Welcome to our new St Mary's Weekly Newsletter!
Wishing all families a very happy, peaceful and blessed Easter. Take care and stay safe and we will see you all again on Tuesday 26th April. God bless.
Lent 2022
This week, our school hall has been transformed into a beautiful and sacred space for prayer and reflection. The Year 3 and 4 teachers have created inspirational prayer stations to enable the children to reflect upon the Stations of the Cross. It was wonderful to observe the children taking part and participating in individual and group activities with such reverence and respect. Da iawn pawb.
Another busy week at St Mary's...
Making Easter gardens, crosses and nest cakes, reflecting and placing prayers for peace in our Garden of Hope, planting seeds, making Easter sock bunnies, learning about a lifecycle of a dinosaur , inputting dinosaur data into a database using J2data on Hwb, extended writing, using glue guns and lots lots more...
Reception Charity Art Gallery- inspired by the work of artist Josie Russell
A big thank you to Josie Russell for sharing our work on her Facebook page! How exciting for our children's art work to be recognised by a famous Welsh artist! Da iawn pawb! Please take a look for yourselves by following the link. https://en-gb.facebook.com/josiearussell1987
Year 1 and 2 Amazing Musical Workshops
Yesterday, our Year 1 and 2 children were treated to the most amazing musical workshops in our school hall. Miss Gemma McHale, a high school music teacher and auntie to Sophia and Benjamin, inspired our children with her wonderful musical talents. The hall was buzzing with happy, enthusiastic children, all keen to participate by clapping, singing, playing instruments and even dancing! It was an absolute joy to observe! A huge thank you to Miss McHale and her Year 4 helpers, Sophia, Rosie and Evelyn!
Look who has good news to share this week!
Early Years- Tommy's mummy is better and he is going to Paris soon, Lily is going to Bluestone, George, Mateusz and Finn are going on holiday, David is going swimming, Georgie and Katyn are having swimming lessons and Eulla has a new fish.
Years 1 & 2- Max was 'Man of the Match' in football last week, Dylan G is playing for Brymbo, Abigail is getting a new bunny, Natalia is going to Poland for Easter and Grace is going to Spain. Lois is starting Brownies and David G passed Wave 4. Niamh made her promise in Brownies, Isabella has a new kitten called Ghost and Dillan has passed the orange belt in Taekwondo so he is now on purple stripe.
Years 3 & 4- It's daniel's dad's birthday on Friday, Xavier and Gracjan are going to Poland during the Easter holidays. Joseph came 4th in a horse riding competition, and Annabelle moved up to Wave 7. Amelia Sc has received her stage 2 badge for first aid in Brownies and Max and Gabriel are looking forward to going to Egypt on holiday. Alec has passed Wave 7 and is now on Rookie lifeguard and Archie has passed Wave 2, Evelyn and Sophia won their netball match- it was their first match and Evelyn scored 2 goals as goal shooter. Lucky Gabby is off to Spain to see her Grandma.
Years 5 & 6- Phoebe went to a hockey tournament in Denbigh and didn't get substituted! Amelia is going on holiday to Hafan y Mor during the Easter holidays and has also moved up to Wave 7 in swimming. Mauro is starting football training, Natasha is going to France during the Easter holidays and is going to a wedding in Brighton too. Zac is going to Anglesey and Brandon has had his Covid vaccine. Paulina is off to Edinburgh on holiday. Zac went to see The Masked Singer live in Liverpool Alice is going camping this weekend, Scarlett is going to London for the first time and Tomos is going to Portugal for Easter. Thomas came second in a gymkhana in Malpas, Bethan has had her plaster off and Amelia has finished her league matches.
Good luck to Filip who is taking part in a 'Young People In Concert' celebration on Tuesday 12th April 6:30-7:30 at the Salvation Army Hall in Rhosddu. Free admission, free refreshments. Everyone is welcome!
St Mary's Catholic Primary - Reviewing our School Vision
As a whole school community, we are revisiting and updating our school vision to make sure it is relevant to our shared aims and new curriculum.
Please help us to make sure that you are represented in our school vision by adding your 'top three' for each of the headings below. Just a word or two, or even a small phrase would be really beneficial. Diolch yn fawr.
Please click on the link:- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIAKrhIlxHR5a0y43_PhHM4G6XCdhBYvTnBvRMKiyYfezUyw/viewform
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PARENTS FROM COOL KIDS' CLUB
Unfortunately, Cool Kids' Club will be CLOSED from Monday 11th April until Monday 25th April 2022 due to lack of take up.
If parents/ carers require childcare on the INSET day Monday 25th April, please contact Mary Anna O'Connell by Friday 22nd April on 07985900660 to book your place.
Local Support for Families
At this difficult time of austerity, please see some information about local services that are available to provide support to families in need.
Please contact school if you find yourself in a difficult situation and need some help/ support to signpost you to an appropriate service. Your requests will be handled in confidence and with sensitivity. Diolch. Mrs Acton.
If you need help from our foodbank there are a few simple steps to follow. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO GET A FOODBANK VOUCHER.
In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.
1. GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
If you call or email our foodbank we can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency.
2. ARRANGE A VISIT TO THE REFERRAL AGENCY.
They will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate.
If you can’t afford food, you can call 0808 2082138 (freephone) to speak to a trained and independent Citizens Advice agent (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm). Please note this number is for people who do not have enough money for food – if you are a local organisation or charity that works with people who might need the food bank, please contact us directly.
Alternatively, please call 0300 330 1178 to speak to Wrexham’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, who will be able to issue you with a food bank voucher if necessary.
3. BRING YOUR FOODBANK VOUCHER TO YOUR NEAREST FOODBANK CENTRE.
You can find a list of our local centres and opening times here. When you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a warm drink and our trained volunteers will chat with you about your situation. We’ll also discuss any dietary needs you may have and exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. We’ll also help to support you in any other ways that we can. Most of our foodbank centres offer a cafe style environment and our aim is to provide non-judgemental support at the point of crisis.
If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.
Yellow and blue (YaB group ltd) is a social enterprise non profit project. Underpinning community projects including positive pathways, food provision and social isolation beating events and activities. With a digital vision within the community - we aim to support vulnerable groups whilst creating a vibrant, supportive and uplifting experience. Creating moments, chances and smiles when people need it most.
Please get in touch by emailing:- info@yellowandblue.org
Pupil Development Grant
The Welsh Government funded Pupil Development Grant is available to help towards the costs of a child’s school uniform and equipment, for those on a low income. Any child eligible for free school meals in the year groups listed below are eligible. However, those receiving free school meals due to transitional protection arrangement would not be eligible.
Depending on the school year your child will be entering in September 2021 you could receive a grant of £125 or £200. Link
Anyone eligible for free school meals and in the following year groups will qualify for the grant: Entering reception class in primary school, Entering school years 1 to 11, In a special school, special needs resource base or pupil referral unit and are aged 4 to 15.For any looked after children of compulsory school age who are not receiving free school meals, please email uniformgrant@wrexham.gov.uk for an application form.
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer in school?
Here at St Mary’s we are very keen to involve parents, grandparents and family members in the life of the school. We are always looking for volunteers to help out a wide range of activities such as school trips and walking the children to sporting events. We are also very happy to invite volunteers to share special skills, interests or experiences to enhance the children’s opportunities or provision e.g. gardening, sewing, sharing job skills/ experiences etc.
If you would like to be involved in any volunteer work for the school, please click on the link and complete and return the forms attached.https://stmarys-wxm.co.uk/about-us/forms/volunteer-form-2/
Please note:- All volunteers will be subject to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. Thank you
Many thanks.
Welsh Government Announcement
Physical punishment of children is now illegal in Wales. Children have the same protection from assault as adults. This is to protect children and their rights. To find out more visit: http://gov.wales/EndPhysicalPunishment
Support the Friends of St Mary’s
to raise much needed funds for the benefit of all our children Friends of St. Mary’s School are now registered with easyfundraising, which means you can raise FREE donations for us every time you shop online. Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself!
These donations really mount up and make a BIG difference to us, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE and only takes a moment.
Do it today- Sign up by clicking on the link below
Please encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Keeping everyone safe- Covid 19
Once again, we have seen an increase in the number of Covid positive cases which have affected both children and staff over the past week or so. If you have been sent a letter/ email advising you of cases within the class/ contact group, please take lateral flow tests in the morning before coming to school. This will help us to limit the risk of further transmission within our school community.
In addition to the 3 classic symptoms of a cough, high temperature and loss of taste or smell, we are noticing that many children who are testing positive are also displaying some of the following symptoms :- vomiting, headaches, runny nose, sore throat (symptoms similar to the common cold)
Local Authority advice remains that all children and staff who are displaying symptoms of illness or testing positive on an LFT or PCR test should not come to school and continue to isolate.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
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Credits:
Created with images by AnnieSpratt - "children road supportive" • Art Stocker - "Silhouette jesus christ crucifix on cross on calvary sunset background concept for good friday he is risen in easter day, good friday worship in God, Christian praying in holy spirit religious." • LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - "cheerful kid holding magnifier near face while standing with friend in park" • dglimages - "Noisy Nursery Lesson" • Andrey Kiselev - "happy Easter" • coco - "fleur de jonquille sur fond jardin" • Love You Stock - "Human hands open palm up worship. Eucharist Therapy Bless God Helping Repent Catholic Easter Lent Mind Pray. Christian Religion concept background. fighting and victory for god" • hedgehog94 - "A mother and her cute daughter are painting colorful eggs and wearing bunny ears. Happy family are preparing for Easter." • Maya Kruchancova - "spring flowers on paper background" • Maya Kruchancova - "cupcake with sparkler on old wooden background" • Irina Schmidt - "Adoralbe little toddler girl with rainbow and heart painted with colorful window color during pandemic coronavirus quarantine. Child painting rainbows around the world with the words Let's all be well"