Three schools together with one vision...connection and mutual respect
Belonging isn’t just a feeling, it’s an action and a way of living in the world too. ... [Read More]
A lovely half term
From our nursery children to the Year 6 children, all have excelled and have continued to give us many proud smiles. What a great half term this has been. I think the pictures will say it all... ... [Read More]
Mesmerised, moving and manners at the bonspiel...
Well, ... [Read More]
A lovely report...for you to read.
On International Day of Happiness, we thought it would be a good day to share some great news. Following our recent Catholic Schools Inspectorate we are happy to share that we are: OUTSTANDING in all areas! ... [Read More]
World Book Day, Science Week, Curling and ONIONS!
Well, we have been very busy in school. I can't believe that we are heading towards the end of Spring Term and we still have much to look forward to! ... [Read More]
Mrs. Rossall and I couldn’t help but laugh this morning as she presented me with a bag of teeth that had been found inside a book at our book swap yesterday! Book swaps are always exciting but little did we know there would be hidden treasure belonging to a mystery child. If anyone has lost a little yellow bag of teeth, we are keeping them safe in the school office. I explained to the children that we can write letters to the tooth fairy so parents can keep our precious teeth and I expect this is what has happened in this particular case. As I write this blog, I am in hysterics because it is a first for me but so typical for a day in our school! Well done Fynn for organising the book swap-super job! The children enjoyed swapping books and discussing new books with each other.
I have known our school adviser for a while now and it was nice to see her again on Tuesday. We talk about all sorts of things-the things that are to do with school improvement, data, statistics and everything else that fit into a meeting between a Headteacher and a Local Authority adviser. Five little knocks sounded at my office door (which isn’t usually closed) and five eager little boys strolled in. I could not have planned their conversation better. The Year 1 boys had come in to show me their letter writing skills. Interestingly enough, the letters were attached to underpants and these were dangling from treasury tags. When I pointed to a comma that the first little boy had used within his writing, he told us that he used this so he didn’t have to keep repeating the word ‘and’ and he looked quite surprised that I didn’t know this myself. Another little boy read his letter to us and I spotted a typical spelling misconception. I pointed to the word ‘t-igh-m’ and discussed the grapheme he had correctly used for the sound but it was a tricky spelling. I was immediately corrected by the third little boy, who told me that it wasn’t tricky because it was ‘just a split digraph’ and they know lots of them! The same little one told us that he didn’t like reading and then a conversation began about how they are reading ‘Chapter books’ and not ‘small’ stories. Now, all of this was still going on as our school adviser sat and listened in delight. I could have chatted to these Year One boys all day long about such interesting facts; I sometimes forget that they know far more than I did when I was their age. With sparkly stickers, they were happy and left the room. Wow!
Click on the link below to see the top 10 schools in Preston. Miss Deakin, the staff and I were delighted to read this this morning; definitely something to be celebrated!
Standing at the back of Church on Sunday watching our wonderful children perform (both the choir and the band) gave me another reminder of what a sensational group of children we have at St. Francis’, they represented themselves and the school impeccably. A big thank you to all the families, friends and parishioners that turned up to the Family Mass and Christmas Fair on Sunday, it made for a vibrant and festive day! The PTFA, Parish and School pulled together to welcome the community and support each other. There are many unsung heroes behind the scenes of such events and they are always greatly appreciated. It made for a very successful day. Special mentions to the Creative UFA group who raised money for the school and to the CAFOD Club that raised enough money to give a CAFOD World Gift to support a refugee child.
It is fast approaching that busy, exciting time of year once again, and this is being reflected around school. The coming weeks are the most exciting time to be a teacher; being around children at Christmas keeps the magic alive! The Key Stage 2 children in the St Francis Choir have been busy preparing for the Advent Service on the 4th December at St. Anthony’s Church. They have had a day of singing rehearsals with Mrs Davies and myself. Singing isn’t one of the things I would necessarily choose to do, especially when in the company of our very own Katherine Jenkins (Mrs Davies), but we had a great day with the children, who listened and performed so well. The travelling nativities are now doing their rounds; please use them with your children and return them to school the following day for the other children to use. Mrs Kerr has been very creative with Reception Class, linking in learning about 2D shapes, to making Christmas trees – the children have done a great job!
Firstly, thank you to all the well-wishes given to school for Miss. Deakin in her recovery from surgery. She is recovering well at home, and we all wish her a speedy recovery. I am in contact with her each day, giving her updates and making sure she stays off her e-mails – which isn’t easy!