Celebrations
Here at Robert Piggott CE Federation we celebrate our close relationship with St Mary's Church.
ST MARY'S CHURCH ANNUAL CONCERT
On Saturday 16th November 2024, St Mary's Church held its annual concert, which was a sell-out. The Junior School choir performed alongside the Wargrave Community Choir, Appollo 5, solo singers and musicians. The children were fabulous and hopefully enjoyed every minute.
REMEMBRANCE ASSEMBLIES
Opportunities to gather together for reflection and worship are crucial for every one of us, but they are the lifeblood of a church school. Both schools held services to commemorate the men and women who gave their lives for their country. We recognise that war still rages in parts of the world today and directly affects some of our own school families. Andy Ferguson, led assemblies at both schools and was joined at the Junior School by Michael Simpson, a retired Army captain. Children read poems, led their school community in prayers and displayed the poppy artwork which had been completed in both schools.
KS1 VISIT TO ST MARY'S CHURCH
Last half-term, the children in Key Stage 1 were learning about the features of a church. On Tuesday they walked down the village to see them in the setting of St Mary’s and learn more about their significance in Christianity. Andy Ferguson, the Lay Minister, set the children on a treasure hunt to find the items including cross-curricular activities and number games.
DIWALI
At the start of November, the Dove classes celebrated the Festival of Light (Diwali) by making their own Rangoli patterns and firework pictures. They had a great time recreating the 'pops' and bangs as they dropped marbles covered in paint in the outdoor area, whilst indoors was the calmer, quieter painting area to add sparkle.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Both schools celebrated Harvest Festival the week commencing 7th October 2024. The Junior School held a service at St Mary's Church on Wednesday and their food donations were taken to Reading Readibank. The Infant School invited parents in to school on Thursday for their service and then sold the food donations back to the parents in the afternoon at exorbitantly inflated rates. £110 was raised for the Wargrave Luncheon Club to help provide a Christmas lunch for the elderly in the community.
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
On Friday 27th September 2024, the pupils brought in a wonderful array of cakes to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. After lunch, the children enjoyed the cake that they had brought in to school and made a donation to the cause. The School Council organised this popular event and the fundraising total was a brilliant £378.11.
YEAR 6 LEAVERS' SERVICE
On Wednesday 17th July, the Junior School attended the Year 6 Leavers' Service at St Mary's Church along with Year 6 parents. It was a lovely opportunity to reflect on all the Class of '24 have achieved and the lessons they take away with them to senior school.
WASMA
A term of rehearsals culminated in March, with our pupils representing us at WASMA (Wokingham Area Schools Music Association). This provides opportunities for pupils in Wokingham Schools to make music together, usually involving around 800 children and results in an amazing concert at Reading Hexagon. After successful auditions, 4 of our pupils had solos and 4 had acting parts with everyone else joining in on group numbers. Many thanks to Sarah Pontet, Steph Daisley, Mrs Mul and Clare Fraser for working with the children and Liz Tawse for stepping in at the last minute on the day. It was a most enjoyable and well-organised event.
EASTER SERVICE
We ended the term with our Easter Service at St Mary’s Church. This is such a special event for us as it is the only time all the children, from both schools, join together in worship. Sadly, with nearly 300 children filling the church, we are unable to invite our families, but we do welcome Rev Eves who helps lead the service alongside the children. We sang together, reflecting on the hope and joy that Easter brings.
RABBI VISIT
On Tuesday 20th February 2024, Rabbi Zvi visited our Infant School to talk to the pupils about the origins of the Judaism faith.
MOSQUE VISIT
On 7th February our Year 5/6 pupils visited Maidenhead Mosque to learn about Islam.
NATIVITY
A school Christmas would not be complete without a nativity production and both Schools but on their own take to this event.
COMMUNITY MATTERS
As well as enjoying festivities in school, upon the children's initiative, we have reached out in the community by donating toys to the Salvation Army, raising funds for Thames Hospice by hosting a reindeer dash and delivering gifts to the elderly in the Wargrave.
INTER-HOUSE CAROL COMPETITION
On Monday, the whole Junior School gathered to complete in our traditional Inter-House Carol Competition. The House Captains each organised 2 carols for their house and everyone rehearsed in readiness for the performance. The four judges (including our chair of governors) were very impressed and scored each team very highly. But the victors were Blue and Yellow Houses. All of the children were brilliant and our house captains were wonderful at leading their houses to ensure a fun afternoon was had by all.
CHRISTINGLE
On Wednesday 6th December the Infant Children attended St Mary's Church for their Christingle Service. Candles were lit by the eldest and youngest pupils and the children's voices filled the church as they told the Christingle story. The lights were then dimmed as the children's candles were lit to recreate a festival of light.
JUNIOR SCHOOL CHOIR SING FOR THE COMMUNITY
On Wednesday 6th December Mrs Pontet and Mrs Daisley took the Junior School Choir across the road to sing at The Mount Nursing Home. The residents loved their performance.
CHILDREN IN NEED
On Friday 17th November 2023 we hosted a Children In Need Spotacular where many of the community came in covered in spots. We raised £680.
