Newsletter 22 16/02/24

Address: Sacred Heart School
Windermere Road, Southend, SS1 2RF

Tel: 01702 534546

Love of God, Love of One Another, Love of our World and Love of learning

Prayer

Lord,

As we begin Lent this week, we ask that you are with us on our journey.

Guide us on the path that leads us closer to you and fill us with love, strength and peace, as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves. We ask that you support us through prayer and discipline as we give up things to be closer to you.

In your name we pray.

Amen

St. Michael's Class

Headteacher Message

We have reached half way in the academic year already! I've really enjoyed my time at Sacred Heart so far, working with a wonderful, supportive team, and I thank you as our community for working with us on our continual journey for excellence. As half term arrives, Mrs. Cornish is leaving our Learning Support team today and we thank her for her service to the school and wish her well in her future career.

Ash Wednesday was celebrated with a Mass for our older children, lead by Father Graham and joined by our local church community. After break time, we held a service in the hall as Lent begins for our younger children. We reflected on the things we sometimes do wrong and asked for strength and guidance as we strive to be loving and caring to others.

The Titanic exhibition of Year 4 was truly amazing this week! I was genuinely amazed by the fabulous projects that the children had undertaken: a mix of facts and information presented in a variety of ways, including wonderful models and art. Outstanding! They have also enjoyed a trip to see the shipwreck exhibition at Southend Museum this week.

On the subject of art and celebrating the work and learning of the children, I am looking to promote this subject by displaying more of it around the school. Hopefully, by the time of consultation meetings in the second week back, we may have some framed work for you to see.

In addition to that, we will be displaying some of our fabulous collection of new books. It has been really exciting to work with some Year 6 pupils in cataloguing what is, I believe, the best and most culturally diverse range of texts that I have seen in schools in my whole career. We're really looking forward to spreading the love of books and reading among our children as we make this new investment available to them.

Finally, the week has been ended with a very long and noisy dragon dancing around the whole school as Reception classes mark the start of the Chinese New Year.

God bless,

Mr. Beazeley

Stars of the Week

Here are our stars of the week who have represented our core values well through their actions of responsibility, achievement, compassion, equality, faith and respect.

School Library

Our Amazon Wishlist is live!! The idea is that friends and family of the school can donate directly to the school library. We’ll still accept preloved copies from home that you may also wish to donate. The selection of books are chosen by the staff as texts that may benefit the pupil's reading comprehension, engagement with the curriculum and foster an interest in reading. The current list is reflective of this and will update as and when donations come through Amazon.co.uk

Upcoming Dates

19th-23rd Feb - HALF TERM
26th Feb - INSET Day – NO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

27th Feb - Children return to school
28th Feb - Reception Class Height, Weight, Vision and Hearing checks (NCMP)

28th Feb - Netball at Alleyn Court from 9am to 12pm (selected team)
29th Feb - Cybersafety – Year 5

1st Mar - Year 6 National Offer Day for Secondary School Places

1st Mar - Year 6 Garrison Trip
4th Mar - Swimming Lessons (weekly) begin for Year 5 St Joseph

4th Mar - Class Photos

5th Mar - Parent/Carer Information Meeting 3.30pm – 6.30pm

6th Mar - Parent/Carer Information Meeting 5.00pm – 7.30pm

6th Mar - Girls Football at our Lady of Lourdes – AM

7th Mar - World Book Day

7th Mar - Year 1 St Felicity Class Assembly at 9.00am

Reading Challenge Cup

What's Happening at Sacred Heart

Year 3 have been studying the work of Henri Matisse and worked together as a team to create this large art piece influenced by his masterpieces.

Year 4 held a wonderful Titanic Exhibition displaying their extended learning and their knowledge about this event in history.

We have been supporting our local residents in keeping the local environment tidy for all. The children asked questions such as 'Why has this happened?' and their message to all is 'Please take your rubbish home'

Respecting School Property

At Sacred Heart we are always proud of our pupils and their behaviour but over the last couple of months we have had several incidents in our pupil toilets. These incidences have happened across the school and are not isolated to one area.

As a school we have spoken with classes, and we have discussed in assembly on several occasions the impact these incidences have, ranging from upsetting other pupils to the extra work they are creating for our site staff. Unfortunately, we are still having some of these incidences happening.

Of course, if we are aware of particular children who are committing these actions, we will approach children and their parents directly. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you could just help to reinforce our messages about appropriate behaviour, as well as letting us know if they see things that are not appropriate.

Vacancy - School Cleaner

School Cleaner vacancy – Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Start: As soon as possible

Salary: Point 1 pro-rata, term time only

(with the possibility of additional hours to deep-clean over school holidays)

Working hours: 10 hours per week, 3.30 – 5.30pm daily

Would you like to join us in taking pride in the high standards of presentation at our school?

We are looking for a friendly, reliable, diligent cleaner to join our team in undertaking a full range of cleaning duties.

This is a permanent position. Experience is desirable, but not essential as full training can be provided.

The hours of work will be from 3.30 – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, but slight adjustments to working hours would be considered for the right candidate.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to support this commitment. Please download and application pack from the school website or contact the school office to request an application pack.

Closing date for applications: Friday 1st March 2024

Interview date: week beginning 4th March 2024

Contact details: 01702 534546 or email office@sacredheart.southend.sch.uk

Dinner Menu

Notices from the School Office

Year 3 will be studying rocks and fossils next half term. If anyone has any that they would be willing to let us borrow for our science topic, we would be very grateful.

APPEAL FOR SOCKS AND TIGHTS - If anybody has any spare good quality boys and girls socks we would be most grateful as we frequently need spares along with girls tights of all sizes.

Many thanks

We would like to remind all our families using breakfast club of the importance of booking in advance. We have noticed an increase of children not booking in advance and this effects our staffing ratio.

All bookings must be made at the beginning of each week so we can ensure we have enough staff available. Priority will be given to children who have booked in advance and those who have not booked may not be able to stay.

If you need assistance making a booking please email annemariedriscoll@sacredheart.southend.sch.uk

We would like to remind you that dogs cannot be bought on to the playground during school pick up at the end of the day. Thank you for your understanding in this matter

Information about Scarlet Fever

New School Uniform Supplier

With the closure of Paul's School Uniform, we have made a new partnership with Brand Identity Schoolwear. You can order online at
www.b-id.co.uk/schools/ or buy at their store - Unit 2, 555 Sutton Rd, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 5FB.

An alternative retailer is Crawlers, who can be found at 361 Hamstel Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4LE

Uniform Policy

Here is a reminder of our SCHOOL UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS as we are approaching the half-term, and parents may be considering purchasing uniform for the summer term. Please also pay special attention to the jewellery and hairstyles requirements as well, thank you.

Attendance

The government launched on 8th January a new initiative to support parents and schools in improving the attendance of their children. Under the slogan ‘Moments Matter Attendance Counts’, the DFE have outlined a number of illnesses which they feel students should still come to school with despite feeling slightly under the weather. The NHS has produced guidance to help you make a decision as to whether to send your child to school. Please see this at the following link NHS Guidance: Is my child too ill for school? If you have any attendance queries or further questions relating to your son or daughter coming to school, please do not hesitate to contact the office telephone number 01702 534546 or by email office@sacredheart.southend.sch.uk for clarification

If your child has sickness or diarrhea remember that ALL children must remain at home until they have had 48 clear hours after the last bout of illness/symptoms. This Government requirement to prevent the spread of these highly infections illnesses. Please do not send your child back to school too soon, thank you.

Absence: If your child is unwell and unable to attend, please notify the school of the reason for the absence on the first day of an unplanned absence by 9am or as soon as practically possible by calling the school or by emailing. If the absence lasts more than one day, please update the school on a daily basis

Allergy Notice

A reminder to parents... we are a nut free school, so that means no Nutella/chocolate spread and peanut butter etc. should be bought in to school, including in packed lunches. This is due to the fact that we have pupils severely allergic to nuts. Thank you.

Medication

Please can you ensure that, if needed, your child has their epipen and asthma pumps in school at all times and that we have received the relevant paperwork with authorisation to use them. If your child has been prescribed medication that needs administering in school, please ensure that you complete the medical form which is available from the school office. Thank you.

School Dinners

Please ensure that you book your child a school dinner in advance. Booking is essential for the kitchen to be able to prepare and arrange the correct quantity of food and limit any waste.

If you are having any problems with booking school dinners online, please contact the school office who will be more than happy to help.