OLSG Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all and very happy new year. I hope you enjoyed a restful break with your loved ones and feel refreshed and ready for the term ahead. This term promises to be a busy one, full of new learning, new challenges and new successes.

Best wishes,

Ms R McGylnn

Headteacher

On Tuesday 6th January, we returned to school and celebrated whole school Epiphany Mass with parishioners, and Holy Family students and staff. Together we sang joyously, reflecting on the long and important journey which the wise man took to visit the new born baby Jesus. As always, many thanks to Father Shajin for leading us in Mass and to Mrs Quinton to leading us in song.

On Friday 19th December, we gathered together in the Church to celebrate a range of achievements and successes. Awards for pupils included attendance awards and outstanding achievement awards. A huge congratulations to everyone who won an award, particularly our pupils who were recognised for outstanding achievement. Keep up the fantastic work everyone.

Before Christmas we enjoyed a variety of spectacular Christmas performances from our children, all of which reminded us of the true meaning of the season- Curiosity Class Nativity, Nursery Christmas carol singalong with parents and of course our Year 1-6 Christmas carol service in the church. Throughout the year groups the singing and acting was wonderful. Thank you to all parents, carers and family members who joined us for these wonderful performances- we hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. Well done to all our pupils, Mrs Quinton and all our staff who made these performances possible.

On Thursday 18th December, we came together as a community to share some Christmas spirit at our Christmas fair event. Our families had lots of fun playing games, making crafts, treating different sweet treats and even meeting Father Christmas. Thank you to everyone who supported this school event and organise it. Altogether we raised £500 for school projects.

On Thursday 11th December the whole school celebrated our annual Christmas jumper day. It was great to see all of our children and staff wearing their Christmas Jumpers with pride. As a school we managed to raise £90 for the charity Save the Children.

On the same day, both sites enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner. Staff sat with the children, sharing the meal, singing Christmas songs and pulling Christmas crackers together. A big thank you to our cooks - Connie on Lower Site and Annabel on Upper Site who work so hard to provide our children with tasty, nutritious meals all year round. We would also like to say a big thank you to the staff who prepared the halls to make them look really festive.

On Sunday 7th December, pupils from our Mini Vinnies group helped out at the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas lunch. Pupils helped to serve food and drinks to members of our parish community, sang Christmas carols, gave out gifts and really raised everyone’s Christmas spirit. Well done children and thank you to all the members of staff who came along to support this fabulous community event.

As part of our commitment to ensure pupils' safety online, this half term, pupils at both sites will be participating in Online safety workshops delivered by the Breck Foundation. Kerry from Breck will also be offering an online session for parents on Monday 19th January, 6.00pm-7.00pm. If you would like to join the parent session please email the office and you will be sent details of how to join.

Our Childcare provision at Lower Site continues to be popular. Going forward this term, after school club is full on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lower site. Any child that requires a place on those days will be put on a waiting list. One off bookings will also be subject to availability

Attendance for the whole school for the Autumn term was 94.2%. This is below our expected target of 96%.

As a parent or carer, you have an important role in making school attendance a priority. Only keep your child off school when they are genuinely too ill to attend. Book medical appointments and holidays outside of school time whenever possible. You are welcome to discuss with us if you're having any difficulties with attendance.

All absences and lateness will be carefully monitored and letters will be issued from the school, followed by referrals to the Local Authority BACME team where necessary. This could result in fines /Notice of Parental Responsibility (NPR) being issued.

Holidays during term time will not be allowed and will be recorded as unauthorised absence. We fully understand that exceptional circumstances can arise and if this should happen, a ‘Leave of Absence form’ (available from the school office) must be completed.

The school is working closely with the Education Welfare Officers of the Local Authority in order to address individual and whole school attendance.

We expect all children to arrive on time. Please ensure you allow enough time for any traffic. If your child is unwell, you must notify the school office by 8:30am via email office@olsgschool.org or telephone the school office.

Term dates are always available on our school website for reference: OLSG Term Dates 2025-26

If your child was born between 1st September 2021- 31st August 2022 they will be due to start school September 2026. You will need to apply for a place for Reception, September 2026.

The closing date for Reception applications for children starting in September 2026 is 15th January 2026.

Please contact the school on 020 8520 8500 or email office@olsgschool.org for further details on how to apply.

Our prayer room contribution come from Hebron, Year 5 and Amisha, Year 6.

Dear God,

Thank you for everything in the world. Guide everybody in your footsteps. Help everybody who is sick and heal them. Bless the teachers as they strive to give their pupils an education for their future.
Thank you for everything and your everlasting love.
Amen

By Hebron

Dear Jesus,
Make our world a better place for people who want to follow in your footsteps. Help us to always believe that Mother Mary will come to us, bringing blessings and peace to our world.

Amen

By Amisha

Heavenly Father,

as we close one chapter and begin another, thank you for your faithfulness through every year. Thank you for blessings, lessons, and your presence in both joys and challenges. As we step into this new year, we place our hopes and plans in your hands. Help us lean not on our own understanding, but be guided by your Spirit. Fill us with peace and purpose, guiding us with wisdom and love, trusting you walk with us, knowing you promise to be with us every step of the way.

Deepen our faith to see life through your eyes. Thank you for the gift of this new start, a fresh blank page, with the assurance of your presence. Help us to be faithful, to learn from our stumbles, knowing your quiet love surrounds us.

Amen

Each month Ten Ten produces a newsletter for parents and carers. This newsletter shares some of the payer and liturgy content children will experience in school throughout December and suggests ways for you to engage with them about it. It is also a useful resource for your family prayer time.

Click here to view January's Newsletter

Tuesday 13th January

Year 6 trip to BFI (Dig for Victory)

Monday 19th January

The Breck Foundation Online Safety Webinar for parents @6pm

Sunday 25th January

Family Mass @10.00am

Tuesday 27th January

Resilience Class Assembly @ 2:15pm

Wednesday 25th February

Year 5 Trip to Greenwich Park Learning Centre

Year 2 Great Fire of London Trip

Friday 13th February

School finishes for half term break

Monday 23rd February

Return to School

📞 0208 520 8500

📨 office@olsgschool.org

📍Upper site: Shernall Street, Walthamstow, E17 3EA

📍Lower site: Maynard Path, Walthamstow, E17 9HU