St Malachy's 
What's Been Happening at St Malachy's
We have lots of events planned for the coming terms in this new school year so keep watching this space!
'I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full!' John 10:10
Click here to see Events from Last Year
SUMMER 2026
Rugbees Project
🏉 Girls Rugby – Rugbees Project 🏉
Our girls have been taking part in the Rugbees Project, an after-school rugby programme delivered by the Halifax Panthers Foundation. 🐾
The sessions have given girls across the school the opportunity to try rugby in a fun, inclusive and supportive environment, developing their skills, confidence and teamwork week by week. The children have absolutely loved getting involved and the sessions have been a fantastic addition to our extra-curricular offer. 👏🌟
Girls Tag Rugby Y5/6
🏉✨ Year 5/6 Tag Rugby ✨🏉
Our Year 5/6 girls took part in a fantastic Tag Rugby competition, playing some brilliant rugby throughout. They narrowly missed out on 3rd place, falling just short in the 3rd/4th place play-off, but showed tremendous effort, teamwork and sportsmanship from start to finish.
A highlight of the day came when the girls had the amazing opportunity to meet England Rugby League Head Coach, Stuart Barrow.
Skip2bFit
🏅✨ Skip2bFit Workshops ✨🏅
Children from Reception all the way through to Year 6 took part in exciting Skip2bFit workshops, developing their skipping skills, fitness and coordination in a fun and energetic way. 🪢
From complete beginners to confident skippers, pupils of all abilities were challenged and encouraged throughout, with children quickly picking up new techniques and routines. It was a fantastic, active experience enjoyed by the whole school! 👏🌟
Our Chance to Dance
💃✨ Our Chance to Dance ✨💃
Our dancers took to the stage as part of the Our Chance to Dance show, performing alongside other schools in front of an audience of over 200 parents and carers. 🌟
The children performed two routines — a high-energy dance to Bugsy Malone and a spectacular closing performance to Aladdin, bringing the whole show to a finish. 🎭🎶
The event was a fantastic opportunity giving our children the experience of live performance in front of a large audience. We are very proud of every one of them. 👏
Kate Dearden Visit
🌟✨ A Very Special Visitor at Breakfast Club! ✨🌟
We were delighted to welcome Kate Dearden MP to St Malachy's for a visit to our Breakfast Club! 🥐
Kate had a wonderful time meeting our children and staff, seeing first-hand the fantastic provision we offer to families every morning. It was a brilliant opportunity to showcase the warm, welcoming and nurturing start to the day that our Breakfast Club provides, and to share the difference it makes to so many of our pupils. 💛
Gold Award
🌳 Woodland Trust – Gold Award 🌳
We are absolutely delighted to share that St Malachy's has been awarded the Woodland Trust Gold Award!
This fantastic achievement is a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication of everyone involved, led brilliantly by Kaomi and Gareth. Through their efforts, our children have been inspired to connect with and care for the natural world, helping to create a true sense of Awe and Wonder in God's Creation. 🌿🍃
A huge well done and thank you to all involved.
Robinwood Residential
🌲Robinwood Residential🌲
What an incredible experience our Year 5 pupils had on their residential trip to Robinwood! 🏕️
The children threw themselves into every activity with enthusiasm, courage and determination, showing fantastic resilience throughout. From challenging outdoor adventures to working together as a team, they pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and came out smiling every time! 😊
BPS Heats - Mixed Team
⚽ Mixed Football - 2nd place⚽
Our mixed football team took part in the Blessed Peter Snow Trust Calderdale Heats Competition, finishing second in the league after a strong series of matches that showcased excellent teamwork and determination.
The team progressed to the final, where they were beaten 3–0 by St Joseph’s. Although they just fell short of first place, the pupils played extremely well throughout the competition and should be very proud of their effort, commitment and sportsmanship. Well done to everyone involved 👏⚽
BPS Heats - Girls Champions
⚽ Girls’ Football – Champions ⚽
Our girls’ football team took part in the Blessed Peter Snow Trust Calderdale Heats Competition, playing eight group games finishing in second place.
The girls progressed to the final, where they secured a fantastic 3–2 victory against St Joseph’s. As a result, they will now progress to the finals. A brilliant performance that demonstrated determination, teamwork and resilience throughout. Well done, girls! 👏🏆
Chicks
🐣 Chick Hatching Experience 🐣
We welcomed 10 chick eggs into school using an incubator, where they will stay with us for two weeks. Staff and children will enjoy naming the chicks as they hatch and grow.
The eggs and chicks are being carefully looked after by the children in The Nest, who are writing chick diaries and completing learning activities all about chicks and their life cycle. It has been a wonderful hands‑on learning experience, full of care, curiosity and excitement.
Mixed Tag Rugby - Y5/6
Our Year 5/6 mixed tag rugby team competed in the Calderdale Schools Games, playing three matches in a challenging group. Although they didn’t progress beyond the group stage on this occasion, the team showed great teamwork, determination and sportsmanship throughout. Well done to all involved for representing the school so positively.
Bikeability
🚲 Bikeability 🚲
Twelve children from Years 5 and 6 took part in Bikeability, beginning by developing core cycling skills in the playground before progressing onto the local streets. Through the programme, pupils learned how to ride safely and confidently, including using correct signals, understanding road positioning, identifying hazards and making safe decisions in real‑life traffic situations.
SPRING 2026
Easter Disco
🐣 Easter Discos
Our KS1 and KS2 Easter Discos were full of fun, music and smiles. The children had a fantastic time celebrating together. Money raised from the discos and our Easter Raffles will go towards supporting our Good Shepherd Campaign.
Battle of the Books 2026
📚 Battle of the Books 2026 📚
Blessed Peter Snow Trust Event
The Battle of the Books 2026 was held at St Joseph’s, Brighouse, and we are incredibly proud of our team who represented the school so well.
Congratulations to our pupils who smashed last year’s score at the event on Wednesday, finishing with an impressive top 6 result. Their teamwork, dedication and love of reading shone throughout the competition.
Police Visit EYFS
👮♀️ A Visit from Our Community Police Officers in EYFS 🚨
We had a fantastic time welcoming Police Community Support Officers Nicola and Alicia. They visited and shared all about their important role in helping to keep people safe in our community.
The children asked some excellent questions and learned lots of new information.🚔🚨
Anti-Poverty Dance Event
🌍 Working Together to End Child Poverty 🤝
Our pupils delivered a sensational dance performance that delighted guests at Calderdale Council’s Working Together to End Child Poverty event, showcasing the confidence, talent and joy of our children. They were absolutely amazing.
Year 3 Litter Pick
As part of their Personal Development learning, Year 3 have been exploring the importance of caring for the environment and taking responsibility for their local community. Today, the children headed out on a local litter pick to put this learning into practice. Armed with gloves, grabbers and plenty of enthusiasm, they collected an impressive six bags of litter, helping to make the area around school cleaner and safer. The pupils approached the task with great teamwork and pride, and they are already looking forward to doing it again soon as part of their ongoing commitment to community care.
Royal Homes Through the Ages
Year 1 children took part in a fantastic online workshop exploring royal homes through the ages, delivered via Zoom by History and the Historic Royal Palaces charity. The session guided children through the fascinating stories, architecture and traditions linked to some of Britain’s most iconic royal residences. With interactive activities and expert storytelling, the workshop brought history to life and deepened pupils’ understanding of how royal homes have changed over time. It was an engaging and inspiring learning experience for everyone involved.
WY Cross Country
🌟 West Yorkshire Cross Country Finals🌟
Grace and Violet represented Calderdale and St Malachy’s today at the West Yorkshire School Games Cross Country Final at Temple Newsam.
It was a tough and muddy course, but both girls showed real determination and resilience. Grace finished an impressive 54th out of 141, and Violet finished 81st out of 149.
A fantastic effort from both runners – we are very proud of you! 🏃♀️👏
World Book Day
📚✨ World Book Day 2026 ✨📚
What a fantastic day we have had celebrating World Book Day 2026 at St Malachy’s!
We are incredibly grateful to Halifax Town for kindly providing our children with free books. 💛📖
Our children were so excited to receive their new books, and we feel very lucky to have such wonderful support from our community.
A brilliant day filled with stories, smiles, and a whole lot of reading magic! ✨📚
Great Fire of London
🔥✨ Great Fire of London Experience ✨🔥
As part of their history learning, Year 2 took part in an exciting hands‑on experience to help them understand the events of the Great Fire of London. After studying how houses were built in 1666, the children constructed their own versions using materials similar to those used at the time. They then visited Forest School, where the houses were safely set alight to show how quickly the fire would have spread through the narrow streets of London. The activity brought their learning to life and helped the children deepen their understanding of how and why the fire became so destructive.
Valentine's Art and Craft Workshop
❤️ Valentine’s Arts & Crafts at St Malachy’s! 💕
We were delighted to welcome families into school for our Valentine’s Arts and Crafts workshop. Children and adults worked together to create beautiful heart‑themed decorations, cards, and handmade gifts, filling the hall with creativity, colour, and plenty of Valentine’s cheer. 💌🎨
It was a warm, joyful event that brought our community together once again, giving families the chance to spend quality time together and share in the love and creativity of the season. ❤️✨
Dare To Dream
Children from Year 5 and Year 6 visited All Saints’ in Huddersfield to watch their impressive Dare to Dream drama performance. The production offered our pupils a wonderful opportunity to experience live theatre, see older students showcase their talents, and gain inspiration for their own creative work. The visit supported our ongoing commitment to broadening pupils’ cultural experiences and encouraging them to explore the arts as a powerful way of expressing ideas and aspirations.
Chinese New Year
🐉✨ Chinese New Year ✨🐉
Our Early Years children welcomed Chinese New Year with a colourful and lively celebration. After learning about traditions linked to the festival, the children worked together to create their very own dragon, decorating it with bright colours and textured materials.
Once completed, they proudly paraded their dragon through the school corridors, sharing the excitement and festive spirit with pupils and staff along the way. It was a joyful, creative experience that helped bring this cultural celebration to life for our youngest learners.
Halifax Panthers Safety Sessions
Over four weeks, our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils have taken part in a series of Personal Development Safety Sessions delivered by Nathan from Halifax Panthers. The programme supported children in understanding key aspects of personal safety and making responsible choices, while also giving them the opportunity to ask questions and take part in practical discussions.
The final week ended on a high with an energetic rugby skills session, where pupils applied teamwork, coordination and resilience in a fun and active way.
WOW Launch
🚶♀️🚶♂️ WOW Walk to School Challenge Launch! 🌟
We were delighted to welcome Suzanne from Living Streets into school to help us launch the WOW Walk to School Challenge! 👋😊
As a school, we’re now taking part in this exciting initiative, where children can earn points for their class and the whole school simply by being active on their journey to school. 🚲🛴🚶♂️ It’s a brilliant way to encourage healthy habits while reducing traffic around school.
Cycling and Scooter Parking
🚲🛴 Exciting New Bike & Scooter Facilities at St Malachy’s! 🌟
A big thank you to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for helping to make our latest school improvements possible.
✨ 40 brand‑new scooter parking pods
✨ A brand‑new bike shelter
✨ A full refurbishment of our existing shelter with fresh cladding
These fantastic upgrades will make it even easier for children to travel to school in an active and sustainable way.
Pokemon Futsal
🌟 Pokémon Futsal Success! 🌟
Six of our children took part in the Pokémon Futsal event at Brooksbank — and what a fantastic job they did! ⚽✨
Throughout the competition, they took on a series of skill‑based and fitness challenges, demonstrating brilliant teamwork, determination, and positivity from start to finish.
We are incredibly proud to share that they finished in 2nd place! 🥈👏
Little Bikers
🚲 Little Bikers Club 🚲
Our Little Bikers Club has been off to a fantastic start, with children developing their cycling confidence and skills week by week. They began by mastering balance bikes before progressing to pedal bikes, building control, coordination and independence. The group also had the chance to practise on small ramps, adding excitement and challenge as their confidence grew. It has been wonderful to see how quickly the children have developed and how much they are enjoying their cycling journey.
Year 3 Library Trip
📚✨ Year 3 Visit to the Library ✨📚
Year 3 enjoyed a wonderful visit to the local library as part of their ongoing work on developing a love of reading. The children explored different sections of the library, discovered new authors and genres, and listened to a story shared by the librarian. They also learned how the library is organised and how they can borrow books themselves. It was a fantastic opportunity to inspire their reading choices and build their confidence in using community spaces that support learning.
Boccia - Calderdale Heats
🎯 Boccia – Blessed Peter Snow Competition (Calderdale Heats) 🎯
Our Boccia team represented St Malachy’s brilliantly at the Blessed Peter Snow Competition during the Calderdale heats held at St Malachy's.
The team showed great determination, teamwork and sporting spirit throughout their matches, finishing in a strong 3rd place. Although they did not progress to the next round, their performance was impressive and a credit to the school. Well done to all involved.
Winter Arts and Crafts
❄️🎨 Winter Arts and Crafts Workshop 🎨❄️
Children and families enjoyed a creative Winter Arts and Crafts session filled with seasonal activities designed to inspire imagination and celebrate the colder months. Pupils experimented with a range of materials to make winter‑themed art, from textured snow scenes to festive decorations, exploring colour, pattern and design along the way. The workshop offered a warm and welcoming space for families to work together, get creative and produce some beautifully wintry pieces to take home.
NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe
💬🟩 NSPCC Speak Out. Stay Safe.🟩💬
The NSPCC team visited St Malachy’s to deliver their Speak Out. Stay Safe. assemblies and workshops. Children learned about staying safe, speaking out about worries, and who they can talk to if they ever need help.
A big thank you to the NSPCC for helping our pupils understand these important messages in a clear and child‑friendly way. 💛
Year 3 Family Learning
🪨✨ Stone Age Family Learning Event ✨🪨
Our recent Year 3 Stone Age Family Learning workshop gave children and their families the chance to explore life in the Stone Age through creative, hands‑on activities linked to the class text Stone Age Boy.
Together, they created cave‑style artwork using tea‑bag staining, designed Stone Age clothing inspired by the story, and painted their own Stone Age creatures using forks to add texture. The session brought history to life in an enjoyable and memorable way for everyone involved.
AUTUMN 2025
Year 6 Tropical World
🦎 Year 6 Trip to Tropical World 🦋
Our Year 6 pupils had a fantastic day exploring Tropical World in Leeds. They were captivated by the amazing butterflies, reptiles, and rainforest environments, discovering new facts at every turn. The children especially enjoyed observing the meerkats and walking through the humid rainforest enclosure. It was a brilliant opportunity to deepen their understanding of habitats and biodiversity while sharing the excitement of learning outside the classroom.
Christmas Arts & Crafts
🎨 Christmas Arts & Crafts – Family Workshop ✂️
We were delighted to welcome families into school for our Christmas Arts and Crafts workshop. Children and adults worked together to create festive decorations, cards, and handmade gifts, filling the hall with creativity and Christmas cheer. It was a warm, joyful event that brought our community together and gave families a chance to share in the magic of the season.
Box2bFit
🥊 Box2BFit in School – Fitness & Fun at St Malachy’s 🥊
Our pupils took part in an exciting Box2BFit session, focusing on fitness, resilience, and teamwork. The children showed fantastic energy and determination as they worked through a range of boxing-inspired activities. They loved the challenge, especially the partner drills and fast‑paced circuits, which helped build confidence and physical strength.
Christmas Dinner
🎄 Christmas Dinner & Christmas Jumper Day at St Malachy’s 🎄
Our school was full of festive cheer as children and staff enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner while proudly wearing their brightest Christmas jumpers. The hall was filled with laughter, music, and plenty of sparkle as everyone came together to celebrate the season. It was a wonderful opportunity to share joy, build community spirit, and create lasting Christmas memories across the school.
Adam Heslop Cup
⚽ Adam Heslop Cup – Halifax Town ⚽
Our football team took part in the Adam Heslop Cup, organised by Halifax Town. The children played with great effort and enthusiasm, enjoying the experience of competitive football. Although we didn’t progress beyond the group stage, it was a fantastic opportunity for the team to develop their skills and represent St Malachy’s with pride.
Calderdale Cross Country Finals
🏃 Calderdale Cross Country Finals 🏃
Our pupils showed fantastic determination at the Calderdale Cross Country Finals. We are proud to announce that two children have qualified for the West Yorkshire Finals in March! This is an incredible achievement and a testament to their hard work and perseverance.
Little Bikers
🚲 Little Bikers Balance Bike Sessions 🚲
Our youngest children took part in the Little Bikers balance bike sessions, developing their coordination, confidence, and early cycling skills in a fun and safe environment. These sessions are a fantastic way to promote physical activity and prepare children for riding independently.
Y3/4 Boccia
🎯 Calderdale Boccia Competition 🎯
A team of four pupils represented St Malachy’s at the Calderdale Boccia competition. It was a fantastic opportunity for our children to showcase their skills, teamwork, and determination in this inclusive sport. We are proud of their effort and enthusiasm throughout the event!
Half Time Football - Halifax Town
⚽ Half-Time Football Success ⚽
Our St Malachy’s football team had an amazing experience playing at half-time during the Halifax Town vs Exeter City match. The team showed great skill and determination, beating Ling Bob 2–1! This win means we progress to another half-time fixture – well done to all involved!
KAPLA Workshop
🔧 KAPLA STEM Workshop 🔧
Our hall was transformed into a creative construction zone during the KAPLA STEM Workshop. Every year group worked together to build incredible structures, developing teamwork, problem-solving, and engineering skills. It was a fantastic hands-on experience that brought STEM learning to life!
Keepmoat Visit
🏗️ Keepmoat Housing Visit 🏗️
We welcomed Shellie from Keepmoat Housing into school to talk to the children about building safety and the importance of staying safe near construction sites. They also shared information about the new houses being built near our school. This was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to learn about careers in construction and how developments in our local area take shape.
Year 2 Family Learning
📚 Family Learning Workshop – Year 2 📚
We welcomed parents and carers into school for a Family Learning workshop based on the Year 2 text Goldilocks & the Three Bears. It was a fantastic opportunity for families to work alongside their children, share creative activities, and strengthen home-school partnerships.
EYFS Open Morning
✨ EYFS Open Morning at St. Malachy’s! ✨
We were delighted to welcome parents into our EYFS classrooms for a special Open Morning, where they had the chance to explore, play, and learn alongside their children.
From messy play to mark-making, it was fantastic to see families getting stuck in and enjoying the wide range of activities on offer.
A big thank you to all who joined us and helped make the morning so memorable. We love sharing these moments with you! 🥰
Cross Country
🏃♂️ Cross Country – North Halifax Schools 🏃♀️
A huge well done to all 41 runners who proudly represented St. Malachy’s at the North Halifax Schools Cross Country event! Every pupil showed fantastic determination, teamwork, and resilience throughout the races.
We’re thrilled to share that our school secured a brilliant 2nd place finish overall, with several teams now qualifying for the Calderdale Finals, an outstanding achievement and a testament to their hard work and spirit! 🎉👏
Rock Kidz!
🎸 Rock Kidz Return to St. Malachy’s! 🎸
We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Rock Kidz back to St. Malachy’s for another unforgettable visit! Their electrifying performance workshops were bursting with energy, excitement, and positivity, getting everyone up on their feet, dancing, and singing along.
The band delivered a powerful message through their high-energy rock anthems like “Kindness – Live it Loud” and “You’re Awesome, So Be Awesome.” These weren’t just catchy tunes—they were packed with inspiring messages about resilience, perseverance, and the power of kindness.
It was a day full of fun, motivation, and music that left a lasting impact on our children. Thank you, Rock Kidz, for another amazing experience!
Ready Steady Pedal
🚴♀️ Ready Steady Bike Lessons for Years 4, 5 & 6! 🚴♂️
Pupils in Years 4, 5, and 6 had a fantastic time taking part in Ready Steady Bike sessions this week! The lessons were all about building confidence, developing cycling skills, and having fun on two wheels.
Children learned how to ride safely, improve their balance and control, and navigate different cycling challenges. The sessions ended on a high with the ever-popular bike limbo.
A big thank you to the Ready Steady Bike team for helping our pupils become more confident and capable cyclists.
Dr Bike!
🚲 Dr Bike Visit St. Malachy’s! 🚲
We were excited to welcome Ready Steady Pedal and Dr Bike to St. Malachy’s, where they spent the day helping to service and check over the children’s bikes—making sure they were safe, road-ready, and in great condition.
Our Year 6 pupils also got hands-on, learning valuable bike maintenance skills and supporting the team throughout the day.
A big thank you to Ready Steady Pedal and Dr Bike for promoting safe cycling and helping our pupils become more independent and responsible riders!