Dear parents,

We spent time this week in school talking about Palm Sunday which will be celebrated in our churches on Sunday. It would be lovely if your children could attend Mass this weekend as they would hear the story of Jesus' Passion. We will be talking about this at length in school next week and it is such a very important time in the Christian Church Year.

At this time we are always keenly aware that we have several pupils in our school from different faiths. I acknowledge this with these children and thank them and you their parents for respecting Christian traditions, just as we do those of your faiths. Our school is a little microcosm of the world and children could teach us so much as they live and interact so companionably and respectfully, knowing that faith is a very personal and precious choice for us all and that each faith is to be respected.

The school council members have been busily selling tickets for the Easter raffle. We spoke at assembly today about the great work that we are all doing to raise funds for Trocaire's 2023 appeal and we are hopeful that we will be handing over a generous donation. The children know that it is not about winning (although that would be nice), rather it is about sharing a little bit with those who have less.

We will have a busy day next Wednesday:

· The raffle will be held during the Easter assembly.

· Each class will have an Easter treat hunt in the school forest

· Children will start our school's celebration of April as 'Autism Awareness Month' by wearing blue clothing( no donation required)- They voted unanimously at assembly today that school uniform being blue, just wouldn't cut it and that they would HAVE to wear their own clothes!!!!!!!!!! ( I love pupil voice) Mrs Toner, our SENCO, will organise a selection of awareness raising events that will take place with the children across the month.

I remind you that school will close at 12.00 on Thursday

and will reopen on Monday 17th April.

I wish you well as we enter Holy Week.

Yours in partnership,

Mrs Monaghan