Dear Parents and Carers

In these challenging times, it has been difficult to gather together anywhere for significant rituals as a church. This week’s Gospel, speaks of Jesus anointing Peter as the first leader of the church, ‘You are Peter and on this rock, I build my Church’. These current times have challenged us to really consider what it really means to belong to a church when physically gathering in any group or building is so restricted. It challenges us to reach out to others in love and kindness as we are the people of God and as such are the church. I’m so mindful of families who have lost loved ones and have not been able to be supported by the rituals and gathering of community, these rituals are two-fold in that they surround the family in love and acknowledgment, whilst also helping the family comes to terms with the reality of such significant loss. I ask this week for you to consider how you can reach out in love to those around you who may be suffering or in need of help. 

We have sadly had to implement further COVID restrictions in the school grounds this week, as CEODow have released further restrictions in line with the Health Department. As a small school, we are fortunate that our class numbers are small and our classrooms and facilities are spacious. Unfortunately now, as different class groups cannot gather together, we will not be able to hold our school assembly each morning. Classes will now go directly to their classroom and line up ready after each break. In addition, we will not be able gather our school together for our fortnight assembly. We will instead be zooming in from each classroom where a class each fortnight will present some work and we will present each class with their awards. We will send out a Zoom link so you can join us at least virtually for these important moments. 

We have had some very wild weather and windy days up on our hill lately, so please make sure that every child has a jacket or jumper in their bags as well as their school hat and drink bottle. An enormous thank you to our parents for ensuring that all of our children are coming to school in full school uniform, they look wonderful. 

To acknowledge the wonderful behaviour of our children on the playground, next week we will be launching the ‘All Stars’ award. Children will be given an All Stars ticket on the playground to acknowledge students following our 4 school rules : Care for ourselves, Care for Others, Care for Our School and Care For Learning. Each fortnight at the School Zoom Assembly the class with the most tickets per student will be given a whole class award, we are looking forward to seeing who will win the first ever ‘All Stars Award.’

Have a great week,

Yours in Partnership 

Laurinda Nelson