29 January 2021

Another eventful week! Last week we braved the storm and this week, the snow. Hopefully, you have kept warm but managed to enjoy the snow flurries.

Writing my newsletter is one of the highlights of my week, as I get the chance to share children’s work and photos of the wonderful learning happening in school and at home. Parents / carers you are doing an amazing job, so if ever you want to change career and teach, let me know! If you haven’t had a chance to send me in photos, please do email them to me on my head’s account at [email protected]

Children’s wellbeing week – 1st to 7th February 2021

The theme this year is ‘Dress to be Express’. Mrs Langford Jackson sent a letter on Thursday with information on activities you can carry out with your children. Please do email class teachers and I photos for next week’s newsletter. Children are resilient but do need reassurance and to know that we will come through these challenging times.

Visit the Place2Be website for further information
Click here for online resources for parents and carers

Girls be bold

We are continually looking for ways to promote new opportunities for all our pupils and Stemettes is ‘an award-winning social enterprise working across the UK & Ireland and beyond to inspire and support young women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers (known collectively as STEM).’

This half term Stemettes is running FREE sessions exploring STEM careers, advice and opportunities. It is extremely popular so please follow the link and register interest if you have a daughter in the junior school. You can also register for girls in secondary school. An excellent opportunity not to be missed.

Click here for the Stemettes’ website

Parent / teacher contact meetings

Details will be sent to you early next week to book an appointment via zoom to meet with your child’s class teacher to discuss their progress and targets to meet. It is important that children secure their basic maths and English skills before their learning can be extended further. Learning times tables, number bonds, basic rules for division, multiplication, addition and subtraction is key to building on further learning.

Class teachers will publish their list of times and you will need to book via the same system we used last term, Teacher2Parents. Please look out for a text message and/or an email as well as check your child’s Google Classroom for further details.

Class newsletters

Please do read your child’s class newsletter, which has information to help support your child’s development and achievement. All class newsletters are on Google Classroom and our school website, under each year group’s homepage:

Online safety

Mrs Gallagher sent an email on Wednesday regarding use of online platforms like Tik-Tok. She also attached a useful information sheet for your reference. It is important that you carefully monitor your child when they are online. Internet safety day is on the 9th of February and information will be circulated to you, with details of workshops available and activities you can complete with your child.

Click here for the UK Safer Internet Centre
Click here to watch guidance films from the UK Safer Internet Centre

Lateral flow tests

In line with Government guidance, staff have been offered the opportunity to take part in lateral flow testing twice a week. This means that we will self-test twice a week before coming to school. This is to help identify anyone who has COVID-19 but is asymptomatic (does not have symptoms), therefore reducing the risk of spreading Covid-19. My thanks to staff for taking all necessary measures to help keep everyone safe.

Wider opening of school

I am sure you will have heard that the Government has decided to extend the opening of schools to the 8th of March and this will be regularly reviewed. At present, our nursery is open and we continue to remain open for pupils of critical workers and other identified groups. I will keep you informed of all updates in terms of the wider opening of school.

Term dates

Please see the term dates for next year. Inset days may be subject to change

News to celebrate

I am delighted to inform you that our school has managed to maintain sporting success during this difficult time. Congratulations to our Year 5 and Year 6 Sportshall Athletics Team who won this year’s School Games Competition in early December. The whole of Year 5 and Year 6 took part in the competition, which was virtual due to Covid-19. Events included standing Long Jump, Speed Bounce, Vertical Jump, 10 metre Sprints and Chest Throw.

All pupil results were entered and the best 16 best results from St. Joseph’s (8 boys and 8 girls) were compared to those of 10 other schools in the borough. I am proud to say, St Joseph’s won!

Click here to see further details

St. Josephs have reached the Croydon Final for the past 6 years and on two occasions have represented the borough in the London Youth (School) Games.

Based on this year’s results, it is highly likely we would have been chosen to represent the borough again, but sadly it seems unlikely that this will go ahead. However, I am hopeful that under the excellent coaching of Mrs Mangan and the strength of our current year 5 pupils, we will stand a good chance of qualifying next year. My thanks to Mrs Mangan for her continued enthusiasm, determination and ability to maintain high standards for PE, despite the challenges faced.

Create your own games

We continue to have a long standing relationship with Trinity School in Shirley and over the years, many of our children have secured scholarships to attend this highly prestigious independent boys school.

This term, Trinity are encouraging children to come up with some fun ideas for games and other activities. We would like our children to be involved and are considering asking parents to video these activities. Safety being important, children must be encouraged to do this safely. Children / adults will need to make sure all hazards are removed before engaging in the activities. Further details will be shared next week.

Staff training

Some staff will be involved in First Aid Training next Thursday and Friday, which will result in a changes to some remote learning sessions. Details will be sent out on Monday.

RSPB’s big garden ‘Birdwatch’

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is holding its annual big garden birdwatch this weekend. I would encourage you to take part; all it requires is to spend one hour counting the birds in your garden, or from your window or balcony. You should record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time and then submit your results online.

Click here to submit your results to the RPSB

Remote learning

Thank you to all the children who have sent photos of their home learning.

Click here to see examples of this week’s home learning

Class teachers are doing a great job supporting our children. Technology is wonderful but does not replace the personal contact and interaction we experience by being in school. Hopefully, time will pass by quickly and it won’t be too long before I’m seeing you all at the school gate to welcome you back. Until then, keep safe, stay positive and remember you’re not alone, we’re only a phone call or email away and will always respond.

Mrs L Fernandes
Headteacher