Dear Parents/Carers, This week we have shown what a great community we are and really lived out our Mission ‘Together…
27th January 2023
Dear Parents and Friends
It has been a great week for parental involvement. My thanks to Mrs Langford Jackson and Mrs Odewale for organising the coffee morning on Tuesday which was well attended with positive engagement. Thank you to Brian from the Duffus foundation for sharing information on how families can access ideas and help to support the wellbeing of young people.
Parents enjoyed a short presentation from Brian, manager of the Duffus Community Foundation. He explained how the Foundation was set up and the invaluable work they do to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. St Joseph’s have worked with Duffus for 3 years now and we have seen first hand how their work around resilience and wellbeing has helped the children who have participated in their Right Track Program and with 1-2-1 mentoring sessions in school.
One of our parents from the session said,
“It was great, it is so good to find out about these services in Croydon which are free and non-judgmental.”
For more information about the Foundation please look at the links below.
Duffus Community Foundation
School Workshops
1-2-1 Mentoring Support
Digital Resources
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the Foundation directly or speak to Mrs Langford-Jackson (Senco). She will be sending out further information next week regarding parental engagement opportunities.
Special Educational Needs
If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s learning and progress, please contact our SENCO. Mrs Langford-Jackson operates a morning surgery every Monday 9-10. Please ring the school office to book your appointment.
Industrial Action – 1st February 2023
It is with regret that School will be closed next Wednesday, owing to strike action taken by NEU teaching members. I appreciate that it will cause disruption. Education as with many other professions continues to face many challenges. The teachers in our school are dedicated to the children and the school community and have not taken this decision lightly. I respect the democratic right of union members to take industrial action and I understand their frustrations with pay and other issues.
Please refer to the letter sent out last Friday Letter from Mrs Fernandes
News to celebrate
This week the boys football team have played 3 matches. On Tuesday, they beat Downsview 8-0. On Wednesday, they played Robert Fitzroy and beat them 6-0. Thursday saw the game against the trickiest of all the opponents in the league. The boys came through the test and won 6-1.
Our junior football team continue to do well, displaying excellent team work and reflect our school values. They’re a real credit to our school. Well done boys, we’re very proud of you. My thanks to Mr Abrahams for training them.
Budding young scientists
I had the pleasure of seeing science in Reception this week ad the excellent work produced. The children were very impressive in their use of scientific vocabulary, making predictions with great explanations. Do look at their comments on the photo montage.
Wellbeing week
My thanks to Ms Ugbo and Mrs Phillips for organising Wellbeing week (6th – 9th February) You will have the opportunity to join your child/children in school over the week to engage in creative activities. Please do click on the following link for the letter.wellbeing week 6th – 9th February 2023
RE Newsletter
‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God’
Our new RE topics for this term based on our Scheme of work ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’ are outlined in the attached document. Please click on the following link to access them.
RE Topics Spring 1
At the beginning of each week children have a question to discuss and respond to. It links to RE and current topics in the news. Based on children’s discussions, I add a question of the week for you to look at with your child/family.
This week’s question is…
Thank you to all the children who shared their ideas on last week’s question ‘What is the greatest gift God has given us?’ Thank you to all the children for your excellent responses and particularly to Yash in Y5 for his wonderful poster. Most children agreed that life and love is the most important gift God has given us and we should celebrate it.
This week’s question is related to change and reconciliation. Holocaust memorial day was on the 25th January. Children discussed the importance of standing up for injustice, in and outside of school and what everyone can do to make a positive difference. They talked about reconciliation and the power of forgiveness.
We would like you to discuss the question as a family and encourage your child to record their ideas using art, writing or a poster. Any work produced can be emailed to me on [email protected] or handed to your child’s class teacher. I look forward to hearing their answers.
Giving to others
A group of staff helped with a project that supports people experiencing difficulties and experiencing homelessness in Southwark. Ms Oliver liaised with staff who gave up their time to help at St Luke’s Church in West Norwood. If you would like to find out more about the project please click on the following link. Robes.org.uk.
The charity currently has lots of volunteers for the winter season, but will contact us in September for volunteers. 
Mass Readings for Sunday – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 29th 2023 
Zephaniah 2,3 – 3,13:
Psalm 146:1
1 Corinthians 1:26-31:
Matthew 5: 1-12
Celebrating achievement and hard work Headteacher’s and Attendance Award
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At St Joseph’s we aim for at least 97% attendance.
| Year group | Merit Certificate
and Nursery -Stars of the week |
Attendance |
| Nursery | Esteban and Arsema | 84.7% |
| RP | Kemuel and Charlotte | 93% |
| RH | Imogen and Mabelle | 97.6% |
| 1E | Shine and Aarush | 90.4% |
| 2O/1S | Osiris and La’el | 95% / 92.4% |
| 2J | Noah and Claribel | 96.7% |
| 3S | Tyler and Samira | 93.1% |
| 3T | Hope and George | 91% |
| 4J | Nyah and Caleb | 94.2% |
| 4O | Muna and Neah Rose | 96.2% |
| 5S | Santos and Alicia | 92.9% |
| 5E | Tamia and Jojo | 91.4% |
| 6P | Yusef and Eliana | 99.2% |
| 6H | Joshua and Anaya | 93% |
Congratulations to the following classes for the highest attendance this week
Class RH and 6P
Mrs Fernandes
Headteacher
Diary Dates
30.01.23 – Y6 Football match against Downsview
03.02.23 – Y4 Trip to the Bank of England (Enterprise)
06.02.23 – Wellbeing week
07.02.23 – Safer Internet day 2023
07.02.23 – Reception Class H trip to Norwood Library
07.02.23 – KS2 General Knowledge quiz (St Aidans)
08.02.23 – KS2 Netball competition (Laurels)
08.02.23 – Y5 trip to the Horniman museum
09.02.23 – KS2 Catholic cross country championship (John Fisher)
09.02.23 – Reception Class P trip to Norwood Library
10.02.23 – INSET DAY (staff training) – SCHOOL CLOSED TO PUPILS
Half Term – 13.02.23 – 17.02.23
Spring 2 Term
24.02.23 – Spoken word competition – Years 1-6
21.02.23 – Shrove Tuesday
Pancake race before school
PTA pancake sale (3.00 – 4.00 p.m.)
22.02.23 – Ash Wednesday (start of Lent) ashes will be distributed in school
27.02.23 – BOOK WEEK
27.02.23 – Dance workshops in school
28.02.23 – Dance workshops in school
01.03.23 – Secondary schools offer day
02.03.23 – World Book day
06.03.23 – 17.03.23 Careers Fair
08.03.23 – International Women’s day
21.03.23 – Panathlon competition
21.03.23 – Y5/Y6 Hockey tournament (Trinity)
23.03.23 – Wellbeing day
29.03.23 – St Joseph’s Enterprise Fair
30.3.23 – Royal Opera House – Cinderella (KS1)
