Minibus Appeal Update:
We were delighted to welcome Fr David (Ret.) and Linda Guilding back to school today for a very special visit.
As many of you will know, Fr David and Linda have now retired, with Fr David celebrating his final Masses in the parish over the summer. They have played an important role in strengthening the relationship between our parish and school and it was wonderful to welcome them back today.
We were especially pleased to welcome them on the occasion of an incredible £5,700 donation from our parish towards our Minibus Appeal. Our new Head Boy, William, and Head Girl, Lydia, were delighted to accept the cheque on behalf of the school.
This very generous donation brings us significantly closer to our goal of purchasing a new minibus and represents an outstanding contribution from our parish community.
We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the parishioners of St Francis, St Anne’s and Our Lady of Mercy and St Joseph for their extraordinary generosity and support.
The parish has supported our appeal in so many ways: through the special fundraising fayre, coffee mornings, individual donations and the many parishioners who have given their time, energy and personal belongings to help raise funds. We have heard some wonderful stories of generosity, including children donating their pocket money, parishioners selling items online and Fr David and Linda contributing items from their own downsizing sale following their retirement and move. We were even told that Fr David sold his surfboard in support of the appeal!
Every contribution has made a difference, and the combined generosity of the parish has brought us well on our way towards achieving our target. A new minibus will have a significant and lasting impact on the opportunities we can provide for our pupils. It will enable us to visit a wider range of places of educational and cultural interest, extending learning beyond the classroom and supporting our commitment to providing our children with a quality, enriching education. It will also allow us to become more involved in our local community, giving our pupils greater opportunities to participate in events, activities and initiatives across the area.
Our Minibus Appeal also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Global Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By providing shared transport for school activities and educational visits, the minibus will support more sustainable travel while helping our pupils engage more fully with the communities and places around them.
Importantly, this appeal also demonstrates Global Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The incredible support of our parish is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a school and its wider community work together towards a shared goal. This partnership is directly helping us to provide our pupils with greater opportunities, experiences and access to a quality education.
We are incredibly grateful to the whole parish for getting behind this appeal and for the generosity, kindness and community spirit you have shown towards our school and, most importantly, towards our children. Thank you for helping us get one step closer to our new minibus. We truly could not have come this far without you, and we look forward to sharing the many opportunities it will provide for our pupils in the years ahead.
