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St Joseph's PS, Madden, Co Armagh

Easter Message

7th Apr 2020

Dear Parents,  

It really doesn’t feel like we are approaching the Easter holidays but I am sure you are thinking at least it’s a break from home schooling!

I want to thank you for the work you have been undertaking in these challenging times. It really has been brilliant to see the pictures of children at their kitchen tables working away on their education packs and to observe remotely the efforts children are making with their online learning activities as well.  

All learning after Easter will be completed via the school website and we will send out details later in the week as to how you can manage this. Parents with no internet access should make contact with me and we can make alternative arrangements.  

In School during Holy week, the children in P7 normally lead the Stations of the cross. This is always a solemn time when we really begin to think about the events leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross. Thankfully our children can still view these events through the livestream provided by the parish on their Facebook page (Link at bottom of page) This is an excellent resource and will perhaps help us to feel connected as a community.  

With all normal activity suspended this Easter time, this will be quite a surreal experience for all of us. However we are fortunate in our rural situation that we can get out around our houses and experience our gardens and nature at this beautiful time of year. Hopefully the weather at least will be good and we can join in with our children playing games, planting seeds or just using the extra  ‘child power’ to do a good spring clean up!!

Please remember that after Easter we expect Covid -19  to be more prevalent and as a result people may be more anxious. Therefore completing worksheets may not be the most pressing issue in many of our lives. What really matters at the end of this period is that our children’s mental health and wellbeing is preserved. This is so much more important than the completion of any worksheet or academic activity.  

I have a beautiful collage of our wonderful children in my office, underneath which is written, as a reminder to myself and all our staff;  

“Our Children won’t always remember what we taught them, they will

always remember how we made them feel” .   

Therefore please don’t worry or stress yourself or your child when there are difficult learning days!  

Finally to the Health Care workers in our school community; can I just say how indebted we all are to your selfless contribution in the midst of this crisis. You really are incredible people going into the unknown every working day and we just want you to know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.  

Take care everyone and try to enjoy this break with your family.  

Paud 

https://www.facebook.com/keadyderrynoosemaddenparish/?epa=SEARCH_BOX#