Dear Parents and carers

“The Holy Spirit helps us to view others with fresh eyes, seeing them as brothers and sisters in Jesus, to be respected and loved.” Pope Francis

 

Welcome back everyone I hope all managed to get some rest and relaxation over the half-term holiday.

 

This coming Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost. This is the feast of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church – a gift which we now receive at Baptism, Confirmation and at Mass. Pentecost is often seen as the birthday of the Church as this is when Jesus’ disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit and went out to spread the Gospel.

 

STEM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

The children have been enjoying taking part in some STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities this week. Each class has been researching about a famous scientist/engineer and have been carrying out their own small-scale investigations e.g. Year 2 have been building “Spaghetti Marshmallow Towers” inspired by the engineer Gustave Eiffel who invented the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Year 6 have been designing “Egg Protectors” inspired by the work of Stephanie Kwolek who invented Kevlar.

 

A lot of learning has taken place this week and the children have been enjoying the activities undertaken.

 

Year 4 Multiplication Times Tables Check

Year 4 have completed their Multiplication Times Tables Check this week. While this is a formal assessment of their tables knowledge the children tend to enjoy this as it is completed online and they have been regularly practicing their times tables on Purple Mash and on Times Tables Rock Stars.

 

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

Next week the children in Year 1 and the children in Year 2 who didn’t make the check last year will be taking their Phonics Screening. The children shouldn’t be anxious about this as they have been “doing their phonics” since they were in Year R.

 

Year 6 Trip to the Marlowe Theatre

Year 6 visited the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury this Thursday to watch a performance of Pig Heart Boy based on the book by Malorie Blackman. The children enjoyed the performance and the trip on the train to Canterbury.

This trip was subsidised by the funds raised by the children.

 

Year 4 Class Mass

Fr Jose will be celebrating Mass with Year 4 in their classroom on Wednesday 11^th June at 9:30a.m parents and carers are welcome to join the children.

 

Choir invited to Sing

The Choir are invited to sing at Mass on Sunday 15^th of June to celebrate Father’s Day and the Confirmation of some of our past pupils.

 

St Simon’s Has Got Talent

If your child wishes to take part in this annual school event, they need to have completed their application form and returned this to school by Monday 9^th June.

 

Mini Business Enterprises

We have some of our children run mini-business enterprises to raise money. Items will be on sale from Tuesday 10^th June.

 

Year R coming into school from Monday 9^th June

From Monday Year R will be entering the school through the main entrance. This is part of their transition for moving into Year 1 in September. They will also park any bikes and scooters in the school cycle shed. There will be a familiar adult at the main gate to welcome the children.

 

Sports Day, Family Picnic and Summer Fair

Our annual Sports Day, Family Picnic and Summer Fair are planned for Friday 27^th June (Weather Permitting). The children are already getting themselves into training for Sports Day and they are preparing their stalls for the Summer Fair. We are holding a number of non-uniform days to collect items for some of our stalls:

 

Friday 13^th June               Items for our Colour Raffle

Friday 20^th June               Bottles for our Bottle Stall (nice bottles that adults                                              like to drink raise the most money!)

Thursday 26^th June          Cakes for our Cake Stall

 

We could also do with donations of prizes for our main raffle so if any parents or carers know of any businesses that would like to donate a prize, we would be very grateful.

 

We could also do with parent volunteers to help us organise Sports Day and the Summer Fair. If you are willing to volunteer either speak to myself or Mrs Ling or contact the school office.

 

Most importantly we need you to join us on the day to support the children and of course pray for good weather!

 

With best wishes

 

 

Peter McCabe