Thursday, 13 March 2014

Dear Parents/Carers,



A monster newsletter this week!  We have lots of activities planned for the next few weeks, so please read the newsletter for information.

Incident in Chatsworth Road

As many of you already know, there was an unpleasant confrontation in Chatsworth Road at the end of the school day on Tuesday, which involved several adults. The police have dealt with the situation and are currently providing a presence at the start and end of the school day. This is to reassure parents and children who may be concerned and also to ensure people do not park on the Zig Zag lines.

Attendance

We had OUTSTANDING attendance last week which was the best so far this academic year.

·         Reception and Y2 with 100%
·         Year 4 with 99%
·         Year 3, Y5 and Y6 with 98%
Reception, Y2, Y4 will have a special non-uniform day on Friday 21st March.

Sports Relief 2014 (supporting World Down Syndrome Day 2014)

All children will be joining in special sporting events in the week, culminating in Sports Relief Day on Thursday 20th March. As World Down Syndrome Day is on the following day (Friday 21st March) we will be raising funds for Sports Relief and Down Syndrome awareness.

World Down Syndrome Day is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. Down Syndrome International encourages friends all over the world to choose activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

Sports Relief raises money to help people living incredibly tough lives, both at home in the UK and across the world's poorest countries.

Children will be participating in a SPONSORED CRICKET event on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Parents and friends can sponsor children for:

·         A set amount for the whole day

·         An amount for the catches made during their time slot (e.g. 50p per catch)

·         Sponsor the number of runs during their innings (e.g. if 5p per run was sponsored, this would equal £1 for 20 runs)

Children can also pay to play activities such as Run a Mile, Penalty Shootout, Blind Fold Obstacle Course and Loop a Hoop during their lunchtime. Activities will cost 10p each and we suggest children bring in no more than 50p for these activities. A sponsor form will be sent home with this newsletter.

The Big Pedal Family Bike Ride (cancelled)

Over the last 2 weeks we have we have totalled 196 bike and scooter rides to school. Well done to all who have ridden during The Big Pedal.

We had planned a special family cycle day on Saturday 22nd March. Regrettably, this in now cancelled.

Easter Competition

We would like as many children as possible to draw and colour their own A4 picture with an Easter theme. Children can enter as many times as they like.  Each entry will cost 50p.  The money raised will go to CAFOD.

The overall winning picture will be framed and the artist will receive an Easter egg. There is also a prize of an Easter egg for the best picture in each year group.  The closing date will be Friday 28th March.

School Dinner Money

Please can I remind parents that if you wish your child to have a school dinner, this must be paid for in advance by sending in cash or a cheque made payable to Bristol City Council in a clearly marked envelope.  If a parent believes that their child may qualify for entitlement to Free School Meals, the school office should be contacted for further details.  It is a requirement of the school’s Dinner Money Policy that all payments are up to date and no debts are outstanding.  If debts are incurred, then the school budget has to pay for them.  This means that money which should be spent on your child’s education is used to pay for debts incurred by parents.  Every parent will agree that this is unacceptable. Thank you for your co-operation.

Past Pupil Successes

We have received news of former pupil, Ben Smye-Rumsby, who attended St Joseph’s in the 1980’s.  Ben then continued his education at St Thomas More Secondary School and St Brendan’s Sixth Form College. Ben is the Sports News Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, writing under the name of Ben Rumsby.  His column can be read at www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/ben-rumsby/

Sebastian Smaka left St Joseph’s much more recently and has been accepted for a gliding scholarship for a year or until he flies solo. Bristol and Gloucestershire Gliding Club offer only 4 places for the scholarship each year. He has always wanted to become a pilot and this is the first step on the ladder. Sebastian is also doing really well at St Bede’s Catholic College and is currently in year 10.

Please let us know about other St. Joseph’s ex pupil success stories – there are lots out there and we would love to publish them in the newsletter

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.

Jewellery

Children should not wear jewellery to school. This is increasingly becoming a problem when getting ready for PE lessons as teachers have been spending a lot of PE time removing jewellery from children so they do not injure themselves or others.

Please note: Children with pierced ears whose parents wish them to wear earrings must, for safety reasons, wear simple round studs with a very small stone (allowing flexibility to change the colour of the stone) rather than other types of earrings. Children who wear earrings must remove (or tape) them for all PE and sporting activities on health and safety grounds.

Bikes and Scooters

Children are asked to not ride bikes and scooters in the school playground between 8.45 and 8.55 in the morning, when the playground is at its busiest. Younger children can still ride bikes and scooters after school (when the playground is less busy) as long as they are sensible.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 10th March at 9.10am where the following children will receive their Headteachers Award:  Areeba (Y3), Josh M (Y3), Jakub (Y2), Taya (Y2), Bogdan (R) and Darrell (Y1). Oliwia (R).

Super Start Sports Award:  Cerys (Y2)
Super Star Art Award:  Jessica (Y1),
Energy Club Award:  Bogdan (R), Lisandra (Y2), Olivia (Y4), Helene (Y3)

Dates for Diaries

Wednesday 19th March                             -           St Joseph’s Day mass in school
Thursday 20th March                                    -           Sports Relief Day
Thursday 20th March                                   -           E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Friday 21st March                                         -           Good attendance non uniform
Saturday 22nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family cycle day (cancelled)
Wednesday 26th March                            -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26th March                             -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                                  E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Thursday 3rd April at 2.45pm                        -           Parent Tea/Coffee afternoon
Friday 4th April                                               -           Holy Week Mass in Church
Friday 4th April                                               -           End of Term 4
Tuesday 22nd April                                        -           Start of Term 5
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week
Friday 23rd May                                             -           End of Term 5
Saturday 28th June                                       -           Summer Fair
Sunday 29th June                                          -           First Holy Communion

 
Yours sincerely,

 

Matt Condon
Headteacher

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