Newsletter 3

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This year has been extremely busy with some challenges. However, through partnership working, staff efforts, parental support and strong governance, our pupils have been able to grow, learn and aspire.

The level of effort is recognised by all of the trustees, and we fully understand that we still have challenges ahead.

On behalf of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Multi Academy Trust Board, thank you all for a great 2024. Whatever your plans are for the Christmas holiday, please take time to enjoy and where possible relax, wind down and have a peaceful Christmas.

We all look forward to working together in 2025.

The sight of all of our children taking part in a festive and fun-filled Rudolph Run last week certainly brightened a grey, dreary day.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this fund raising event, organised by the Trust. It was a great success and you all added to the festive feel by wearing your Christmas jumpers.

Donations raised the fabulous sum of £1,568, which will be donated to the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (BCCS); a charity delivering vital mental health and emotional well-being services within our schools.

Staff and pupils at each of our schools have worked incredibly hard to produce a Christmas Nativity, with some of the nursery children, as young as two years old, taking part.

Thank you to all of the staff and parents who encouraged, prepared and rehearsed with the children. We appreciate just how many times you must have sung the same songs over and over, but it is always worth it to see the delight on the parents' faces and the excitement and confidence of the children when they present the Nativity story, reminding us all of the true meaning of Christmas.

I was so proud to accompany some of the children and staff of St Edward's and St Antony's when they sang at Newham Hospital's Christmas lights switch-on last Friday. The hospital staff and patients were so delighted that pupils from other OLOG schools will be visiting again this week.

The hospital's Chief Executive introduced himself and spoke of how beautifully the children had sung and that they had brought some much-needed festive cheer to everyone.

Many of the nurses, doctors and staff joined in and before leaving the children thanked them for all of their hard work.

During our visit to the hospital, I spoke with a reporter from the Newham Recorder and our visit was the top story on their website. ~ Nuala Cashell, CSEL

[Images: Barts Health NHS Trust - Newham Hospital]

Trustees and governors joined together with the children at St Winefride's to enjoy a delicious Christmas lunch and Nuala assisted Father Christmas in delivering presents to our children.

With funding secured by the Trust, fourteen members of staff are participating in Digital Champion training. This will enable staff to enhance the development of digital skills for our children, recognising the benefits of learning key technology skills for work, learning and life.

We asked those taking part to share their feedback.

“The Digital Champion programme has been very insightful and informative in updating our trust-wide digital strategy as well as developing my personal knowledge on the use of AI.” ~ Mohammad Akhtar, Trust Chief Finance Officer

"I am learning a great deal about Ed-Tech and how it can be used to enhance our learning environments." ~ Claire Doherty, Headteacher, St Helen's Catholic Primary School

We are pleased to share that another of our schools is able to offer wraparound care. St Joachim's After School 6 O’clock Club will be running from January for their children from Nursery to Y6. Any enquiries please email info@st-joachims.newham.sch.uk

Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, a holy year which happens every 25 years in the Catholic Church.

He invites us all to be signs of hope in our world and this holy year will be a significant and memorable moment for children and young people. Reflecting on Jesus’ message of the good news of justice, freedom and love, we'll keep you posted about the opportunities and activities for our whole Trust community to experience the joy of taking action as Pilgrims of Hope in building a better world.

Heavenly Father, bless us this Christmas, keep all who have had a busy year and have been looking forward to this time of rest, of family and friends and of celebration.

We ask that you bless every home and every family and every meal.

Lord, we thank you that we are able to gather with the ones we hold so dear to enjoy this special occasion.

We pray that all the beautiful memories that we will create this year will give you glory and fill us all with awe of how kind you have been to us over the years.

Amen

The Trust Central Team send you all their best wishes for a happy, peaceful and healthy Christmas holiday

Email: info@olog.org.uk
Website: www.olog.org.uk
Location: St. Helen's Catholic Primary School, Chargeable Lane, London E13 8DW
Phone: 020 4530 9232