Dear Parents and Carers

A very lucky week for all our children, weather wise, with none of their activities being spoilt by bad weather although winter is gradually setting in.  Lots of great things happening this week on top of the children’s full and busy class curriculum work.  The teachers continue to be pleased with the resilience of our children and they are clearly all enjoying the lessons that are prepared for them.  As you know I was sadly absent last week, which is not like me, but whatever it was, incapacitated me until Thursday when I finally crawled out of my bed.  Many thanks to everyone for keeping everything going in my absence. 

We saw the boys football team win their match against Northway and Mr Parry and Mr Mainwaring were delighted with the support that the boys gave to each other.  We are definitely improving as a team.  

Last Wednesday our Year 1, 2, 3 & 4 had a fantastic day out at Chester Zoo which as well as being great fun, supported many aspects of their class work.  Thanks to the volunteer helpers who were amazing and thank you for your positive comments about how well the children behaved and enjoyed their trip out.  Many thanks to their teachers for organizing this.

Well done to our Year 5 children who represented our school so admirably at the Hockey Tournament.  The mixed squad of boys and girls played very well together and we were really proud of their achievement.  It was a shame that only a few schools were in attendance.

This week began with the children arriving in school wearing odd socks to focus their attention on diversity and anti-bullying.  The children received age appropriate activities focussing on the view that all people are different but they should be treated the same and being able to see and celebrate individual differences that should be viewed as a good thing.

Our older boys again performed admirably when they played Summerhill after school on Monday and although losing the game was really quite close and it was clear that our boys are really working hard together as a team and accepting that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but if you always give your best you must be pleased with your effort.  Which brings me nicely to the fantastic effort that our junior girls football team put into the tournament on Wednesday after school.  I was able to take 9 of our year 6 and 5 girls which meant they were all able to play two games as we effectively had two five-a-side teams.  The girls were simply a joy and their infectious support was mirrored by that of their parents who are simply fantastic.  The girls reached the semi-final where they sadly lost in a penalty shootout which is never a nice thing for either team.   Nevertheless, I know they enjoyed it and I told them how proud I was the following morning in school.

Today the children have come to school in their own clothes to support children in need which we all know and recognise as a particularly worthwhile organisation.  I hope the children have a fun day as well as working hard in class and I know that although they are only young they are certainly able to understand that there are so many children less well off than themselves. 

And so, to my final thank you, you’re amazing comments of the week

Firstly, thank you for continuing to donate to our harvest festival collection which will end next Friday when we shall celebrate with an Infant and Junior Harvest Assembly.  I shall then distribute your generous donations to our local foodbank with the help of some of our children. 

Secondly, the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal has been simply staggering and we have broken all of our records with an unbelievable 156 shoe boxes.  These will be collected today and distributed to children throughout Europe living in conditions that we only dare to imagine.  I am so proud and grateful to you and I am sure that you have discussed with your children the gift of giving particularly to those who have nothing at all or have lost everything.  I know this as I have talked to many of your children about their shoe boxes and it is clear that they do understand that to be able to give something freely to a child that they know has nothing and will not be able to thank them truly demonstrates so much of our Gospel Values and indeed the values that we try so hard to promote in our school.  Next Friday I hope to give you our final Christmas arrangements with regarding live or recorded Junior Carol Concerts as we are still unable to safely consider using our Church.

I wish you all a safe and happy weekend.

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher