This year in school, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

The build up to a special anniversary is always exciting, especially when it commemorates over a century of partnership between school and parish.

In 1965, Our Lady and St Kenelm Catholic School first opened. This year marks 50 years since the school first opened! Although many things have changed over the years and the school and church are in separate buildings, the powerful amalgamation of the two families is clearly visible for all to see and experience.

Leading up to the anniversary, each class held dance workshops to create a festival of dance and song to honour this jubilant occasion. Beautiful productions included dancing through the decades. Staff and children alike, dressed in bright and colourful clothes from the 1960s. All of the marvellous dance creations were celebrated outside in the playground in front of all the parents and a whole school family picnic, was enjoyed by everyone. The varying renditions of songs, dances and drama pieces, showed life through the ages of OLSK School and Church.

On Tuesday 29^th September, the celebrations were bought to a joyous end, led by Fr Bruce, with the school and parish community uniting in a beautiful Mass, followed by refreshments in the Phizz Lab. The Mass preceded an after-school tour, which gave past and present pupils, along with parents, friends, parishioners and members of the community, the chance to see how the school has changed and developed over the years. A museum of old photos, year books, newspaper cuttings and relics was also set up in the Phizz Lab for all to enjoy and others to reminisce!

Thank you to all those involved in helping ensure our celebrations were so memorable; we look forward to the next 50 years of ever-blossoming partnership.

It was a truly beautiful Mass and Fr Bruce blessed our new Altar candles, donated to school by Grace Kalinski's family- a past pupil who is currently very sick. Please pray for her and all of our school community.