22 April 2022

Welcome back to the start of the summer term.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”

Mahatma Gandhi

This year continues to fly by and we are now in the final stage of this academic year. Our children continue to make good progress and staff have worked hard to address the gaps in learning caused by lost learning time during the pandemic.

Thank you for working with us to support your child and maintain high levels of attendance which is key to success. Let’s aim for every child to achieve 100% attendance this term.

 

150th School Anniversary Mass – Thursday, 28th April 2022 (11:00 a.m.)

This is one of the most important school events of the year. Archbishop John (Wilson) will be celebrating Mass with the whole school at Virgo Fidelis Church. We have invited past Headteachers together with key people who have supported the school over the years. Representatives from the PTA will be there to represent parents. Owing to limited space, we are unable to invite all parents, but will record the Mass and upload it onto our website.

Click here for the commemorative order of service for the Mass
Click here for pictures of the oak tree in preparation for Archbishop John’s visit

Archbishop John will visit the school before Mass to bless our new Oak tree in the Infant school and open our new Forest School in the Juniors. The tree was planted to commemorate our 150th Anniversary. Some of our pupil leaders will take him on a guided tour of the school.

It is a very proud moment for us all and I am sure it will be a memory to treasure. A special thanks must go to Mrs Ruth Speight who has been leading hymn practice with the children. It’s quite emotional hearing our children sing with joy and enthusiasm.

Please ensure that your child wears full school uniform on Thursday. If they have PE in the afternoon, send them in with their PE kit to change into.

 

St Joseph’s School App

We are delighted with our new school app allowing you access to all school communication. You have been very supportive and complimentary about how easy it is to use and the fact all information can be accessed easily from one place. It is important that you contact the office if you have any questions about using the app or problems logging in.

It is going to be a busy term with KS1 and KS2 SATS in May. Please do read the information shared via our school app. A considerable amount of time is spent contacting parents about events, which have already been publicised and chasing late consent forms for trips, and the unfortunate thing is then our children miss out.

Don’t be that parent who does not read newsletters or notices and yet expects to be spoon-fed information.

 

Easter holiday camp

The camp was a big success with over 50 pupils attending. My thanks to Mrs Odewale and her team for running the club and offering a wide range of activities including a trip to the cinema. We hope to host a summer club as well and details will be shared nearer the time.

Click here to view an entertaining film produced during the Easter camp

 

Year 6 Easter boosters

Many of our year 6 attended these sessions, finding them valuable. The children were brilliant, focusing and making the most of the opportunity to review topics prior to their SATS in May.

Well done Year 6, we have every confidence that you will do your best and do us proud.

 

Polling day – Thursday, 5th May 2022

The school will be closed on the above day as the Infant hall will be used as a Polling station. However, Year 6 are required to attend school as Year 6 teachers will be teaching as normal. It is not a holiday, so work will be set on Google Classroom for other year groups to complete. Staff will be completing CPD activities.

 

Half term week – Monday, 30th May to Monday, 6th June

Please do remember that we have an extra day (Monday, 6th June) off for the May half-term as a result of the Queen’s Jubilee. All pupils will return to school on Tuesday, 7th June 2022.

 

Science week – 16th to 20th May 2022

We are excited about our Science week organised by Mrs Steen-Plomer. Classes will be going on trips and we will have workshops in school. So please do put this date in your diary.

To launch the week, we have organised a session on 16 May 2022 with Mr Alan Ames, aka ‘The Birdman’, who is an experienced ‘bird of prey’ trainer, who will introduce a range of birds to the children, while complying with all necessary safety measures.

Please click on the following link to read the letter with detailed information

Your child will have the chance to take an optional picture with a bird of prey for small fee; please provide consent for these photographs to be taken, and pay for these, via your Parentpay account.

We will also get a live demonstration by our beekeeper, Ms Parminter, of our new beehives on 18th May 2022. Ms Parminter will set up a clear perspex ‘teaching’ hive so that a select group of very well-behaved pupils can observe – from a safe distance and with all necessary precautions – how our bees make honey.

This will also tie into our own Super Bloom project, which is planting thousands of wildflowers along a specially prepared growing bank in the Junior school in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee.

Click here for a short presentation by Mrs Tope (Outdoor Learning Lead)

Mrs Tope has also secured funding from the School Food Matters charity, to help us buy resources and to fund training for staff, so that we can grow our very own fruit and vegetables on site – which we can later sell in our very own St Joseph’s Fresh Food Market. More details to follow in future newsletters!

 

Class photographs – Monday, 16th May 2022

Please ensure that your child comes into school wearing full school uniform on that day. If your child has PE, they will need to bring their PE kit in and get changed once photographs have been taken. Do note that this is the same day as the ‘Birds of Prey’ visit.

 

Uniform

Children may wear their summer uniform now. All children are expected to be in full summer uniform by the 7th of June 2022. Please remember girls summer dresses are NOT CHECK but striped.

 

Scooters on the school site

It is wonderful seeing children ride to and from school and is positive to help children keep fit and healthy. Please encourage your child to be safe and vigilant of others when they are riding on pavements.

Kindly remind your child that they need to dismount their scooter and not ride it on school premises, particularly in the infant and junior playground. It is dangerous and can lead to others being injured.

 

Climbing frames – Juniors and Infants

Please make sure your child and younger/older siblings do not use the climbing frame before or after school. It should only be used under staff supervision. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Staffing update

It is with much sadness that I inform you that our School Business Manager, Mr Navarro, will be leaving the school in July.

He has been appointed as Bursar at Trinity School in Shirley, which is part of the John Whitfgift Foundation. It is a successful independent boys school (with a mixed sixth form) where many of our past pupils have gone on to and is a wonderful career opportunity for Mr Navarro.

He joined the school in September 2019 and the school has benefitted as a result of his excellent financial management, including lettings of the premises, increasing our school revenue and providing us with more resources for our pupils. He has been an important member of my Senior Leadership Team and supported the strategic development of the school.

He and Mr McEvoy have worked well together to develop the school premises, including our new library and revamped music room. Thanks to his work with Ms Johson and the Community Payback team, we now have a second forest school in the Junior school, as well as a wildflower planting area and our new beehives.

The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone and Mr Navarro ensured that all families were supported. He secured devices for families to use at home and in school and he was instrumental in securing funding for our holiday clubs. Mr Navarro has gone beyond the expectations of his role to achieve the best outcomes for our school.

We cannot thank Mr Navarro enough for his dedication and commitment to helping the school thrive and grow. It is with much regret that we will bid him farewell but know that he will still be an important part of our school family.

 

Mrs L Fernandes
Headteacher

 

Click here for this week’s photo montage

 

Future dates for your diary

  • 28.04.22 – 150th School Anniversary Mass
  • 02.05.22 – Bank Holiday (school closed)
  • 05.05.22 – Polling day – School closed except for Y6
  • 09.05.22 – 13.05.22 – KS2 SATS WEEK
  • 14.05.22 – Catholic Schools Netball & Football tournament – Margaret Roper
  • 16.05.22 – 20.05.22 – SCIENCE WEEK
  • 19.05.22 – Y3 trip to the Science Museum
  • 23.05.22 – 27.05.22 – KEEPING HEALTHY WEEK
  • 27.05.22 – School Games week followed by a ‘Jubilee Celebration’ Picnic
  • 27.05.22 – End of term