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Dear Parents/Carers

Thank you as always for your ongoing support which was very much in evidence last Thursday and Friday when we welcomed the Catholic Schools Inspectorate team. We are very grateful for all your responses to the questionnaires and look forward to the published report. On Thursday we took a moment as a school to reflect on Holocaust Memorial Day. It was a poignant moment reflecting on those events thank you to all the students who were very reverent throughout and also to the members of the Chaplaincy team who read some very moving words.

There is a lot to be aware of in the calendar over the next few weeks. Year 8 will be sitting their mid-year progress assessments next week in lessons. Tuesday is our next super learning day and all pupils will be experiencing a wide range of activities and workshops based around careers, STEM, wellbeing and Catholic Life. Year 7 will be having their retreat day on this day with a Mass being held at the Abbey church.

The following Wednesday 8th February is our academic review day for years 7, 9 and 10. As parents you will be invited in to school to discuss your child’s academic performance this year with a key member of staff. You will be receiving individual notifications of times etc over the coming week.

Due to the NEU strike action on Wednesday 1st February we will be moving the post 16 parents evening to Thursday 9th February.

We are very much looking forward to our production of Matilda which promises to be an amazing occasion. I have seen some of the rehearsals and we are very much in for a treat! Performances take place the last week of half term on the 15th, 16th and 17th February. Finally, a word on the forthcoming National Education Union strike action on Wednesday. We are finalising our plans as this is very much a changing landscape especially as this is a very personal and difficult choice for each member of the NEU to take irrespective of whether they choose to strike or not. It is our intention and also that of the St John Paul II Multi Academy to inform all parents on Monday as to the plans for Wednesday. Plans for the other strike days will be developed closer to those times.

I will leave you with this prayer for Holocaust Memorial Day:

Loving God, we come to you with heavy hearts, remembering the six million Jewish souls murdered during the Holocaust.

In the horrors of that history, when so many groups were targeted because of their identity, and in genocides which followed, we recognise destructive prejudices that drive people apart.

Forgive us when we give space to fear, negativity and hatred of others, simply because they are different from us.

In the light of God, we see everyone as equally precious manifestations of the Divine, and can know the courage to face the darkness.

Through our prayers and actions, help us to stand together with those who are suffering, so that light may banish all darkness, love will prevail over hate and good will triumph over evil.

Amen

Kind Regards

Mr A. Grant