Dear Parents/Carers,
Summer Weddings
During the Summer Miss Holman, Miss Geach and Miss Thomas are all getting
married. We wish that they have wonderful wedding days and that they all are
happy in their married lives. In September Miss Geach will be known as Mrs Andrews,
Miss Holman will be known as Mrs Darvill, and Miss
Thomas will be known as Mrs Gilvear.
Summer Building
Works
During the holidays the Year 2, 3 and 4 classes will be refurbished. We
will also be carrying out significant electrical improvements and improving
site security and the front and side of school.
We will also be repairing the front wall, although this sadly means that
several of the trees at the front will be removed.
New Website
Our new website design should be online today. The website is similar but
has been designed to be used more easily with tablets and mobile phones. More
links have also been added to make the site more useful. A big thank you to
James Petrie for creating this great website for us.
Charity
Fundraising
This has been a priority for the school this year and we all greatly
appreciate your on-going support. Here is our last contribution from
Reception and Year 1:
Year 1 sold
cream teas to people and gave money to Ronald MacDonald House. Reception helped too. Year 1 sold plant pots as well. Reception raffled Belvita the Giraffe, won by
Szymon. Year 1 spent the time cooking
and jamming. Year 1 and Reception raised
£105.00 for the charity.
Start of Year Parent Information
Sessions
These short
information sessions will take place during the second week of Term 1 from 3pm
in each class. In these sessions information will be shared about expectations
for the school year and other important information.. Reception and Year 6 have
already held their meetings. Dates are in Dates for Diaries.
School Uniform
Can I remind parents and carers that it consists of a white polo shirt, navy blue sweatshirt,
navy blue cardigan, navy blue fleece, grey trousers/skirts or blue and white gingham dress.
Children must wear plain black shoes or black trainers.
These shoes should not have logos on them. We expect that all children will
wear the correct uniform and footwear when they return in September. We thank
all parents for their support.
The school uniform is ordered through Initially Yours, and their email
address is enquiries@initiallyyours.co.uk. Their telephone number
is 0117 9673847.
Message from
Maureen Tuohy (Foundation Governor)
Dear
All,
I
can’t believe it’s the end of the school year already! The time of year when
some of our children are saying ‘Goodbye’ to Saint Joseph’s because they are
moving on to secondary schools. The children of year 6 are leaving on a high
having done St Joseph’s proud with their KS2 outcomes; and what about THAT
performance? What a fabulous ‘Goodbye’ Year 6 have given us with their version
of Jesus Christ Superstar! I thought my days of crying at end of year
performances were over, how wrong I was! I wish them well in their new schools
where I know they will build on the knowledge and values that St Joseph’s has
helped them gain.
Whilst
on the subject of goodbyes I would like to wish Mrs Patton and Mrs Mantle
retirements full of adventure and fun, with a bit of relaxation thrown in!
Based on the variety of experiences they had whilst teaching my children alone, I think they most
definitely deserve it!!
Due
to changes in my own life in the past year I haven’t been as involved in school
life as usual, and I have missed it. This hasn’t stopped me from being,
unfailingly, impressed by the dedication and hard work of ALL the staff at St
Joseph’s; that the children are at the centre of all they do is clear and I am
sure I speak on behalf of the whole Governing Body in thanking them for this.
As
I reflect on the St Joseph’s school community I realise how lucky I am to be a
part of it- it is very rewarding knowing that I have contributed in some
(small) way to the lovely school that is St Joseph’s. On that note, I would like
to encourage all parents and carers to get involved in the St Joe’s community.
The PTFA are losing two of its most dynamic members of recent years, Andrea and
Sharon will be sorely missed but I am sure that there is a wealth of talent,
energy and enthusiasm, among our parents, carers, teachers and friends and that
the children of St Joseph’s could benefit enormously from these gifts! I know
that the thought of giving up a few hours of precious time in my own busy life
is tiresome; however, I also know that once I’ve managed to drag myself along
to help out or attend a meeting I am always glad I did! So, please come along
and join in!!
As
ever, I look forward to the new school year- to meeting the children joining us
for the first time and to the challenges it will bring, but I am mostly looking
forward to seeing if Mr Condon is going to come back looking like Chris Froome
or Bradley Wiggins!!
Have
a great summer!
PS.
Good luck Mr Condon!
Mr Condon’s
Charity Bike Ride for Ataxia UK
Thanks for the best wishes Maureen
and a big thank you for those donations already received!
The day after
tomorrow, a small group of us are cycling from Bristol to Colwyn Bay in North
Wales for charity. The ride will be about 240 miles long and will take us 4
days. Members of the team have nominated their own charity to support and I
have chosen to support Ataxia UK.
As many of you
know, Liam Rice in Year 6 has Friedreich’s Ataxia. Ataxia is the name given to
a group of neurological disorders that affect balance, coordination, and
speech. There are many different types of ataxia that can affect people in
different ways. Some forms of ataxia are treatable, but in most cases there is
still no cure. Ataxia UK are funding a wide range of research projects to try
to find treatments that can help ataxia, and ultimately to find a cure.
I realise that
this is a busy and expensive time of the year, so I will be asking for
donations towards Ataxia UK when we come back in school in September. By that
time I hope to have successfully completed the ride and will have pictures and
stories to share with the children. However any donations received before
September will be gratefully received.
I hope to put
lots of pictures on the School Blog along the way. Thanks for your support.
Free Family Fun Day
There
is a Free Family Fun Day on Sunday 28th July 11.00am-2.00pm for
children with asthma and their families at Easton Leisure Centre. Book early to avoid disappointment on 02920
435 400/0207786 4931 or sevans@asthma.org.uk.
Textiles Club
This new club will be run by school governor Helen Stepaniuk and will
start on Monday 16th September. The club will start after school and
finish at 4.45. This will be a free club open to pupils in Year 3-6 although
there will be a small cost for materials. Places are limited, so please contact
the school office if your child would like to join this new club.
School
Attendance – New Law
There is an
Amendment to the ‘Education Regulations 2006’ from September 2013, concerning
leave of absence. These amendments make it clear that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional
circumstances. THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AUTHORISE ANY ABSENCES FOR
HOLIDAYS. Absences can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. If you
wish to make such a request for absence, a
form must be obtained from the school office and must be submitted at least
ten days before the commencement of the requested period.
Each case will
be considered by the School Attendance Team and if agreed, written confirmation
will be given to the parent or carer.
We would ask for
your support in this matter and arrange any holidays to fall within the average
twelve weeks of holiday from school.
Sports Superstar Awards
A big well done
to Anna Raju, Samuel Masenyama, Jordan Toy and Kai Drysdale for being awarded
Superstars of the year awards.
Dates for
Diaries
Monday
2nd September and
Tuesday
3rd September –
INSETs (school improvement)
Wednesday
4th September – Start of Term 1
Monday
9th September at 3pm - Y1
Parents Information Session
Tuesday
10th September at 3pm - Y4
Parents Information Session
Wednesday
11th September at 3pm - Y3 Parents Information Session
Thursday
12th September at 3pm - Y5
Parents Information Session
Friday
13th September at 3pm - Y2 Parents Information Session
Friday
27th September -
INSET (outdoor learning)
Goodbye and Thank You
A big thank you and
congratulations to Mrs Patton and Mrs Mantle who retire today! They have both
made an amazing contribution to the school and we will all miss them very much.
I would also
like thank Andrea and Sharon from the PTFA who are also leaving us this year.
They have done an amazing job supporting the school’s work and I have really
enjoyed working with them.
I would like to
thank all children, parents, staff, members of the PTFA and governors for all
your hard work and support. We look forward to making 2013-2014 an even better
year of learning and success.
With your
support St Joseph’s continues to go from strength to strength!
Have a safe and
happy holiday
Best
wishes
Matt
Condon
Headteacher
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