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Winners and Pictures
2008 Tolu Akinmboni, St Raphael’s School, Northolt.
The Calming of the Storm
I, Bethany, was out fishing with my brother Joseph (of Magdalene) and we saw the apostles of Jesus. All was calm and still. It was a fairly normal day and everyone was happy. The birds were singing and there was soft calm breeze. I could feel the wind gently passing my face and flowing through my hair. Our boat was very close to Jesus' and I saw him, the promised one. He was very tired and he eventually fell asleep as the wooden boat set sail. Next our small boat set sail and we began to fish for our family. While we were doing so I mentioned to my brother what a wonderful day to go out fishing. I mean that time, before the storm, the sun was like a gem in the baby blue, picturesque sky. No wonder Jesus fell asleep—I was feeing tired myself...
The suddenly, without warning, the former blue sky turned an ash-grey. The air turned fierce and was no longer our friend and every second it got harsher and harsher. There was a mighty roar from the sky. It was thunder. This was a fisherman's worst fear. The sound was like that of a drum. The waves were mercilessly crashing against each other. There was a war between the waves. The waves were physically powerful as a result they were making our boat tip. Backwards and side to side the boat fell. The swirling wind created more havoc We began losing some of our fish. At one point almost fell out of our boat. The same was happenings to the boat of the apostles. I knew I was going to die. The seas were threatening us.
Astoundingly, without prior notice, Jesus awoke and stood up tall and with all authority calmed the storm. I was marvelled. I mean who do you know that can calm a storm ... No one but Jesus . I thought I had been knocked out so I slapped myself. I then realised Jesus really did do it. He is the miracle maker.
This event reassured me that Jesus calms all the storms in my life and sometimes I think he is sleeping (not answering me) however he is listening just really asking you're where is you faith? Also all storms come for a purpose just like the one Jesus calmed.
2008 Daniel Wood, St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School Carisbrooke
The Storm
(I pretend that I am Jesus)
At the end of the day, after healing the sick, I pointed to a nearby boat. Then I told my disciples "Come with me. We will cross to the other side. It is my only chance of getting away from the crowds". I was tired. I needed to rest. At first the water was calm. A few of my disciples looked up at the sky. "This should be an easy boat ride", one said. "Don't count on it. You know how this sea can turn wild. For now it does look calm," said another. The disciples moved off to different parts of the boat. It only seemed like a few moments later they felt the boat nearly go over. They must be caught in the middle of a storm. All at once they felt afraid. One ran to grab hold of the rudder. The wind kept changing. Several times men slipped. They were able to grab onto the side. This kept them from being swept overboard by the huge waves. Waves broke over both sides of the boat at once. Men scurried back and forth. The boat tilted madly from one side to the other. The men felt helpless. They looked at each other, and said "We have to get Jesus !" When they saw me asleep on a cushion, then they woke me up. They said, "Teacher ! The sea is wild. This is a terrible storm ! We'll never reach the other side in one piece. Save us!
I looked from one troubled face to the other, then I got up. I spread my arms wide. The wind blew my hair into my face. My voice boomed "be still!" As soon as I called out "quiet ! Be still !" the wind calmed. The water flattened. Peter ran to the edge of the deck. He looked overboard. He saw his reflection mirrored in the dark sea. He ran back to me and fell on his knees with relief. I said "Why don't you have more faith ? There's no reason to be afraid when you're with me ".
I walked to the other end of the boat. Then I said "No one dare to speak out loud". An eerie silence hung over them all. They were astonished and afraid. What kind of man is this that we are following? Why, even the wind and the waves obey him," they kept asking each other this question.
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Results of the 2007 Education Project
Junior section: Holy Name School, Fishguard
First Prize: (jointly) Callum Kelly and Louise Truss
Runners up: Niall Kinsell and William Thomas
Highly Commended: Amy Leahy
Infants section: St Cuthbert's Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey
First Prize: Fintan McKillop and Alice Rogers
The winning schools receive a trophy to keep for one year - a cup for the Juniors and a shield for the younger children - and the winners get copies of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church plus other book prizes. Each child participating in the Project gets a holy picture, and some children also received Merit certificates.
Holy Name School in Fishguard is to be particularly commended as this is the second time the school has won our Cup. The standard of the children's work is very high and they show a good grasp of Scripture and of Catholic teaching.
In the 2007 Project, children were invited to explore the topic of angels. They were directed to various events, described in the Old and New Testaments, in which angels were seen as God's messengers: Jacob's Ladder, the Annunciation when Mary received the message from the Angel Gabriel, and the shepherds near Bethlehem receiving the news of Christ's birth. The children were invited to write about one or more or these events, showing that they understood the role of the angels as messengers of God. They were also invited to think about their own Guardian angels, to write something about this idea, and to write a prayer to a Guardian angel.
Some of the work sent to us was frankly rather poor: one school sent in illustrations which were no more than scribbles on which clearly very little time or effort had been spent, and another had evidently asked children simply to write poems about angels and fairies generally. We were looking for evidence that the children had been helped to grasp the part that angels play as messengers of God, to study some relevant events especially the familiar ones from the New Testament, and to have some understanding of the tradition of each person having a Guardian Angel.
Running this project over a seven-year period has shown up deficiencies in the Religious Education in Catholic primary schools - in general it is clear that this is not through any lack of enthusiasm on the part of the teachers but is rooted in the sort of syllabus they are expected to follow, which lacks a concrete foundation of systematic instruction in Catholic doctrine. There are schools which overcome this by their own efforts, and this is evident in the children's work, which shows a grasp of central teachings and a delight in learning about these. But where a Catholic school can only produce a vaguely sort of "New Age" approach to angels, with children writing poems which show no knowledge at all of the Christian teaching on the subject, something is clearly lacking.
We have found, over the years, that children who have been taught from a good basis of Catholic doctrine are capable of understanding and enjoying the subject hugely: their work is done with care and includes illustrations and writing done with evident enthusiasm.
Fintan Mckillop
St Cuthbert's RC Primary School, Egham
When Jesus was born, God sent angels out to tell some shepherds who were looking after their sheep that a special baby was being born. While that was happening God put a new star in the sky. Some wise men saw the star and followed it until they found Jesus.
Alice Rogers
St Cuthbert's RC Primary School, Egham
The angels come to the shepherds it was the night that Jesus was born. Some shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks. A very bright light appeared. Then they saw an angel. The shepherds were afraid.
“Don't be afraid said the angel “I bring you good news, today in Bethlehem your saviour has been born. He is a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Then the angel left “Let go to Bethlehem” said the shepherds. “Let's see our saviour”
Louise Truss
Holy Name School
Fishguard
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Mary was sitting in a room all on her own when suddenly a bright, stunning light appeared. It was an angel. The beauty of his gown and face made you feel as if you had just heard the tweeting of a thousand birds. Mary started to worry and feel scared, but the angel said “Do not be afraid”. The angel spoke such comforting words that Mary forgot all about how scared she was and she listened. Mary was extremely curious about why this angel was here with her. He told her that she was going to have a baby but that the baby would grow up to be the Saviour and King of the world, who would help everyone to live better lives. After a few seconds the angel faded away and all that was left was the heavenly voice of the angel praising God. Mary was left alone for all that had happened to her to sink in.
The Angel's Prayer
Dear Angel
I thank you for being by my side in the dark of night and wonderfulness of day. I thank you for helping me when the world is tough. Please continue to help and guide me. Amen
Callum Kelly
Holy Name School
Fishguard
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The Angels Visit the Shepherds
On the hills outside Bethlehem, Shepherds kept their sheep. The work was only exciting when wolves and wild animals tried to attack the sheep viciously and it was extremely hard work trying to get the sheep up steep, rocky paths. Everyday and every night the shepherds would stay and comfort the sheep until one night when a glorious light appeared and filled the entire field and the great light carried Angels across from Heaven and said “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news. Today a child has been born in Bethlehem, he is Christ the Lord, you will find him lying in a manger wrapped in white cloth”. The suddenly, the Angels had gone and music filled the sky with singing. “ Let us go and see the baby “ screeched two shepherds. They ran off and left the third behind to guard the sheep. (based on Luke 2:8-20
Angel’s Prayer
Angels in Heaven you love me
you're with me night and day
you're always here to protect me
through snow, wind, rain and hail.
You always give me good luck
even though I don't deserve it
my heart will always be with you
my hand in yours, your hand in mine.
2006 Essay Project
REWARDING GOOD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
One of the most delightful ways to start the day is with a large group of children singing a cheery hymn and then joining in the "Our Father" and the "Hail Mary". It was a real joy to be at Larmenier Infants School in Hammersmith where the assembly hall was filled with lovely singing and the sweet sound of children praying together. I was there to present a brand-new shield to the two young winners of the Infants Section of the Religious Education Award run by the Association of Catholic Women.
The Award was launched in 2000 and now involves a good number of schools around Britain. This year, for the first time, we decided to present a special shield for the best essay written by children in the youngest age group, 5-8. We already have a handsome cup which goes to the winner in the 8-11 year old section.
The essay topic for 2006 was "What I see in church", and we invited children to look around a church and learn about what they saw. Then they should choose from a list of things and write about them: the Tabernacle, confessional, holy water stoop, statues, stained glass, etc.
Over 500 entries poured in, and a team of judges read through them all. Several were of a high standard, and from these we selected the
winners. As we have noticed in previous years, the best essays come from schools where the whole overall standard is high - evidence of really good religious instruction. Alas, there are also entries where the standard is poor - this year, we noted that some children had clearly simply downloaded material from the Internet, tapping in, for example, the word "altar" and then printing off lengthy paragraphs about Doric altars and Greek gods!
Choosing the final winners from among the best entries is always hard. We had twelve prizewinners - each of whom receives a beautiful new Compendium of the Catholic Catechism (just published by the CTS, and a best-seller!) - and then the outright winners and runners-up. They are:
WINNER (Junior section)
Lydia McKee, St Gregory's RC Primary School Ealing.
Lydia wins our coveted cup, which will be engraved with her name and that of her school and which she will keep for one year.
RUNNER-UP : Jessica Henderson, St Peter's RC Primary School, Sittingbourne Kent.
INFANTS SHIELD: Benedict McGonical and Peter Pelosi, Larmenier RC Infants School, Hammersmith who will share the new shield - which will bear both their names and the name of their school - for one year.
A number of children from various schools also gained Certificates of Merit, and every child who took part in the project received a picture of the Holy Father.
Here are some extracts from the good work produced by our young winners (spelling original!) :
Lydia McKee:
"Things that remind us of God, and of how we worship him........
BAPTISMAL FONT
A large bowl or well in church for the baptismal water. It is to baptize the babies into the Catholic faith.
CRUCIFIX
The cross where Jesus died. It helps us to remember where Christ died for us, to save us.
CANDLES
A block of wax that gives light when it burns. They are lit at Mass to remind us Jesus is there with us.
SANCTUARY LIGHT
The light tells us that Jesus is home or in the tabernacle. When it is on, he is. When it is off, he isn't.
STAINED GLASS
The coloured glass in stained windows make the church a home, they tell us it's Jesus's home. They make the church beautiful, and show pictures of Mary and Jesus.
CONFESSIONAL
This room is where we go to confess are sins, and be absolved by the priest. We come here to tell God we have been bad and will try harder to be good. The priest hears our confession and it's the same as talking to God."
Peter Pelosi:
"In church I see lots of things when I go to mass with my family.
The priest keeps the bread and wine in the tabernacle. Its like a holy home for Jesus.
Above the altar I see a crucifix, a sign of God's love for us.
Babies are brought to the baptismal font to be baptized. The priest pours water over the baby's head and this means you are part of God's family.
I light candles to help me pray for people.
I see lots of statues of holy people."
Benedict McGonical:
“When I go into Church I can see the red light that says the the body of Jesus is in the tabernacle. I bow down in front of it.
Every time I see Jesus on the cross above the altar. He has a crown of thorns."
List of Participating Schools
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Enfield, Middlesex
Queensway School, Torquay, Devon
St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Sittingbourne, Kent
St Edward’s RC Primary School, Sheerness, Kent
Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London
Saint John Bosco RC Primary School Manchester
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Ascot Berkshire
St Thomas More RC Primary School Chatham, Kent
Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School, Purley Surrey
St John Fisher RC Primary School, Perivale, Middlesex
St Francis de Sales Junior School Tottenham, London
St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Maida Vale, London
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Bodmin, Cornwall
St Philip Howard School, Herne Bay, Kent
St Gregory’s RC Primary School, Ealing, London
St Ignatius RC Primary School, Sunbury, Middlesex.
The 2005 RE Project took the theme “MIRACLES”. Children were invited to study some of the miracles performed by Christ – turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana, healing blind Bartimaeus, walking on the water – and write about one of them as if they had actually been present.
Our aim was to encourage children to learn and understand that these miracles teach us that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, that He is Divine, the second person of the Blessed Trinity.
2005 WINNERS
Joint Winners of the 2005 Schools RE Project are Llyr Tobin and Michael Truss, both of the Holy Name School, Fishguard, Wales. Runner-up is Ellen Strawbridge from the same school.
Llyr and Michael both chose to write about the healing of blind Bartimeus.
Michael wrote a vivid account, accurate and faithful to the New Testament:
He could not see flowers.
He could not see people.
He could not see anything.
He had been blind since he was born.
But something special happened to this blind man.
Jesus saw him.”
Describing how Christ made mud and healed the man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash, Michael concluded : “Remember Jesus could work miracles because he is the Son of God and Saviour of the world.”
Llyr’s account was similarly well-written and showed understanding of what took place. After describing the healing, he wrote:
“Later Jesus found him sitting alone. ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ he asked ‘Yes, sir, I believe in him but I do not know him’ he answered. Jesus said’ You can see him for he is speaking to you.’ At once the man fell to his knees and said ‘Lord, I believe in you!’
Jesus touched the man’s eyes and his heart with the light of his love, so that he could ‘see’ that Jesus was the son of God. Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world. It is never dark where I am. Come with me and walk in the light.’
Llyr and Michael received their prizes at a special School Mass on June 29th, feast of Ss Peter and Paul, with a representative of our Association handing on the trophy together with books and Certificates of Merit.
Certificates of Merit were also gained by children at Holy Name School, and at the following schools:
Holy Family Primary School, Maidstone, Kent
St Augustine Webster Primary School, Scunthorpe
St Peter’s Primary School, Footscray, Sidcup
St Mary’s Primary School, Isleworth, Middlesex
St Augustine’s Primary School, Felling, Gateshead
Divine Saviour Primary School Abbots Langley
Sacred Heart Primary School, Windemere Road, Leigh
St Michael’s Primary School, Bodmin, Cornwall.
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