8 July 2022

‘Good times come and go but the memories last forever’.

 

Family fun day and colour run – Saturday, 2nd July 2022

A fantastic enjoyable day, full of fun and laughter. A big thank you to the PTA for organising this event and for working hard to ensure the day went smoothly and was safe for all. I was delighted to see so many of our school families attend with friends and relatives from outside of school. There was a strong sense of community and people just had fun.

My thanks to the Pandemic Steel Orchestra, who entertained us and added a real carnival feel to the day and to Esquad who treated us to a wonderful dance performance. We all enjoyed the cute show put on by our four-legged friends from South London Dog Training. They entertained us by performing a range of sniffer and agility tasks, capturing everyone’s heart.

Another highlight of the children’s day was seeing the fire crew from West Norwood Fire station (on Knights Hill). Children had the chance to see inside a fire engine and use the fire hoses. They are hosting a charity event at the fire station on Saturday, 9 July 2022. Please do support them.

We were lucky to have our own resident super talented DJ, Gareth Walton, ably supported by his son Sam. Everyone’s been talking about this event and can’t wait to do it again.

A big thank you to all our helpers:

  • Donna & Bob
  • Mel & Carm
  • Amanda & Anthony
  • Diana & Vanessa, who also donated and made the balloon arch with Rossy
  • Angelie
  • Shanine (who also organised Esquad to perform)
  • Lisa, Frankie & Elizabeth
  • Topher & Marika
  • Kate & Karl
  • Frank & Rita
  • Katherine, Gareth & Jo
  • Karter’s Nan
  • Anatalee
  • Luisa
  • Matt & Nicolas
  • Stephanie
  • Mr Navarro, Mr Abrahams, Mrs Rizzi, Mrs James, Mrs Oliver, Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Burgess, Mrs Kelly, Mrs Madine, Mrs & Ms Langford Jackson, Mrs Mulhern, Mrs Parry, Mrs De Jesus, Mrs Marshall and Mrs Gallagher and not forgetting Mr Motivator himself Mr Defty

If you took pictures on the day, make sure you post them on Instagram using our own anniversary hashtag: #SJF150.

 

PTA’s end-of-year treat for the children

The PTA have very kindly arranged for a bouncy castle at the end of term as a ‘Well Done’ to all the children for being fabulous this year and working hard. I think this is a wonderful idea and one our children will really appreciate and enjoy.

The PTA continually support the school in many ways. This year’s focus for their fundraising was to support the development of music in the school. On the summer fun day, they presented the school with a new digital piano which can be used when the school perform and at different events outside of School. It is a very generous donation and will have a big impact on the music in our school. Mrs Speight will be leading hymn practice and developing children’s singing across the school. Having a mobile digital piano means we can take it to Church and use it at other public performances. It will be used in both the Infant and Junior Schools.

We would also like to thank the PTA for organising first aid training for Year 6 this week, as a gift. We hope it will be an annual feature as part of our overall preparation for secondary school.

Remember that the PTA is holding a second-hand uniform sale on 13 July 2022, in the Infant Hall, from 8 am to 10 am.

The PTA are always looking out for helpers, so please do contact them for further details on how you can support them. You can email the PTA at [email protected]

 

News to Celebrate

General Knowledge National Quiz Winners
Congratulations to our KS2 General knowledge Quiz for coming 2nd in the National finals held in London on Monday, 4th July 2022. Our KS2 team of Misha (Yr 6), Lotti (Yr 5), Josiah (Yr 4) and Neah-Rose (Yr 3) competed against 30 of the best quiz teams from maintained (state) and independent (private) schools in the country, having beaten all the schools in the Croydon Catholic Primary Schools Umbrella Trust (“UT”) in the heats during February.

Through six tense rounds of progressively more difficult general knowledge questions, St Joseph’s kept their place in the top 10, before emerging victorious, in second place, ahead of other South London schools such as Dulwich Prep, Alleyns and Rosemead Prep.

Click here for the news article

I am so proud of our children, not just because they came second, but more because of the way they represented the school. They were fantastic and great ambassadors for the School.

Catholic Infant sports Day – Thomas Beckett School, 7.7.22
Congratulations to our young infant athletes. They were exceptional, and enthusiastically competed showing excellent team skills and determination. We came fourth overall with very few points between each school. My thanks to Mr Abrahams, Mrs Hudson, Mrs Foley Brown and all the parents and friends who attended and supported the children.

Bishop Thomas Grant Netball Tournament – 7.7.22 & BTG Football Tournament 8.7.22
My thanks to Mrs Mangan for training the Netball team and to Mr Abraham for coaching the Football team. The Netballers competed against other local primary schools and came third overall. Another fabulous achievement. Our football team were equally competitive and matches were closely contested.

Both teams were made up of Year 5 pupils and were highly commended for their sportsmanship and good manners. It gave them a taste of what it’s like to be at our local Catholic Secondary School. We are a feeder primary school for Bishop Thomas Grant and they take many of our pupils in Year 7 so I am pleased that we are able to maintain our strong links with them.

 

1st Holy Communion School Mass -5th July 2022

This was a wonderful celebration for all the children who have made their First Holy Communion this year. Children led the readings and sang.

My thanks to Father Luke and Father James for making time to concelebrate Mass at the school. It was another memorable school event and well attended by parents, carers and friends.

 

Art Exhibition -13 July 2022

​We are delighted to host our first art exhibition next week. The children’s artwork (from the Infant and Junior School) will be on display in the Junior Hall on Wednesday, 13th of July, both before and after school.

We ask that should you wish to buy your child’s work, you make a donation of £3.00 (or more if you wish) to cover the cost of the frame.

Y3 will also be holding a cake sale outside the Junior Hall.

If you are unable to make it on the 13th of July, please see your child’s class teacher and they will arrange for you to see your child’s work.

 

Farewell to Mr Navarro

Mr Navarro has now left to take up his new position at Trinity School in Shirley. It is a great opportunity for him but a big loss to our school. I know he will continue to keep in touch and on behalf of everyone in our school community, we can’t thank him enough for what he has done for the School. St Joseph’s today looks so different and his innovative approach has led to us enjoying many new opportunities and a total makeover of the premises.

We wish him good luck and success at his new school and hope that he will take away many happy memories of his time at St Joseph’s School as our SBM. I am pleased that he will still be part of our school community as a parent.

Welcome to Mrs Odewale – our new Parent and Community Engagement Lead

I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Mrs Stephanie Odewale to this new position. I am pleased to have her join our staff team and am confident she will bring new ideas, energy, and enthusiasm.

She will be joining us at our Reception and year 1 meetings on Monday and Tuesday to talk about mixed year group classes in Years 1 and 2 for September.

 

Dates for your diary

Thanksgiving and farewell Mass for Year 6
All parents, carers and friends are invited to our end-of-year Mass to be held at Virgo Fidelis Church on Monday, 18th July 2022 at 5.30 p.m. It is a chance to come together as a school community to celebrate our school and say goodbye to Year 6 and all those leaving this year. We have invited past staff and Alumni to the Mass which will be followed by light refreshments in the Infant Hall. I do hope you will be able to attend.

Mixed year group classes -September 2022
We will be holding a meeting for current Reception parents on Monday, 11th July at 8.15 a.m. and 2.15 p.m. in the Infant Hall.

A further meeting for current year 1 parents will be held on Tuesday, 12th July at 8.15 a.m. and again at 2.15 p.m. in the Infant Hall.

You will have the opportunity to meet the class teachers, Governors and other staff to hear about how the curriculum will be taught. I do hope you will be able to join us.

 

Almost there!

We are fast approaching the end of term and it is so important that we continue to maintain good attendance and punctuality. So please avoid taking time off and leaving before the end of term.

Have a good weekend and next week, I’ll have an update on the Y6 School journey taking place this weekend.

Click here for this week’s montage

Mrs L Fernandes
Headteacher

 

 

Future Dates for your diary

2nd Half of Summer term

Term ends Friday, 22nd July at 1:15 p.m.

4.7.22 – 15.7.22 ART EXHIBITION
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.
19.7.22 – Y6 trip to Chessington