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