Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School Parent Portal - Issue

Dear Parents

The First Week of Advent has been a particularly busy one in school. Thank you so much for your engagement with the children’s Christmas livestreams, despite the limitations of bubbles, budgets and technology! The children did a fantastic job; it has been so lovely to hear the traditional Christmas carols and joyful nativity tunes around the school all week and we are still looking forward to the livestreams from Y1, Y2 and Y6 next week. We are so pleased to have been able to have live events, in spite of the challenges this year!

The recording of the Christmas performances went ahead as planned on Wednesday with remarkably little disruption. These performances, thanks to the wizardry of Mr and Mrs Vincenti, will present as something more akin to the KS1 Nativity and KS2 Carol Service that we are used to, as they will be able to show the performances of all the year group bubbles in context and tell the story from beginning to end, rather than just their small part of it. We are immensely grateful to the Vincentis for giving so generously of their time and expertise to record the performances professionally – this will make an enormous difference to the quality of the recording. The download is available to purchase on Scopay for £5 and the deadline will be next Friday 11^th December.

Today, we have been very fortunate to have the Blessed Sacrament in school – we had an Advent Holy Hour for private prayer for staff and then Year 4 children each had half an hour of Adoration. They were truly amazing and are testament to the work of their parents, catechists, priests and teachers that they had a great understanding of the Real Presence and were so prayerful. At a time when it has been very challenging for them to go to Mass and receive Holy Communion in church, it is wonderful that they have had this opportunity and we are delighted that the churches have now re-opened for our Advent preparation and Christmas services (See below). Year 5 will have a similar opportunity for Advent Adoration next Friday morning.

This afternoon, Year 5 led a very reflective Advent “Prepare the Way” service this afternoon, considering what they could change in their lives to work towards a peaceful and happy Christmas. Some suggestions from the children included tidying their rooms and spending less time on video games! Let’s see how that turns out! At a time when the days seem to be racing towards Christmas, we are blessed to have opportunities in school to enjoy the “joyful anticipation” of Advent and we are grateful to Father Bill for his support with this.

As we look ahead to the coming week, the children will be able to enjoy their Aladdin workshops (in lieu of our traditional pantomime, but delivered by the same company across three days.) Our thanks to the PA for this special treat for the children! Very excitingly, the new computers are almost ready to go and we hope to have the new IT suite up and running for the new year!

Thank you for all your support with this most unusual Christmas term! Wishing you all a lovely weekend ahead.

Catherine Burnham

Notes/Reminders

Christmas cards

Children can bring in Christmas cards for their class only by the 11th December. There will be a "postbox" in every classroom.

Label children's items

Reminder to please label all of your children's items including clothes, shoes, school bags, lunch bags, water bottles etc.

Reception Classes

Could Reception children please bring in empty egg boxes next week
Next week, Reception class will be learning about Christmas traditions. Please can you talk to your child about your family traditions so that they come to school prepared to talk about them. Prompting notes and photographs will be most welcome (so the teacher can prompt the children). These can be sent in in book bags or via the email address yrhomelearning@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk
School entry questionnaire's that went home in your children's bookbags recently should be sent back into school by 9th December.

School Dinners

Please remember to book school dinners ahead on Scopay. Every child requiring a school dinner needs to be booked in (even children that receive a free dinner).

Christmas Dinner can be booked for every child in school in the normal way on Scopay. Just click on the 15th December box. Please book this by 7th December.

Last day of term packed lunch If you would like to book a takeaway packed lunch (tuna or cheese wrap only) for the last day of term, Friday 18th December, please book by 9th December. Just click on the 18th December. You won't see any options to choose from but the teachers will ask the children which they would like closer to the time.

Christmas Events

Festival of Cribs – Why not put up your Nativity crib and upload a photo of it (maybe with your whole family together) onto the Festival of Cribs padlet here
Christmas Story competition – “Have you heard the News?” Competition – We would love to see the children’s interpretations of the Christmas Story, as creatively as they can manage. These entries can also be uploaded onto padlet – the link for these are KS1 and KS2
Giving Tree Project – If you haven’t already had a look, go to the wish list here, where you can choose a gift (don’t forget to tick it off!), wrap and label the gift, then drop into school ready to be delivered to someone in need this Christmas. These can be left on the bench outside the school office
Wintershall Nativity – Wed 16^th and Thurs 17^th Dec All of our children will experience a live Nativity workshop. We would like to ask families if they can to please contribute £5 per child or £10 per family. Extra contribution’s would be gratefully received. This can be paid through Scopay. Please enter any amount you wish in the "paymount amount box". Thank you to everyone who has contributed already. School will meet the cost for families who are Pupil Premium and anyone who is worried about the cost should speak to Mrs Burnham who will find a way to support.

Hall Extension "Buy a Brick"

We are delighted to let you know we continue with our ‘buy a brick’ at the cost of £50 per brick, where each brick has two lines, and each line consists of 16 characters including spaces. The brick can have your name inscribed or indeed words of wisdom for the current and new pupils that will continue their education through Cardinal Newman. This opportunity is open to both current and past families of Cardinal Newman. If you would like to make a donation or purchase bricks, please contact Tina O’Kelly, tokelly@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk. Forms can be emailed directly to Tina, and she can provide you with the Governor's account bank detail to make direct payments. We have attached a form here. Thank you for your continued support.

All Saints Christmas services

All Saints will have the following Christmas Services during Advent:

Advent Service
Sunday 13 December - 3.00pm

Outdoor Carol Singing
Wednesday 23 December - 5.00pm

Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions, places will be limited for the Christmas Masses. We therefore request that you reserve your place(s) for one of the Masses below by emailing me on allsaints.hersham@gmail.com or by speaking to one of the stewards.

Christmas Eve
Thursday 24 December - 7.00pm

Christmas Day
Friday 25 December - 9.15am

St. Erconwald's Christmas services

Christmas Masses at St Erconwald's will be as follows:

- 24th December:

1. Crib Service (for young families) at 3.00 pm

2. 6.00 pm Vigil Mass of Christmas

3. 10.00 pm 1st Mass of Christmas (Midnight).

- 25th December Masses will be at 9.15 am and 11.15 am.

Due to current circumstances, we have to reduce the number of sittings at the church; therefore a booking system will be in place for all Masses. Please book in order to obtain your place by emailing mail@sterconwalds.org.uk Please do not turn up if you have not booked a seat as you might not be able to get in.

Government Consultation on faith

Bishop inviting individual Catholics to respond

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence

4th December, 2020