‘Lent is a time of renewal and grace.’
Pope Francis
This week, we began with a lovely activity: swapping our Lenten boxes with our buddies. Thank you so much for the time and care you put into creating them—the children were thrilled with their boxes, and it was wonderful to see how proud and excited they were during the exchange. These boxes will now be used to collect money for CAFOD as the children complete their acts of kindness. Any coins are welcome!
As part of our Lenten learning, we explored some key questions together. We wondered why saying “sorry” is important and talked about how it can help fix things when someone is hurt. We also thought about how we can show someone we are sorry—perhaps by helping them or sharing something with them. The children learned that Lent is a special time to get ready for Easter and to be closer to God.
We also spent time thinking about Lent as a time for caring. We wondered what it really means to care for someone, and the children suggested that it might be about being kind and sharing. We talked about how Jesus showed us how to love and care for others, and even discussed ways we can care for people we may not know, such as by donating food or clothes to a food bank.
To put our learning into action, we helped take care of God’s world by going outside to pick up litter on the playground. The children worked wonderfully together and showed great enthusiasm for looking after our environment.
Our prayer and liturgy leaders guided us beautifully through a reflection on the message ‘giving to charity’.
Conversation starter:
Each week we will give you a question that we would like you to think about and discuss together at home. This could be over dinner time as a family, at bedtime, on a walk or even in the car. However you choose to discuss this question is up to you, but the idea is that it will help to give an insight in to what we talk about in school, help children to understand more about themselves or others.
Can you think of a time when a friend or someone in your family has made you feel happy? Can you let that person know?
What adventures have we been on this week?
This week we listened to the story of the Three Little Pigs, we drew the characters and wrote a sentence about each one. We observed the plants and flowers outside and drew and painted them using our observation skills to make sure we selected the appropriate colours and drew what we can see. We have started to look at the parts of a flower and made our own actions to help us remember. We have continued to subitise keep practising at home, look in the environment what can you see? Remember say the amount don’t count!
Homework Books: From next week Homework books will be collected on Monday and sent home on Wednesday, their task will be in their books. I have loved seeing and hearing about the excitment your child has had about their homework book.
I have also set your child a writing challenge, please watch the video below:
We have bought lots of brand new reading books, they are very expensive so please can you look after them and bring in book bags or bigger bags so the reading folders aren’t folded. Please can you bring in reading folders every day, even if you haven’t read the books, if you want to keep them for a bit longer write a message in the yellow book to let us know. This way we can listen to your child read in school.
Let’s Celebrate:
Well done to our certificate awardee: a reflective ‘Lizzie Ladybird’ You have had a great week, especially in phonics keep up the hard work :)
Whole School Virtues - Intentional and Prophetic: You have been intentional with your learning, you have stayed focused and reflected on how you can continue to grow as a learner in Reception and you are a role model in our class :).
Henry the Dog: I can see how hard you have worked at home over the holidays especially with your reading keep practising your blending you are getting better and better each day :).
Important Information and Upcoming Events:
Class Assembly: It is our class assembly on Thursday 12th March, there will be two performances at 9:10 and 9:30 you and any family members are welcome to watch one or both performances and if you child has lines they will be in their bags. Please can you email me a photo of you (Mum) and your child, ideally just the two of you. Thank you 😊 .
Forest School takeover day: Unfortunately forest school is cancelled as it is World Prayer Day- a celebration of united love and global support. On this day the children will have the opportunity to make the ‘People we love planter,’ if your child would like to make one please order via payment on Parentpay by Wednesday 4th March. Mrs Tierney is supporting the planting across the whole school.
The World Day of Prayer links with our Lenten challenge this year - to walk as far as we can to get to Nigeria - 4,230miles - the origin of this year’s prayer day. We are going to work as a community to walk, scoot and cycle our way there, completing as many miles as we possibly can. In Lent we raise money for CAFOD through their Big Walk campaign. This year is no different. Sponsor forms have gone out so the children can be sponsored to walk as many miles as they can. This is not just for children, if you walk as a family, everyone’s distances count. If you do manage to get out and about - don’t forget to record what you have done on our school form. Any amount will help.
Please sent in the money you have raised by Monday 30th March, thank you we appreciate anything you can give.
Stay and Play:
Our stay and play sessions will be on Tuesday 10th March 2:15-3:15 and Friday 20th March 9:15-10:15am. Please can you fill in the form to let me know which day you would prefer. Any family member or friend can attend if you can’t make it.
World Book Day:
2026 is the National Year of Reading with every child knowing their reading identity- what is it that makes them excited about reading?
On Thursday 5th March For World Book Day your child can come to school dressed as their reader identity. Your favourite book/magazine character/person…you choose your reading super power!!
Reception Plea:
Our half term topic is Roots, Shoots and Story Routes, we will be planting over the next half term, if you have any left over soil, seeds or any gardening resources that you no longer need we would be grateful, so we can add to our outdoor area.
Important Reminders:
Please can you ensure that long hair is tied back and please keep hair accessories simple, this is part of our school uniform policy.
Polite reminder that we are a Nut free school. Please can you bring in healthy snacks please refer to the poster for suitable snacks, we always have fruit avalible too.
PE
Our PE days are Wednesday (outside) and Friday (inside). On these days, children can come to school in their PE uniform and will remain in this for the day. We kindly ask that velcro trainers (white, black or navy) are worn as this allows the children to be indepoendent when taking their shoes off and putting them back on. Polite reminder that for health and safety reasons, no jewellery is to be worn on PE days. We kindly ask that this is removed at home before coming into school.if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at:
d.drummond@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk
Thank you for all of your support
Have a lovely weekend
Miss Drummond, Miss Woodend, Mrs Summersall, Mrs Krol and Mrs Ely