Headteacher's Newsletter

Friday 6^th February 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we come to the end of another busy and successful week, I would like to take a moment to say a sincere thank you to our whole school community. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the world. This week, that light has been clearly seen in the kindness, effort and commitment shown by our children, staff and families.

Thank you to our parents for your continued support and partnership with the school, and to our staff whose professionalism, care and hard work ensure each day runs smoothly for our children. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.

A special thank you to 6G for leading a beautiful class liturgy. The thought, reverence and effort put into preparing it were evident, and the children and staff should be very proud of what they created together.

I would also like to extend my thanks to Mrs Desouza for hosting this week’s Maths Parent Workshop. Her time, expertise and commitment to supporting both children and families are greatly appreciated. Thank you as well to the parents who attended; your engagement and willingness to work in partnership with the school play a vital role in your children’s success. This continued collaboration between home and school is a key reason our children continue to thrive and achieve so well.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Year 6 on their hard work and maturity during their assessment week. They approached the week with calm determination, focus and a strong sense of responsibility for their learning, as they so often do. We are incredibly proud of them and the example they set.

Thank you all for helping our school shine so brightly this week.

Dates for your Diary:

Monday 9^th February 2026 – Dress up in something that makes you feel happy/special

Tuesday 10^th February 2026 - 3.45pm- 7pm - Parents’ Evening

Friday 13^th February 2026 – INSET Day – School Closed

Monday 23^rd February 2026 – Children return to school

Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing week 9th–15th February

Children’s mental health and wellbeing are always at the forefront of our work, and we will be joining schools across the country in marking Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Week here at St Mary’s. Throughout the week, the children will take part in a range of activities designed to support emotional awareness and wellbeing. This year’s theme, “This Is My Place”, encourages children to reflect on belonging and what helps them feel safe, valued and understood. We regularly remind children how important it is to express their emotions and to talk openly about how they are feeling. For further links and information, please visit the Place2Be website: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/about/

To celebrate individuality and what makes us unique, we are inviting children to come to school on Monday 9th February 2026 dressed in something that makes them feel happy or special.

Important Health Notice

We would like to inform parents that we have had a number of cases of a sickness bug within the school community. We kindly ask that you support us by reminding children about the importance of thorough handwashing with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet and before eating. Encouraging good hygiene practices at home and in school plays a key role in slowing and preventing the spread of germs.

If your child is unwell with vomiting or diarrhoea, please keep them at home and follow the recommended guidance before returning to school. This helps protect other children and staff and supports the wellbeing of our whole school community.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Achievement Certificates

The achievement certificates this week are awarded to:

Hayden in 3A
Grace in 3E
Joren in 4D
Gabriel in 4T
Antonio and Sofia in 5B
Zara in 5C
Josh and Manvik in 6G
Emily in 6P

The Headteacher’s award goes to Emily in 3E

The Kindness Award goes to Aubrey in 3A

The Swimming Award goes to Ionut 3A

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Fizul

Acting Headteacher

This area will show all documents uploaded to the /docs/Junior_School_Friday_Newsletters folder.