footprint.

The Lead Changemakers worked with Paula to explore which aspects of school life produce the most carbon. They learned that the biggest contributors are how pupils travel to school (27%) and the food we eat (34%).

Over the term, the Lead Changemakers will begin developing actions we can take as a school to make a positive difference.