Dear Parents and Carers

Our first full week of the new school year draws to a close.  Once again, we have been blessed with an extremely pleasant week weather wise and the children have enjoyed lunchtimes on the school field.  I am pleased that the teachers have all informed me that their children have settled into their new classes and they are already focused and delivering work of an excellent standard.  After school clubs have been extremely well supported and I do hope that the slight mix up with the Friday club for our younger children has been resolved.  I shall go out personally and make sure that this is the case. 

All of our children including our new reception class have been uploaded to our school library software system and many have already taken advantage of this special facility.  Our new librarians in year 6 have done a fantastic job and I am sure that they will go on to be a most valued asset. 

The difficult decision of selecting our New Head Boy and Girl and Deputy Head Boy and Girl was made even harder by the number of applicants and the quality of their applications.  Nevertheless, there could only be four children chosen for these roles.  The children in year 6 voted yesterday and the results are as follows, Head Girl – Ruby Ryan, Deputy Head Girl – Grace Elliott, Head Boy – Aidan Gray and Deputy Head Boy – Tom Ryan.  I was so pleased to see that their classmates were genuinely pleased for them and I know that although some of them may have been disappointed, we will look for other areas of responsibility in the future. 

Thank you to those of you who have sent in donations for our harvest festival collection.  If you are able to help us with this worthwhile activity simply send in the items with our children and they shall be added to our growing display.  I hope to invite Fr Grant to share in a celebration of Harvest Festival in the coming weeks.  Our children are already looking forward to educational visits as well as taking part in competitive sporting activities and I look forward to this important part of school life continuing as we have always enjoyed an excellent reputation for being a school that takes part IN AS MUCH AS WE CAN..  Our School Nurse, Ruth Swanson will be available on Tuesday 27^th September from 8.30am in the family room should you wish to discuss anything about your child that you feel she may be able to help with. 

Can I please draw your attention to our annual MacMillan Coffee Morning which supports the fantastic work that the MacMillan Nurses do to help individuals and their families who have sadly been diagnosed with cancer.  Any cakes that you wish to contribute will be grateful received from Monday 26^th September and home-made cakes from Thursday or drop them in on the day.  One per family please and of course you are all most welcome as we can now safely congregate together. Please encourage any grandparents who might enjoy this event which will take place in the family room and school hall located at the front of the building.

Although some way off, parents’ evenings will take place on Monday 17^th October – Wednesday 19^th October.  It is our intention to offer a choice of either a face to face 10-minute meeting or a 10-minute Zoom Meeting as many of you said that you found this arrangement more convenient. 

Can I please remind you that school will be closed on Monday in order for everyone to celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth II and also watch her funeral.

Can I also ask that you spend a moment to pray for the Headteacher at Holy Rosary, Mrs Catherine Morris, who suddenly and unexpectedly died last week.  We are all devastated and we ask that you join our thoughts and prayers for the repose of her soul and of course we are thinking of her husband and children and wider family and friends who must be in such a state of shock at such a tragic event.

I look forward to welcoming you and your children next Tuesday.

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher