Here at St Michael’s we are proud to say we have our very own group of Mini Vinnies.
- Lead – Miss Johnston
- President – Scarlett
- Vice President – Ana
- Treasurers – Grace P and James
What are Mini Vinnies?
‘Mini Vinnies’ are children aged between 7 to 11 (or younger) who, with the support of their Schools, are encouraged to embark on their first steps as possible ‘Vincentians for life’.
Mini Vinnies are a younger version of The Society of St Vincent de Paul. The group is seen as having, “The potential to significantly contribute to the future of our Society.”
As Mini Vinnies, the youngsters have their own ‘treasured’ Prayer, Pledge and Badge, a dedicated website and a range of bright and colourful documents which guide them in their formative steps – helping and enabling them to become in every sense, young Vincentians – or ‘Mini Vinnies’.
Mini Vinnies Meetings
To find out what is happening in the Mini Vinnies have a look at our notice board in school, look at our Mini Vinnies book (located in the corridor next to the Mini Vinnie’s display board) or read the minutes of our meetings.
St Michael’s Mini Vinnies
St Michael’s Mini Vinnies meet every other week with Miss Johnston to find ways to turn concern into action. This year our Mini Vinnie members are: Scarlett, Will, Grace, James, Ana, Finn, Grace, Ava and Ernie.
Our Aims:
- To care for, respect and love ourselves
- Strengthen our friendship with Jesus
- To care for others in our school and community
- To care for and enjoy God’s world
- To treat others the way we would like to be treated
- To fund raise to help those in need
So far this year we have:
- Given out a certificate each week in whole school collective worship to someone who has shown the catholic values of our school.
- Helped to organise a coffee morning for Autism Awareness.
- Introduced our good deeds bear.
- Helped sell poppy merchandise to raise money for the Poppy Appeal
- Lead an assembly based on Remembrance day
- Created value boards for the kindness wall in the school entrance
- Displayed acts of kindness on angels to be completed every day during Advent
- Set up a Christmas Memory Tree
- Helped sell christmas teddies to raise money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice
Coffee Morning for Autism Awareness 28/9/18
Mini Vinnies helped organise a coffee morning to raise money for an autism charity. A parent approached Mrs Bruton and asked if we could specifically raise money for this charity. The children spent time organising games and making decorations and bunting for the morning. We organised a raffle and collected prizes as well as a ‘guess the name of the teddy’ and ‘guess the amount of sweets in the jar’. All of these activities were a huge success. Mini Vinnies enjoyed helping out on the morning. They welcomed parents, ran their stalls and helped to sell cakes.
Thank you to all those that sent in donations and helped at the event.
Introducing Vinny! October 2018
As Mini Vinnies, one of our aims is to care for and help people. Therefore, we make it our mission to do good deeds by following our motto of ‘turning concern into action.’ We will be sending Vinny the bear home with the children as we would love for you to share your good deeds with us. Our bear is always on the look out for acts of kindness.
Whilst looking after Vinny, please write about, take photos or draw pictures of one good deed or act of kindness that you have completed. This could be as simple as reading to a sibling, helping a parent/grandparent or using kind words. We look forward to filling up our file with all your positive acts!
Remembrance Day – November 2018
Some Mini Vinnies went down to Langley Park to visit the Centenary Display. We learnt lots of interesting facts and were lucky enough to get a cookie and a goodie bag.
In school we helped to sell poppies and poppy wrist bands to help raise money for the Poppy Appeal. During this time, we also painted poppies onto stones to add to our special grotto area outside of school.
Mini Vinnies led an assembly based on Remembrance day. We discussed the importance of it and why this year especially had such significance.
Value Boards
Some of our Mini Vinnies teamed up with Chaplaincy Team and some of School Council to work with Shelly from Rustic Designs to create value boards. These boards will be displayed in our school entrance.
We all had a fabulous afternoon and can’t wait to share our positive kindness boards with the rest of the school!
Christmas Memory Tree
We recognised that it has been a difficult year for everyone with the loss of many loved ones. Therefore we set up a memory tree in school where everyone was welcome to write a message of remembrance for a loved one and place it on the tree.
Christmas Teddies
During December we sold ‘festive friends’ to help raise money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
Christmas Hampers
After receiving names and addresses of some of our parishioners from Father Coxon, we spent an afternoon delivering hampers that we had made up from donations sent to school. We made Christmas cards to go with these. We loved seeing the smile on these people’s faces. We even got lots of offers of biscuits and cups of tea!
Archived Mini-Vinnies
You can view archived Mini-Vinnies information on our website.
