Newsletter 12 29/11/24

Thank you for your donations to the SVP charity this week; showing our care for others is such an integral part of our Sacred Heart ethos.

Yesterday, we began to formally prepare for the season by holding our Advent assemblies. Children were reminded of the meanings behind the wreath: its circular nature and evergreen leaves representing God's everlasting, unconditional love; the coloured candles representing a time to reflect on the times when we haven't always considered others, along with the hope that Jesus brings.

With the first candle lit this Sunday on December 1st and subsequent candles lit on the following three Sundays, as the birth of Jesus approaches, ever more light enters our lives to show us the way to live. As children, in some cases, begin to open their own Advent calendars, I wonder how much of the background to Advent, the wreath and the empty manger they will be able to tell you about.

Four Advent candles also translates to three more weeks of this term and so children have already been making preparations by practising for the various services that we will be holding soon. Starting with our EYFS sing-along next Tuesday and followed by KS1 Nativity and KS2 Christmas Service, there is a lot to look forward to and get ready for. Not forgetting, of course, our Christmas Fayre two weeks today on Friday after school.

We look forward to seeing you then, and at our other upcoming celebrations, where we hope to share the true meanings of Advent and Christmas with you. As I pointed out to our younger children, there is a Christ in Christmas and, without Him, there wouldn't be one.

Wishing you a joyous start to the season of Advent at the start of the new Church year.

Mr Beazeley

• 03/12/24 – EYFS Nativity Sing Along at 9.30am

• 03/12/24 – EYFS Nativity Sing Along at 2.00pm

• 03/12/24 – Boys Football Year 5 & 6 after school at Hamstel School

• 06/12/24 – Kurling and Boccia at Garons - KS2 SEN children 

• 06/12/24 – Christmas decoration afternoon

• 09/12/24 – KS1 Nativity in the school hall at 2.00pm

• 10/12/24 – KS1 Nativity in the school hall at 9.30am

• 10/12/24 – Chocolate Workshop – Year 4 9.00am to 1.00pm

• 13/12/24 – Christmas Fayre – from 5.00pm to 8.00pm

• 17/12/24 – Christmas Dinner Day

• 18/12/24 – KS2 Christmas Service – 1.45pm

• 18/12/24 – KS2 Christmas Service – 6.30pm

• 20/12/24 – Last day of term

• 23/12/24 to 3/1/25 – CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

• 6/1/25 – INSET DAY

• 7/1/25 – CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL

Here is our new dinner menu. starting this half-term.  Please note that Soya has recently been added as an allergen to some of our dishes.

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.  The link to our Wishlist is here.

A big thank you to those that have bought books for the school, we truly appreciate it.

Years 4 and 5 had their My Future My Southend online workshop this week.   Ask them who they got to meet and what they learnt.

As part of our schools pledge for Love of our World, today we planted trees in our grounds that we got from the Woodland Trust and local councillor Chris Webster from the Kursaal Ward came to support our planting.

Our first Musical Showcase was fabulous and all pupils performed well, they have all been working so hard on learning their instruments.

Year 1 have been looking for animals in our environment. They found lots of insects outside and have been learning about classifying these animals as invertebrates. They have also been making advent promises for their class wreath in RE.

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. 

Hot Chocolate Friday.  We celebrate pupils and staff that are superstars in all aspects of their school life. 

LOST PROPERTY

Please can all parents check their child’s clothes -  All items should be clearly labelled and your child needs to ensure they can identify their own property.  Staff are wasting too much time searching for children’s clothing and dealing with frustrated parents.

Thank you for your co-operation.

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.

Breakfast club bookings also includes the tea club (£9 per session) - again all bookings must be booked and paid for in advance.  Failure to pay will result in the child not being able to attend future sessions.

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 all our families that we are a nut free school to protect some of our pupils/staff and therefore request that no items of food containing nuts are brought in.  We have noticed an increasing number of children bringing in snacks and spreads containing nuts ie cereal bars, chocolate spread etc.  We hope you all understand the importance that some of our community have epi pens for their allergies and we need to ensure their safety at all times.  Thank you for your co-operation.

Parentkind – the charity that supports school PTAs - have teamed up with Asda, who are making millions of pounds available to donate to primary schools across the UK through their ‘Cashpot for Schools’ initiative –  all you have to do is, opt in through the Asda Rewards app, choose our primary school and shop and scan in store or shop online at Asda.com, between 2nd September and 30th November 2024

Asda will donate 0.5% of the value of your shop to our Primary school. Also, every time somebody opts in, Asda will give an additional £1 to the school Cashpot. Plus, it doesn’t stop there – Asda are also giving £50 to every school to get them started.

Please follow the link to the Ten Ten collective Worship Newsletter this month www.tentenresources.co.uk/prayers-for-home/parent-newsletter/