Dear Parents/Carers,

An early newsletter from me this week as I’m off on my bike, this afternoon, to join the Y6 on their camp in the Forest of Dean.

Dr Bike Visit and Bike–it Breakfast

There will be a Bike-it Breakfast as well as a visit from Dr Bike on Thursday 27^th February, at 8.30am onwards. Dr Bike is a mechanic who is able to carry out general maintenance and repairs at no cost. Both children and parents can bring their bikes in, have some breakfast and get their bikes checked out.

Parking in the Local Area

Last week, ‘Active Ian’ from Sustrans  joined our Years 4, 5 and 6 looking at road safety in the local area. I joined Year 5 who were looking at all the places that parents could safely park within a 5 minute radius from the school. They found out there were many quiet places where parents could park so they would not have to park in Chatsworth Road.

Parking a bit further away means nobody should need to park on the zig-zag lines. We’ve also had complaints that parents are blocking our neighbours in because they are parking across residential drives. Please consider others and do not to park in front of our neighbours’ drives.

Education Sunday 2014 – Sunday 16^th February

Education Sunday is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in the world of education. For more than 100 years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales (traditionally on the ninth Sunday before Easter).

Term 3’s Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

Due to Y6 camp week, this will now be held after the holiday on Wednesday 26^th February. Children with 100% attendance will be given 2 tickets; one to take home so that parents know they have a non-uniform day on Wednesday 26^th February and one to be kept in school for the draw during Wednesday’s Assembly. All parents and carers are invited to this assembly.

This term, children who have 100% attendance but have attended 1 medical appointment taking up no more than ½ a day, will also be included.

Because punctuality this year is still disappointing, when entering children into the draws, we will be entering all children with 100% attendance and no more than 2 late arrivals to school.

Dates for Diaries

Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3

Sunday 16^th February                                  -           Education Sunday
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26th February                                     -           Term 3 Good Attendance Assembly
Wednesday 26^th February                          -           Parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Dr. Bike (mechanic) and Bike-it breakfast
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Year 6 parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Full Governing Body Meeting
Wednesday 5^th March                               -           Ash Wednesday Mass in Church
Wednesday 12^th March                             -           Year 5 class mass
Thursday 6^th March                                      -           Parents’ evening
March 3th – 14th 2014                                 -           The Big Pedal 2014 (cycling event)
Wednesday 19^th March                             -           St Joseph’s Day mass in school
Thursday 20th March                                   -           E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Saturday 22^nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family cycle day (details coming soon)
Wednesday 26th March                            -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                             -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                             -           Year 1 class mass
Wednesday 2^nd April                                   -           Year 3 class mass
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                         –          E-safety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Friday 4^th April                                               -           Easter Mass in Church
Friday 4^th April                                               -           End of Term 4
Tuesday 22^nd April                                        -           Start of Term 5
Wednesday 23^rd April                                  -           Year 2 class mass
Wednesday 30^th April                                  -           Year R and 6 class mass
Wednesday 7^th May                                               -           Year 4 class mass
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week
Friday 23^rd May                                             -           End of Term 5
Saturday 28^th June                                       -           Summer Fair
Sunday 29^th June                                          -           First Holy Communion

 

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Goodbye

Sadly we will soon be saying goodbye to a valued member of the St. Joseph’s team. Mrs Janet Thomas is one of the school’s longest serving staff, having joined the team in 1991. She has worked tirelessly behind the scenes as a school cleaner helping to make the school such a positive environment for the children.

We thank her for her service to our community and we wish her lots of luck for the future when she leaves at the end of February.

Parent Tea and Coffee Afternoons

We’d like to invite parents in again on Tuesday 11^th February from 2.45pm onwards for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat before collecting the children at 3.30pm.

Education Sunday 2014 – Sunday 16^th February

Education Sunday is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in the world of education. For more than 100 years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales (traditionally on the ninth Sunday before Easter).

Attendance and Unauthorised Leaves of Absence

This week we met with our local authority Education Welfare Officer to look at attendance. Whilst overall absence due to illness looked positive, we still have a problem with many families taking children out of school for extended periods during term time. Overall this year over 200 school days have been lost in school due to unauthorised absences.

Whilst there are often reasons given for these absences, and we realise that many families have relatives who live abroad, the school has no choice but to consider taking further action when excessive leave is taken in term time. This action is likely to include issuing fines.

We would ask for your support in this matter and arrange any holidays and family visits to fall within the average twelve weeks of holiday from school.

Term 3’s Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

Due to Y6 camp week, this will now be held after the holiday on Wednesday 26^th February. Children with 100% attendance will be given 2 tickets; one to take home so that parents know they have a non-uniform day on Wednesday 26^th February and one to be kept in school for the draw during Wednesday’s Assembly. All parents and carers are invited to this assembly.

This term, children who have 100% attendance but have attended 1 medical appointment taking up no more than ½ a day, will also be included.

Because punctuality this year is still disappointing, when entering children into the draws, we will be entering all children with 100% attendance and no more than 2 late arrivals to school.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Tuesday 11th February, at 9.10am where the following children will receive their Headteacher’s award: Meikel (Y4) Barti (Y4), Dashana (Y1), Clara (R), Rishon (R), Maeya (R), Jennifer (Y5), Tihanna (Y2), Josh (Y3) and Nathan (Y3).

Super Stars Sport awards:  Joseph (Y6), Evelyn (Y1), Ridah (Y4), Liam (Y2), Jamie (Y3), Philip (Y1)

Super Stars Art awards:  Mathews (Y6), Julia (Y4)

Energy Club awards: Josh (Y3), Isabel (Y3), (Allen (Y3), Aleena (Y5), Lorenzo (Y2), Szymon (Y1), Adam (Y1), Jesselyn (Y1), Ruby (Y1) and Joseph (Reception)

Dates for Diaries

Monday 10^th February                                -           Y6 camp week

Tuesday 11^th February 2013                                    -           Safer Internet Day 2014
Tuesday 11th February at 2.45pm             -           Parents’ tea and coffee afternoon
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 1 topic presentation
Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3
Sunday 16^th February                                  -           Education Sunday
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26th February                                     -           Term 3 Good Attendance Assembly
Wednesday 26^th February                          -           Parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Dr. Bike (mechanic) and Bike-it breakfast
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Year 6 parent’s evening
Thursday 27^th February                                -           Full Governing Body Meeting
Wednesday 5^th March                                -           Ash Wednesday Mass
Thursday 6^th March                                      -           Parent’s evening
March 3th – 14th 2014                                 -           The Big Pedal 2014 (cycling event)
Thursday 20th March                                   -           Esafety day at St Bernadette (Year 5)
Saturday 22^nd March                                   -           St Joseph’s family Cycle Day (details soon)
Wednesday 26th March                             -           Year 2 topic presentation
Wednesday 26^th March                              -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 topic presentation
Thursday 3rd April                                        –          Esafety day at St Bernadette (Year 6)
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week

 

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

First Holy Communion

There will be a parents meeting after mass (11.00am) on Sunday 2^nd February in St Joseph’s Pre School (Rainbow Room) for all who are interested in receiving their First Holy Communion this year.

Sports at St Joseph’s

Just a little update from Mrs Gilvear with regards to sports at St Joseph's:

Because children are playing so well this year, we are able to add a bit more competition to the lunchtime activities. We are currently running a variety of competitive games (in particular hockey, football and basketball) with year groups playing against each other. This so far has given some surprising results including Year 1 beating Year 2 at football and Year 5 beating Year 6 in hockey!

In the coming months there will be lots of different sports and competitions so watch this space!

Guidance on Sickness and Diarrhoea

National guidance states children with these conditions should be kept off school. They can return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear.

Occasionally there may be a clear reason why the child has been sick which is not related to an infection (e.g sometimes children may be sick due to coughing). In these cases it is possible that the child may come into school before the 48 hour period, but this must only happen with the school’s agreement.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Parent Helpers

Next Tuesday ‘Active Ian’ (from Sustrans the cycle charity) will be running a series of 1 hour Safety Workshops in Years 4, 5 and 6. If would like to come along, help and join the fun, please let the office know.

Attendance

Well done to the following classes with their attendance last week.

·         Year 3 with 99%

·         Year 5 with 98%

·         Year 6 with 98%

This means Year 3 will have a special non-uniform day on Friday 7^th February.

Lateness

Still on some mornings I am greeting many children who are arriving late for school. Children who arrive late often come to school unsettled and embarrassed. Can I please ask all parents to ensure their children are ready to line up for school at 8.55am. Where lateness is an ongoing concern, we will be asking parents to come into school and discuss matters further.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 3^rd February, at 9.10am where the following children will receive their Headteacher’s award:  Jeleil (Y6), Melita(Y2) and Christian (Y1)

Super Stars Sport:  Casper (Y1), Evelyn (Y1), Michal (Y1), Javier (Y2), Sophie (Y2), Thomas (Y3), Pawel (Y3), Cheyenne (Y3), Olivia (Y4), Izza (Y6), David (Y6) and Alfie (Y6)

Super Stars Art:  Paige (Y2) and Shane (Reception)

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 4^th February                                   -           Safety workshops in Years 4, 5 and 6

Friday 7^th February                                       -           Year 6 topic presentation (change of date)
Friday 7^th February                                       -           Year 3 attendance non-uniform day
Friday 7^th February                                       -           Year 4 topic presentation
Monday 10^th February                                -           Y6 camp week
Tuesday 11^th February 2013                       -           Safer Internet Day 2014
Tuesday 11th February at 3pm                  -           Parents’ tea and coffee afternoon
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 1 topic presentation
Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26th March                            -           Year 2 topic presentation (change of date)
Wednesday 26^th March                              -           Year 3 topic presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 topic presentation
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Matt Condon
Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

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.

Parent Helpers

As always, we welcome any parent helpers who would be able to read with children. The gardening club would also welcome any parents who are available to help during lunchtimes. Please see the office if you can help and thank you in advance for any support you can give.

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 parent/carers on internet use:

www/saferinternet.org.uk

There is also useful information on the main Internet Safety link on the school website.

Updated Contacts/Medical

If your child’s contact details or any new medical conditions have changed since the end of last term, could you please let the office know as soon as possible.  Also a reminder that medicine can only be administered if it has been prescribed by the doctor, with the child’s name on and a Parental agreement form from the school office to administer medicine.

Attendance

Well done to the following classes with their attendance last week.

·         Year 3 with 98%

·         Year 4 with 97%

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 27th^th January, at 9.10am where the following children will receive their headteachers award: Kealen (Y5), Josmi (Y5), Martyna (Y5), Jess (Y1) Meikel (Y4) and Lyra (Reception)

Dates for Diaries

Friday 24^th January                                      -           Reception non-uniform (good attendance)

Monday 27^th January                                  -           School E-Safety week
Tuesday 28^th January                                  -           Reception reading meetings
Wednesday 29^th January                           -           Y6 visit to Swindon Steam Museum
Friday 31^st January                                       -           Year 2 Assembly (Chinese New Year)
Thursday 6^th February                                  -           Year 6 Topic Presentation
Friday 7^th February                                       -           Year 4 Topic Presentation
Monday 10^th February                                -           Y6 camp week
Tuesday 11th February at 3pm                  -           Parents’ tea and coffee afternoon
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 1 Topic Presentation
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 2 Topic Presentation
Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Monday 24^th February                                -           Y6 – Lifeskills visit
Wednesday 26^th March                              -           Year 3 Topic Presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Reception Reading Sessions

Thank you to the parents who attended yesterday’s informal sessions about reading at home. The afternoon was fully booked so we are arranging a second group of meetings on the afternoon of Tuesday 28^th January.

If you would like to meet Miss Phillips, please let her know to arrange a time.

Parent’s Tea and Coffee afternoons

A big thank you to parents who joined us for tea, coffee and cake yesterday afternoon. We’d like to invite parents in again on Tuesday 11^th February from 2.45pm onwards.

 

Zig Zag Lines

This week all the children learnt in assembly that all parents need to:

Please do this to help make our roads safer for everybody.

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.

Topic Presentations

As you all know, these are short presentations where the children tell the story of their learning in their most recent topic. These presentations are in dates for diaries.

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 time missed will need to be recorded as unauthorised.

Attendance

Well done to Reception with an outstanding 100% attendance last week.  They will be able to wear non-uniform on Friday 24^th January. Also well done to Year 5 who had really good attendance with 98%.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 20^th January, at 9.10am where the following children  will receive their headteachers award: Abby (Y2), Marlen (Y3), Lamoiya (Y3) Leona (R), Jeremy (Y1), Tash (Y4), Jake (Y5), Allena (Y5, James (Y6) and David (Y6)

Super Star Sports Awards: Agnel (Y1), Ruby (Y1), Kayla (Y2), Isobel (Y2), Rimmon (Y3), Areeba (Y3), Lachontay (Y4), Vanessa (Y4) and Harry (Y6).

Super Stars Art Award: Philip (Y1)

Dates for Diaries

Friday 24^th January                                      -           Reception non uniform (good attendance)

Monday 27^th January                                  -           School E-Safety week
Tuesday 28^th January                                  -           Reception reading meetings
Wednesday 29^th January                           -           Y6 visit to Swindon Steam Museum
Friday 31^st January                                       -           Year 2 Assembly (Chinese New Year)
Thursday 6^th February                                  -           Year 6 Topic Presentation
Friday 7^th February                                       -           Year 4 Topic Presentation
Monday 10^th February                                -           Y6 camp week
Tuesday 11th February at 3pm                  -           Parents’ tea and coffee afternoon
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 1 Topic Presentation
Wednesday 12^th February                          -           Year 2 Topic Presentation
Friday 14th February                                    -           End of Term 3
Monday 24^th February                                -           Start of Term 4
Wednesday 26^th March                              -           Year 3 Topic Presentation
Wednesday 2nd April                                 -           Year 5 Topic Presentation
Monday 12th May 2014                              -           Year 6 SATs week

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Matt Condon
Headteacher