This Sunday’s Gospel reveals the depths of God’s mercy and compassion and the need for each one of us, in our own way, to make a new start with God. Regardless of our past, each day we are given an opportunity to make a new start. Jesus just waits for us with the gentleness and patience of God. Lent is traditionally a time for making a new start.
God is always ready to help us to start afresh. As Easter approaches, are there any new starts that we can make with our family, friends or with God? Perhaps we can: remember to start each morning with a prayer and thank God for each new day and for each other; make a new start with church; follow Jesus’ example in this Sunday’s Gospel by being merciful to others. You may also like to choose something new to start together that will strengthen your family.
Wishing all our children, parents, staff and volunteers a very happy and holy Easter break. We look forward in welcoming the children back to school on Monday 25th April.
Thank you so much for the donations to our Lenten charities this term - SIFA Fireside, Stourbridge Foodbank, Fr. Hudson's Good Shepherd Appeal, CAFOD and Project Gambia. Your generosity will help support our brothers and sisters within our local, national and global communities.
Thank you to Mrs Riley for creating our Spring Book Recommendations for children from Reception to Year 6. These can be found on the school website. Please click on the 'Our Community' tab and then select Spring Book Recommendations.
Children will be able to continue to wear their PE kits underneath their school jumper/cardigan and plain blue or grey tracksuit bottoms on the days they have PE lessons in school.
Year | Day 1 | Day 2 |
Reception | Monday | - |
Year 1 | Thursday | Friday |
Year 2 | Monday | Tuesday |
Year 3 | Tuesday | Thursday |
Year 4 | Tuesday | Wednesday |
Year 5 | Tuesday | Thursday |
Year 6 | Monday | Wednesday |
On Tuesday 29th March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1st April.
Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1st April.
Updated guidance will advise:
· adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature · children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend · adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days. |
For education and childcare settings from Friday 1st April:
· regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children's social care settings. Therefore, settings will no longer be able to order test kits · residential SEND settings may be advised by their local health protection team to re-introduce some time-limited asymptomatic testing. This would be an exceptional measure, for targeted groups of staff and pupils or students (secondary age or above) in the event of a possible COVID-19 outbreak. These settings are scheduled to receive an automatic delivery of contingency supply test kits during the week commencing Monday 28 March · the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish new guidance. Most of the specific COVID-19 guidance for education and childcare settings will be withdrawn from GOV.UK on Friday 1 April. The operational guidance on the testing in education settings document sharing platform will also be removed on the same day. |
The Wednesday Word can be accessed via following link: The Wednesday Word Primary School Resource | Catholic Church. Please go through this with leaflet with your child so that they become more familiar and understand the focus of the Gospel each week.
Lord Jesus,
During Holy Week we will follow you on your sorrowful and glorious journey,
your journey to the Cross and Resurrection.
We ask that as we walk with you,
give us grace to see the deep love you show us.
As you were welcomed with joy and acclaim to the Holy City,
your betrayal by the crowds soon overwhelmed their cries of Hosanna.
On the Cross, you made yourself servant
taking the sins of the world upon yourself.
May our lives reflect your desire to serve God our Father first;
that we may serve you in our brothers and sisters.
When we face suffering and disappointment, may we know your love.
When we are feeling lost, may we know that you are with us.
When we are worried, may your Cross be a sign of hope
and strength.
May this Holy Week be for us a time of renewal in faith and love.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be Intentional in the way they live and use the
resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and Prophetic in the example they set to
others.
APRIL
For health care workers
We pray for health care workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries; may they be adequately supported by governments and local communities.