No doubt this past weekend felt very strange to you as to everyone - normally a chance to relax and be with family, but that's what most people have been doing all week! In some ways, the clocks going forward was perhaps the most irrelevant start of spring we've ever had. Yesterday's Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus reminds us that there is always hope when things seem dark - there's a children's retelling of the story here:
The staff have all been getting used to new ways of communicating and we have managed to have several virtual staff meetings! We are also setting up and learning how to use an online learning platform which we will launch after the Easter holidays should the situation continue.
Your Photos and Pictures
Thank you for all the wonderful photos you've been sending in - the staff have really enjoyed seeing what you are up to and have sent messages back to the children. Please keep sending them to support@st-patricks.southampton.sch.uk and we'll keep posting on the frontpage of the website. Some staff are posting video messages to their classes - these are on the class pages of the website.
Story of the Day
Today Mrs Hoiles read us "The Zoo Vet" with her special friend Fred! We hope you enjoyed it. Tomorrow it is the turn of Mrs Comarmond who has a rather scary one for you .... Find them on the front page of our website at https://www.spcps.co.uk/. You will also find a Sign Up button in the top right of the page if you want to leave our storyteller a message.
David Walliams
The best-selling children's author is releasing a new reading of one of his short stories at 11am every day "Elevenses" Have a listen here:
Singing with a Difference
Fancy learning something different? Why not have a go at learning some songs in Sign Language and Makaton. A family have created a Sign Along channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKjnLaeAZiLeZpz6eDFPMrw
Solent Mind
Solent Mind (a local charity) have sent some excellent ideas to help us all through any worries and stresses we are likely to have at the moment. There are some great ideas to try with the children and for yourselves attached.
Scavenger Hunt
Mrs Mullin has sent through an indoor and outdoor scavenger hunt you might like to have a go at.
Online Safety
Now we are in a situation when our children will be using the internet a lot more than usual, you might want to think about online safety and how to ensure everything is set at an appropriate level. There are some excellent guides and resources here:
Have a good evening and more tomorrow.
"You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you tink" - A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin
Best wishes,
Michael Lobo - Headteacher
Suzanne Friel - Deputy Headteacher