Dear Parents/Carers,

Staff Leaving – Mrs Marley

I am sad to say goodbye to Mrs Jenny Marley, who has worked as a Teaching Assistant in our school for 23 years and is leaving to begin a well-deserved retirement. Jenny has had an amazing career supporting and teaching children throughout the school. She has developed great relationships with children, staff and parents with her constant smile and incredibly caring manner. Jenny will be missed greatly by everybody who knows her and we wish her a wonderful retirement with Mike her husband, her children and grandchildren.

If anybody would like to contribute to a leaving present from parents and carers, please see Mrs Marley (Jackson and Fletcher’s mum) in the school playground. Many thanks.

Christmas at St Joseph’s

Can I remind you all of these key dates over the next week:

·         Wednesday 17^th December at 2 pm                   -           Carol Concert in Church (mince pies for      parents/parishioners afterwards in school hall)

·         Thursday 18^th December                            -           Infant party in morning (children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, wearing party clothes all day)

·         Thursday 18^th December                                        -           Infant Christmas Disco after school

·         Friday 19^th December at 9.30am                          -           Christmas Mass in Church

Christmas Mqss Times

•       Wednesday 24^th December – 6.00pm Children’s Mass

•       Wednesday 24^th December – 9.00pm Carols and Readings

•       Wednesday 24^th December – 9.45pm Christmas Mass

•       Wednesday 24^th December – 11.35pm Syro-Malabar Mass

•       Thursday  25^th December –  9.30am Christmas Mass

Being Safe

We have been reminding all children that it is important that they do not talk to strangers or other people they might not know well enough. We have also reminded children that if they have to wait for parents/carers to collect them, they need to wait in the playground. If parents/carers are late then they need to come to the school office.

The children have great knowledge of how to be safe and we are very proud of how sensible they all are.

Security – A reminder

For security reasons, when children arrive late, we are unable to allow parents to escort their children to their classrooms. Children will be quite safe walking to classrooms by themselves. All adults who enter the school building (even just to go into the front office), must be signed in and given an identification badge by a member of staff. Any adult without authorised identification will be politely challenged. We still want to be friendly and welcoming but we have to ensure unauthorised adults do not enter the school.

This week there have been a number of times when parents have come through the front entrance without authorisation. This is often when the entrance is busy, somebody else is coming through the door and other adults follow without speaking to the office staff first. Can all parents please check with the office staff before coming into the school.

Taekwondo Club – a message from Sean Turner in Year 3

I am asking for your help to save my taekwondo club. I go to this club with my brother and I really enjoy it. I have been in competitions and won some medals. There are other people from this school that go there including my friend Marco. The club came to the school summer fair and even Mr Condon had a go.

The council are planning to knock it down and it might have to close. The members of the club need as many people as possible to sign a petition to help us to save the club. Please can you, your family and friends help me by signing the petition.

Thank you. Sean Turner (Year 3)

All the details are on the website below with a link to sign the petition. There is also a paper copy of the petition which Sean’s mum will have in the playground but you cannot sign both.

http://petitions.southglos.gov.uk/petitions.ti/black_belt_academy

Infant Christmas Disco

For children who have booked to come to the Infant Disco after school next week, we won't be sending out any tickets as you have prepaid. Children who are booked to come will be taken in straight from class after school.  Cup drinks and crisps will be on sale for 25p each and free drinking water will be available. As it will be non-uniform that day (for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) your child doesn't need to bring a change of clothes. Please collect your child at 5.30pm from:

• Reception from their classroom exit in the infant courtyard.
• Year 1 from the main doors from the hall into the infant courtyard.
• Year 2 from the front entrance.
• Year R and 1 parents can access the playground and courtyard via the Chatsworth Road side of the school.

 Please contact us if you need any further information. Thanks.

Catherine and Laura (parents of children in Year 1)

Football Club

Due to the infant disco, there will be no football club next week.

Admission Policy 2016

The Governors are consulting on a new Admissions Policy for September 2016. In this policy some changes have been made:

•       How the school measures distance.

•       The priority given to baptised Catholic children who live outside the parish of St Joseph.

•       The priority given to Children who are not baptised at the time of application, but born of a Catholic parent, living within the parish of St Joseph.

A full copy of the consultation document is available from:

•       The school office.

•       St Joseph’s Church.

•       The ‘information’ section on the school website.

Any feedback is obviously appreciated and should be addressed to the School Governors and sent into the school office.

Prayer at Advent

The feedback from parents about our ‘Advent Bags’ have been great:

During Advent each child will bring home an ‘Advent Bag’ for one night.  It consists of a purple cloth, a prayer, a cross and a light. Please encourage your child to set up a little prayer area, and together say the Advent prayer, discussing how Advent is the time when we are preparing for the Birth of Jesus. Please ensure the bag is returned the following day.

Children’s Christmas Mass 6pm Christmas Eve

Does your child want to take part in the Dramatized Gospel or help with a reading at the Children’s Christmas Mass? There will be two practices for this, one on Monday 15^th Dec at 4pm and the second on the following Monday at 10am in the morning. Both practices will take place in the Church. Please contact Cathy Williamson on 07917276994 for further information. Thank you.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The next classes for children/young people wishing to make their Sacrament of Confirmation will be starting in February with the Confirmation Mass taking place on Thursday 21^st May at 7pm. Children can make their Confirmation if they are in Year 7 or above. Numbers for the sessions are currently low and if no more candidates register by the end of the year then we will have to postpone until 2016. If you have any older children wishing to make this Sacrament then please contact Cathy Williamson on 07917276994 as soon as possible. Thank you.

Admissions for Reception 2015

If your child is due to start school in September 2015, you will need to apply online as well as collecting an ‘Additional Information Form’ from the school office. The closing date for applications is on the 15^th January 2015.

Website and Online Newsletter

Just a reminder that the school Blog (online diary) and the weekly newsletter are available via the school website (the address is on the letterhead).  

If your email address, mobile or home address has changed, please let the school office know.

Attendance

Well done to the following class with their attendance last week:

•       Reception with 98%

Lost Property

We have lots of unclaimed lost property in the blue box in the entrance foyer. Can I ask parents, carers and children to check the box, if they have lost anything, as all contents will be recycled at the end of this term.

Primary Maths Challenge

The following children took part in the Primary Maths Challenge: Ashley, Aleena, Edwin, Alexander, George and Kai.  During Assembly on Monday 15^th December certificates will be awarded.  The Primary Maths Challenge is a competition for children in Y6 or below in England.  This is the first year St Joseph’s has taken part in the competition.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 15^th December at 9.10am, following the Year 4 Topic Presentation, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:   

Charlie (y1), Maddy (Y3), Janice (Y2), Libby (Y5) and Thomas (Y4)

Super Stars Award:  Sophiya(R), Nelson (Y1), Clara (Y1), Sammie (Y2), Abbey (Y3), Olivia (Y6) and Oliver (Y4),

Dates for Diaries

Monday 15^th December                                        -           Year 4 Topic Presentation

Wednesday 17^th December pm                           -           Carol Concert in Church (mince pies for      parents/parishioners afterwards in school hall)

Thursday 18^th December                                        -           Infant party in morning

Thursday 18^th December                                        -           Infant Christmas Disco

Friday 19^th December                                             -           Christmas Mass in Church

Friday 19th December                                            -           End of Term 2

Monday 5th January                                               -           Start of Term 3

Wednesday 7^th January                                         -           Year 5 topic presentation

Monday 2nd February                                            -           Staff training day (school closed)

Sunday 28^th June                                                     -           First Holy Communion in Church

Friday 17th July                                                         -           End of school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon,

Headteacher