With people throughout the world, we rejoice at the election of our new Pope, Leo XIV. And we were delighted, too, that to a world riven by war and hatred, his first words spoke of peace, and God's all-conquering, unconditional love...

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"Peace be with all of you!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed Rome!

The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning.

Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward.

We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love..."

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We pray for Pope Leo, as he begins this new service in the Church and the world - for wisdom, discernment, humility and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

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(Image: OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)

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With deep sorrow, but also with gratitude for his extraordinary legacy, we pray for Pope Francis, as he enters the fullness of life. May he rest in God's eternal peace, and spend his heaven praying for us, and continuing the good he began here on earth.

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Click here to read a tribute by our sister, Silvana Dallanegra RSCJ

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We pray, too, for our Church, in this time of loss and eventual transition, and for the Cardinals responsible for electing Pope Francis' successor.

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In the early hours of Wednesday 19th February, God called our sister Margaret (Mairead) Quigley to the fullness of life, at the age of 89.

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Known to many people as Mairead, our sister was christened Margaret, and requested that this name be used during her funeral. Margaret was how she was known to her family, friends and sisters in Ireland; its Irish equivalent, Mairead was the name she adopted after moving to Wales, and living in community with another Margaret. This obituary will use both names, according to how Margaret would have been known at that time.

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Born on the Society's 135th birthday, 21st November 1935, Margaret recalled a happy childhood with her parents and brothers, and five happy years spent as a pupil at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roscrea. This was a formative time, in which Margaret began to feel drawn to religious life in the Society - but the pull towards studying medicine felt stronger. However, the moment she received her letter of acceptance from the Royal College of Surgeons, Margaret knew that a deeper invitation to become a sister was the right thing to do.

Margaret entered the Society at Mount Anville in Dublin on 8th September 1954, making her first vows on 8th March 1957. She then trained to become a bursar, and served in this capacity in Mount Anville, Roscrea and Leeson Street (Dublin). Bursaring in the Society included managing large properties and grounds, and fundraising for school building projects: thus, at a very young age Margaret learned to take on great responsibilities. After five years she went to Rome to prepare for her perpetual profession, made on 21st July 1962.

Back in Roscrea as bursar, Margaret also began working with the local Girl Guides, eventually becoming District Commissioner. Their guide companies were non-denominational, and she described this as a 'golden age' for her. She felt that in a small but real way she was making a contribution to peace, unity and ecumenism within the country. Then, in the mid 1960’s, Margaret studied at Mater Dei in Dublin for an MA in Religious Science. She became head of RE and taught English in Mercy College, Coolock. When she moved to Cara Park and lived in a community among the Travelling People she continued her work with Girl Guides. She then returned to Roscrea to teach English, RE and Commerce. But not for long; during this time her throat caused her problems, and the doctors suggested that she give up teaching.

In 1980 Margaret ‘met’ Llannerchwen, our retreat centre in Brecon, Wales. For three years, she returned to make her retreat and to work there in the summer. She loved this, and began a discernment on what God was calling her to, while living and working there full time for another three years. Finally, in May 1986 Margaret transferred from the Irish-Scottish Province to the English-Welsh Province, and continued her ministry at Llannerchwen. It was during this time that Margaret 'became' Mairead.

Apart from some time for study and training in the USA, Mairead remained at Llannerchwen until 2002, and was widely regarded as a very skilled and intuitive spiritual director and retreat giver. After a year at Joigny, the home of St Madeleine Sophie, her deliberations on ministry took her, at the age of 69, to Salisbury, England, to become an Ecumenical Chaplain at Sarum College. She was Pastoral Tutor to students on various MA programmes, played an active pastoral and professional role in training weekends for the Southern Theological Training Scheme for Ordinands, and was widely involved in spiritual direction and retreat work. The ecumenical work begun with the girl guides and continued with retreatants at Llannerchwen from other Christian denominations, found its fullest expression in Salisbury. These were among the happiest years in Mairead's life, and it was during this time that she celebrated the Golden Jubilee of her vows, with a truly ecumenical service in the Cathedral.

In 2015, as she approached her 80th birthday, Mairead was asked to move to London, to live in the community opposite Duchesne House. This was a huge wrench for her, and it took her a long time to settle and find her feet; finally, aged almost 83, she became a volunteer chaplain in Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton. However, ill health meant she had to move to Duchesne in 2018. A year later she was diagnosed with breast cancer; in subsequent years she also had two lengthy stays in hospital. She was delighted to come home to Duchesne, where, as her health deteriorated, she truly came to appreciate the exceptional love, care and kindness of the staff.

Margaret once wrote that her parents taught her that 'real love comes in not-perfect packaging.' As she came to terms with her sadness at leaving Salisbury, and her illness, Margaret also came to a deep, God-given peace in herself, finally surrendering her not-perfect packaging to the real Love she had made known for more than seventy years.

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Next week sees the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, 5 years after the devastating fire that ripped through the beloved  landmark in April 2019. Dwelling within the new cathedral altar, will be relics of five Parisian saints including our founder, St Madeleine Sophie Barat. This is of particular significance for the Society of the Sacred Heart as we approach the centenary of Sophie's canonisation in May 2025.

You can read more about the restoration on the Cathedral's official website: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/

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image credit: RSCJ International

Chicago was awash with Hearts two week ago, as the first global Sacred Heart Summit took place, bringing together 520 students, educators, RSCJ, and partners in mission from 9 countries. The title of the summit was Hearts Rooted in Change and featured over 100 presenters and speakers who shared their insights on a wide range of social justice topics, from beekeeping to addressing polarization, and documentary filmmaking to rethinking attitudes to immigration.

Students and educators sat alongside one another sharing their thoughts and ideas on these wide-ranging issues and most crucially, how these new insights might be transformed into action in their schools.

Vicky Lorenzato, Schools and College Network Coordinator for the ENW province was  warmly welcomed by our American colleagues, and it was powerful to share the many similarities experienced in our communities.

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A highlight was the closing keynote speech from Sr Imma De Stefanis RSCJ who invited delegates to consider how they will return to their regular lives and ensure that they take the spirit of the Summit with them. We were reminded that our lives are a series of journeys and that this shared time had been like an oasis in the journey.

Sr Imma concluded with these two powerful quotations:

“You have everything needed for the extravagant journey that is your life.” Carlos Castaneda

"Be strong when you are weak, be brave when you are scared, be humble when you are victorious.” Michelle Moschetti

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On September 19^th, 2024, Mary Totton RSCJ was called to the fullness of life with God.

Born in Jarrow on May 23^rd, 1929, Mary met the Society while studying for her teaching certificate at St Mary’s College, Fenham. She made her first vows in Woldingham in 1958, and perpetual vows in Rome in 1963. After this, Mary went on to teach in the Sacred Heart school in Tunbridge Wells. After holding the post of Novice Director for five years, Mary returned to the study of history before finding herself once again teaching history at her beloved Woldingham.

Mary was an educator to her core. Short and slim in stature, she is remembered for her graciousness, her elegance and style, her humour and her capacity to remain calm and unruffled in any circumstances.

After retiring from school teaching in 1986, Mary's life was varied and interesting.  At the age of seventy, she embarked on a chapter of her life that brought her much joy. She joined the Society’s project in Moscow where she spent five happy and fulfilling years teaching Church history in a theology institute.

Mary loved young people. On her return from Russia, she lived and worked in the Society’s hostel for students in Oxford. Here she was a steady presence, a listening ear, and an encouraging friend to so many.

Her experience was much appreciated when she joined the formation community in Hayes in 2012. This community, focused on the formation of RSCJ sisters in the early stages of their religious life, appreciated Mary’s wisdom and wit.

By 2015, realising her need for more care and physical support, Mary moved into Duchesne House, the Society’s retirement community, in Roehampton. In recent years, Alzheimer's disease impacted her capacity for communication, but her expressive eyes, gentle smile,and serenity never left her. She was a much-loved member of the community, drawing out the best from her carers, the RSCJ and all who encountered her.

After a brief stay in hospital, it was clear that Mary’s long and rich earthly life was ending.  On September 19^th, she died as she had lived, slipping away quietly and gently with members of the community and care staff at her side.

We give thanks for Mary’s long life of service and her fidelity to the mission of the Society.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Sr Mary are invited to do so for the Alzheimer's Society

May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

Then call her blest - a tribute to Mary

On Tuesday 20th August, at the General Chapter in Nemi, Italy Sr Claire Castaing was elected as the new RSCJ Superior General, a post that she will hold until 2032. The photo above shows Claire lighting a candle that was at St Madeleine Sophie's bedside at the time of her death. On the election of a new Superior General this is lit for a short moment of prayer.

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Photo credit: RSCJ International

Thursday 1st August sees the opening of the General Chapter for the Society of the Sacred Heart in Nemi, near Rome in Italy. The General Chaper takes place every 8 years with RSCJ delegates travelling from all over the world. During the Chapter, delegates reflect on the events of the previous 8 years, reviewing the Chapter calls that were created at the last gathering. They will also elect a new Superior General and look ahead to the next eight years.

A special General Chapter prayer has been written:

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You can follow events at the Chapter on the RSCJ international website : https://generalchapter2024.rscjinternational.org

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Please keep all of those involved in the Chapter in your prayers, and be assured that they are praying for you.

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Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart

June 7^th 2024

Let us pray for each other today

‘that rooted and grounded in love, you may have the strength to grasp with all the holy ones, what is the breadth and the length and the height and the depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with the fullness of God '(Ephesians 4).

Love from the Provincial Team.

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Despite the rain, a hardy group of students and staff from Roehampton Primary, were joined by a number of RSCJ Sisters on Wednesday 22^nd May for the planting of a palm tree. The tree was chosen to join the other 128 within the school grounds as part of the 180^th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of the Society of the Sacred Heart in England and Wales. Each class is named after a different species of tree and Year 2 (palm class) are delighted that they are now represented. As Sr Cath planted the tree, students from the EcoSchools Committee and Faith Friends group sang a beautiful rendition of LaudatoSi.

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Someone recently asked me for the date of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. I began to explain that it's a moveable feast, coming at the end of a whole series of moveable feasts, which begin with Pentecost... no, with Easter... no, Lent... Ash Wednesday... And as I heard myself describe this liturgical continuum, something within me broke into a gleeful little dance. Wow, I thought... Wow... from Ash Wednesday to the Sacred Heart, in one unbroken movement!

From the day when we turn to God with all our hearts, seeking grace and forgiveness and mercy... through Lent, when we yearn and learn to love, and Easter, that greatest of all feasts of Christ's love... and then Pentecost, the love of the Trinity, and of Corpus Christi... to the day when we celebrate the Heart of God, the fathomless source of all that tender, overflowing, compassionate and merciful love.

In a pastoral letter for Ash Wednesday, Cardinal Vincent Nichols once wrote that Ash Wednesday is the doorway into this season of renewal. And so it is... And it's also a doorway into God's wide-open Heart, a sure companion on our journey. And this is the hope and the assurance which strengthen me as I enter this time of growth and renewal, and this Lent which is, as always, filled with a promise which holds as much blessing as it does challenge.

Have a happy, grace-filled Lent, everyone!

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Adapted from a reflection by Silvana Dallanegra RSCJ, which first appeared in All this Life and Heaven Too

On Saturday 2nd August Sisters Mon McGreal RSCJ and Steph Romaine RSCJ quietly celebrated their Golden Jubilees of perpetual profession of vows, made in 1975.

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Here, Steph, who is part of our community in Fenham, Newcastle, shares how she spent the day...

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I began my Jubilee Day with Mass in the Cathedral, and to my surprise the first reading from Leviticus (25:1, 8-17) reminds us of the origin and meaning of Jubilee. God owns the land and for a whole year it was to remain uncultivated, unworked on, so that the land itself had a holiday! So, after coffee and a scone at the Oak and Iron Heritage Centre I went for a walk at nearby Gibside.

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The first thing that showed itself to me was the beginning of a new leaf on a twig - it told me that this is the beginning of a new stage of my life. As I walked on it felt as though I was walking back through my life again, through the woods of my life:

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Babies in buggies, young children playing….older children making dens. I remembered the woods of my childhood on Putney Heath; the woods at Woldingham when I was a novice – the Dark Night where I had an illegitimate cigarette or two; and the woods at the top of St Michael’s Mount when I was teaching in the school at Woldingham, taking a walk on a day off from the boarding school. On I walked in the Hollies near Leeds and Roundhay Park, on a Saturday with Vivien Bowman. On and on, until surrounded by woods and mountains at Llannerchwen. A few sedate walks around Bolam Lake and Wallington here in the North East, until today the woods at Gibside. I’ll come again now I’ve found the bus route!

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Woods hold so much, speak with so much symbolism of my 80 years of life and now 50 years of Final Profession: so much variety, so much contrast, so many beginnings and endings, and handing’s over; so much darkness and light and dappled light and deep shade. There was deadness, dead leaves, dead trees, dead ends; and yet fresh greenness, new buds, new leaves, and fresh fruit, hollows and vistas... and always stillness with rustling leaves and silence, silence broken only by birdsong; clear paths and brambles with no way through and yet always The Way.

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So much to be grateful for, so many companions on the way, and through it all, invisible and everlasting arms holding and guiding, picking up, comforting, never letting go and always loving:

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‘The Good news of the Kingdom’ (my Probation Name)*

And my devise (motto)

‘I praise you, Father, because you have revealed these things to little ones
and hidden them from the wise and prudent.
You have put all these things in my hands.’
Lk:10:21

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We send our congratulations and prayer to Steph and Mon, and to the other RSCJ around the world for whom this is a Jubilee year.

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* 'Probation' is our preparation for final vows, a process done in an international group, lasting almost five months. At the end of this time, as per a long Society tradition, the Superior General will give the group a name and devise which give them a communal and individual new identity and call as professed RSCJ.

On a very hot day at the beginning of July, the Head Girl teams from Sacred Heart in Fenham and Hammersmith joined their fellow students leaders from Woldingham School for two days of student leadership training. The conference, titled “ Leading from the Heart” gave them the opportunity to consider their leadership styles, their role within a team as well as important skills such as effective communication and using your initiative.

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It was a delight to see how quickly the students bonded and enjoyed sharing their experiences of leading in a Sacred Heart school. In the evening, a poignant moment was had in Woldingham’s new vineyard as we learned more about the symbolism of the different parts of the vine and the importance of the vines to St Madeleine Sophie Barat.

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The Society of the Sacred Heart around the world celebrated 100 years of St Madeleine Sophie Barat on May 24th. The schools and college in our province marked this very special occasion with liturgies and special assemblies, heart-shaped lollies and prayer cards. Students and staff also came together to watch a new film made by the Schools Network to tell the story of Sophie's life and share some of her most loved quotations, read by our RSCJ Sisters. You can watch the film here:

75 students and staff from across all of our schools and college gathered at the end of September to celebrate HeartFest 6, our biennial student conference at the Emmaus Youth Village, County Durham.

For three days, students worked collaboratively on a range of tasks linked to all 5 Sacred Heart Goals of education, as we are celebrating this school year, the 50^th birthday of the Goals which launched in the United States in 1975.

Despite the torrential rain, spirits were high as creative skills were used to express each of the Goals in workshops such as friendship bracelet making (for the Goal of Community) and re-imagining our ideal world in art (for the Goal of Social  Awareness)

HeartFest 6 concluded with a moving liturgy at Sacred Heart High School, Fenham where all those in attendance were commissioned as the first Sacred Heart Network Student Team, who will now take an active role in leading Goals based activities in our schools and college.

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UPDATED 29th JULY - We send our prayers and best wishes to the Alumnus of Sacred Heart Schools around the world who are competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer:

(clockwise from top left)

Tierna Davidson from Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, California (Class of 2016) will compete in soccer for the USA

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Lanihei Connolly from Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Auckland, New Zealand (class of 2023) is competing in swimming (100m Breaststroke) for the Cook Islands.

(photo credit:www.birmingham2022.com)

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Gaby Lopez from Collegio Sagrado Corazon, Mexico (class of 2012) will compete in Golf for Mexico

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Mary (Daisy) Mazzio-Manson from Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Boston (class of 2016) will compete in Rowing fours for the USA

(photo: LinkedIn)

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Georgia Bell from Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith (class of 2010) will compete in Athletics (1500m) for Great Britain

(photo: Michael Steele / Getty images)

Isabella Russekoff from Sacred Heart Greenwich, Connecticut (class of 2018) will compete in Equestrian Showjumping for Israel.

(photo credit: @shgreenwich Instagram)

Katie Ledecky from Stone Ridge Sacred Heart, Bethesda, Maryland (class of 2015) will compete in Swimming (400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 800m freestyle) for the USA.

(photo credit: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

Carlota Ciganda from Sagrado Corazon, Pamplona, Spain (class of 2008) will compete in Golf for Spain

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

Erin Gemmell from Stone Ridge Sacred Heart, Bethesda, Maryland (class of 2023) will complete in Swimming (200m freestyle and 4 x 200m freestyle relay) for the USA

(photo credit: Jack Splitser / Splitser photography)

Phoebe Bacon from Stone Ridge Sacred Heart, Bethesda, Maryland (class of 2020) will complete in Swimming (200m backstroke) for the USA

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

Paige Greco from Sacre Coeur Glen Iris, Victoria (class of 2015) will compete in Paralympic Cycling for Australia

(photo credit: Paul Harris)

Mewen Tomac from Lycée Sacre Coeur, Amiens, France (class of 2020) will compete in Swimming (100m and 200m backstroke) for France

(Photo credit: Faugere / L’Equipe)

Annabelle Smith from Sacre Coeur Glen Iris, Victoria (class of 2010) will compete in Diving (3m synchronised) for Australia

(Photo credit: @annabellesmith Instagram)

Beth Yeagar from Sacred Heart Greenwich, Connecticut (class of 2021) will compete in Field Hockey for the USA

(Photo Credit:www.teamusa.com)

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NEWLY ADDED (centre left)

Marie Simon from La Perverie, Nantes, France (class of 2018) will compete in Field Hockey for France.

(photo credit: www.ffhockey.org)

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NEWLY ADDED (above centre)

Blanca Hervas from Sagrado Corazon, Rosales, Madrid (class of 2021) will compete in Athletics (4 x 400m relay) for Spain.

(photo credit: www.worldathletics.org)

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NEWLY ADDED (centre)

Elizabeth Dekker from Duchesne College, University of Brisbane (class of 2022) competing in Swimming (200m butterfly) for Australia

(photo credit: Delly Carr)

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NEWLY ADDED (centre right)

Noe Jouin from La Perverie, Nantes, France (class of 2020) will compete in Field Hockey for France.

(photo credit:www.ffhockey.org)

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We send our congratulations also to Samantha McGill (former Head Girl from Kilgraston Sacred Heart, Scotland) who joins the Team GB support team for Tennis.

Please let us know if we have missed anyone on our Sacred Heart Team sheet  – and consider following our Schools Network Instagram account for schedule updates and results: heart_filled_year

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As part of our 1842 celebrations and in recognition of the Year of Community, schools across our Network raised a phenomenal £12,374.08 for the building of a new Sacred Heart Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya. Schools took part in a range of creative fundraising activities including sponsored walks, bake sales and singing competitions. Their collective efforts will make a huge difference to this exciting project which will provide an education for young children, many who are orphaned and living in poverty on the outskirts of the city of Eldoret. It is hoped that once the school opens, links can be made with primary schools in our network in order to set up some joint student projects.