1 October 2021

We seem to have gone through an array of weather conditions this week, but I’m happy to say the children have been able to enjoy break time outside and their enthusiasm and energy has certainly not been dampened.

Our newly elected pupil committees have met this week to discuss ideas on future projects. The senior pupil leadership team are planning to hold a raffle in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Some of the prizes include a second-hand 43-inch screen television, an X Box with games and a number of other exciting prizes. Tickets will be on sale after half term, so please do support our pupil leaders.

Election of pupil leaders

Congratulations to all the pupil leaders who have now been elected to the following committees. They are buzzing with ideas to support school improvement. Exciting times ahead!

Head boys and girls:

Head Boy: Misha
Deputy Head Boy: Samuel
Head Girl: Blessing
Deputy Head Girl: Gabrielle

Pupil Leadership team:

Jeremy
Daniel
Ethan
Anaya
Maggie

House Captains:

St Catherine: Oyin and Alejandro
St Cecilia: Vanessa and Laura
St Francis: Emmanuella and Blessing
St Sebastian: Noah and Aviel

	School Council	Eco Ambassador	Digital Leaders	Apostle of Mercy	Wellbeing Ambassadors
Reception	To be elected next term	Only KS2	To be elected next term	To be elected next term	To be elected next term
Year 1	Omotore and Mariana	Only KS2	To be elected next term	Simone	To be elected next term
Year 2	Jemima and Israel	Only KS2	To be elected next term	Micaela	To be elected next term
Year 3	D'Real Hallee Roman Sophia	Aniah and Foma Deputies Tyler Tega Daniel hope Ellie Rose	To be elected next term	Clarita Israel Danielle Bella	To be elected next term
Year 4	Naomi China	Caleb Sienna A	To be elected next term	Clarice Isaac	To be elected next term
Year 5	Ouley Bella	Alice Neveah Jensina	To be elected next term	Luca Estella	To be elected next term
Year 6	Ricardo Holly Javier Nicolas	Kanayya	Kieran Idally Ishaan Savannah	Nnamdi Max	To be elected next term

Nasal flu vaccination form

The nasal flu vaccine will be offered to all school-aged children and will be delivered in school on the 8th of November. It will be administered by NHS nurses in school but only if you have consented to it.

It is important to be fully informed before making your decision.

150th anniversary

Our anniversary celebrations began with our first event last Friday, 24th September 2021. We had the pleasure to welcome back past staff and governors who have contributed to the school’s history over the past twenty-five years. Our pupil leaders welcomed our guests, taking them on a guided tour and I have to say I was so proud of all our young people. Our visitors were full of compliments for our school and were rightly very impressed with our leaders.

150th-anniversary launch event photos

Our next big celebration will be the fireworks night on Wednesday, 3rd November.

Click here to buy your tickets

Tickets are selling fast so please purchase your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

First Holy Communion Mass

This will be on Tuesday, 5th October 2021 at 9.15 p.m. in the Junior Hall. Fr Anthony will be celebrating Mass with children who have made their First Holy Communion between 2020 – 2021. Unfortunately, we were unable to celebrate Mass together the last term, so this is a wonderful opportunity to come together.

Please refer to the letter sent out by Mr Defty last Wednesday.

Macmillan’s coffee morning

A big thank you to Mrs De Jesus for organising the coffee morning/cake sale on Thursday, 23rd September. The final total raised was £526. Thank you for your generous donations.

Cheap chromebooks

Mr Navarro has been able to secure a second extension to LGFL’s discounted Chromebook offer. You can now buy a Lenovo 300e Chromebook for only £179.99 when it would normally be £309.99, a saving of £130. The offer expires on 8 October. Despite email and text reminders, a number of parents still missed the two earlier offers, so if you would like to buy a good quality device for your child’s home learning, please click on the link below to express your interest. A payment item will then be placed on your Parentpay account, which we ask that you pay by the 8th of October.

Click here to order your Chromebook

Mrs Mangan : extraordinary marathon runner

Mrs Mangan will be taking part in the London Marathon this Sunday, 3rd October and I am sure you will join me in wishing her good luck. It is an amazing task and Mrs Mangan is truly a role model to everyone. She admitted running is not her favourite sport, but it is all about ‘finding your brave and challenging yourself’. We’re incredibly proud of you and have every faith you will make everyone proud. Mrs Mangan is running in aid of St Christopher’s Hospice and St Josephs’ school.

Click here to support her fundraising

Mini-marathon at school

On Thursday the children completed the Mini-marathon and despite the rain, all the children ran 2.6 miles. Collectively, they ran over 1,000 miles; we are very proud of them. The children ran in their house colour T-shirts which added to the brightness of the occasion.

The Mini Marathon is part of the Daily Mile challenge that all the children are involved with. The Daily Mile is a nationwide initiative to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health of children. We are delighted to be a part of it.

Mrs Mangan, our P.E. Coordinator has championed running, jogging and walking amongst the whole school community. She was awarded her marathon place because of the children’s ongoing participation in the Daily Mile. Only one Marathon place was awarded to a school in each London Borough so it is a testament to our children’s enthusiasm for the sport, and to Mrs Mangan’s dedication that St Joseph’s was selected to represent Croydon.

Please look out for further running events that we have coming up and we hope you feel inspired to join your child in physical activity too.

Year group curriculum meetings

Thank you to everyone who attended our year group curriculum meetings over the past two weeks. The last meetings will be held as follows:

4.10.21 – Year 2
5.10.21 – Year 1

Teacher parent contact meetings will be held the week beginning Monday, 18th October. You will have a chance to have face to face meetings with teachers and view your child’s books. Booking details will be shared nearer the time.

Fireworks night – Wednesday, 3rd November 2021

Tickets are selling fast so please do not delay in purchasing them. This is an exciting event not to be missed and we look forward to welcoming you all together with people from the local community and families and friends from The Cedars and Laurels school.

Prices are as follows:
Early Bird offer until midnight on 1st October 2021
£5.00 per adult (16 years and above) £3.00 per child (aged 3-15 years)

After the 1st October until Sunday, 24th October 2021
£6.00 per adult (16years and above) £4.00 per child (aged 3 -15 years)

Click here to buy your tickets

Food and refreshments will be on sale, together with an array of glow bands and other illuminated accessories. Please do email the PTA at [email protected] if you are able to help on the day; we need lots of volunteers. Do remember to purchase tickets in advance, as tickets will not be sold at the gate.

Polling day – Thursday, 7th October 2021

St Joseph’s Infant School will be used as a polling station, therefore both the infant and junior schools will be closed on 7 October 2021. Staff will be in to attend training and work will be uploaded onto Google Classrooms. The expectation is that children must complete tasks set as it is not a holiday.

Parent / teacher contact meetings

These will be held on Tuesday, 19th and Thursday, 21st October and will be face to face. Details will be shared next week regarding booking slots. If you are unable to attend on the allocated days, please see your child’s class teacher to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Parking

Unfortunately, we have received further complaints from local residents about parents and carers parking dangerously on neighbouring roads. A resident sent pictures to us of cars parked on the kerb and on the grass verges blocking access to drives. This is really unfortunate as it presents the school in a negative way and does not reflect our Christian ethos. I appreciate it is difficult, but please do not park in restricted areas, or block drives. Again, it’s not the behaviour we wish our children to be exposed to.

Click here for pictures

Taking pride in our uniform

The children look smart in their uniforms so thank you for supporting us in enforcing our uniform policy. Please do remember that coats must be school coats and can be purchased from our school suppliers here.

Have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you at the school gate.

Best wishes

Mrs Leonore Fernandes
Headteacher

Thank you for reading this far. Click below for this week’s pictures.

Autumn term, week 4 pictures