Newsletter 16 10/01/25

Happy New Year to you all! Welcome to 2025 and a fresh chance to get better in every way. Of course, we don't have to wait until January to turn a new page - every day is an opportunity to be a better version of ourselves.

In the Catholic church's Year of Jubilee this year, we are reminded to do our best to support others, trying to create a world where the common good is raised above our, perhaps, natural draw towards individuality. To supplement those things that we would do in a 'normal' year, we will be offering staff and children additional opportunities to reflect on the needs of the homeless, hungry and disadvantaged, as well as how we can, in our own way, offer help.

As a school, we will continue to question and reflect upon all that we do. How can we help children to become confident learners who can remember even more of what they are taught? How can we help the whole community to understand, tolerate and support each other?

We will reflect upon how much communication you receive from us - including this newsletter! What is too much to handle and read - and what is too little. This is actually related to the issue around why children (and adults) struggle to remember things - too much information!

With that in mind, I'll keep this short.

This year, we will be looking at our curriculum: what do we teach, for how long, and how can that be modified to enable children to become more knowledgeable and successful than they would otherwise be.

We will also be looking at how our children are grouped in their classes: is there a case for 'rebalancing' Year groups so that those with academic and behavioural challenges are more evenly distributed between class groups? Freshening up this kind of organisation will bring challenges as well as benefits, I'm sure, but we'll be having a look at all of those things in time for a new school year in September.

I hope that 2025 will be a healthy and successful one for you, your family and friends - and that you may find peace with those you work with and come across in our community, connected to peace inside yourself. God bless you.

Mr Beazeley

• 13/01/25 – Year 6 to visit Roots Hall

• 16/01/25 – Class Assembly Year 4 – St Francis

• 16/01/25 – Football at Thorpedene – selected team

• 17/01/25 – Football  - Selected year 3 & 4 team

• 20/01/25 – Year 5 - Dance festival at Palace Theatre

• 20/01/25 – Year 3 – Egyptian day in school hall

• 20/01/25 – NCMP Health check – Year 6

• 22/01/25 – School Nurse Drop-in Session 8.30am to 9.30am

• 22/01/25 – NCMP Health Check – Reception

• 22/01/25 – St Maximilian Kolbe – Swimming

• 23/01/25 – Year 4 St Clare – Class Assembly

Here is our new dinner menu.  Please note that the meat we serve is not Halal.

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.

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. 

UNIFORM REMINDER - The school winter uniform should be worn now with school shirt and tie. Also, please ensure your child is wearing school shoes, not boots or trainers. Please see our uniform policy if you’re not sure

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.

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