Dear Parents

As we approach half-term, I wanted to thank our whole community for your support and encouragement for all of our staff over the last few weeks.  This half-term has been challenging due to high staff and pupil absences at some points and we are blessed with how our whole school community has pulled together to ensure that the children’s needs always come first.  Thank you for helping us and supporting our wellbeing across the community.

It was great to see so many of you at Parent Consultations over the past few days - we are pleased to have been able to go ahead in person and to share with you the children’s work and successes from the past few months.  Data across the school is very positive in terms of accelerated progress and this is also testament to the dedication of our committed staff team and to the strong partnership with parents we have at Cardinal Newman. 

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and as a Catholic community, we traditionally pray today especially for the sick.  It is a good time for us to remember those who are unwell within our own community and to pray for them and those who care for them. 

Unfortunately our planned class collective worship for this day (Sapphire Class) has had to be postponed until after half-term due to Covid, but we are looking forward to celebrating the feast day appropriately on the first Friday after half-term, when our children are asked to “Dress to Impress” to raise money for the Arundel and Brighton Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund.  This fund supports children and families to experience a life-changing week in Lourdes, France within a supportive and joy-filled community of pilgrims and friends.  The pilgrimage is open to everyone and school families may wish to consider whether they and their children would benefit from joining the family group this summer (usually around 100 children aged 0-14 attend with the diocese and age-appropriate activities are provided separately for children and parents).  More information can be found here: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/lourdes/home

As we look ahead into the next half-term, there are many other exciting events planned.  At collective worship today the children heard from the School Council about all the Book Week plans and a letter informing parents about these is attached.  We will celebrate World Book Day on Friday 4^th March.  Year 3 are out on a school trip to Wisley in the first week back and we are excited to be running our first residential for two years, when Year 4 go to Hooke Court in Dorset at the end of March!  Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel!

We hope our children will have a good break over the half-term holiday and we wish you and your families a wonderful time together.

All best wishes

Catherine Burnham

Headteacher