GST Pastoral & Inclusion Team

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

🎒✨ BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS! ✨🎒

New uniforms? ✔️
Shoes that might still be shiny? ✔️
Backpacks approximately twice the size of the child carrying them? ✔️😂
A little extra blessing for the school year ahead? Absolutely! 🙏💛

Join us at St Thomas’ Church on Sunday 13th September at 4.30pm for our Blessing of the Backpacks – an all-age service for the whole family.

Bring along your backpack, book bag or school bag and we’ll pray for all our children and young people as they begin another year of learning, growing and making friends. 🎒📚

Whether they’re starting school for the very first time or heading back for another year, everyone is welcome. And grown-ups who could do with a little blessing for the school-run chaos are very welcome too! ❤️

🍦🍨 AND THERE’S ICE CREAM! 🍨🍦
We are getting an ice cream truck down for after the service next Sunday – Aydin’s Whippy! 🍦😋

So come for the blessing... and stay for a Mr Whippy! 😂🍦

🎒 Bring your bag
🙏 Receive a blessing
⛪ All ages welcome
🍦 Ice cream afterwards!
💛 Come exactly as you are
📅 Sunday 13th September
⏰ 4.30pm
⛪ St Thomas’ Church

We’d love to see you there! ✨💛

01/09/2026

This month's online safety newsletter for parents/carers has been published:

https://www.garstangstthomas.com/online-safety-newsletter/

17/07/2026

If you need any support during the summer holidays, please find the contact numbers for the external services:

Support Contacts:
Childline – 0800 1111 (Free, confidential support for children and young people)
Shout – Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 mental health text support)
Samaritans – 116 123 (24-hour emotional support)
NSPCC Helpline – 0808 800 5000

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child during the school holidays:

Lancashire Children's Social Care
Monday to Friday (8.00am–5.00pm): 0300 123 6720
Emergency Duty Team (evenings, weekends and bank holidays): 0300 123 6722
In an emergency, always call 999.

Preparing for September

If you feel your child needs any additional support with transition or if there are any changes over the summer that you feel school should be aware of, please do reach out to us: Rachel Procter, Pastoral Leader & Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL): [email protected] or 01995 603454.

Wishing you a lovely summer break! 😊

16/07/2026

A special thank you to Miss Richardson and Miss Challender. From all at GST, we wish you every success as you begin your exciting new chapters. 🧡📚

15/07/2026

During this morning’s worship, we said a special thank you to Mrs Wilson, Mrs Taylor and Miss Lynch. From all at GST, we wish you every success as you begin your next chapters. 💚

14/07/2026

Garstang RUFC

Thinking about giving rugby a go? Now’s the perfect time! Whether you’re completely new to the game or returning for another season, we’d love to welcome you to the Garstang RUFC Juniors family.

Individual teams will be holding their pre-season training sessions over the summer, making it the perfect opportunity for both new and returning players to get involved ahead of the new season.

🏉 Fun, friendship, fitness, and rugby for all abilities – everyone is welcome!

For more information, get in contact

14/07/2026

09/07/2026

☀️ Hello Summer...

We've been looking forward to you.

In just a few weeks' time there'll be muddy trainers by the door, paint on sleeves, flour in hair, sticky fingers, huge smiles and children proudly carrying home something they've spent all day creating. There'll be bug hunts, woodland adventures, baking sessions, nature trails, messy masterpieces and those magical moments where imaginations take over and anything feels possible.

That's what summer at Indigo is all about.

We don't believe childhood should be rushed, and we definitely don't believe summer should be spent staring at screens. We believe in giving children the freedom to create, explore, make friends, get wonderfully messy and discover just how amazing they really are.

Some children arrive excited. Some arrive a little nervous. Some have never picked up a paintbrush or made something from clay before. By the end of the day they're laughing together, proudly showing off their creations and already asking if they can come back tomorrow. Watching those friendships grow and confidence blossom is one of our favourite parts of every summer.

It's never just about the arts and crafts. It's about the stories they'll tell, the memories they'll make and the feeling of being completely free to be themselves.

If you're looking for somewhere your child can enjoy a proper childhood summer, we'd love to welcome them to Indigo.
💛 Making things.
💛 Making friends.
💛 Making magical memories.

🌻 Our Summer Holiday Club starts on 20th July at Caton Primary School, and places are filling fast. We can't wait to do it all over again.

Book your child/ren a place below 👇
Paid places - https://indigoartsandcrafts.pembee.app/
HAF funded places - https://app.holidayactivities.com/login