Dear Parents/Carers,
Once again, I am writing to you at a time of some uncertainty, as the information regarding Covid safety and the new variant continues to take shape. As always, with your generous understanding and support, we continue to work hard to keep our children attending school and Covid-safe. We follow all advice from the UK Health Security Agency and the Department for Education and update our Risk Assessment (which is on the website) accordingly. An update to our Key Information for Parents and Carers will be sent out next week and will be put up on our website and a letter from Liverpool Public Health will also be available.
We have celebrated this special time of year in safe and manageable ways, with our usual beautiful Christmas tree in the pupils’ entrance. It was purchased from our friends, the Clifford Holroyde School Enterprise Group. We chose an 8-foot-tall tree this year.
Our Sixth-formers decorated it, ably assisted by Year 7 pupils. It looks lovely. We have all enjoyed seeing the lights twinkling every day throughout December. The individual form room trees have also added a festive touch to the school and have been decorated by the pupils in each class in their own special ways.
Our Sixth-form Enterprise Group ran a stall at the All Saints Childwall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. They were so mature and used their numeracy life-skills expertly to serve customers. Well done everyone!
Ms Barrett has run a Christmas Card design competition this week, for all Key Stages, with prizes for the best efforts. Lots of budding artists as always.
We took part in the Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day appeal on Friday 10th December. Many pupils joined in and £100 was donated. Yet again, it makes us really proud that our pupils and their families are so kind and considerate, thinking of others who are in need and doing what they can to make a difference.
As part of our involvement in the School of Sanctuary project, Miss Groves has led assemblies in each Key stage this week, using the Christmas Story as a starting point for reflection on the experiences of refugees. Our pupils have thought about what it means to need refuge and the emotions and practical experiences involved. As always, they have been kind and thoughtful in their responses.
Christmas lunch in the School Hall will be run on 2 days next week, Key Stage 3 on Monday 20th December and Key Stage 4 and 5 on Tuesday 21st December. This will allow social distancing and ease of service. It will be the usual fun, festive occasion, with good food, jolly Christmas music and crackers to enjoy. Pupils are expected to wear school uniform on these days but if they would like to wear a Christmas jumper instead of their school jumper or cardigan when their Key Stage has Christmas Lunch they may do so.
The final day of term will be an “own clothes” day if pupils would like to take part. There is no charge. It’s just for fun! It is, as always, optional. Those who prefer to wear uniform may do so.
All our pupils will receive a Christmas gift from the School Governors, as they head home for what we hope will be a safe and Merry Christmas holiday for them and for their families. School closes to pupils at 1pm on Wednesday 22nd December.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to a very Happy New Year on Wednesday 5th January 2022.
(Given the developing Covid situation, please check for texts as we approach the new term, in case of any change to our plans.)
Kind regards.
Cath Piercy