As another year draws to a close, & we are all hoping 2022 brings better health, I can’t even begin to list everyone who has gone above & beyond again this year (Governors, staff, children & parents) but so many people have been absolutely fabulous, and I want to say a HUGE thanks to you all! 🙏💙🙏

I hope & pray that we can all return next week as always, as one OLSK family!
 

Please stay safe! 🙏💙🙏 

Luv from Mrs F 💕Happy New Year! 🎉🥳🥰🎉

Father Stefan will be leading the first Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve at 6:30pm and then Midnight Mass later in the evening.

There will also be the traditional Christmas Mass on Christmas Day at 10am.

We hope you will be able to attend one of these as a family to celebrate the joyful occasion of Christ’s birth before beginning your own Christmas festivities.

Updated information from Tuesday 14th December

Daily testing for contacts of COVID-19

From Tuesday 14 December, a new national approach to daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 is being introduced (including until the end of this term). All adults who are fully vaccinated and children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take a lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days instead of self-isolating.

Daily testing by close contacts will help to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 will help protect education settings by reducing transmission and will also help keep pupils in face-to-face education.

Once notified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, all eligible staff, pupils and students should take an LFD each day for 7 days and report the results through the Online Reporting System and to their setting. If they test negative, they can continue to attend their education setting. Outside of the education setting, they should continue to follow the advice set out in the Sunday 12 December press release. This approach should also be adopted over the winter break and on return in January.

If they test positive, they should self-isolate and order a PCR test to confirm the result. If the PCR is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days. If the PCR test is negative, they no longer need to self-isolate but should continue to carry out the remainder of the daily tests, and only need to isolate if it is positive.

For primary aged children LFD test kits are available through the usual routes (community test sites, local pharmacies or online).

Children under five years old do not need to take part in daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 and do not need to isolate.  Anyone over the age of 18 years and 6 months who is not vaccinated, must isolate in line with government guidelines if they are a close contact of a positive case.

Information on further support measures will be provided.

Finally, it is important to continue regular twice weekly, at-home testing for all education and childcare workforce and all students of secondary age and above.

Update on COVID-19 vaccinations

The new Omicron COVID-19 variant is spreading fast. Anyone who is unvaccinated or who hasn’t had their booster is at even greater risk from COVID-19 and more serious illness. Vaccines are the best way we can protect ourselves and help keep children and young people in face-to-face education.

People aged 18 years and over, and those aged 16 years and over who are at risk (including health and social care workers) will be offered a booster dose of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Please do encourage those in your settings to take up the booster dose.

You can pre-book your booster dose online if it’s been 2 months (61 days) since you had your 2nd dose and you are:

You will be offered appointment dates from 3 months after the date of your 2nd dose.

16 and 17 year olds can get two doses of the COVID vaccine. They can book an appointment through the national booking service and walk in centres are available.

The Health and Social Care Secretary announced on Monday 29 November that young people aged 12 to 15 in England will be offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, following advice from JCVI. Parents of children aged 12-15 that have not yet had their first vaccine can book their child’s first vaccination slot over the winter break via the national booking system.

Mary & Joseph, paid a visit to Mrs F on their way to Bethlehem today!

The popped in to say a huge thank you from all the shepherds, donkeys & all the cattle, for all the wonderful new toys that they have received!
 

All of these new toys will help them to develop their learning and help them deepen their faith as they dress up in all their new dressing up clothes! 💙💙🥰 ⭐️ They couldn’t stay long on their visit; they told Mrs F that they had a long way to travel to Bethlehem! 😊😇😊 She thanked them for their beautiful card and waved them goodbye as they continued on their journey! 😇😇

The children in KS1 and Preschool performed their Nativity, 'Little Angel Gets Her Wings' to KS2 and our families via a live stream today! We are so proud of them all. They worked so hard to learn their lines, songs and dances and brought so much joy to everyone who watched it today.

Not only were they all superstars, but Little Angel showed us all how to have resilience, strength and love. They really helped us all to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The Love of Jesus Christ, who came for us all. 

We will send information about where to watch the video recording later this week.

Thank you to our super cooks, who worked so hard to prepare and present our KS1 Christmas dinner today; it was so yummy! All the children had a great time singing all the Christmas songs whilst tucking into fabulous turkey & stuffing! Doing it all again tomorrow for KS2! 💙

Midnight Mass at St. Chad’s Cathedral

The BBC is broadcasting live from St. Chad’s Cathedral from 11:45 on Friday 24 December. Archbishop Bernard will be celebrating the Mass and music is being provided by the Cathedral Choir.
Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, there is no admission to this Mass but do let those you know who find it difficult to get to Mass that it is taking place.

What a wonderful way to start our Christmas celebrations! 🎄🙏