Christmas Message from our Vice Principal

Dear Families,

We are immensely proud that we have not let the virus dampen our school spirit or hold us back from making progress in our flourishing school community. There have been many achievements this term but, firstly and most notably, just managing to stay open this term has been testament to how staff, families, pupils and students have come together by staying apart! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your invaluable commitment and support throughout this challenging year. Your words of thanks and kindness have kept the staff team going.
As well as adapting to national change, we have also undergone significant renovations to the school site, giving Year 8 some brand new classrooms and the covered way an exciting face-lift. We are looking forward to exciting developments in the new year, including renovation of the lodge at the bottom of the driveway into a Sixth Form Independence and Employability Centre.

Our needs-led curriculum offer has been adapted to support pupils and students to catch up on lost education and recover from the negative impact of Covid-19 and lock-down restrictions. The needs-led curriculum has been the focus of a NASS incubator project to grow and develop it for other specialist settings. We have also launched our remote learning platform with some great successes.

In recent weeks, we have been focused on the true meaning of the festive period by ensuring our community is filled with joy and celebration of life, despite the pandemic. Thank you so much for all of your donations to our charities: Dogbus and Operation Christmas Child. As a result of your kindness and generosity, we will be able to bring comfort and warmth to dogs and cats and bring joy and happiness to children who would otherwise go without this Christmas.

This year, to save us from tiers (!), we’ve given you something special. Families have missed out on many festivities this year so we will be sending out secure links to two special videos; you will be able to watch our panto online and a video which captures some of the fun we have been having at St Dominic’s in preparation for the holidays; we really hope you enjoy watching them with your child.

I look forward to welcoming back all our pupils and students for the start of a brand new year on Monday 4th January 2021. I am sure you will join me in looking forward to less challenging times and in feeling hopeful for a return to some sense of normality in 2021.
On behalf of all staff at St Dominic’s, it just remains for me to wish families a happy and restful holiday.

With warm wishes,

Vicky Perry
Vice Principal