On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Church marks the feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of the Lord. This marks 40 days since Christmas and the end of the Christmas period in the Church. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met in the temple by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World.
The festival is called Candlemas because this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed. On Candlemas night, people often placed lit candles in their windows at home - I thought this was something that we could all do this year to welcome the Light of the Lord into our homes. Let’s Shine Our Lights for Jesus! I would love to see how the children are shining their lights for Jesus - please post photographs into your child’s Class Dojo portfolio. I have added a selection of activities that you may wish to use at home on Tuesday - or this week whenever you get the chance. I have added one of these activities to Monday’s RE lesson, but please use the resources as you can throughout the week.
Make a paper lantern Design a candle Candlemas word search Candlemas colouring
A heart felt thank-you, once again, for all you are continuing to do to support the children with their home learning and me too! This is very much a team effort and I couldn’t ask for more from each and every family and I am so grateful. I know this is hard - I have found this week hard both in school and at home, with home schooling to do for my own child - but we are all doing an amazing job. This isn’t a role that any of us signed up for, but we are all doing our bit for the health and safety of our children and as parents there is no greater responsibility than to keep our children safe and well. That is all I want for all of our children. So please, be kind to yourselves, know that your best certainly is good enough, feel pride in the role that you are playing and know that I will be eternally grateful for your unbelievable efforts. Thank-you and God Bless you all.
Congratulations to all these children who are now at 100 dojo points or more!! Well done to Aihbin, Charlotte, Conleth, Eleena, Emily, Florence, Gabriel, Jacob, Laura, Martha, Matilda, Nevaeh, Sara, Willow, Zachary and Olivia. You are all super star workers!!
Certificates for this week - I continue to be amazed by all of you working so hard at home. This week I have added a school worker certificate to recognise the work being done in school too…..
Busy Bee Award - Jacob for working so hard at home and completing lots of tasks!
Home Learner Award - Matilda for superb work across all subjects - especially in RE
Science Award - Jackson for super Science work on Materials this week
School Learner Award - Charlotte for super work across all subjects - especially in Science
This coming week, 1-7th February, is Children’s Mental Health Week, the theme of this year's Children’s Mental Health Week is Express Yourself.
Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good. I have added the assembly to support this project, the assembly guided and a list of suggested activities. It is important for us all to address Mental Health issues at this time and the lockdown will have affected all the children differently. If you think these resources would support you and your child, then take a look and see what you think!
Assembly Assembly Guide Suggested Primary Activities
And finally……
Please contact me through Class Dojo or email (year1@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk) if you need anything and I will do my best to help. I continue to be in school on Monday’s and Tuesday’s, with Mrs Veasey in class the rest of the week, so I may be a little slower in getting back to you on those days that I am in school. Please do what you can to keep your child at home - see Miss Haggerty’s post on the need to reduce the numbers of children in school where possible. https://ourladyassumption.squarespace.com/news/2021/1/11/sometimes-you-have-to-take-a-step-back-to-move-forward
HOME LEARNING will be posted in the Home Learning section of the website by lunchtime on a Friday so that it is ready for the week ahead. It is now a government expectation that work is sent into teachers - please send work to me by 12pm on a Friday — or daily if you prefer. (Daily does actually help me to p on top of it!) I will need to follow up on any children I do not hear from - so please do what you can to post your child’s work in the Portfolio section of Class Dojo - this keeps it all together and makes a lovely folder of all your child’s work during lockdown. I must say that the children’s folders are looking super. Thank-you so much.
Keep safe - stay at home. It is in working together that we show our strength.
Year 1…Be good, work hard, stay safe and know that Mrs V, Miss C and I are very proud of you and we miss you. xxx
Thank-you…..Mrs Hollinghurst, Mrs Veasey and Miss Collins
Making Changes Support for anyone looking to make Lifestyle Changes at this time to aid health and wellbeing
