30^th June 2016

Dear Parent/Carer,

Uniform

Thank you very much for being part of the recent uniform consultation. I received 74 parental voting slips. I also consulted with the children and staff, as well as seeking the views of Governors.

I have considered all the feedback, as well as practical factors and have decided that the school uniform will be as follows:

Boy’s school uniform:

Navy blue school knitted jumper with logo*
Pale blue polo shirt
Charcoal grey trousers or shorts
Black school shoes or plain black trainers

In Year 5 and 6 children may wear a pale blue shirt and school tie*

Girl’s school uniform:

Navy blue school knitted cardigan with logo*
Pale blue polo shirt
Charcoal grey skirt, tunic, trousers or shorts
Black school shoes or plain black trainers

In Year 5 and 6 children may wear a pale blue shirt and school tie*

Other uniform items

School book-bag*

PE kit-bag*

Outdoor uniform for all children (optional)

School shower-proof fleece lined jacket*
School woolly hat or school cap*

Wellington Boots for outdoor activities

PE kit for all children

Navy blue shorts and pale blue round-neck T-shirt / black plimsolls (summer)

Navy Blue tracksuit / black plimsolls (winter)

The school uniform items marked with * are our ‘St Joseph’s’ items and will be available from a new school uniform shop, which will be open on 19^th/20^th/21^st July for uniform supplies for September and then once a week from September. Alternatively these items may be bought from ‘Initially Yours’, either in one of their local shops or ordered from www.initiallyyours.co.uk and collected from the school uniform shop or delivered to your home. Most other items will also be available from the school uniform shop or can be bought from many department stores or supermarkets. Cash or cheque payments will be accepted in the school uniform shop.

I am delighted that the governors have agreed that we will provide each child with one set of the new school uniform free of charge. Children will receive their uniform in the last week of term ready for September.

Children will be allowed to wear the old style uniform for 2016/17. All children will be expected to wear full new style uniform from September 2017.

Forthcoming INSET

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday 1^st July and Monday 4^th July the school will be closed to children due to staff training. We look forward to seeing all the children again on Tuesday morning.

Sports Day – new date

Sports Day is now on Tuesday 5^th July, weather permitting.  It will take place on the field between 9.30am and 11:30pm.  Children will be competing as part of their school team - St John (Red), St Matthew (Yellow), St Mark (Green), St Luke (Blue).  They should come to school in their PE kits and t-shirts in their team colours, with their uniform in their PE bag for changing into afterwards.  If children are really struggling to find a coloured t-shirt we will supply some bibs on the day.  Please also make sure your child has a water bottle.

There will be the usual popular athletic events, as well as some more traditional races, such as the egg and spoon, sack race and obstacle race.  Parents/guardians, friends and governors are all very welcome to come and support the children as they compete. 

In the event of poor weather you will be notified that the event is cancelled. Children will take part in a fun indoor sports morning but unfortunately parents and friends will not be able to attend.

Outstanding Secondary School

Congratulations to our feeder secondary school, St Bernadette’s, which has just been given OUTSTANDING in their recent diocesan Section 48 inspection.  The full report is available on their website: www.stberns.bristol.sch.uk

Missing scooter

A child in Year One has had her prized scooter go missing from the bike shed.  If anyone has seen it or their children brought it home by mistake, please return it or let the office know.

Parking

When dropping off and picking up please take care not to block our neighbours’ driveways.

Dates for Diaries

Friday 1^st July                       -           INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                   -           INSET (school closed)

Tuesday 5^th July                    -           Sports Day

Thursday 7^th July                   -           Y4 Presentation and Parents’ open
                                                            morning                

Friday 8^th July                        -           Y1 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Tuesday 12^th July                  -           Rec Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Wednesday 13^th July           -           Y5 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Thursday 14^th July                 -           Y2 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

                                                -           Prize giving 5.30-6.30 

Friday 15^th July                      -           Columbus sports day – Air Balloon

                                                -           Columbus music concert –choir, evening

Wednesday 20^th July           -           Y3 Presentation and Parents’ open morning                                                -           Year Six Performance to parents 7pm

Friday 22 July                        -            Leavers’ Mass 9.30am in church

                                                            END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Thursday 1^st September      -            INSET (school closed)

Friday 2^nd September         -            INSET (school closed)

Monday 5^th September      -            First Day back after summer break for
                                                            children in Years 1-6

                                                                                   

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Forthcoming INSET

A reminder that this coming Friday 1^st July and Monday 4^th July the school will be closed to children due to staff training.

First Holy Communion

Best wishes to all the children who will be receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion this Sunday.

Polli:Nation

As announced in last week’s newsletter, we have entered the three years in-school Polli:Nation programme. This is a project developed in response to the decline in the UK's pollinating insects and the demand from schools to broaden children's understanding of the links between pollination and food security and learn about protecting insect pollinators and their habitats. There is a special assembly this Monday, 27th June at 9:10am when the project will be launched.  Anyone who would like to volunteer to participate in this, alongside the children, please come along or contact Mrs Serle.

Sports Day – new date

Due to the waterlogged field this week, we have moved the sports day to Tuesday 5^th July,   weather permitting.  It will take place on the field between 9.30am and 11:30pm.  There will be the usual popular athletic events, as well as some more traditional races, such as the egg and spoon, sack race and obstacle race.  Parents/guardians, friends and governors are all very welcome to come and support the children as they compete. 

Parish Summer Fair

You are welcome to join others from the parish at the Summer Fair tomorrow from 2-4pm.  The school is running a sweet stall.

Education Mass

Pupils, parents and staff are invited to an Education Mass at 7pm on Thursday 30^th June at Clifton Cathedral.

St Thomas celebration weekend

Next weekend is the Feast of St Thomas.  The parish have lots of events going on to celebrate his feast day from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July.

Shoes for Kenya

St Brendan’s 6^th Form College are collecting shoes to go to Kenya to help people avoid getting parasites in their feet.  If you have any shoes of a reasonable condition that you no longer want, please bring them into the office and we will take them to St Brendan’s for collection.  Thank you.

A Message from the PTFA to all parents, staff and friends of St Joe’s

Welcome to the newly (re)formed PTFA!  We hope to use this forum to get people together and raise money for the school, but above all to have some fun, and we very much hope you will join with us.  We will be publishing details of the committee, our aims & objectives, and future events as soon as possible, so look out for more details.

For anyone who would like to get involved but couldn’t make the initial meeting, we will be having an event planning session at 3.30 on Tuesday, 5 July at the school and would love to hear any ideas you have.

Catherine Ruffles & Laura Bradshaw Price (co-chairs)      

Email: PTFAstjosephs@bristol-schools.uk

Celebration  Assembly – different day of the week

There will be a celebration assembly on Tuesday 28^th June, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Ruby (Y1), Janek (Y1), Betty (Y1), Lyra (Y2), Anns (Y2), Christian (Y3), Nathan (Y5), Areeba (Y5).

Super Stars: Abay (R), Elsa, Edith (Y1), Franek, Nelson (Y2), Rian (Y3), Oliver M (Y5), Mack (Y6)

Sad Farewells

The staff and pupils will be very sad to say goodbye to some fantastic teachers and support staff at the end of this year. There will be plenty of opportunities to appreciate and thank them in the coming months and we will certainly miss them all.

Mrs Joseph

You may know that Mrs Joseph, who has been a teacher, Deputy Head and Acting Head-teacher at St Josephs for 25 years, will be retiring at the end of this year. We will certainly miss Mrs Joseph due to the enormous contribution she has made to the school over the years.

Mrs Darvill

Mrs Darvill, a teacher with us for 5 years will also be leaving at the end of this year, to enjoy spending more time looking after her little girl.

Mrs Mizen

Following 26 years working at St Joseph’s Mrs Mizen has decided it is time to enjoy some quality time with her family and friends and is retiring at the end of term. Many of you will have been supported, taught, encouraged and cared for by Mrs Mizen over the years.

Miss Gouveia

Miss Gouveia has been with us this year, and we have really enjoyed her sunny smiling nature, she has been very kind and caring to all the children she has worked with.

On behalf of the governors, pupils and staff I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication to St Joseph’s and wish them happiness and peace in their new ventures.

Class teachers for 2016/17

We are delighted to welcome some new teachers to our school in September.

Mrs Baker will be joining us as our new Deputy Head.

Miss Gregory, Miss Pick and Miss Coates are also joining us as class teachers. We are also welcoming Mrs Serle and Mrs Okpiyalele as Higher level Teaching Assistants.

The class teachers for 2016/17 will be:

Reception class         Miss Finding

Year 1                         Miss Gregory

Year 2                         Mrs Ford and Miss Phillips

Year 3                         Miss Pick

Year 4                         Mr Mullen and Mrs Baker

Year 5                         Mr Conlon

Year 6                         Miss Coates

Children will meet their new class teacher on our changeover day which is on 19^th July.

Dates for Diaries

Sunday 26^th June 2016        -           First Holy Communion

Tuesday 28^th June                -           Year 5 Aquinas sports day at St Brendan’s

Wednesday 29^th June         -           SS Peter and Paul Mass in church 9.30am

                                                            New Parents’ Evening 5.30pm

Thursday 30^th June               -           Education Mass at Clifton Cathedral 7pm

Friday 1^st July                       -           INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                   -           INSET (school closed)

Tuesday 5^th July                    -           Sports Day

Thursday 7^th July                   -           Y4 Presentation and Parents’ open
                                                            morning                

Friday 8^th July                        -           Y1 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Tuesday 12^th July                  -           Rec Presentation and Parents’ open
                                                            morning

Wednesday 13^th July           -           Y5 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Thursday 14^th July                 -           Y2 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

                                                -           Prize giving 5.30-6.30 

Friday 15^th July                      -           Columbus sports day – Air Balloon

                                                -           Columbus music concert

Tuesday 19^th July                  -           Changeover day

Wednesday 20^th July           -           Y3 Presentation and Parents’ open morning    
 -           Year Six Performance to parents 7pm

Friday 22 July                         -           Leavers’ Mass 9.30am in church

                                                            END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Thursday 1^st September      -           INSET (school closed)

Friday 2^nd September         -           INSET (school closed)

Monday 5^th September      -           First Day back after summer break for children
                                                           in Years 1-6

                                                                                   

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

St John's Team Event

17^th June, 2016

 

Dear Parent/Carer,

 An omission from this week's newsletter:

St John’s team will be celebrating their team points achievement this coming week.  On Friday  24h June they are allowed to come to school in their own clothes.  There will be a special event in the afternoon led by the Year Six members of St John’s team.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Mrs Cathy Joseph

Deputy Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Sports Day – Tuesday 21^st June

 Weather permitting, sports day will take place on the field between 9.30am and 11:30pm and parents/guardians, friends and governors are all very welcome to come and support the children. 

During Sports Day the children will be competing as part of their school team - St John (Red), St Matthew (Yellow), St Mark (Green), St Luke (Blue).  Please remind your children to try and wear a t-shirt in their teams colour to help create a fun, competitive atmosphere and so it is easy to identify which team children are in when scoring.  If children are really struggling to find a coloured t-shirt we will supply some bibs on the day.  Please also make sure your child has a water bottle, hat and make sure your child has applied suncream before coming to school.

There will be the usual popular athletic events, as well as some more traditional races, such as the egg and spoon, sack race and obstacle race.  Sports day will start at 9.30am and will run through until 11.30am, with awards and certificates being announced and handed out in a special sports day assembly.  We would love parents to come and support the children as they compete. 

  

Sports day has been organised this year so that there is always something happening on the main running track.  It would be wonderful if parents could show their support and encouragement in an area marked out alongside the side of the running track closest to the fence and hedge.  As well as supporting your own child/ren, you can encourage the children in all of the other year groups too. If any parents have a gazebo that they would be able to lend the school for Sports Day it would be a great help and enable us to provide some shade on the field.  If you think you might be able to help please speak to Miss Finding or leave a message with the school office. Thank you.

Polli:Nation

We are pleased to announce that St. Joe's has entered the three years in-school Polli:Nation programme. This is a project developed in response to the decline in the UK's pollinating insects and the demand from schools to broaden children's understanding of the links between pollination and food security and learn about protecting insect pollinators and their habitats. We shall have a series of in-school interactive and experimental sessions in the school grounds and local walk-to-spaces and need some volunteers from our school community (parents, grandparents, governors) to participate at different levels throughout the project. If you wish to know more about this project, come along to the assembly on Monday 27th at 9:10 or contact Mrs Serle for more details. 

School Meals 2016/17

Bristol City Council and Eden Foodservice have agreed NOT to increase the school meal price for the academic year 2016/17. This means that the price for junior lunches will remain at £2.25.  Infant children are still entitled to a free school dinner daily. 

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 13^th June, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Jacob (Y1), Zuzanna (Y1), Eloisa (Y1), Darrell (Y3), Sophie (Y4), Tashrick (Y4), Oliver M (Y5), Samuel (Y5), Lachontay (Y6), Jeswin (Y6), Hannah (Y6)

Super Stars:  Lara, Angel (Rec), Juliana, Jan, Madeleine, William, Sophia (Y1), Blake, Shayne, Kieran (Y2), Szymon, Joanne (Y3), Kaira,   Cheyanne (Y5), Lachontay, Harvey (Y6)

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 21^st June                 -           Sports Day 9.30-11.30 am

Wednesday 22^nd June        -           Year 6 Retreat – St Brendan’s

Thursday 23^rd June               -           Wet weather alternative sports day

Monday 27^th June                -           Polli:Nation project assembly

Tuesday 28^th June                -           Year 5 Aquinas sports day

Wednesday 29^th June         -           SS Peter and Paul Mass in church 9.30am

                                                            New Parents’ Evening 5.30pm

Friday 1^st July                       -           INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                   -           INSET (school closed)

Thursday 7^th July                   -           Y4 Presentation and Parents’ open
                                                            morning                

Friday 8^th July                        -           Y1 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Tuesday 12^th July                  -           Rec Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Wednesday 13^th July           -           Y5 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Thursday 14^th July                 -           Y2 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

                                                -           Prize giving 5.30-6.30 

Friday 15^th July                      -           Columbus sports day – Air Balloon

                                                -           Columbus music concert

Wednesday 20^th July           -           Y3 Presentation and Parents’ open morning                                                 -           Year Six Performance to parents 7pm

Friday 22 July                         -           Leavers’ Mass 9.30am in church

                                                            END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Thursday 1^st September      -            INSET (school closed)

Friday 2^nd September         -            INSET (school closed)

Monday 5^th September      -            First Day back after summer break                                                            for children in Years 1-6

                                                                                    

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Library

During this week, we have been cataloguing the library onto a computer.  Can I thank staff and volunteer parents for their hard work in getting the library up and running.

It is important that all library books are placed onto our library system so please could you check at home for any library books and bring them in immediately.  Thank you.

Sex and Relationship education

During the week of 20^th June, your child will be having lessons on ‘Education in Personal Relationships’, which includes sex education. The children will be learning about relationships following our new Catholic Scheme: ‘Journey in Love’.  The teaching follows the Catholic Church’s policy on sex and relationship education. If you have any concerns or would just like to find out more about the programme, please see your child’s teacher or contact the office, where you will be able to see copies of what each year will follow.

Sports Day

Weather permitting, sports day will take place on the school field (Forest Road) on Tuesday 21^st June, between 9.30am and 12pm.  Parents/guardians, friends and governors are all very welcome to come and support the children.

Topic Presentations and information sessions

This term, the children will invite their parents into their class at the beginning of the day, where they will tell the story of their learning in their most recent topic. Following the presentation, parents and carers will be able to stay for a short while to look at their child’s work. Dates are in the calendar.

Extended School Club (ESC)

As well as the existing morning and afternoon sessions Extended School Club (ESC) can now be booked for long after school sessions until 5.30pm at a cost of £5 a session.  Parents must book children onto ESC in advance using the School Gateway.

Uniform

As you may be aware I am asking pupils, parents, governors and staff to give their views on the uniform designs on offer.

Most of the uniform is staying the same, navy blue and dark grey. The shirt colour will be pale blue for practical reasons.

There are 2 questions to consider:

Do you prefer a collar and tie or a soft collar polo-shirt?

Do you prefer knitted  jumpers/cardigans or sweatshirt jumpers/cardigans

A voting slip was included in a letter sent home with each child on Wednesday. Please return the completed slip by Friday 17th June if you wish to vote.

The final uniform design will be included in the following newsletter with details of where and how items can be bought.

The new uniform will then be available to buy and will be introduced in September 2016. There will be a transition period where old uniform will be accepted.

After this transition time all children will be expected to wear full uniform.

Welcome

We would like to welcome Mrs Sawers to our lunchtime team.  You may also notice that Mrs Dowe is helping out in the school office Wednesday to Friday for a couple of hours each day.

Confirmation Mass

Bishop Declan is coming to St Joseph’s church on Tuesday 14th June to celebrate the Confirmation Mass at 7pm. All are warmly welcome to attend.

Cricket Success!

Please read Benjamin’s account of St Joseph’s Cricket Team’s success which is attached to the end of this newsletter! Well done to the team for a fantastic 3rd place!

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 13th June, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Alison (R), Oscar (R), Sophiya (Y1), Hollie (Y1), Maisah (Y1), Eóghan (Y2), Shayne (Y2), Philip (Y3), Pawel (Y5), Thomas (Y5)

Super Stars: Lyra (Y2), Ben (Y2), Jeremy (Y3), Lamoiya (Y5), Harry J (Y2)

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 21^st June                 - Sports Day 9.30am (weather permitting or on
                                                   23^rd June)

Wednesday 22^nd June        - Year 6 Retreat – St Brendan’s

Tuesday 23rd June               - In the event of poor weather on 21^st Sports Day
                                                  will be on 23^rd

Tuesday 28^th June                - Year 5 Aquinas sports day

Wednesday 29^th June         - SS Peter and Paul Mass in church 9.30am
                                                - New Parents’ Evening 5.30pm

Friday 1^st July                        - INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                   - INSET (school closed)

Thursday 7^th July                   - Y5 Presentation and Parents’ open morning              

Friday 8^th July                        - Y1 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Tuesday 12^th July                  - Rec Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Wednesday 13^th July           - Y4 Presentation and Parents’ open morning

Thursday 14^th July                 - Y2 Presentation and Parents’ open morning
                                                - Prize giving 5.30-6.30 

Friday 15^th July                      - Columbus sports day – Air Balloon
                                                - Columbus music concert

Wednesday 20^th July           - Y3 Presentation and Parents’ open morning                                                  - Year Six Performance to parents 7pm

Friday 22 July                         - Leavers’ Mass 9.30am in church

Thursday 1^st September      - INSET (school closed)

Friday 2^nd September         - INSET (school closed)

Monday 5^th September      - First Day back after summer break for children in
                                                   Years 1-6

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Cricket by Benjamin

Yesterday, a group of Year 5s and Year 6s went to a cricket tournament at the Bristol West Indies Cricket Club.  There were 10 other schools at the tournament.  In our group, there were two other teams. They were Summerhill and St Nicholas.

In our first game, we played Summerhill.  Their team were batting first and started on 200 runs but 5 runs were taken away if they lost a wicket.  In the end Summerhill managed 232.  After this, it was our turn to bat.  We had 8 overs to chase the total down.  In the last over, we needed 5 runs to win and we got 5 runs! We had a quick break before our next match.

In order to go to the Semi Finals, we had to beat St Nicholas.  In this game, they were batting first and got 243 runs.  Then it was our turn to bat.  We thought it was going to be very close so we were very tense.  Before the last over, we asked the umpire how many runs we had got and we had 273 runs!  In the end, we managed 268 runs but we were happy because we won!  After our game, all the schools were told to go to the front.  The directors of the tournament congratulated everyone but they said there had to be four winners to advance to the Semi Final.  There were three groups and the winners of the groups were: Chester Park, Sefton Park and us!  Since there were only three teams in the Semi Finals, there was a best runner up which was Minerva.

In the Semi-Finals, we played Sefton Park.  We knew that they had won the tournament 10 years running, so we knew they were going to be tough, but we still tried our best.  This time we were batting first and we hit 225 runs. Even though we didn’t hit lots of runs, we were determined to win.  Unfortunately, Sefton Park beat us by 15 runs. Overall we finished 3^rd.  We were very proud of ourselves and the people who represented our school at the tournament were Benjamin, Dominic, Jaimie, Marlen, Jeswin, Vanessa, Claudia, Rebeca, Julia and Alesha.