Dear Parents

This week, the new topics are well underway in our classes.  As promised, the Topic Plans for each year group are now available on the school website and can be accessed here.  We have had a big focus on refreshing our Foundation Subjects curriculum, starting with the INSET day in June and continuing through the year.  The Curriculum Intent

was developed last year with the help of staff, pupils and parents. The aim is to make the children’s learning as broad and exciting as we can, while giving them the skills, knowledge and experiences to prepare them for the future.  Through this year, there will be themed days for each year group to bring the children’s learning to life.  Year 6 have their themed day next week – based around their World War 2 topic.  Thank you for supporting the children’s learning experiences at home and at school.

As you will have heard in the parishes, Canon Brendan MacCarthy died peacefully last Friday morning.  Fr Brendan was parish priest at All Saints from 1992; he was a great friend to our school community and prayed for us all daily.  He also wrote a prayer for the children of our parishes which we have prayed in school and which you might like to pray at home with the children:

Lord Jesus, you are my redeemer and friend.

In love and trust, I give you my heart.

Show me the path in life you wish me to follow.

May I live each day for your greater honour and glory.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.

Amen

Fr Brendan lived his life by the principles of this prayer and invited the children to do the same.  The school has been invited to send some of the older children to sing at Fr Brendan’s funeral, which will be in Weybridge, probably at the beginning of February.

Lourdes Pilgrimage – If you are interested in finding out more about the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes in July – or just in finding out “What Catholics believe about Lourdes”, you are warmly welcomed to join staff on Monday evening from 4 to 5pm for a talk from Fr David King who is a Chaplain to the young people on the diocesan pilgrimage.  During the Canonisation year, we undertook to inform ourselves as Catholic laity as St John Henry Newman called us to do and this talk is the third in the series.

Finally, as mentioned last term, we will be holding a series of mufti days during the next two terms to try to raise more money towards the hall extension.  The idea, which came from parents, is that children should wear mufti and donate a pound towards the hall extension fund.  Please make a note of the dates which will be as follows:  Friday 14^th February; Friday 27^th March;  Friday 24^th April;  Friday 22^nd May;  Friday 19^th June;  Friday 17^th July.  Thank you for your continued support for our hall project!  An update on the fund is further on in the newsletter!

All best wishes for the weekend

Catherine Burnham

General Notes

Collective Worship Theme of the Week: Year of the Word – The God Who Speaks

“This is my beloved son: listen to him.”

Prayer Intentions for this week:

We pray especially:

For those who have died recently, especially for Fr Brendan MacCarthy RIP.

For those who are unwell – especially those within our school community who have undergone operations or procedures and those who are undergoing treatment.

For all families who are facing difficulties at the present time.

We give thanks for:

Our loving and supportive community, that everyone may feel included and welcomed here.

Our hard-working and skilled staff, that they may find joy in their work and peace when they rest.

Those who serve others in their work and in their lives.

Pond Help needed!! 

Our pond in the Environmental Area has become leaf-logged and the liner is no longer holding water.  This used to be maintained by Mrs Hanlon but we no longer have the know-how in school, so we wondered…  Is there anyone (or perhaps a team of people?) who would be able to help out with re-lining the pond and supporting us to start again?  Especially with the “Day in Nature” project, it would be good to have the Environmental Area in top condition!  Please contact the office if you can help (or want to volunteer someone who you think could).

Birthday sweets

If you choose to send in treats to celebrate your child’s birthday (and this is not a requirement!!), please could we ask that you make sure you include one for every child in the class.  Lollies have not historically been encouraged as they can pose a choking risk, so please consider sending something else.  Any treats leftover should be taken home so that all children get the same.

Request from reception

Reception would like donations of small photo frames for their DT work.

Made from different materials and in unusual designs would be great but any are most welcome.

School Hall Extension Fund

Please find update on the school fund click here.

Clubs

Environmental club and tag rugby will not be running on Monday 20th January.

Parking Issues

Once again we've received 2 complaints from residents on Molesey Road who cannot take their children to school as parents have blocked their driveways. Please park considerately during drop-off and pick-up times. 

Donation of tights

Please could we ask for good quality clean tights to be donated.

Green tokens Waitrose, Hersham 

During February, please donate your green shopping tokens to Elmbridge Judo  in Waitrose, Hersham. Funds raised will be used for Cardinal Newman judo.

Year 6 WW2 Day Tuesday 21st January

Reminder that year 6 have their WW2 day and should come in costume.

 

 

 

 

 

News

PA NEWS

 

Upcoming Events

Links

Stagecoach Performing Arts Walton click here

Shout! Holiday Activities February and spring brochure 2020 click here