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.