There have been so many moments this week where the sense of pride that I have for our school community has been felt in abudance. I am always proud to be the headteacher of Our Ladys and this week is no different. On Wednesday morning, we walked our Year 6 class down to the centotaph to take part in the town’s act of remembrance; it was beautifully sombre. The bunting that you see in the photograph was made by our Year 1 children and sits in front of the memorial. Thank you to Year 6 who were excellent ambassadors for our school.
Last night, was the Service of Confirmation for our Year 6s and some past pupils from our Parish. Each pupil stood and firmly demonstrated their commitment to their faith, for themselves, before kneeling before Bishop Paul to be confirmed. They are remarkable young adults who will go on to do wonderful things. I am so very proud of them.
The Parable of the Talents
In this week’s Gospel, we hear about the Parable of the Talents; that no talent should be buried but instead shared for all to see. On Tuesday afternoon, our Year 6 headed off to Blackpool Tower Ballroom to take part in the Wyre and Fylde Dance Festival. They were utterly spectacular and have made memories that will last a life time. There are two videos of their performance below - from two different angles (just so you can see how amazing they were.) A huge thank you to Mrs Harrison for preparing the children and to Mrs Naylor, Miss Brookes and Mrs Barker who accompanied them. What a busy week for Year 6!
OPAL Play
On Wednesday afternoon, we had our GROUNDS meeting for OPAL play - the most exciting meeting to date where we planned exactly what the grounds of our school will look like over the next few years as we grow our ideas. Together with governors, parents and staff, our leadership team also gave their input into the design - which we hope will be shared next Friday afternoon.
Next week, we are going to set up a quick play kitchen in the grounds and we need your help. Do you have any old pans or kitchen equipment? Plastic bowls, wooden spoons, sieves - anything we can use to help us set up? Send it in with your child next week and we can get started!
STAR Virtue Award Winners
Kidsafe - Safeguarding our Children
Many of you will be aware that we have been talking to the children this week about safety in school. We are so good at responding if something, like a fire, was to happen inside the building; but what if something happened outside and we had to bring the children in? Our fire drills are military precision, the children and staff immediately know what to do each term when we practise; even if it does produce a little bit of worry when the alarm goes off. The biggest part of my role is ensuring the safety of everyone, and with more and more noise in the news about lockdown drills being required, both myself and BEBCMAT, know how important it is for the staff and the children to know what to do if something did happen. We have to prepare them to keep them safe. I have spoken to so many headteachers who have done them in different ways; some just choosing the ring the bell without fore warning. I decided this was not right for our pupils and that a lesson, alongside KS through Kidsafe, was more appropriate.
I made the decision to teach the children before informing parents, which is what we do for all Kidsafe lessons, as I did not want everybody to hear the word lockdown and panic. There is so many different interpretations and assumptions, the narrative of this was so important to control. With messages around safety, the important thing is consistency and everyone remaining calm, which is exactly what the children have done this week. We know our children really well, all 240 of them. So the consistency of the lesson was important and it had the be their teacher who delivered it so that they could support any who were feeling a little more anxious. The children understand that something like a fire in a nearby house, or a severe hail storm or even a loose dog can promt a drill where we need to come inside. I also need to be able to respond if the police contacted me regarding an incident in the local community, which has happened before. There is also varying degrees of what would happen once inside - depending on the event. Always to stay calm and always to stay quiet. Unlike the fire drill, this does not have to be repeated termly with the children, they have had the lesson and that is all they need. It will now fit in with the other kidsafe lessons which we deliver each Autumn as a reminder of what to do. The important thing is that the staff feel confident with the procedures and know what to do if it was required, this is the bit that will take place termly; staff reinforcement. I pray to God that we never have to use it. In the world we live in, we would be doing a disservice to the children if they were not prepared. Any messages like this are always delivered in a safe, calm and age-appropriate way which was evident this week.
In this last week alone, there have been three separate incidents in Preston schools and nurseries where a lockdown drill was required; and all three schools reported the success of them because both the staff and children knew what to do, and it was calm. Routine instills a calmness. I have certainly tried to avoid this topic as the last thing we want to think of is something awful happening, but I have a responsibility that we are prepared - just incase. As a headteacher and as a parent, I know and believe that we have delivered this message really well. Instead of the letter that would be attached following a Kidsafe lesson, I have attached the lesson so you can see the key, really child friendly messages that we have delivered. A lot of it has come from the children as they have been prompted to think. As in everything we do, we do this with the children and alongside them; not to them.
Office News
Snack Booking Form
Here is the snack booking form for next week. Please book before 8am on Tuesday.
The Lunch Menu is now live for Autumn and Winter. You can see a copy here below and also on the lunch page of the website. Next week we are on Week 3 of the menu.
No earrings - including retainers - to be worn in school.
Dates are available on the calendar until Christmas.
All Parent Pay debts need to be paid.
Christmas will soon be here and below you can see the events that will be taking place during Advent. To help us to prepare, we are requiring numbers for the pottery event and for Christmas Dinner. The Christmas Pottery event will be in the school hall and cost £10 per person taking part. Please click on the buttons below to book. Christmas Dinner will be £2.90 per child. Please complete the form if your child would like a dinner this year.
Christmas Nativity Ticket ordering forms have gone home. Please make sure you have completed them and send them back into school.
School Attendance for this week
Fundraising for Our Ladys
The CHRISTMAS RAFFLE is fast approaching and we are in need of raffle prizes. Last year you were so very generous. Please get collecting and bring in raffle prizes to the school office so we can publish the goodies!
Have a wonderful weekend with your families and enjoy the Christmas lights in Lytham if you manage to venture there.
God bless
Mrs Gregan