Newsletter 23 24/02/23

This week at Sacred Heart…

I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable half term break.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming parents/carers to our Parent Information Meetings in a couple of weeks.  Please do not forget to book your meeting with your child’s class teacher using the online booking system which has been live since this Wednesday (22nd).  These meetings are a great way to catch up on the progress your child has been making and how this can be supported at home.  The children’s books and other work will be available to look at before your appointment takes place.  We encourage children (particularly in Years 1-6) to come along also so they can share their work and join in with discussions with the class teacher.   We hope you find these meetings useful.  

On Wednesday, Years 4 - 6 attended mass in Sacred Heart Church with Father Graham for Ash Wednesday, along with members of the parish.  Pupils in Nursery - Year 3 also attended an Ash Wednesday service in school with Fr Graham, in which there was a distribution of ashes.  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, leading up to Easter and culminates in the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.  We were very proud of the children’s exemplary behaviour during our services this week – and the incredibly high standard of their reading and singing.

World Book Day is coming up – taking place on Thursday 2nd March.  On Thursday, pupils are invited to come to school dressed in pyjamas/nightwear (associated with Bedtime Stories) or a book character costume.  We have an exciting range of book-themed activities planned for the day.  Across this term, we are working to strengthen our culture of reading.  It is widely recognised amongst educationalists that the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on reading habits amongst primary-school pupils.  Please discuss World Book Day with your child and use this as a means of encouraging good, daily reading habits at home (recording this in pupils’ yellow reading logs).  We will be holding some events for parents/carers in the coming weeks to focus on what can be done at home to support reading.

God bless,

Mrs Mullally

• 27th Feb - Southend Makes Music, Choir at Palace Theatre from 6.00pm to 9.00pm

• 1st Mar - Year 1 St Patrick Share a Prayer Class Assembly - 9.00am in school hall - parents/carers are welcome

• 1st Mar - National Offer Day for Secondary School Places

• 2nd Mar - World Book Day

• 7th Mar - Parent/Carer Information Meeting with parents/carers  3.30pm– 6.30pm

• 9th Mar - Parent/Carer Information Meeting with parents/carers 5.00pm – 7.30pm

• 13th Mar - Science Week

• 14th Mar - Class Photo Day

• 16th Mar - Year 1 St Brigid Share a Prayer Class Assembly - 9.00am in school hall - parents/carers are welcome

• 16th Mar - Lent reconciliation service – pupils only

• 20th Mar - FOSH AGM 7:30pm in School Hall 

• 22nd Mar - Swimming - final lesson for St Michael

The kitchen have just been informed that the suppliers of our Chicken Goujons have amended the ingredients to say that they may contain soya.  We have updated our menu below to include an allergy warning for the Chicken Goujons Wraps that are available on Wednesdays.

We have become aware of some pupils having energy drinks in school. These are not to be bought into school and following government guidance children should not be consuming these due to the high volume of caffeine that can be found in them. 

We are also requesting that empty Prime energy drink bottles are not used as water bottles please, to avoid any confusion. 

If we discover any of these drinks or bottles in school they will be confiscated and parents can collect them from the office.

Regular attendance at school is vital for children to thrive.  Missing school can have a significant effect on education with children missing key learning and having gaps in their knowledge and understanding.  Wherever possible, please ensure your child is attending school every day!  We like to reward positive attendance and currently have weekly and termly attendance rewards.