Friday 16 December 2011

16th December, 2011

Dear Parents/Carers,

Good news!

The Government published results for all schools in the country yesterday. We are very pleased with how our children are doing in all parts of the school. It was especially pleasing to see that for progress we are rated as being in the top 21% in the country for Maths and English and in the top 15% for progress in English (Reading and Writing)!

Can I say a massive thank you for the hard work from parents, school governors, all staff and of course to the children for doing so brilliantly.

Deanfield Study Centre

The next instalment of £20.00 for Deanfield is now due and the remainder (£30.00) is due in the middle of January.

Dinner Money, Music Tuition, After School Clubs

May I remind you that dinner money must be paid in on a Monday in a named envelope and given to your child’s class teacher. This also applies to music tuition, after school clubs and trips etc.

Christmas Mass Times

Here are the times for masses over Christmas period:

Saturday 24th December – Family Mass 6.00pm
Saturday 24th December – 9.30pm Carols
Sunday 25th December – 9.30am

Children’s Christmas Mass - 6.00 pm on Christmas Eve

This will include the usual dramatized Gospel and children reading. If your children would like to take part then there will be a practice on Tuesday 20th Dec at 10 am in the Church. Please contact Cathy Williamson if you would like to take part and for further information. There will also be an offering of gifts for the homeless at this Mass where the children are invited to bring up small gifts such as tins of food, gloves, socks etc at the Offertory procession to be distributed later to the homeless.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word

It is hoped to start up a Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 10 am Mass on a Sunday Morning. This is where the children are taken out of the church for a short time to share the liturgy of the word at a level they are better able to understand. In order to do this, we need a few more volunteers to help support it on a rota basis. If you think you might be able to help then please see Michelle Nurse after Mass on a Sunday morning or contact Cathy Williamson on 9401782. Full training will be given!

Attendance

Well done to Mrs Bell and Mr Conlon’s class with 97%, and Mrs Ford and Mrs Joseph with 96% attendance.

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 3rd January - INSET (School closed)
Wednesday 4th January - Start of Term 4
Friday 6th January at 9.30am - Feast of Epiphany Mass in Church
Monday 20th February - INSET (School closed)


Can I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help and support this year.

We wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas and we will see you all on Wednesday 4th January.


Matt Condon
Headteacher

Friday 9 December 2011

Dear Parents/Carers,

New Office Organisation

Some of you may have noticed that we have changed the organisation of our offices this week. All of the Admin Team now work in the offices on the right hand side of the main entrance door. Please go to the right hand hatch now for all enquires. The Headteacher’s office is now on the left hand side. I apologise for any confusion this change might cause. We will not be changing again!

Pupil Premium - Free School Meals

The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’.

For every child registered at St Joseph’s, the school gets £488 this year.

With this money we could organise more individual tuition, increase Teaching Assistant support and improve learning opportunities in lots of other ways. If you are registered for Free School Meals you could also get support for school trips and have help with after school clubs.

Please register before Christmas to make sure your child and others in their class don’t miss out.
INSET Days

The next 2 INSET days (where the school is closed to children) will be on Tuesday 3rd January and Monday 20th February. We will let you know the date of our final INSET day as soon as we can.

Deanfield Study Centre

The next instalment of £20.00 for Deanfield is now due, and the remainder which is £30.00 is due in the middle of January.

School Crossing Patrol

Mrs Pauline Sheere, our school crossing patrol officer, is still unwell. A pelican crossing is available at the junction with Lodge Causeway.

Nativity Play

Foundation and KS1 will be performing their Nativity Play on Monday 12th December, at 2.30pm and Tuesday 13th December, at 9.30am.

Community Carols Around the Tree

You are all invited to our ‘Community Carols Around the Tree’ on Tuesday 13th December, 3.40-4.40pm. This event will be followed by mince pies and it was a great Christmas celebration last year.

We will also be selling our Singing Together CD after Tuesday’s performance and after the carol service on Thursday. The price of the CD is £6.00 and there are only 35 left - so hurry so as not to be disappointed!

Attendance

Well done to Mrs Bell’s class with 100% again!!!, Mrs Joseph’s with 98%, and Mr Sherwin’s and Mr Conlon’s class with 97% attendance. A big thank you to all for helping us improve overall attendance this year.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a Celebration Assembly next Monday 12th December, where the following children will receive their Headteachers award: Joseph Nurse, Stan Smith, Stan Doling, Amy Harris, Alfie Harris, Helene Jim, Ty Mitchell and Jakub Wawrowski

These children will receive Superstars Sports Awards:
Rahim Rehan, Liam Rice, Anique Sergeant and Lara Brown.

Dates for Diaries

Monday 12th December - Foundation and KS1 Nativity Play 2.30pm
Tuesday 13th December - Foundation and KS1 Nativity Play 9.30am
Tuesday 13th December - Infant Party in school
Tuesday 13th December - Carols around the tree after school
Thursday 15th December - Carol Service at 2pm in Church
Friday 16th December - End of Term Mass in School Hall at 9.30am
Friday 16th December - End of term 2
Tuesday 3rd January - INSET (School closed)
Wednesday 4th December - Start of Term 4
Monday 20th February - INSET (School closed)



Best wishes


Matt Condon
Headteacher

Thursday 1 December 2011

Dear Parent/Carers,

School Security

Unfortunately we still have parents trying to access the school from entrances other that the main school entrance. Can I please remind you that PARENTS MUST ONLY ENTER THE SCHOOL THROUGH THE MAIN ENTRANCE! Children or staff must not open any outside doors for anyone. Children must also exit the school via allocated doors – not the main school entrance.

These rules are in place so we can avoid unauthorised adults entering the school who may put children at risk. Please help the school and all our children by respecting these rules.

Pupil Premium - Free School Meals

The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’.

For every child registered at St Joseph’s, the school gets £488 this year.

With this money we could organise more individual tuition, increase Teaching Assistant support and improve learning opportunities in lots of other ways. If you are registered for Free School Meals you could also get support for school trips and have help with after school clubs.

Please register before Christmas to make sure your child and others in their class don’t miss out.
Please see the attached letter for more details.

School Crossing Patrol

Mrs Pauline Sheere, our school crossing patrol officer, is still unwell. A pelican crossing is available at the junction with Lodge Causeway.

Nativity Play

Foundation and KS1 will be performing their Nativity Play on Monday 12th December, at 1.45pm and Tuesday 13th December, at 9.30am.

Community Carols Around the Tree

You are all invited to our ‘Community Carols Around the Tree’ on Tuesday 13th December 3.40-4.40pm. This event will followed by mince pies and was a great Christmas celebration last year.

Choir Performing at Cabot Circus

The choir will be singing in Cabot Circus on Wednesday 7th December for Ronald Macdonald House. This is an independent charity which provides Home from Home accommodation for critically ill children.

Attendance

Well done to Mr Sherwin and Mrs Joseph’s class with 98%, Mr Conlon’s class with 97% and Mrs Bell’s with 96% attendance.

Celebration Assembly

There will no Celebration Assembly next week. There will be a Celebration Assembly the following week.

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 6th December - Y5/6 trip to St Fagan’s
Wednesday 7th December - Choir to Cabot Circus
Thursday 8th December - Christmas Lunch
Thursday 8th December - Y2F visit to Fishponds Library
Friday 9th December - PTFA Christmas Party
Monday 12th December - Foundation and KS1 Nativity Play 1.45pm
Tuesday 13th December - Foundation and KS1 Nativity Play 9.30am
Tuesday 13th December - Infant Party
Tuesday 13th December - Carols around the tree
Thursday 15th December - Carol Service at 2pm in Church
Friday 16th December - End of Term Mass in School Hall
Friday 16th December - End of term 2
Tuesday 3rd January - INSET (School closed)
Wednesday 4th December - Start of Term 4



Best wishes


Matt Condon
Headteacher