Friday 23rd April 2021

Welcome back to a new term and hopefully a more positive year ahead as the easing of Covid restrictions continue.  This coming Sunday is dedicated to Vocations.  The theme for this year chosen by Pope Francis is, 'Saint Joseph: The Dream of Vocation'. On 8th December last year, Pope Francis announced the 'Year of St Joseph' to mark the 150th Anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.  He is extraordinary, yet at the same time someone so close to our own ordinary human experiences.  Saint Joseph did not do astonishing things, he had no unique charisms, nor did he appear special in the eyes of those who met him. Yet through his ordinary life, he accomplished something extraordinary in the eyes of God. God looks on the heart, and in Saint Joseph he recognised the heart of a father, able to be life-giving in the midst of daily routines.  All vocations have the same goal: to give and renew life every day.  Saint Joseph's witness suggests to use three key words for each individual's vocation, namely: Dream, Service and Fidelity.  Everyone dreams of finding fulfilment in life - through the dreams that God inspired in him, Saint Joseph made his life a gift. For Joseph, service became a rule for daily life.  He found and prepared a place where Jesus could be born and protected from Herod.  Joseph was also a faithful servant.  At every particularly difficult moment in life, he thoughtfully considered how to act, pondering things patiently. Joseph knew that success in his life was built on constant fidelity to important decisions. May Saint Joseph, protector of vocations, accompany us daily with his fatherly heart.

The weekly Wednesday Word is available via the following link:  The Wednesday Word Primary School Resource | Catholic Church

Please ensure that your child/ren wear the following kit on their dedicated PE days: school jumper/cardigan over the school PE kit with either plain blue or grey tracksuit bottoms.  Also, for next week only, Year 5 will have their second PE day on Thursday.

Children of St. Mark's house can come into school on Monday 26th April wearing their own clothes in the colour of their house patron - blue.  

Parents and carers can also visit www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirusparents for more information on both symptom and symptom-free testing and the other symptoms residents are now being encouraged to take a precautionary test if they display.

Accessing symptom-free tests

Parents and carers and anyone else living with a school age child or young person are among the priority groups being given access to free home lateral flow testing kits to test themselves.

Information on how to access these can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff

All are strongly encouraged to have a lateral flow test at a local testing site prior to starting home testing, to know how a test is undertaken. 

Twice weekly testing will help detect hidden asymptomatic cases and help keep pupils and staff safer in school.

Anyone unable to do home testing can go to one of the Dudley lateral flow testing centres. These are at Dudley Leisure Centre, Saltwells Education Centre, with pop-up sessions at Holy Trinity Church Community Centre in Wordsley, Lifecentral Church in Halesowen, St Andrews Church in Sedgley, St James Church in Wollaston and the Salvation Army Church in Lye.There is also testing at more than 30 pharmacies across the borough. For details on where you can get a lateral flow test and to book visit www.dudley.gov.uk/symptom-free-testing

Information and support for parents and carers of children who are learning at home. Supporting your children's remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Click on the following link to the NHS website for information on what to do if you or your child/ren show the main symptoms of Coronavirus. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms

We have all experienced challenges and difficulties during this pandemic, but sometimes we may need support from someone else or know of someone who may need additional help.  Dudley MBC have created a 'Support for Families' leaflet which signposts local services to parents. We have also included an updated list of support for parents via a range of local and national agencies.  These documents can be found within the Covid 19 tab on the school website landing page.

Lord Jesus, send labourers into your harvest. Inspire, in the hearts of your people, vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Bless our families with a spirit of generosity. May those whom you call to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life have the courage to give themselves to your Church as co-operators in your work. Amen.

Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be: compassionate towards others, near
and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.

Fundamental Rights
We pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-04/pope-francis-prayer-intention-april-2021-human-rights.html