Dear Parents/Carers,
It’s been a
great term and we would like to thank you all for your support. The Acting
Headteachers and the rest of the team have done an amazing job at moving the
school forward whilst I have also been working at Holy Cross. I would like to thank
everybody for all their hard work!
The Head of
Holy Cross is not yet ready to return to work and our Governors have agreed to
continue my secondment until he returns. We expect this to be during the next
term. I would like to assure you all
that St Joseph’s has great leadership and the school has become even stronger
whilst I have been working across the two schools.
Yesterday, a
regular supply teacher came to me and said, that in all the many schools she
works in, she has never come across such happy, polite and respectful children.
We are all very proud of the children in our school.
We look
forward to seeing you all after a well-deserved holiday!
We have lots
of information in this week's newsletter…
Easter services
Here are the following mass times for Holy Week:
•
Maundy Thursday 2nd April at
7.30pm - Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper
•
Good Friday 3rd April at 2.30pm -
Stations of the Cross
•
Good Friday 3rd April at 3.00pm -
The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
•
Saturday 4th April at 7.30pm -
Easter Vigil
•
Sunday 5th April at10.00am -
Solemnity of Easter Sunday
Internet and Mobile Safety
More and more problems are coming
into school (in Key Stage Two) where children are accessing social media (i.e.
Facebook, Oovoo, etc) and using it inappropriately in ways that are causing
distress to themselves and among their peers. May we remind you that these
sites are aimed at people of at least 13 years or over and we have been advised
by the police that you, as responsible parents, should be monitoring what
sites/APPs your children access. Similar
upsetting incidents have been seen recently through inappropriate texting
between children. We take these incidents very seriously as they are a form of
bullying. If your child uses a mobile
phone to text, please ensure that they know how to use it responsibly and are
doing so.
Support for Downs Syndrome
Association
On Monday we held an ‘Odd Socks’ day
and raised £65 in support of the Downs Syndrome Association. Mr Turvey (father of Maddie in Year 3) is
running in the London Marathon in aid of The Downs Syndrome Association. This is being held on April 26th
(not last week, as wrongly stated in the newsletter). If you would like to donate to this good
cause, please go online to www.virginmoneygiving.com/timturvey
or hand in donations to the office.
New 20 mph speed limit
This new 20mph speed limit will
become operative in this area today. 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.
A message from Eden School Meals
Services
After the Easter Break, a new menu is being
introduced within your child’s school and certain products which contain
Coconut Oil as an ingredient will be available. As Coconut is not classed as a
tree nut, Eden’s Nut Free Policy is still in place across all of its primary
schools. However, if you think this may affect your child, please contact the
Nutrition Department immediately on 01276 607444 or email
sasha.green@interserve.com .
After School Clubs
To
continue increasing opportunities for younger children, there are going to be
changes made to the afterschool programme.
FROM NEXT TERM THE FOLLOWING SPORTS WIL BE AVAILABLE, COMMENCING 20TH APRIL.
(Places
are limited and offered on a first come-first served basis.)
We NO longer have gymnastics and football clubs and apologies to those
children who have enjoyed these clubs.
Now on Tuesday, YR to Y4 will have athletics outside, focusing on jumps, throws and sprints.
However, if the weather is unsuitable, we have the option of ‘bocci’ inside. We recommend children
are dressed appropriately with jogging bottoms or warm base layers. Trainers are suitable footwear for outdoor PE.
On a Wednesday we are continuing with
multi-sports. This is available to all
children in reception and Year 1.
Finally, on a Thursday we will have cricket for years
3 to 6.
Can I remind parents that clubs finish at 4.45pm as
there are currently an increasing number of children who are regularly collected
late.
Bristol Schools Swimming Finals
Well done to all of those children that represented St
Joseph’s in Bristol Primary School’s Swimming Heats at Horfield Leisure
Centre. All the children did
exceptionally well and all supported one another brilliantly during their different
races. Special congratulations go to Jake
(Y6), Milly
(Y6) Nile (Y6) and Ruby (Y3) for making it through to the finals which are being held on Saturday 25th
of April. We wish them all the very best
in their races and do come along and support if you’re able to!
End of School Day
An increasing number of children are regularly collected
late from school. The school day ends at 3.30pm and the growing number of
children who are still in school at 3.40pm is a concern.
If, for an unavoidable reason, you are delayed
in collecting your child, please phone the school office to inform us.
Messages to school
Any message containing information relating to
your child – for example if they are ill, have a medical appointment, are
unable to do PE or swimming, etc., must be made by you, the responsible adult,
either in person, by telephone, email or letter. A message sent via a child cannot be
accepted.
Contact Details
If any of your details have changed, could you
please let the school know as soon as possible, in order for records to be updated.
Medical Appointments
A reminder that if your child has a dentist’s or
doctor’s appointment during school hours, could you please put a request in
writing in advance for the attention of the class teacher. If we are not
notified in advance, any school time missed will need to be recorded as
unauthorised.
Leave of absence during term time
We must remind all parents that the Headteacher CANNOT
authorise any leave of absence during term time unless for exceptional
circumstances. Any requests must be made
in writing on a form available from the school office and must be made at least
ten days before leave is due to commence.
Any leave taken that has not been considered exceptional will be
recorded as unauthorised. There will be
two unauthorised absences recorded for each day - morning and afternoon. If there are eight or more unauthorised
absences recorded within a ten week period, the school can issue a penalty
notice. This will be £60 per child for
each parent, meaning a possible penalty charge of £120 per child.
We appreciate that holidays taken during term
time can be much cheaper than those taken during the school holidays but we
have a legal responsibility to ensure that every child is attending school and
receiving their education.
PE Kit
Could you please send your child in with the
correct PE Kit at the beginning of next term which consists of:
white T-shirt
navy blue or black
shorts
daps
suitable
bag for the above with a string loop for hanging.
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.
Attendance
Well done to the following classes with their
attendance last week:
* Y1 and Y3 with 99%
* Y2 with 98%
Celebration
Assembly
There will be a Celebration Assembly on Monday 13th April at 9.15am.
The following children will receive their Headteacher’s Award:
Maya (Y1), Dashana (Y2), Lizzie (Y3), Tashricks (Y3), Zahra (Y4) and Jerome (Y6).
Super
Stars Award: Ruby (Y3),
Dates for Diaries
Thursday
23rd April - Y1 St George’s Day Assembly
Monday
27th April - Year 4 Topic Presentation
Monday
11th May - Start of Key Stage 2 SATS Week
Thursday
18th June - Year 6 Leavers’ Mass in Clifton
Cathedral (PM)
Sunday 28th June -
First Holy Communion in Church
Friday 17th July - End
of school year
We wish you a peaceful and happy Easter and look forward
to welcoming the children back on Monday
13th April.
Matt Condon
Headteacher
