Friday, 23 September 2016

Dear Parent/Carer,

Chaplaincy Team
The chaplaincy team visited Downside Abbey this week on a pilgrimage with other schools from Bristol. We were delighted to be able to pass through the Holy Door of Mercy in the Abbey and take part in a service, reflecting on how we can be merciful in our lives.

Trip report from Chaplaincy Team:
‘Yesterday the chaplaincy team went to Downside Abbey for a pilgrimage. It was exciting. At the start we did a warm-up and it was to make friends from other schools, we made loads! We met a priest called Dominic and he had a funny puppet parrot who taught us lots of things.
We had a little Mass and we read the bidding prayers. We decorated pictures of candles and placed them around the cross. We learned about how the church was made. It was one of the best trips ever because we has so much fun and found out lots. Our trip was so cool!’
By the Chaplaincy Team: Dominic, Jackson, Areeba, Wiktoria, Cheyenne, Marlen, Allen, Jaimie and Kiara

Residential trips in 2016/17
Letters about residential trips (Camp) went out to all children this week. This year we are offering 3 camps.

Year 4 and 5
In December we are going on a 2 day retreat to St Cassian Centre in Kintbury. We will be thinking all about Advent and preparing for Christmas.
In May Year 4 and 5 children will be going to Barton Camp for 3 days and will make use of the excellent facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, adventure playground, sports hall, woods and fields. They will have fun doing lots of exciting activities.
There is a short meeting to find out more about both trips on Friday 30th September at 3.30pm.

Year 6
Children in Year 6 will spend a week in February at Dean Field Studies Centre taking part in a fantastic programme of exciting adventurous activities, including canoeing and caving.
There is a short meeting to find out more on Monday 26th September at 3.30pm.

New Crossing Patrol
We are pleased to announce that Mrs Perez will start as our new school crossing patrol on Monday 3rd October.  Mrs Perez will help families cross the road by the school gates on Forest Road.

PTFA
We have an active PTFA and they have some exciting plans for this year. The PTFA Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday 30th September at 3.30 in the main hall. Please come along and find out how you can become involved in this friendly and welcoming group.

Clubs
Places are still available at some after school clubs. Please encourage your children to join these clubs. It is important that we have sufficient numbers otherwise clubs may need to be cancelled.
Forms for all after school clubs are available from the school office or for Rugby: https://www.roaringrugby.co.uk/booking/.


Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Lunchtime
Italian Club
Mrs Serle
KS2 children

Art Club
Miss Coates
KS2 Children


Gardening Club
Mrs Petela
KS2 children
Cup Stacking
Mr Conlon
Y 5 and 6 children
Colouring Club
Miss Garnier
KS1 and 2

After school
(3.30-4.30)
Athletics
KS2 children
Mad Science
KS1 and 2 Children
Choir
Mrs Marsh
KS2 Children

Hockey
KS1 children

Rugby
KS2 children

Football
KS2 children


Primary and Secondary School Applications
If you have a child born between 1st September 2012 and 31st August 2013 you need to apply for a primary school place by 15th January 2017.  See Dates for Diaries below for information about our open days for families considering St Joseph’s Reception Class for September 2017.
If you have a child born between 1st September 2005 and 31st August 2006 you need to apply for a secondary school place by 31st October 2016.  For more information about applying to a Bristol School please visit:  https://www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/school-admissions.

Celebration Assembly
There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 26th September, where the following children will receive their head teacher’s award:  Toby Palmer (Y1) Maya Penar (Y1) Jacob Olive (Y2), Adedeji(Y3) Chetavia (Y3), Jeremy (Y4),  Dom (Y5), Thomas (Y6).

Dates for Diaries
Monday 26th September                - Chaplaincy Induction day at St Brendan’s
                                                             College
Monday 26th September                - Year 6 Camp Meeting (3.30pm)
Friday 30th September                    - PTFA Annual General Meeting (3.30pm)
Friday 30th September                    - Year 4 and 5 Camp meeting (3.30pm)
Thursday 20th October                    - PTFA Infant Disco  
Thursday 6th October                      - Open morning for Reception 2017 parents
                                                             (9.30-10am)
Wednesday 19th October             - Harvest Festival Service 9.30 in school
Thursday 10th November                - Open morning for Reception 2017 parents
                                                             (9.30-10am)
Thursday 24th November                - Open afternoon for Reception 2017 parents
                                                            (2-2.30pm)
Wednesday 30th November          - Advent Mass 9.30 in school
Tuesday 6th December                   - Infant Nativity 2.30pm
Wednesday 7th December            - Infant Nativity 9.30am (repeat)
Wednesday 7th December            - Christmas Lunch for all pupils
Thursday 8th – Friday 9th Dec        - Years 4/5 Trip to Kintbury
Tuesday 13th December                 - Pantomime trip for Infant Classes
Wednesday 14th December          - Infant Christmas Parties (am)
Wednesday 14th December          - Theatre trip for Junior Classes (pm)
Thursday 15th December                - Junior Christmas Parties (pm)
Friday 16th December                     - School breaks up for Christmas Holidays
                                                             (2pm finish)

School term dates 2016-17
Term 1              1/9/16 – 21/10/16                 Term 2              31/10/16 – 16/12/16
Term 3              3/1/17 - 10/2/17                    Term 4              20/2/17 – 7/4/17
Term 5              24/4/17 – 26/5/17                 Term 6              5/6/17 – 21/7/17
We will inform parents of the dates of the remaining INSET days as soon as possible.


Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

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