Dear Parent/Carer,

INSET

A reminder that the school will be closed to children for staff training this Thursday and Friday (26^th and 27^th May).  The school will reopen on Monday 6^th June.

Library

Children have been allowed to take books home from our school library this year.  These are not always coming back into school and we have noticed that many are missing.  During the first week of next half term, we are having the library catalogued and all books placed onto a computer system so it is really important that we have all library books accounted for. Please could you check at home for any library books and bring them in immediately, before the holiday.  Thank you.

Extended School Club (ESC)

Following numerous enquiries we will be extending the after-school club until 5.30 every day after half term. Booking for term 6 is now open on the School Gateway. If you are interested in using the ESC and haven’t already registered, then please do pick up a form from the School Office as children need to complete a Registration Form before they can use the ESC. We hope you will find the longer hours meet your needs. We will review the demand towards the end of the summer term.

Celebration  Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 16^th May, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Alfie, Libby (Y6), Cheyenne (Y5), Jerin, Jakub (Y4), Aiden (Y3), Rachel, Grace (Y2), Nnaemeka, Elsa, Zachary (Y1), Lara, Alison (Rec)

Super Stars: Amira (Rec), Justina (Y1), Kieran (Y2), Alicia (Y2), Harry (Y2), Jessica (Y3), Charlie (Y5), Claudia (Y6), Sophia (Y1), Rachel (Y2)

Playground news

Please supervise younger children carefully, especially on the monkey bars. A couple of accidents have happened when children in the infants have used this equipment. We are closely supervising it during playtimes, please be aware of this risk and supervise your children if you allow them to use the monkey bars after school.

I hope you all have a lovely relaxing week, and that we get some fine weather!

Dates for Diaries

Thursday 26th May 2016                        -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                             -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                                      -                       End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                                   -                       Start of Term 6

Tuesday 21^st June                                  -                       Sports Day

Friday 1^st July                                          -                       INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                                     -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                                       -                       End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

KS2 SATs

Well done to our Year Sixes for all their hard work last week.  I am sure they have all done really well.  Next week, the Year Two children will be sitting some tests.  Good luck to them.

Extended School Club (ESC)

Booking for Term 6 is now open on the School Gateway. If you are interested in using the ESC and haven’t already registered, then please pick up a form from the School Office as children need to complete a Registration Form before they can use the ESC.

INSET

A reminder that the last two days of Term 5 (26^th and 27^th May) will be closed to children for staff training.

Celebration  Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 16^th May, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Harvey (Y6), Salvatore (Y6), Lisandra (Y4), Ellie (Y4), Emma (Y3), Alvin (Y1), Kyreece, Toby (Rec)

Super Stars: Filip, Tegan (Rec), George, Elsa, Nnaemeka, Mikolaj (Y1),  Clara, Jacks, Franek, Rachel (Y2), Mihal, Janice (Y3), Lamoiya (T5), Josh, (Y5), Michal, Mackenzie (Y6),

Dates for Diaries

Friday 20^th May 2016                       -                       Y5 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Thursday 26th May                           -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                                 -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                                 -                       End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                              -                       Start of Term 6

Tuesday 21^st June                             -                       Sports Day

Friday 1^st July                                     -                       INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                                -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                                 -                       End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

KS2 SATs

There will be no Celebration Assembly this coming Monday due to the beginning of the End of Key Stage Two tests.  The Year Six children have all be working very hard preparing for their tests and we wish them the best of luck.

Job Vacancies:

SMSA We are looking for a new School Meals Supervisory Assistant (SMSA) to work 12-1.30pm Monday-Friday. Please ask at the School Office if you are interested.

School Crossing Patrol

We are looking for a school crossing patrol officer to start as soon as possible.  They would be helping children cross Forest Road.  The hours will be 8.30 – 9.15, then 3.15 – 4.00. Please ask at the School Office if you are interested. 

Extended School Club (ESC)

From the start of Term 6 (6^th June) children will be able to stay at the Extended School Club (ESC) until 5.30pm.  Parents and carers who want to pick their children up before 5pm will still be able to book these sessions for £3.50.  Alternatively parents will be able to book their children onto longer sessions costing a total of £5 a session (i.e. an extra £1.50 per session) if they want to pick their children up between 5 and 5.30pm.  Any children not collected before 5pm will be charged the extra £1.50.  Booking for Term 6 will open on the School Gateway in a few weeks’ time (we will let you know exactly when nearer the time).  In the meantime if you want to find out more about ESC then please ask in the School Office.  If you are interested in using the ESC and haven’t already registered then please pick up a form from the School Office as children need to complete a Registration Form before they can use the ESC.

Lateness

Can I remind parents and carers that the school day ends at 3.30pm. We appreciate that occasionally children are collected late due to unforeseen circumstances. However, it is unacceptable when children are collected late on a regular basis.

Dates for Diaries

Monday 9th May                            -                 Year 6 SAT week     

Friday 13^th May                               -                 Pentecost Mass – 9.30am in Church

Friday 20^th May                               -                 Y5 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Thursday 26th May 2016                 -                 INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                      -                 INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                               -                 End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                            -                 Start of term 6

Friday 1^st July                                   -                 INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                              -                 INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                               -                 End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Playground Party

A huge thank you to everyone who helped at last week’s playground party, and to all of you who came. I know the children enjoyed showing off their new playground and lots of staff and parents commented on the lovely community atmosphere. I look forward to the next whole school event.

PTFA

A letter is being sent home this week with information about establishing a Parent Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA). Look out for the letter and questionnaire, please complete it and return to school and hopefully we can establish a PTFA to enable parents to become involved in school and contribute to school life in many ways that will benefit our children.

Family Mass

It was lovely to see many families from school at 10.00am Mass last week. Father Paul is committed to making this a regular event and is encouraging children from school to become involved in reading and singing at Mass. The next family mass will be on Sunday 22nd May.  Please come along if you can.

Extended School Club (ESC)

From the start of Term 6 (6^th June) children will be able to stay at the Extended School Club (ESC) until 5.30pm.  Parents and carers who want to pick their children up before 5pm will still be able to book these sessions for £3.50.  Alternatively parents will be able to book their children onto longer sessions costing a total of £5 a session (i.e. an extra £1.50 per session) if they want to pick their children up between 5 and 5.30pm.  Any children not collected before 5pm will be charged the extra £1.50.  Booking for Term 6 will open on the School Gateway in a few weeks’ time (we will let you know exactly when nearer the time).  In the meantime if you want to find out more about ESC then please ask in the School Office.  If you are interested in using the ESC and haven’t already registered then please pick up a form from the School Office as children need to complete a Registration Form before they can use the ESC.

Lateness

Can I remind parents and carers that the school day ends at 3.30pm. We appreciate that occasionally children are collected late due to unforeseen circumstances. However, it is unacceptable when children are collected late on a regular basis.

Attendance

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

·         Y4 with 100%

·         Y1 and Y2 with 99%

There will be a special non-uniform day for Y4 on Tuesday 3^rd May.

There will be no celebration assembly next week.

A reminder that Monday 2^nd May is a Bank Holiday and the school will be closed.

Dates for Diaries

Thursday 5^th May                            -                 Y4 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Friday 6^th May                                 -                 Y4 to Caerleon Castle

Monday 9th May                            -                 Year 6 SAT week     

Friday 13^th May                               -                 Pentecost Mass – 9.30am in Church

Friday 20^th May                               -                 Y5 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Thursday 26th May 2016                 -                 INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                      -                  INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                               -                  End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                            -                  Start of Term 6

Friday 1^st July                                   -                  INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                              -                  INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                               -                  End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Community Mass

There will be a Community Mass on Sunday 24th April at 10.00am where everyone is welcome.

School Gateway

Could parents and carers check on the School Gateway to see if they owe any money for school dinners, school trips, music tuition or Extended School Club. Our preferred method of payment for all these activities is via School Gateway.

Lost Property

We have lots of unclaimed lost property in the blue box in the entrance foyer. Can I ask parents, carers and children to check the box, if they have lost anything. We will also put any unclaimed lost property in the playground next Friday at 3.15pm.  Anything left after this will be recycled.

School Library

The school library is now open to parents and children every Monday evening from 3.30-4.00pm.

Celebration  Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 25th April, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Rebecca (Y6), Lorenzo (Y4), Jessica (Y3) and Allen (Y5).

Super Stars:  Alvin (Y1), Hugo (Y2), Christian (Y3), Libby (Y6), Jan (Y1), Samuel (Y5) Charlie (Y2) and Meaghan (R)

Dates for Diaries

Thursday 5^th May                                -                       Y4 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Friday 6^th May                                     -                       Y4 to Caerleon Castle

Monday 9th May                                 -                      Year 6 SAT week     

Friday 13^th May                                    -                       Pentecost Mass – 9.30am in Church

Friday 20^th May                                    -                       Y5 Class Assembly – 9.10am

Thursday 26th May 2016                      -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                            -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                                     -                       End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                                  -                       Start of term 6

Friday 1^st July                                         -                       INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                                    -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                                     -                       End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

Mrs Ashton

We are pleased to announce the safe arrival of Mr and Mrs Ashton’s baby daughter Seren Eve born a month early on Thursday 7^th April.  Mother and baby are doing well.

Playground update

The children have had so much fun this week enjoying the new playground, and there is still more to come!!

We have been making decisions about how the new equipment is to be used to ensure children are safe and supervised and so please be aware of the following 'rules'.

1. Children are not allowed to use the climbing equipment or sandpit before school. This is because there are not adequate levels of supervision at this time.
2. Parents/carers may allow their children to use the playground equipment after school but will be responsible for supervising them at this time. Children may not jump from the climbing frame out of school hours in case they injure other children.
3. All children and adults must leave the school grounds by 3.45. This is because staff are busy after school, Mr Buck needs to lock up and we need to know who is onsite after that, to ensure the safety of children and staff who use the building after the school day finishes for the children.

We have developed a playtime policy and all support and lunch staff have completed an accredited Play-worker training course which has helped us to develop a clear approach to play. We have also involved a group of parents and parishioners in this project. This policy is available in the office and will be on the website shortly.

You may find your child brings a bit of sand or wood-chip home with them, or may have the odd bump or graze from some play activity; but we hope you will support us in encouraging children to have fun and active play-times and accept that these minor mishaps are part of children learning about their own abilities and challenging themselves in their play. The benefits of active play are well evidenced and we know children will enjoy the increased opportunities to:

• Work together, collaborate, and negotiate
• Face physical challenges and take some managed risks
• Improved fitness and health
• Persevere at a task and be resilient
• Develop their imaginations and creativity
• Practice their motor control and develop dexterity
• Have lots of fun

Queen’s 90^th birthday - Playground Party

To celebrate the new playground and the Queen’s 90^th birthday we are inviting all parents and carers to a Playground Party next Thursday, 21st April from 3.30-4.30. All our families are welcome to stay after school to enjoy the playground, there will be some refreshments available and it will be an opportunity to see the playground in action.

Your child may come in red, white and blue non-uniform on that day. We do hope you will join us.

If you are able to contribute some cakes or a cake, please send them in on Thursday morning to your child’s class. 

We do hope you will join us for this exciting celebration.

School Dinners

There has been a change to the pizza toping on Tuesday.  Instead of minced beef topping it is now cheese and tomato.

School Library

The school library is now open to parents and children every Monday evening from 3.30-4.00pm.

Celebration  Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 18^th April, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award: Chinnu (Y6) Lena (Y6), Ibrahim (Y1), Shaun (Y1), Oliwia (Y2),

Harry (Y2), Naomi (Y3) and Helene (Y5).

Super Stars: Jullia (R), Amelia (Y1), Jacob (Y1), Alexandra (Y2), Dashana (Y3), Lena (Y6), Justina (Y1) and Ruby (Y3)

                       

Friday 6^th May                                        -                       Y4 to Caerleon Castle

Monday 9th May                                   -                       Year 6 SAT week     

Thursday 26th May 2016                        -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                              -                       INSET (school closed) 

Friday 27^th May                                       -                       End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                                    -                       Start of term 6

Friday 1^st July                                           -                       INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                                      -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                                       -                       End of School Year

Mrs Jackie McCarthy
Headteacher
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Dear Parent/Carer,

Easter week

Next week we the children will be involved in a number of special events to mark the lead up to Easter. Parents are welcome to join us for the following events:

Tuesday 22nd March ~ Palm service (9.10am)

Wednesday 23rd March ~ Retreat day in school remembering the passion of Christ. (whole school reflection at 3.00pm)

Thursday 24th March ~ Passover Meal (1.45pm)

Playground Update

Well, there is good news and bad news!! 

Good News

• The transformation has begun with some wonderful climbing equipment and a recreation of Weston-Super-Mare in one area. The children are very excited at the prospect of using the new equipment, and so are the staff!
• Our new Lunchtime Manager, Miss Haste, joined us this week, as did two new lunchtime play assistants; Mrs Dowe and Mrs Perez. They are joining our existing team of Mrs Petela, Mrs Martin and Mr Buck. We are delighted to have an excellent team as we move forward with our plans.  Miss Haste will also be working as a Teaching Assistant replacing Mrs Johnson who is leaving to train to become a Maths teacher.
• The lunchtime team and all the classroom support staff have started an accredited Level 2 play-work course this involves 4 modules and will help us to really consider how we are going to provide the best lunch and playtime experiences we can.

Bad News

The new tarmac is not of satisfactory quality and will need replacing. We have negotiated that this additional work will not cost the school any more and the work is likely to be done during May half term. We are taking advice from the Diocesan surveyors to ensure any replacement will be of a high standard and do the job.

Down Syndrome International

Down  Syndrome International invites everyone across the word to wear LOTS OF SOCKS  on Monday 21^st March to raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day.

We can do this if we all wear socks, brightly coloured socks, long socks, printed socks, 1 sock…even 3 socks for 3 chromosomes.  If you don’t normally wear socks, then wear them.

The choice is yours, but we ask you to join us wearing something which people will ask you about so that you can tell them all about WDSD.  It is easy to do so whether you are at home, nursery, school, work, play, travel, holiday or anywhere, join in!  Invite all your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

Fundraising for Lifeskills

Thanks to everyone who came in own clothes and bought cakes at our cake sale on Wednesday.  We raised £263 to help the Lifeskills Centre, Bristol.

Y6

After School Clubs

After School Clubs for next term are Cricket on a Tuesday and Athletics on a Wednesday.  They are open to Years 5 and 6 only on a first come first serve basis.

Reception and Y1

After Easter arrangements for Reception and Y1 arriving in school will change.  Parents’ do not need to bring their children into class at 8.45am, they will now need to wait in the playground for the bell at 8.55am, and be led in by their class teacher. 

School Dinner

There will be fish fingers for lunch (instead of roast) on the last day of term (Thursday 24th March)

Easter Sunday Family Mass

On Easter Sunday the 10 o'clock mass will be a family mass with children from the school participating in the mass, and our choir will be singing. We are hoping lots of staff and families will join us for this mass, and Father Paul plans this to be the first of future regular family masses. Watch this space...

The staff and governors would like to wish all our families a very Happy Easter.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 21st March, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award: Maeya (Y2), Sammie (Y3), Hannah (Y5) and all Y4 Class.

Super Stars:  Eoghan (Y2), Hollie (Y1), Dominic (Y5), Ruby (Y3), Claudia (Y6), Shaun (Y1) and Charlie (Y2)

                       

Thursday 24^th March                                    -                       End of Term 4

Monday 11^th April                                        -                       Start of Term 5

Friday 15^th April                                             -                       Reception Assembly

Monday 9^th May                                          -                       Year 6 SAT week     

Thursday 26th May 2016                              -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May 2016                                    -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 27^th May                                             -                       End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                                          -                       Start of term 6

Friday 1^st July                                                 -                       INSET (school closed)

Monday 4^th July                                            -                       INSET (school closed)

Friday 22^nd July                                             -                       End of School Year

Mrs McCarthy,

Headteacher