Dear Parents/Carers, This week we have shown what a great community we are and really lived out our Mission ‘Together…
17 June 2022
This certainly has been a busy week, and fantastic for learning outside the classroom.
Children have enjoyed working in the forest areas, looking for mini beasts, shapes in the environment and so much more. My thanks to Mrs Steen-Plomer and Mrs Tope for organising the trip to Tower Bridge to see the ‘London in Bloom’ exhibition to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum anniversary.
A special thanks to Mrs Langford-Jackson for leading the trip and to all staff and parents who helped. Children were selected because they are Eco-Ambassadors or involved in gardening projects. It was an amazing experience and our children were great.
Celebration breakfast – Friday, 17th June
It was fabulous to run this event again after three years and see children enjoying a delicious breakfast with dads, uncles, brothers, grandfathers and friends. The pictures say it all, smiles that will warm your heart. Great to see so many children enjoying breakfast with dads, grand-dads, uncles, brothers and other male role models.
A special thanks must go to our cook Anna, Mrs Johnson, Ms Johnson and Ms McRoberts for working so hard to prepare the breakfasts. I know they were in school from 6:30 a.m. and then went on to carry out their normal day duties. Excellent teamwork, ladies to embody our motto,‘Together We Can’.
Class Assemblies
Congratulations to both year 5 classes for leading the school with great assemblies. It was a pleasure to welcome parents, carers and friends to the assemblies.
5S shared information about World War II using drama, narrative and questioning to engage the audience. It was wonderful and our Alumni visitors commented on how impressive the children were in their presentation.
5E focused on reading and shared their favourite books, recommending titles for a summer read. The assembly was interactive, with children speaking confidently about their book choices with reasons as to why they would recommend the books.
Reading for pleasure (with Dulwich Books)
As you know we have a big drive on reading for pleasure. Children in every year group will be visiting West Norwood Library over the next few weeks. In the new year academic year, they will be doing so every half-term. Reading class lists will be given to pupils with suggested texts for summer reading before we finish in July.
I am delighted to inform you that the school will be issuing every child in the school (as well as every new child due to join us in nursery and reception from September 2022) a book credit for the sum of £15. This is to commemorate our 150th Anniversary since the school was founded and to promote reading.
All you have to do is visit Dulwich Books (6 Croxted Road, West Dulwich, SE21 8SW), who will add a further 10% of credit to this, so your total credit is £16.50.
When you visit the shop, give them your child’s name, class and date of birth so they can match you against their list from the school. There isn’t a time limit to redeem the credit, but summer is the perfect time to select books from our reading list. This is an amazing opportunity for you to visit the bookshop, enjoy the whole experience with your child/children and leave with a text to enjoy.
My thanks to Mr Navarro for organising this and forming links with Dulwich Books. They have provided numerous opportunities for author visits both in person and via zoom. We look forward to continuing to work with them on future exciting events.
Alumni visit
It was a pleasure to welcome back many Alumni visiting the school today. They had a chance to watch 5S’ assembly and have a tour of the school led by our young leaders and observe lessons. We received so many positive comments about the school, staff and children who talked about St Joseph’s with pride.
Among the many who visited was Patrick, a retired Headteacher, who attended the school in the 60’s and is now a tutor for trainee teachers at St Mary’s College. He was highly complimentary, as was another alumni, Mark, who attended in the 80’s. Mark was impressed with the quality of the assembly led by 5S and felt that our children clearly have the qualities to excel in a range of professions.
We have received numerous compliments and support from our Alumni throughout our 150th year, and though some of them were unable to attend today, they hope to attend our end-of-year Mass on the 18th July 2022 and the Colour Fun Run on the 2nd July. We enjoyed hearing about their experiences of their time at St Joseph’s school and how they would love to continue to be part of our community by attending future events, even once we’ve completed our 150th Anniversary calendar.
I think we often take it for granted that we have an incredible school full of amazing children and committed staff who work hard to achieve the best. It’s a pleasure to hear visitors acknowledge our strengths, and the advances we have made in terms of technology, outdoor learning , music and reading & writing (as evidenced by our incredible Year 6 results), and see our children for who they are, wonderful young people who are resilient and determined to do well. Above all, they are respectful and proud of their school and everything we stand for.
Schools today face many challenges and not all related to teaching and learning. Our vocation is to nurture and enable our children to grow and thrive, they are and always will be at the heart of what we do.
Thank you to those parents and carers who attended our meetings for our current reception and year 1 parents. It was a good opportunity to discuss our plans for mixed classes in September in an open and honest discussion. Do please email me if you have any questions on: [email protected] and I will respond.
I feel it is always best to speak to leadership directly as messages passed on second-hand may not always be accurate and reflect the facts.
New Nursery and Reception parents
I was delighted to welcome our new families starting in September. They had to chance to look around, children went into classes to stay and play and fitted in beautifully.
I look forward to getting to know them in September and am sure you will offer them a warm welcome to our school community.
Enterprise – Movie Night is back!
I am pleased to announce that Year 6’s Enterprise project from last year (which was postponed due to COVID) will now occur on 23 June 2022. It will commence around 3:15 p.m. and end around 5:15 p.m. Drop-off and collection will be in the Junior playground.
The two movies showing are ‘Arthur Christmas’ and the ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’.
We have the list of who has paid for a ticket and for which movie, and we will be sending out a text message to ticket-holders next week to confirm.
An event not to be missed – Family fun day/colour run (2nd July)
The school and the PTA will be holding a family fun day on the 2nd July 2022 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the school field. The event is welcome to all ; entry is free but you do have to pay to enter the Colour Run.
Click here for further details
It promises to be an exciting event; the Choir will be singing and the Steel pans club and a dog training company will be giving a demonstration.
Please do purchase your tickets (as well as tickets for your friends and family) early on Parentpay as soon as possible; remember the early-bird pricing (£5 a ticket) will expire soon, so please hurry. If you miss the early-bird period, you can buy tickets on the day for £7.50 (the PTA accept cash and have a number of card readers).
On the day, remember to post pictures using our hashtag #SJF150.
Warm weather
Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle and to apply sunscreen on them before school.
Enjoy the sunny weekend and see you all on Monday.
Mrs L Fernandes
Headteacher
Future Dates for your diary
2nd Half of Summer term
Term ends Friday, 22nd July at 1:15 p.m.
20.6.22 – Croydon Sports Heats (Boys) 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Croydon Sports Arena
21.6.22 – Police online safety talk – Y5 & Y6
22.6.22 – Y3 Assembly – 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
22.6.22 – Croydon Sports Heats (Girls) 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Croydon Sports Arena
23.6.22 – KS2 General Knowledge Quiz Final – Central London (School Team)
23.6.22 – Celebration Mass at Aylesford Priory (Y5 pupils)
23.6.22 – Movie night run by Y6 (carried over from Spring term)
23.6.22 – Inclusive sports festival Y3 & Y4
24.6.22 – Croydon Sports Finals Croydon Sports Arena
27.6.22 – INSET DAY
27.6.22 to 01.7.22 – MATHS WEEK
29.6.22 – 4J assembly 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
30.6.22 – Catholic sports competition – St James the Great (parents welcome to attend)
30.6.22 – Y3 & Y4 Trip to Brighton
1.7.22 – Y1 Assembly 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
2.7.22 – Summer Fun Day and Colour Run (gates open at 1:00 p.m.)
4.7.22 to 15.7.22 ART EXHIBITION
4.7.22 – 4O assembly 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
5.7.22 – KS2 SATS results published
5.7.22 – Reception vision screening
6.7.22 – School Mass for all children making their 1st Holy Communion (Junior Hall)
7.7.22 – Catholic Infant sports competition – Thomas Becket school
8.7.22 to 10.7.22 – Y6 Residential Trip
11.7.22 – End of year reports sent out Nursery – Y5 parents
11.7.22 – Y6 parent/teacher meetings to collect SATS results & end of year report 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
12.7.22 – Parent contact meetings (Nursery toY5) (if you wish to meet with your class teacher)
12.7.22 – Y6 Production 5:30 p.m; Parent contact meetings (if you wish to meet with your class teacher)
13.7.22 – Transition day across the school. Children will visit their new classes
14.7.22 – Reception Assembly – 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
15.7.22 – Year 2 leavers assembly 9.15 a.m. start (parents/carers welcome to attend)
15.7.22 –Y6 Leavers BBQ
18.7.22 – Y6 Leavers/End of year Mass – 5.30 p.m.
