Dear Parent/Carer,

Welcome back and a belated happy New Year.

I’ve included a photograph of our Chapliancy Team in our outdoor Prayer Room. This room has been decorated by the team and is now used by children every day.

St Joseph’s  Church - 90^TH Anniversary this year

The foundation stone for the church was laid on 12^th November 1923 and the church opened on St Joseph's Day (19^th March) 1925. The architect was Sir Frank Wills and the total cost came to just under £10,000. A temporary church had stood on this site since 1911, and was moved from Park Lane in Kingswood when that mission closed. This mission founded by the Redemptorist Fathers had established a mass centre in Fishponds in Guinea Lane, close to St Mary's Parish Church (CofE) in 1907, known as St Philip's Oratory.

There is an appeal to all parishioners, especially long standing parishioners, for information and photographs of events that have occurred at St Joseph’s Church since 1925. Do you have any amusing/interesting stories from years gone by that could be shared on the back page of the bulletin? Please see Fr Paul or email Felicity Horton on stjosfishpond@fsmail.net

There will be a special celebratory mass on Sunday 8^th March. Bishop Declan will be attending.

Using the Internet at home and E-Safety Week

It is important that children’s use of the internet is monitored at home - in particular, children’s use of social networking sites. Soon we will have our E-Safety Week where the children will be learning more about how to use the internet safely.  There is a website available which advises parents/carers on internet use: www/saferinternet.org.uk

More information will be shared during E-Safety week.

Reading at Home

Reading is the most important homework that parents can do with primary school children.

It is most important that children realise that his or her parents take an interest in and value the reading experience. Remember, your child's education is a partnership between home and school.

We hope that all parents will enthusiastically encourage their children to read at home by sharing a book with them. For younger children, please use their reading records to show they are reading at home.

After School Clubs

To increase the opportunities for younger children, we have decided to change the days for after school clubs. From this term there will be NO indoor games club so apologies to those children who enjoyed the club. Now on a Tuesday we will have football outside, either using the school field facilities or playground. On Wednesdays we are introducing KS1 multi-skills, this is available to all children in Reception, Yr1 and Yr2 and finally on a Thursday we will have gymnastics. The finishing time will stay at 16.45.

We have recently started a Year 6 revision club and Textiles Club will be starting again next week. Places for the Y6 club are offered by teachers and there is currently a waiting list for Textiles (we will contact parents as some places are now available).

Places are limited and offered on a first come-first served basis.

Here is an overview of current after school clubs:

Club	Finish Time	Year Groups	Start date/day of club
Kodu Computing Club	4.30pm	5 and 6	Monday
Textiles	5pm	3-6	Monday
Y6 Revision	4.30pm	By invitation	Monday
Choir	4.30pm	3-6	Tuesday
Football	4.45pm	3-6	Tuesday
Multi-skills	4.45pm	R-2	Wednesday
Gymnastics	4.45pm	1-6	Thursday

Term 2 Team Point Winners – St Matthew’s Team again!

As you know we now celebrate each term’s team point winners in a special event because:

•                    Most importantly we want a celebration where children of different ages come together as a team.

•                    Each team will have a special event held on a Friday afternoon when they win.

•                    This event will bring all the team together and will be planned by team members in year 6.

•                    The event could take the form of a special party with activities planned by the oldest children for other children in their team. It could be a special team quiz or competition. It will be something special bringing children of different ages together.

•                    The Year 6 pupils will plan the event with the support of staff members. Perhaps in future parents of children in the teams could also be involved?

We will have our second team winners on Friday 30^th January. This will be planned by Y6 pupils in St Matthew’s Team.

Attendance

Well done to Y6 for 100% attendance last week. Their teachers will organise a date for a special non-uniform day soon. 

Guidance on Labelling of Medicines

The Medicines Act 1968 states that, 'the prescriber's directions must be followed', so staff are only legally allowed to give medicine as detailed on the label printed by the dispensing pharmacy, as these constitute the prescriber's directions.

If medication is prescribed as '3 times a day', then they should be given  3 times, not more or less. The medication should be regularly spaced out during waking hours (unless otherwise instructed). Unless a child is staying after hours for clubs etc, then best given before school, on return, and at bed time, so no need to bring to school at all.

If medication is labelled 'when required' or 'as required' the school will use the details as given by the family in the care plan to, determine if medication should be given, ie details of what symptoms the child will show when having a problem and how often medication should be given before further action is taken.

Prescriptions can state '3 times a day when required' meaning that when the person has symptoms they should use the medicine up to 3 doses a day, could use less number of doses but not more.

So that we always give the correct medication, it is essential that medicines come into the school office, fully labelled and that parents complete the permission form.  We thank you for your support.

20mph Speed Limit

The Council is rolling out a 20mph speed limit across the city in residential streets, by schools, shops and parks.  Many areas in the city already benefit from this reduced speed limit and our area will get the new limit early this year.

The project aims to improve road safety in the city as well as have a beneficial impact on communities and make cycling, scooting and walking to school a more attractive option.

An information pack is available to view in the school foyer.  The new limit should become operative in March 2015.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 19^th January, at 9.15am, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award: Edith (R), Juliana (R), Shayne (Y1), Vanessa (Y4), Daria (Y2), Jav (Y3), Ruby (Y3), Alexandere (Y6), Poppy (Y6) and Reuben (Y6).

Super Stars: Nnaemeka (R), Jacob (R), Eva (Y1), Hugo (Y1), Sophie (Y3), Oliver (Y4), Alicia (Y5), Barti (Y5),  Kai (Y6), and Poppy (Y6),

Dates for Diaries

Thursday 22^nd January                                 -           Y6 Brunel Theatre visit

Friday 30^th January                                      -           Team Point winner event

Sunday 1^st February                                                 -           Education Sunday

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

Monday 9^th February                                  -           Year 6 camp week

Friday 13^th February                                                 -           Reception Lent Assembly

Friday 13^th February                                                 -           End of Term 3

Wednesday 18^th February                          -           Ash Wednesday

Monday 23^rd February                                -           Start of Term 4

Monday 23rd February                               -           E-Safety week 2015

Wednesday 25^th February                          -           Y6 Lifeskills visit

Thursday 26^th February                                -           Full Governing Body meeting  

Friday 27^th February                                     -           Lent Mass in hall (Y5 readers)

Sunday 8^th March                                        -           Mass for Parish’s 90^th anniversary

Wednesday 11^th March                              -           Year 6 visit to Leigh Woods

Friday 13^th March                                         -           Year 2 Mother’s day assembly

Wednesday 18^th March                              -           Year 6 topic presentation

Thursday 19^th March                                                -           St Joseph’s Day Mass in hall (Y4 readers – tea/coffee/tours for parishioners afterwards)

Friday 20^th March                                         -           Tennis competition – age TBC

Friday 27^th March                                         -           Mass for Holy Week in church (Y3 readers)

Friday 27^th March                                         -           Local cluster choir festival at St Joseph’s

Friday 27^th March                                         -           End of Term 4

Sunday 29^th March                                      -           Palm Sunday

Sunday 5^th march                                        -           Easter Sunday

Monday 13^th April                                        -           Start of Term 5 

Sunday 28^th June                                         -           First Holy Communion in Church

Friday 17^th July                                              -           End of school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon,

Headteacher