Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to the last newsletter of this school year and my last end of year newsletter as head of St. Josephs.

Your children have had the best year ever and have achieved more than ever before.  

I would like to thank you all for your hard work, friendship and support.

A Message on Behalf of the School Governors

Congratulations to children, parents, carers and school staff for a fantastic year of achievement.  We can all see the excellent results of working together.  Well done everyone.  We have every confidence that next year will be as good or even better!

From Shelagh Williams (Chair of Governors)

Outcomes for 2015

Early Years Foundation Stage Outcomes:

Children working at expected or above (Good Level of Development):

	2013 (current Y2)	2014 (current Y1)	2015
Reading	78%	77%	77%
Writing	64%	64%	67%
Number	54%	70%	77%
Overall good level	50%	63%	63%
National overall level	52%	60%	TBC

Highlights for 2015 include:

•       Attainment at the end of Reception has been sustained at a high level in reading and writing.

•       Improvement in Maths over the last year with many more children reaching the expected level.

•       Great attainment again in reading with 85% of children achieving above national levels.

Key Stage 1 (Year 2) Outcomes for 2015:

	EYFS 2013 Exp +	Level 2+		Level 2b+		Level 2a+		Level 3+
		School	National 14	School	National 14	School	National 14	School	National 14
Maths	54%	96%	92%	93%	80%	63%	53%	33%	24%
Reading	78%	96%	90%	96%	81%	85%	57%	41%	31%
Writing	64%	96%	86%	81%	70%	48%	39%	19%	16%

Highlights for 2015 include:

•       Attainment at the end of KS1 has been sustained above national expectations over the last 3 years.

•       Improvement in Maths over the last year with children achieving above national levels at most levels. There is a particular improvement at the higher levels this year.

•       Great attainment again in reading with 85% of children achieving above national levels.

Key Stage 2 (Year 6) Test Outcomes 2015:

	Sch. level 4+	Nat. level 4+ 2014	Sch. Level 5+	Nat. Level 5+ 2014	Sch. L6	Nat. L6 14
Maths	97%	85%	45%	41%	10%	9%
Reading	97%	86%	61%	45%	0%	0%
Writing	94%	83%	58%	27%	0%	2%
G, P and S	97%	74%	83%	48%	0%	4%
Science	94%		52%
English and Maths	94%	76%	31%	21%

Highlights include:

•       Continued and sustained improvement in all areas with 94% of children achieving Level 4 or higher in all subjects.

•       Good attainment at the higher levels with 50% or over getting Level 5 or more in every area except maths. A wonderful 83% achieving L5 in the Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Test and a continued improvement in reading at Level 5.

Attendance

A big thank you to everybody for improved attendance this year. We are really pleased that attendance has continued to improve and is now 96.8% (just short of our 97% target!). It’s also really good that the number of persistent absentees (with attendance less than 90%) has also decreased this year.

Goodbye and Thank You

Sadly, we will soon be saying goodbye to some valued members of the St. Joseph’s team this summer.

Mrs Fernandez has worked as a Teaching Assistant for the last year,  supporting children across the school in their learning. The children and staff will miss Mrs Fernandez and we wish her lots of luck in her new role at Ashley Down Primary School.

Mr Tom Dawes, who has been working as our PE specialist this term, is also sadly leaving. Mr Dawes has made a great impact in the short time he has been with us and we wish him all the best for the future.

Mrs Anna Davis, who joined the school in 2000, will be retiring at the end of term. Mrs Davis has had a great career with St Joseph’s as a teaching assistant and has had a very positive impact on the lives of the children she has supported in their learning. She will be missed by her colleagues by the many families who she has supported over the years. We wish her great happiness in her retirement.

As you all know Mrs Darville (Year 3) is expecting her first child very soon.  I am sure you will join us in wishing her and her husband all the best and we wish her a very happy maternity leave.

Summer Wedding

During the summer, Miss Perry is getting married. We wish the happy couple a wonderful wedding day and that they are very happy in their married life. When she returns in September, Miss Perry’s married name will be Mrs Ashton.

Year 6 Performance of Pirates of Penzance

Congratulations to the children and staff for their amazing performances during this last week. The standard of singing and acting was fantastic and the story was told with great confidence and intense emotion. I was incredibly proud of all who were involved.

Parent Information Sessions

These short information sessions will take place during the first part of Term 1 from 3pm in each class. In these sessions information will be shared about expectations for the school year and other important information. Reception and Year 6 have already held their meetings. Dates are in Dates for Diaries.

Missing reading books

Can I please ask that all families check if you have any school reading books at home. We are missing lots of books from the library and classes would appreciate any that are returned to school.

School Uniform (another reminder before the holidays)

Uniform for Boys: White shirt or polo shirt Navy blue jumper or school sweatshirt Grey or black trousers Grey or black socks Black shoes or black trainers.

Uniform for Girls: Navy blue or grey pinafore or skirt Navy blue or grey trousers White blouse or polo shirt Navy blue or grey cardigan or school sweatshirt White or blue socks Blue and white or pink/red and white gingham dress Sensible flat black shoes or trainers.

The school uniform can be ordered through Initially Yours. Their telephone number is 0117 9673847.

PE Kit

Could you please send your child in with the correct PE Kit at the beginning of next term which consists of:

o    white T-shirt

o    navy blue or black shorts

o    daps

o    suitable bag for the above with a string loop for hanging.

2015-16 Term Dates

•       Term 1        -           Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 21 October 2015.

•       Term 2        -           Monday 2 November to Friday 18 December 2015.

•       Term 3        -           Monday 4 January to Friday 5 February 2016.

•       Term 4        -           Monday 15 February to Thursday 24 March 2016. ...

•       Term 5        -           Monday 11 April to Friday 27 May 2016. ...

•       Term 6        -           Monday 6 June to Friday 22 July 2016.

Headteacher on Jury Service

Unfortunately I will be on Jury Service for the first 2 weeks of term. Mrs Joseph and Mrs Bell will be in charge in my absence and I expect to be back in school by Monday 14^th September at the latest.

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 1st September                                   -           Start of new school year
Thursday 3rd September at 3pm                      -           Y1 Parents Information Session
Monday 7th September at 3pm                      -           Y2 Parents Information Session
Tuesday 8th September at 3pm                       -           Y3 Parents Information Session
Wednesday 9th September at 3pm                 -           Y4 Parents Information Session
Thursday 10th September at 3pm                    -           Y5 Parents Information Session           
Friday 13^th November                                       -           INSET (school closed)

Thursday 26^th May 2016                                   -           INSET (school closed)

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Rescheduled Sports Afternoon – 14^th July

Weather permitting, a mini-sports afternoon will now take place on the field at 2pm on Tuesday 14^th July. Parents/guardians, friends and governors are all very welcome to come and support the children. 

A Fundraising Appeal from Lisandra in Year 3

Lisandra has been growing her hair with a special purpose for over 1 year now.  She has managed to grow her hair to just over 65cm which is just over 35 inches! On Monday 13^th July, with the help of a local hairdresser (a friendly man from Capello), she will be cutting 10 inches off.  This will then be sent to the Little Princess Trust.  They will then make wigs from Lisandra’s hair and provide them free of charge to special children who due to medical reasons have lost their hair.  They are a small charity without formal funding which was set up in the memory of a very special little girl.

Lisandra will be in the playground everyday next week before and after school also collecting donations and sponsors.

If you would like to donate directly to the trust, then you can via their website. www.littleprincesses.ork.uk or if you would like to text a donation of £5.00, you can be texting WIGSO1 £5.00 to 70070.

Using the Internet at home and E-Safety Week – a reminder

In September we will be introducing a new improved E-Safety policy for children and will be planning some information sessions for parents. 

Attendance and Punctuality Draw.

The Term 6 Attendance and Punctuality Draw will take place during assembly on Wednesday 15^th July at 9.05am.

There will be one prize of a £10.00 Mall shopping voucher for each class.

On this day, every child entered into the draw will have a non-uniform day.

There will be an extra draw for a £10.00 Mall voucher for those children who have achieved 100% attendance during the whole 2014/2015 school year.

Attendance

Well done to Year 4 with 100% attendance last week. Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 had great attendance with 99% and Year 5 had 98%.  

Year 4 will have a special non-uniform day on Thursday 16^th July.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly next Tuesday at 9.15am, where the following children will receive their Headteacher’s Award: Ruby (Y3), Sean (Y3), Kayla (Y3), Lamoiya (Y4), Jeswin (Y5), Beatrice (Y5), Kai (Y6), Talia (Y6), Martyna (Y6), Erikan (Y6), Poppy (Y6), Summer (Y6), Darshan (Y6) and Grace (Y1).

Super Stars: Joseph (Y1), Jessica (Y2), Praise (Y6), Alicja (R), Justina (R), Cheyenne (Y4), Maria (Y6), Sean (Y3). Erikan (Y6), Teia (Y1), Janie (Y2), Ellie (Y5), Alicia (Y1) and Javier (Y3).

Dates for the Calendar

Monday 13^th July                                  -           Y5 Topic Presentation at 9.05am

Tuesday 14^th July                                  -           Y6 performance to parents 7pm

Tuesday 14^th July                                 -           Final Celebration Assembly at 9.05am

Friday 17^th July                                     -           End of Year Mass in Church at 9.30am

Friday 17th July                                    -           End of school year

Tuesday 1^st September                        -           Start of new school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Sports Day – Wednesday 8^th July

Weather permitting, sports day will take place on the field between 9.30am and 12pm 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 please  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, so 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.  This way as well as supporting your own child/ren you can show encourage the children in all of the other year groups too and you’ll get to see a good variety of sport!  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 Mr Dawes, Mrs Darvill or leave a message with the school office. Thank you.

Topic Presentations

These are short presentations where the children tell the story of their learning in their most recent topic. In the summer we also invite parents into class, following the presentation, for 20 minutes, to look at their child’s work. Dates are in the calendar.

A Fundraising Appeal from Lisandra in Year 3

Lisandra has been growing her hair with a special purpose for over 1 year now.  She has managed to grow her hair to just over 65cm which is  just over 35 inches! On Monday 13^th July, with the help of a local hairdresser (a friendly man from Capello), she will be cutting 10 inches off.  This will then be sent to the Little Princess Trust.  They will then make wigs from Lisandra’s hair and provide them free of charge to special children who due to medical reasons have lost their hair.  They are a small charity without formal funding which was set up in the memory of a very special little girl.

Lisandra will be in the playground everyday next week before and after school also collecting donations and sponsors.

If you would like to donate directly to the trust, then you can via their website. www.littleprincesses.ork.uk or if you would like to text a donation of £5.00, you can be texting WIGSO1 £5.00 to 70070.

Using the Internet at home and E-Safety Week – a reminder

As you already know, last week an issue was reported where a 7 year child was asked to share very inappropriate information with a stranger on the Internet. The child was playing a game aT home with her sister and fortunately she reported the incident to her teacher during our 'In the Beginning' Sex and Relationships Education Week. It is positive that the child shared this with her teacher but parents were very concerned that the incident was not shared with them. The incident has been reported to the police and we have spoken again to children in all classes.

In particular it is still a concern that children do not recognise that people can lie about their identify on the Internet and that such people can pose a threat.

In September we will be introducing a new improved E-Safety policy for children and will be planning some information sessions for parents. 

Attendance

Well done to Year 4 with 100% attendance last week, with Year 1 with 99% and Year 5 with 98%. Year 4 will have a special non-uniform day on Friday 10^th July.

Dates for the Calendar

Monday 6^th July - 9.05am          -          (Rescheduled) Assembly for Feast of St Thomas 

Tuesday 7^th July                              -           Y4 Topic Presentation

Wednesday 8^th July am               -           Sports  Day (morning)

Wednesday 8^th July                       -           Y6 Leavers Lunch

Thursday 9th July                           -           Y2 Topic Presentation

Thursday 9th July                           -           Y5 Outdoor experience Malverns

Friday 10^th July                                -           Y6 Elite sports event with local cluster

Friday 10^th July                                -           Y1 and Y3 Topic Presentation

Monday 13^th July                           -           Y5 Topic Presentation

Tuesday 14^th July                            -           Y6 performance to parents 7pm

Tuesday 14^th July                           -          Final Celebration Assembly

Friday 17^th July                                -           End of Year Mass in Church

Friday 17th July                             -         End of school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Head Teacher