21st March 2023
Dear Parents/Carers
“Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain God consciousness”
I am sharing with you information relating to Ramadan, Eid and our Easter Services.
Easter Services will take place the week commencing 27th March.
Year 7 and 8 will walk to St Lawrence’s Church on Oswald Road for the last lesson of the day and will be dismissed directly from the Church. However if you wish your child to walk back to the academy with staff, please advise their form tutor or ATL.
Year 8 will attend on Monday 27th April from 2.30pm to 3.45pm
Year 7 will attend on Tuesday 28th April from 1.30pm to 2.45pm
Year 9, 10 & 11 services will take place during assembly time in the academy.
This month is Ramadan, a period of fasting and reflection for Muslims. With over 30% of our students and staff observing Ramdan this year, I felt it was important to reshare our academy’s message of generosity, respect, justice, forgiveness and truth that I feel aligns with the spiritual focus of Ramadan.
As the passage from the Quran suggests this is a month for muslims to feel closer to God and at the academy we appreciate that in the academy we have many students and staff that belong to and practise a faith ( over 65 % have said they belong to a faith group).
We also acknowledge many students and staff don’t have faith but this does not separate us but unites us a community of people who are here to celebrate each other and our differences.
The period of Ramadan starts for our Muslim students and families on Thursday 23rd March until 21st or 22nd April. At the end of Ramadan follows the Eid celebration which will be on Friday 21st April or Saturday 22nd April. Therefore our inset day for April is now confirmed that this will be on Friday 21st April and the academy will be closed to all students. This will allow families the opportunity to spend time with each other celebrating Eid.
At the academy we celebrate and value our difference in faith and no faith! We have accommodated for our students by providing the following:
- Friday 17th March- students to presented a Ramadan info in staff briefing
- In our Central Atrium we have ‘ Ramadan’ display information for those who would like to learn more about Ramadan.
- At lunch times classrooms WF04, WF05, WF06 will be available as safe spaces for prayer – the reflection room will not be suitable due to the number of students wanting to pray.
- Toilets will be open during both lunch times for students to make wudu (ablutions)
- Reflections for the week beginning Ramadan are around Ramadan allowing students and teachers to reflect and have conversations around why muslims fast.
- Students that are eligible for free school meals are still able to use their allowance to purchase food ( e.g cakes, cookies) and then put in their bags to eat for their iftar meal in the evening.
There is an open invitation to businesses and the people of Community to fast with the Muslim community and a Fast-A-Thon is being planned for one day during Ramadan, where anyone can pledge their lunch money to Scunthorpe Foodbank and fast for a day. This will take place on 30th March. At the end of the day there will be an Iftar in Central Park where everyone will break fast with water and dates, be able to observe prayer, followed by dinner, provided by the Muslim community inside UCNL. Further information, including how to pledge and book your ticket can be found here.
From our TSLA ‘family’ Academy to yours, Ramadan Kareem (Blessed Ramadan)!
Yours sincerely
Phill Dalowsky
Headteacher
