Dear Parent/Carers

The Big Pedal

Well done to all the children and parents who cycled in to school yesterday. ‘Active Ian’ was amazed to see nearly 40 of you cycling in on a sunny February morning. This event leads us into The Big Pedal which starts next week…

Get set… we’re taking part in the Big Pedal 2014, a giant inter-school cycling and scooting competition encouraging children, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their daily commute!

The event is powered by Sustrans (sustrans.org.uk), funded by the Bike Hub (bikehub.co.uk), and it’s happening from 3 to 14 March. It’s totally FREE to enter, and we’d love everyone to be involved.

Each day there is a Sustrans wheelie character to collect and add to our Big Pedal wallchart, and the more people who cycle and scoot, the more powerful our wheelies will be. We want to fill our wallchart with as many superhero wheelies as possible. We’ll be competing against other schools right across the UK, and if we clock up the most bike and scooter journeys, we’ll win!

After the event ends we will have a special family cycle day on Saturday 22^nd March (details coming soon).

Cake Sales

We would like to restart our fundraising PTFA cake sales. Previously these have been an easy and popular way of bringing parents together, raising some funds for the school and buying some delicious cakes.

All the school needs is parents who are willing to come in for half an hour once a term to help run the sale. If you can help, please see Mr Condon or contact the school office.

Booking the Extended School Club

We are only able to accept children who have been booked in advance. Please get a booking form from the school office.

Ash Wednesday Mass

The school is joining the parish for Mass next Wednesday morning at 9.30am. You are all welcome to join us.

World Book Day 6^th March 2014

World Book Day is a day set aside every year to celebrate reading, books, authors and illustrators. It is held in more than 100 countries around the world. A key aim of World Book Day is to give every child in the UK a book of their own to keep. Every child is eligible to receive a £1 World Book Day Token which can be exchanged for one of eight exclusive books, or if you prefer, £1 off any book or audio book costing more than £2.99. Participating bookshops will be displaying World Book Day posters and notices in their windows and in store. The children will be coming home with a book token today which is valid from 3^rd - 30^th March 2014.

Payment for Dinner Money, Music Tuition and After School Clubs

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

Parking

Just to advise you that we have had a complaint about parents parking across driveways in Chatsworth Road and leaving the vehicle parked and going across to the school which has meant the person can’t get their car off the driveway. By obstructing their driveways they are liable to a £30 fine.

Feed Bristol Event

Find attached a free event on Saturday 1st March 11.00-3.00pm called Feed Bristol.  Feed Bristol is Avon Wildlife Trust’s exciting food growing project on 8 acres of beautiful land buzzing with wildlife in Stapleton.  It is a great place to discover how to grow organic food and experience how nature helps us grow.  Everyone who gets involved can take away some fresh tasty food.

The aim is to support a rage of people with different needs and abilities to access food growing while promoting health, well-being, outdoor education and access to nature. 

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 3^rd March at 9.10am where the following children will receive their headteachers award:  Jaimie (Y3), Benjamin (Y3), Ellie (Y4), Praise (Y5), Aaron (Y2), Fletcher (R) and Syesha (Y1).

Super Start Sports Award:  Vanessa (Y3), Abbey (Y2), Lorenzo (Y2), Anna (Y2), Lisandra (Y2), Poppy (Y5), Harry (R), Jesselyn (Y1), Joseph (Y6), Ellie (Y4), and Aian (Y1)

Super Star Art Award: Daniel (Y5), Fraanciszek (R) and Mathews (Y6)

Energy Club Award: Josh (Y3), Godwin (Y2) and Kieron (R)

Attendance

Well done to the following classes with their attendance before half-term.

·         Reception with 99% and Y5 with 99%.

Both classes will have a special non-uniform day on Friday 7^th March.

Dates for Diaries

Wednesday 5^th March                               -           Ash Wednesday Mass in Church

Thursday 6^th March                                      -           Parents’ evening
Friday 7^th March                                           -           Rec. and Y5 Good Attendance non-uniform day
March 3th – 14th 2014                                 -           The Big Pedal 2014 (cycling event)
Wednesday 12^th March                             -           Year 3 class assembly
Wednesday 19^th March                             -           St Joseph’s Day mass in school
Thursday 20th March                                   -           E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Saturday 22^nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family cycle day (details coming soon)
Wednesday 26th March                            -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                             -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                         –          E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Thursday 3^rd April at 2.45pm                        -           Parent Tea/Coffee afternoon
Friday 4^th April                                               -           Holy Week Mass in Church
Friday 4^th April                                               -           End of Term 4
Tuesday 22^nd April                                        -           Start of Term 5
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week
Friday 23^rd May                                             -           End of Term 5
Saturday 28^th June                                       -           Summer Fair
Sunday 29^th June                                          -           First Holy Communion

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

An early newsletter from me this week as I’m off on my bike, this afternoon, to join the Y6 on their camp in the Forest of Dean.

Dr Bike Visit and Bike–it Breakfast

There will be a Bike-it Breakfast as well as a visit from Dr Bike on Thursday 27^th February, at 8.30am onwards. Dr Bike is a mechanic who is able to carry out general maintenance and repairs at no cost. Both children and parents can bring their bikes in, have some breakfast and get their bikes checked out.

Parking in the Local Area

Last week, ‘Active Ian’ from Sustrans  joined our Years 4, 5 and 6 looking at road safety in the local area. I joined Year 5 who were looking at all the places that parents could safely park within a 5 minute radius from the school. They found out there were many quiet places where parents could park so they would not have to park in Chatsworth Road.

Parking a bit further away means nobody should need to park on the zig-zag lines. We’ve also had complaints that parents are blocking our neighbours in because they are parking across residential drives. Please consider others and do not to park in front of our neighbours’ drives.

Education Sunday 2014 – Sunday 16^th February

Education Sunday is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in the world of education. For more than 100 years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales (traditionally on the ninth Sunday before Easter).

Term 3’s Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

Due to Y6 camp week, this will now be held after the holiday on Wednesday 26^th February. Children with 100% attendance will be given 2 tickets; one to take home so that parents know they have a non-uniform day on Wednesday 26^th February and one to be kept in school for the draw during Wednesday’s Assembly. All parents and carers are invited to this assembly.

This term, children who have 100% attendance but have attended 1 medical appointment taking up no more than ½ a day, will also be included.

Because punctuality this year is still disappointing, when entering children into the draws, we will be entering all children with 100% attendance and no more than 2 late arrivals to school.

Dates for Diaries

Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3

Sunday 16^th February                                  -           Education Sunday
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26th February                                     -           Term 3 Good Attendance Assembly
Wednesday 26^th February                          -           Parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Dr. Bike (mechanic) and Bike-it breakfast
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Year 6 parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Full Governing Body Meeting
Wednesday 5^th March                               -           Ash Wednesday Mass in Church
Wednesday 12^th March                             -           Year 5 class mass
Thursday 6^th March                                      -           Parents’ evening
March 3th – 14th 2014                                 -           The Big Pedal 2014 (cycling event)
Wednesday 19^th March                             -           St Joseph’s Day mass in school
Thursday 20th March                                   -           E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Saturday 22^nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family cycle day (details coming soon)
Wednesday 26th March                            -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                             -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                             -           Year 1 class mass
Wednesday 2^nd April                                   -           Year 3 class mass
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                         –          E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Friday 4^th April                                               -           Easter Mass in Church
Friday 4^th April                                               -           End of Term 4
Tuesday 22^nd April                                        -           Start of Term 5
Wednesday 23^rd April                                  -           Year 2 class mass
Wednesday 30^th April                                  -           Year R and 6 class mass
Wednesday 7^th May                                               -           Year 4 class mass
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week
Friday 23^rd May                                             -           End of Term 5
Saturday 28^th June                                       -           Summer Fair
Sunday 29^th June                                          -           First Holy Communion

 

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Goodbye

Sadly we will soon be saying goodbye to a valued member of the St. Joseph’s team. Mrs Janet Thomas is one of the school’s longest serving staff, having joined the team in 1991. She has worked tirelessly behind the scenes as a school cleaner helping to make the school such a positive environment for the children.

We thank her for her service to our community and we wish her lots of luck for the future when she leaves at the end of February.

Parent Tea and Coffee Afternoons

We’d like to invite parents in again on Tuesday 11^th February from 2.45pm onwards for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat before collecting the children at 3.30pm.

Education Sunday 2014 – Sunday 16^th February

Education Sunday is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in the world of education. For more than 100 years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales (traditionally on the ninth Sunday before Easter).

Attendance and Unauthorised Leaves of Absence

This week we met with our local authority Education Welfare Officer to look at attendance. Whilst overall absence due to illness looked positive, we still have a problem with many families taking children out of school for extended periods during term time. Overall this year over 200 school days have been lost in school due to unauthorised absences.

Whilst there are often reasons given for these absences, and we realise that many families have relatives who live abroad, the school has no choice but to consider taking further action when excessive leave is taken in term time. This action is likely to include issuing fines.

We would ask for your support in this matter and arrange any holidays and family visits to fall within the average twelve weeks of holiday from school.

Term 3’s Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

Due to Y6 camp week, this will now be held after the holiday on Wednesday 26^th February. Children with 100% attendance will be given 2 tickets; one to take home so that parents know they have a non-uniform day on Wednesday 26^th February and one to be kept in school for the draw during Wednesday’s Assembly. All parents and carers are invited to this assembly.

This term, children who have 100% attendance but have attended 1 medical appointment taking up no more than ½ a day, will also be included.

Because punctuality this year is still disappointing, when entering children into the draws, we will be entering all children with 100% attendance and no more than 2 late arrivals to school.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Tuesday 11th February, at 9.10am where the following children will receive their Headteacher’s award: Meikel (Y4) Barti (Y4), Dashana (Y1), Clara (R), Rishon (R), Maeya (R), Jennifer (Y5), Tihanna (Y2), Josh (Y3) and Nathan (Y3).

Super Stars Sport awards:  Joseph (Y6), Evelyn (Y1), Ridah (Y4), Liam (Y2), Jamie (Y3), Philip (Y1)

Super Stars Art awards:  Mathews (Y6), Julia (Y4)

Energy Club awards: Josh (Y3), Isabel (Y3), (Allen (Y3), Aleena (Y5), Lorenzo (Y2), Szymon (Y1), Adam (Y1), Jesselyn (Y1), Ruby (Y1) and Joseph (Reception)

Dates for Diaries

Monday 10^th February                                -           Y6 camp week

Tuesday 11^th February 2013                                    -           Safer Internet Day 2014
Tuesday 11th February at 2.45pm             -           Parents’ tea and coffee afternoon
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 1 topic presentation
Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3
Sunday 16^th February                                  -           Education Sunday
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26th February                                     -           Term 3 Good Attendance Assembly
Wednesday 26^th February                          -           Parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Dr. Bike (mechanic) and Bike-it breakfast
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Year 6 parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Full Governing Body Meeting
Wednesday 5^th March                                -           Ash Wednesday Mass
Thursday 6^th March                                      -           Parent’s evening
March 3th – 14th 2014                                 -           The Big Pedal 2014 (cycling event)
Thursday 20th March                                   -           Esafety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Saturday 22^nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family Cycle Day (details soon)
Wednesday 26th March                             -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                              -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 topic presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                        –          Esafety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week

 

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher