B U R Y O L D R O A D, P R E S T W I C H, M A N C H E S T E R M 2 5 1 J H

Tel: 0161 773 6436 Fax: 0161 773 7155

Finance Dept: 0161 773 6436 Option 2/Ext 324 PE Dept: 0161 798 8206

Email: stmonicas@bury.gov.uk Web: www.stmonicas.co.uk

Headteacher: Mr C Foley MA Hons (STA) PGCE

St Monica’s R.C. High School

4th April 2020 Dear Parent/Carer, We are now at the point where our scheduled Easter break would have taken place. School will remain open over the next two weeks for the pupils of key workers, and please continue to access this service through the keyworker@stmonicas.co.uk email address. School will be closed to all pupils and staff on Good Friday (April 10th) and Easter Monday (April 13th). It has been a very difficult time for all of our community. I hope that like me you appreciated the time and effort of our staff to support your child in their learning, but also their well-being. We will continue to contact home for all pupils over the coming weeks to make sure that pupils are well. I can assure you that the staff are missing the day to day interactions with the pupils! We continue to receive feedback regarding the setting of work for pupils in their various subjects. For Year 11 pupil’s guidance has been shared from the Local Authority regarding the GCSE results. We will continue to set some tasks for Year 11 pupils which can be used to keep them in some study habit; pupils will have the opportunity to re-sit exams should they wish in the Autumn. It is for that reason that staff have provided some Year 11 activities. We have received assurances from both Sixth Form Colleges in Bury that pupils will not be disadvantaged as a result of the cancellation of the GCSE examinations. I am sure parents and pupils can appreciate the challenge of distance learning and our advice is that parents and pupils do their very best with the work that is being set – this should not be a cause of stress or strain at home. Pupils should look to develop some type of learning routine, though we realise this is not always easy. We are already planning how we can address gaps in learning when school resumes. Please enjoy something of a break over the next two weeks, and we will resume setting formal work on April 20th. We will share with parents some resources for the Easter Triduum next week to help you celebrate this most important time of year. With our Churches also closed it is important we still find ways to worship. Please continue to follow in school twitter feeds, as this will be the easiest way to share information over the next two weeks. We now have a number of accounts that are well worth following;

Twitter Account ID Department @HT_StMonicas Headteacher @MFL_StMonicas Languages @StMonicasPE Physical Education @Hist_StMonicas History @Geog_StMonicas Geography @StMonicasComSci Computer Science @RE_StMonicas Religious Education @Eng_StMonicas English Instagram Account ID Department @monicas_art_design Art and Design

Please have a Holy Easter and thank you for your patience and support over recent weeks, it is very much appreciated by myself and the staff of our school. Yours faithfully Mr C Foley Headteacher @HT_StMonicas

What happened during Holy week?

Holy Week

The most solemn week of the Christian year, Holy

Week is the week leading up to Easter, and is the week

during which Christians particularly remember the last week of Jesus's life. Holy Week begins on Palm

Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdrPhxqRP9I

The crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Matthew 21:9

Palm Sunday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-39h0xYqdE

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week.

Today on Palm Sunday we see Jesus enter Jerusalem in triumph. Seated on a Donkey,

welcomed by the shouts of joy and praise of his disciples. Coats were laid on the ground and

palm branches waved at him They cannot keep the good news to themselves.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, knowing full well that this trip would end in his death for

the sin of humanity

What Happens at Church?In many churches, during Palm Sunday

services, large palm branches are carried in processions.

In Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, members of the congregation

hold small crosses made of palm leaf, both to remember the palm leaves which

the people of Jerusalem waved when Jesus arrived, and to remember the

cross on which he died.

Some Christians display the crosses from that service in their homes during the year as a symbol of their faith. The crosses are burned at the start of Lent the next year to provide the ash for Ash

Wednesday.

How is your church preparing for Easter weekend in light of social

distancing and isolation? My priest has been streaming live

masses and regularly posting videos on Instagram to keep Lent alive. Why don’t

you find out what is still going on at your Parish and get involved?

Palm Sunday reflection

Think of a time when you were brimming with confidence and joy and wanted the whole world to

know why. Could you have kept quiet?Now think of a time when you should have spoken out. When you should have admitted your guilt, or your faith. A time when you should have stood up for what was right, but you just weren’t able to

do it.How did you feel?

We are in good company. Even Peter got things wrong. He wasn’t brave enough to admit to his

friendship with Jesus. Yet he became the rock on which Christ built his Church.

None of us is perfect, but this Holy Week let us be brave and speak out. Let us lift our voices and

refuse to be quieted.

What happened on Maundy Thursday?

Maundy Thursday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SigoALSS1R8

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.

The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The word maundy comes from the command (mandate) given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another.

Jesus washes the disciples feet

If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. John 13:14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv5ajWNrnt4

Before the Last Supper, Jesus arose, laid aside His garments, gathered

Himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began to wash and wipe the

feet of the disciples.

Jesus washes the disciples’ feet as an example of the kind of loving service

that he expects us to show towards one another.

In today's time, we don't see a lot of people washing feet, but the concept

here is that He's serving. He was showing them an act of service to them. It was something a servant would have

done. It wasn't something that the creator of the world would do, or a king would do. But Jesus as the leader got

down and did a dirty job because He was showing love for them and service for

them.

What Happens at Church?

A Maundy Thursday service is a time when people meet together for a shared meal and have a communion service together.

In many Roman Catholic and in some Church of England churches, services are held on Maundy Thursday that re-enact the things that Jesus did at the Last Supper.

Three things happen:The Ministers wash the feet of twelve members of the church, remembering that Jesus washed the feet of his twelve disciples. In some churches the Priests dress as Deacons, wearing their stoles diagonally. A Deacon’s job is to serve the people.Broken bread and wine are shared in Holy Communion to remember the meal that Jesus shared with his disciplesThe service ends with a ‘Prayer Watch’ or ‘Prayer Vigil’ to remember that Jesus asked his disciples to pray with him after the Last Supper.

How is your church preparing for Easter weekend in light of social

distancing and isolation?

The link below regularly streams live services and masses if you cannot participate with your own parish.

ewtn.com/tv

Reflection Jesus arrested, judged, found guilty and condemned to die

is held captive overnight.

If I were arrested and held this night what would I be found guilty of?

That I made friends with people irrespective of their colour, creed or class….

That I shared my bread with the poor….That my words… and actions… brought healing and

forgiveness….That I made justice and didn’t count the cost ….That I sought the truth and then spoke of it….

That I recognised my neighbour and loved them as my very self…

That I met God along the way in the healing and forgiveness I received….

That I accepted hospitality at many different tables….

Reflection That I was changed by the lives of others….

…. and often repented my arrogance and foolishnessin encountering their wisdom …

That friends and strangers sometimes paid the price for me….That I never sought out suffering...

….. but journeyed with it to the best of my ability...That the love of those about me taught me to love myself before God...

You call us out of brokennessto mend and remake your creation.

Grant us the courage to staywith all those who are held captive this night.In the name of Jesus who is good news, Amen.