April

It's nearly April so here is my Learn Together update. Here's what's happening this month: (As always, everything you need is here)

🐣🕌 Easter/Eid

Both of these festivals are likely celebrated in various ways in our school community, pupils, staff and families. From a school point of view, Easter is covered 4th class (alongside Lent) and Eid is covered in 1st and 6th class (alongside Ramadan) 

It's no harm in older classes to compare both festivals in terms of fasting, sacrifice and so on as both festivals don't coincide very often. 

Other classes are covering other spring festivals:

• 🛕 JI/3rd Class - Holi (already passed 13th-14th March)

• 🕍 SI/5th Class - Passover (takes place during the holidays from 12th April)

☪️ Just a short notice about Eid. In line with guidance from Educate Together, we should be mindful about how we approach discussions of Islam in the classroom. Rather than asking Muslim children to explain their faith—a role that no single individual can fully represent—we can encourage them to share their personal experiences of Eid, should they wish to. This approach recognises that, as with any religion, there is no single way to be Muslim, and each child’s experience is unique. Just as many children talk about Easter from their own family’s perspective, we can offer a similar space for Muslim students without positioning them as the spokesperson for Islam. I hope that makes sense.

⛪️ Communion

Some of the children in 2nd class will be celebrating Communion in May. This is all done outside of school and there is no expectation on staff to attend the ceremony. It is absolutely fine to wish the children well and to explain to the class what Communion is. (Most of you will know much more about it than me but this Twinkl video gives a good explainer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GaYImaqjxg) 

Children are, of course, welcome to share their experiences from their day after the ceremony. The main balancing act will be not to exclude those that weren't making Holy Communion and to find out what celebrations they have with their families or even their news from the weekend.

☀️ Summer Term

Term 3 is coming up, so a heads up for themes and strands for Learn Together.

 **Important Dates**

Passover( Judaism) Evening of Sat, Apr 12, 2025 – Sun, Apr 20, 2025

Easter( Christianity) April 20th is Easter Sunday

Autism Awareness Day-April 2nd 

Thanks for reading, send on any questions you may have,