Dear Parents, Carers, Children and Staff,
We concluded last week with an assembly by Year 4 to launch the Church Jubilee year. A year in which, Pope Francis, has asked us to focus on the gift of “Hope.”
This week the children in Year 3, led the school in a prayer service, fulfilling Pope Francis’ request to reflect on the gift of Hope. We thank both the pupils and staff for leading us in the reflection so beautifully.
The learning that has been taking place this week has been amazing. I was fortunate enough to have lunch with the pupils from Reception class and they were very excited to tell me that as well as their; reading, writing, phonics, mathematics and art, they had been preparing a group dance for the school Disco on 14th February. They also went on a visit to the Science Museum and saw some amazing things like; an astronaut’s suit, olden day cars and boats. They even saw, x-ray pictures of inside a human body. That is definitely a broad and balanced curriculum!
This week four children; Archie, Laura, Alannah and Alex, were awarded their Chaplaincy red ties, to wear to school. The Chaplains have already completed their first mission by producing posters for a display, focusing on the Year of Hope. If other children would like to add to the display please give your poster and pictures to your class chaplains and they will work with Mrs Booker to display them.
The Chaplains have also planned a cake sale on the final Friday of this half term14th February. The sale will take place directly after the whole school disco. The funds raised by the sale will go to charity. The Chaplains will be asking for your support to make the sale a great success.
This week I was fortunate enough to attend the Diocesan Conference for Religious Education Co-ordinators. I am very proud to say, what the children and staff at St Peter’s, St Gildas’ are learning, and more importantly, doing, is considered in some of the best practice in the Diocese. One school action, which I shared with Diocesan Head of Education, was the school’s donation of excess picture storybooks to a Ghanaian school charity. She asked me to pass on to the children, parents, carers and staff, her praise and admiration, for putting the gift of Hope into action.
Finally, this week the requiem Mass for Fr Sean took place. We keep Fr Sean and his family in our prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Wishing you all the gift of hope.
Mr O'Shannessy
