Dear Parents/Carers,

We hope this newsletter finds you all well after an enjoyable and restful bank holiday weekend last week! 

The last two weeks have been busy at school as the children have taken part in a number of exciting activities and events. Year 5 recently enjoyed a memorable trip to SPEC. Set in beautiful surroundings, the retreat provided a calm and welcoming environment where pupils could step away from their usual routines and explore deeper questions about faith, values and community. Throughout the visit, the children took part in a range of engaging activities designed to encourage teamwork, discussion and quiet reflection. Pupils enjoyed spending time together outdoors, building friendships and strengthening bonds with their classmates. The combination of reflection and recreation made the experience both meaningful and enjoyable. Staff were incredibly proud of the behaviour and attitude shown by all pupils throughout the visit. Year 5 represented the school brilliantly, showing respect, curiosity, and enthusiasm at all times.

We would like to thank all the parents and carers who attended our recent Computing Online Safety Workshop. It was wonderful to see such strong support from our school community for this important topic. The session provided valuable insights into how children use technology, the potential risks they may encounter online, and practical strategies for keeping them safe in an ever-evolving digital world. We hope that those who attended found the workshop informative and reassuring, and that the guidance shared will help support safe and positive online experiences at home. Your engagement and willingness to work in partnership with the school make a significant difference in promoting children’s wellbeing. If you were unable to attend, we will be sharing key resources and guidance shortly so that everyone can benefit from the information discussed. We welcome the recent announcement that the government is planning to introduce changes to laws surrounding children’s use of social media. This is an important and timely step in recognising both the opportunities and the risks that digital platforms present to young people. We look forward to further details as these proposals develop and will keep our school community informed. 

Last week we attended the first of two Holy Communion Masses in Our Lady and Walsingham and it was a real joy to witness the children taking part in this special next step in their faith journey. An important sacrament that we will also celebrate as a school community with a special school mass at the church (details to follow).

Our Year 4 pupils gave a fantastic assembly last week, sharing what they’ve been learning about the Victorian era. They took us on a journey back in time, exploring what life was like for children in Victorian Britain, including the differences between rich and poor families.  The children spoke confidently about the kinds of jobs many children had to do, from working in factories to being chimney sweeps and reflected thoughtfully on how different this is from their own lives today. Well done to Year 4 for such an informative and engaging assembly — a great way to showcase their learning this term.

Next week the children in Year 6 will sit their KS2 SATS. All the children have worked so hard and should feel really proud of themselves.  We urge all children to take a deep breath, do their best, and remember how capable they are. We will keep all children and staff in our prayers for next week — good luck, Year 6, we’re all behind you. 

Kind regards,

Mrs Lavelle-Murphy & Mrs Reilly