Happy New Year. I truly hope that you have all had a special time with your friends and family this Christmas. The festive period is always so busy, with so much to do and so many people to see, it can be hard to keep up or remember the true meaning of Christmas - we certainly felt this in school at times. However, the moments of stillness or silence that we experienced enabled us to reflect and to be.
I cannot begin to tell you all how lovely it has been to reconnect with the school community this week - it feels like I have never been away. To have been appointed as head teacher at this wonderful school is such a great privilege. I have said this numerous times, but the community of Our Lady’s is an incredibly special one. The love and compassion that is evident in school is felt daily and is witnessed in lots of different ways. In assembly this week, we introduced our two new virtues for this half term: learned and wise. I have tasked the children to be learned in finding God in all things and to be wise in how we can use this learning for the common good. Ultimately we want to bring the Kingdom of God alive here on earth; alive in the community of Our Lady Star of the Sea.
Today, the whole school visited 9.30am Mass to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. We talked about the meaning of the word epiphany and how the kings had this moment of realisation; they had to visit the baby Jesus lying in the manger. It was lovely that we were visited by our own three wise men who took part in the offertory procession and offered their gifts to the nativity in church. Father Peter reminded us to follow our own star, our own path to Jesus.
Good News
After keeping her Mummy and Daddy waiting for 2 weeks past her due date, Miss Woodend’s little girl arrived just before the new year. I am sure you will join me in sending Miss Woodend, and her family, a huge congratulations. We cannot wait to meet Millie - I am sure the children in Year 2 will be beyond excited when they finally do.
Looking forward
As we move towards half term, and beyond to Easter, please do have a look at the calendar on the front page of the website. There is lots of things that will be happening in school over the coming weeks - some that you will be able to come and spend time in school too.
We are planning to hold some drop in sessions around our curriculum. Time when you can come and understand further how to help your child at home and ask questions about things that you aren’t too sure about. We will let you know when they are coming up and how you can then book onto them.
Office News
Thank you so much to all families for coming back to school so organised, remembering all the things needed for the day, no mean feat after 2 weeks holiday and having to meet those early starts! We’ve not needed to ring anyone for forgotten items which is brilliant!
Sorry to bang on about dinner money the first week back but we end it with 27 dinner accounts in debit, some from Autumn term. Dinners must be paid for in advance, unless there are exceptional circumstances and they have been communicated to Mrs Gregan or the Office. We would always deal discreetly with these. Please ensure that you are in credit for dinners by Monday morning. If any accounts are in arrears, we shall have to ask parents to provide a packed lunch until there is a credit balance showing. Please don’t let this happen - we really don’t like making those calls!
Dinners are still £2.40 each and will be £67.20 for the half-term.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEPTION 2023
A note to all prospective parents: the closing date for primary school applications is 15th January 2023. Please ensure that if you are applying, and using faith as the basis for your application, that you have completed the supplementary form which can be found under admissions on the website and dropped it off into the school office, along with a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate. Please don’t delay bringing in the supplementary form if you have mislaid the baptismal certificate.
Finally, have a lovely weekend with your families. The weather seems to be so inconsistent at the moment, I hope that you find some sunshine.
God bless,
Mrs Gregan