7^th November, 2014

Dear Parents/Carers,

Tablets Found in the Reception Courtyard

Earlier this week a packet of tablets was found in the Reception class courtyard. They were found first thing in the morning and thankfully, a parent passed them to a member of staff, meaning they were not found by a child.

This was obviously just an accident, where I suspect the tablets fell out of somebody’s pocket, however had a child found the tablets the consequences could have obviously been very serious.

Can I ask that everybody is very careful with medication that can easily fall out of a pocket and into the wrong, small hands.

A big thank you to the parent who handed them in.

St Joseph’s Pre-School Samaritan's Purse Appeal

Please help support the Samaritan's Purse Appeal which helps to distribute shoe box Christmas gifts to children who may not otherwise get anything.

You will need a shoe box. Decide if you are going to fill it for a boy or a girl. (Please check age categories and gift suggestions). Please read the attached letter for more information. Your support really will make a difference to children around the world.

Please bring your completed boxes to St Joseph's Pre-school by Wednesday 12th November. Thank you.

Children in Need

To support Children in Need children can wear their own clothes or Children in Need themed clothes next Friday (14^th November). Donations of £1 would be very much appreciated.

School Crossing Patrol Vacancy

Are you looking for a part-time term time only job?  Could you help school children attending St Josephs RC Primary get to school safely? There is a vacancy at our school!

The pay is currently £6.44 an hour and we pay 10 hours per week, this is annualised so you get paid every month.  Full training and uniform will be provided.  This is a term time only role so you get all school holidays. 

If you are interested or would like more information please contact Frances Dansie on 9224464 or 07500120320.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Infant (Rec – Y2) Christmas Disco

A flyer for this festive event was sent home before the holiday. A big thank you to the parents who are organising it.

Book Fair

We are planning a Book fair for the week beginning 24^th November. This is an opportunity to buy great Christmas presents. The commission we receive from sales goes straight back into the school, providing books for our newly refurbished school library.

To help make it an even greater success, we would really appreciate any parents who are available to run the Book Fair for 20 minutes after school. The more help we get the more books we can buy!

After School Clubs and our Extended School Club

Last year we had requests for children to be supervised between school clubs (i.e. When a club finishes earlier than another). To help parents we can offer a place at the extended school club for these short periods at a cost of £1.50. Like the usual Extended School Club all places must be booked in advance using the form available in the school office.

Attendance for After School Clubs

We have had a number of children who are attending after school clubs on a sporadic basis. For these opportunities to be effective we do need commitment from children. If children miss more than 2 sessions without good reason, parents will be contacted to discuss ending their participation.

Updated Email Addresses

If your email address has changed, could you please let the office know? Also, if your address, telephone or mobile number has changed, please let the office know in case of emergencies.

Attendance

Well done to Reception who had 99% attendance for last week of term 1. They will have a special non-uniform day on Thursday 13^th November.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday at 9.15am, where the following children will receive their headteacher’s award:  Karam (Y3), Olivia (Y6), Adam (Y2), Isabel (Y4), Owen (Y5) and Bogdan (Y1).

Super Stars Award: Aidan (Y2), Alena (R), Joel (Y6), Franiciszek (Y1), Eoghan (Y1), Salvatore (Y5), Taya (Y3) and Jamie (Y4).

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 11^th November                             -           Year 6 Remembrance Assembly at 10.40am

Thursday 13th November                           -          Y1 Playspace visit

Friday 14^th November                                 -           Children in Need non-uniform

Tuesday 18^th Novemeber                           -           Y6 camp meeting

Thursday 20^th November                            -           Full Governing Body Meeting

Monday 24^th November                             -           Book fair week (any help appreciated!)

Wednesday 26^th November                      -           Year 1 and Year 2 Topic Presentations

Saturday 29^th November                            -           Parish Christmas Fair           

Saturday 29^th November                            -           Parish Christmas Fair

Monday 1^st December                               -           Year 3 Topic Presentation/Celebration assembly

Wednesday 3^rd December                        -           Year 4 and Year 5 Topic Presentations

Wednesday 3^rd December                        -           Year 4 class mass

Monday 8^th December                              -           Year 6 Topic Presentation/Celebration

Thursday 11th December                           -           Infant Nativity – 2.30pm

Friday 12th December                                -           Infant Nativity – 9.30am

Wednesday 17^th December                      -           Carol Concert in Church

Thursday 18^th December                            -           Infant Christmas Disco

Friday 19^th December                                 -           Christmas Mass in Church

Friday 19th December                                -           End of Term 2

Monday 5th January                                   -           Start of Term 3

Monday 2nd February                                -           Staff training day (school closed)

Friday 17th July                                             -           End of school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon, 

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Infant (Rec – Y2) Christmas Disco

A flyer for this festive event will be sent home today. A big thank you to the parents who are organising it.

After School Clubs - Mandarin and Textiles

Mandarin classes will not resume after half-term, due to family commitments.  We hope this club resumes in April 2015.

Textiles club will run on a bi-termly basis this year. This means that textiles club will now break until after Christmas.

Can I take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Johnson and Ms. O’Connor for their commitment and expertise running these great clubs.

After School Clubs and our Extended School Club

Last year we had requests for children to be supervised between school clubs (i.e. When a club finishes earlier than another). To help parents we can offer a place at the extended school club for these short periods at a cost of £1.50. Like the usual Extended School Club all places must be booked in advance using the form available in the school office.

Attendance for After School Clubs

We have had a number of children who are attending after school clubs on a sporadic basis. For these opportunities to be effective we do need commitment from children. If children miss more than 2 sessions without good reason, parents will be contacted to discuss ending their participation.

Updated Email Addresses

If your email address has changed, could you please let the office know? Also, if your address, telephone or mobile number has changed, please let the office know in case of emergencies.

Morrison’s ‘Let’s grow’ Gardening Vouchers

Morrison’s will be giving out Let’s Grow Gardening Vouchers until 26th October 2013.  The School Gardening Club depends on these vouchers which they exchange for seeds, equipment and compost.  If you are not offered the vouchers at the checkout, please ask for them and send them into school as soon as possible.  There is a collection box in the reception area of the school.  Thank you for your continued support.

PE and PE Kits

Can I take this opportunity to remind all parents and carers about the school PE Kit.

(PE kit should be in school all week).

•    PE kit should be complete and labelled – plain white t- shirt, navy shorts, daps and/or trainers for outdoor PE.

•    If the incorrect PE kit is taken home accidentally – please send it back immediately. We have too many kits that are going missing!

•    If due to medical reasons your child is unable to do PE, you need to send a note to your child's class teacher. Please ensure the letter includes details of how long your child is unable to do PE for.

Term 1’s Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

This will be held after the holiday on Wednesday 5th November. 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 5th November 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.

Attendance

Well done to Reception and Y5 with 98% attendance last week.

Overall can I thank you all for supporting us in improving attendance. This term we have had the best term 1 attendance ever!

Dates for Diaries

Monday 3rd November                                         -          Start of Term 2

Wednesday 5th November                                  -           Special attendance assembly

Thursday 6th November                                         -          Y1 Playspace visit

Thursday 13th November                                       -          Y2 Playspace visit

Monday 24^th November                                         -           Book fair week (any help appreciated!)

Thursday 11th December                                       -           Infant Nativity – 2.30pm

Friday 12th December                                            -           Infant Nativity – 9.30am

Thursday 18^th December                                        -           Infant Christmas Disco

Friday 19th December                                            -           End of Term 2

Monday 5th January                                               -           Start of Term 3

Monday 2nd February                                            -           Staff training day (school closed)

Friday 17th July                                                         -           End of school year

Have a great half term holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Reception Story Telling

The Reception children will be performing “The Little Red Hen” in our Celebration Assembly on Monday 20^th October.  Parents are invited to come and watch.

The Infants' Nativity will be on Thursday 11^th December at 2.30pm and Friday 12^th December at 9.30am.

Charity Fundraising by Year 6

On Thursday 25^th September our Year 6 class raised money for ‘Macmillan Cancer Trust.  We held a coffee morning in the school hall and in the afternoon provided a variety of games.

Raising money for Macmillan was fun as well as learning about their work.  This money does not only go to people who have cancer but also to the people and families who have known someone with cancer and they help and support them.

During the coffee morning we made our own delicious cakes and crispy cookies with fantastic tea and coffee.  The coffee morning itself raised over £100!

All you could hear was children laughing and having fun during the afternoon.  Through the chaos in the afternoon we had a variety of games like: blow the ball; pick a stick; nail salon, and much more.  During the busy afternoon some children quoted that ”it was the best year 6 fundraising ever!”

We think the money raised for Macmillan Cancer Trust is a phenomenal amount and well deserved.  We raised £500 WOW!

A massive WOW! I’m  so proud of you all.  Thank you for helping to make the fundraising day so successful.

Written by Aleena

March on Cancer report by pupils in Year 4

Last Saturday we did a march for Stand up to Cancer.                                                                    

We started by the amphitheater in the Millennium Square.  We marched past the harbourside and the old train lines, Zaza Bazar and the lovely water fountains.  We have made over £150.00 at the moment, but we are still collecting.

We watched some videos of people who had cancer, it was heartbreaking.

Written by Cheyenne, Jackson and Fletcher in Year 4.

Updated Email Addresses

If your email address has changed, could you please let the office know? Also, if your address, telephone or mobile number has changed, please let the office know in case of emergencies.

Morrison’s ‘Let’s grow’ Gardening Vouchers

Morrison’s will be giving out Let’s Grow Gardening Vouchers until 26^th October 2013.  The School Gardening Club depends on these vouchers which they exchange for seeds, equipment and compost.  If you are not offered the vouchers at the checkout, please ask for them and send them into school as soon as possible.  There is a collection box in the reception area of the school.  Thank you for your continued support.

End of Term Cake Sale and Free Tea, Coffee and cakes (for parents and carers)

We will be having our termly fundraising cake sale in a few weeks. These are an easy and popular way of bringing parents together, raising some funds for the school and buying some delicious cakes.

We would welcome any parents who are willing to come in for half an hour to help run the sale. Last year's sales were a real success so please let the office know if you can help. We plan on holding our next cake sale on Friday 24^th October at 3.30pm in the school hall. This is the same day as our free tea/coffee and cake afternoon at 2.45pm, so parents could come in for a chat and a drink first.

Attendance

Well done to Y2 for their 100% attendance for the week beginning 29^th September.  Also to Y3 and Y5 with who had 99% during that week.

Well done to Reception who had 99% attendance last week. Y2 and Y6 had very good attendance with 98%.

All classes with 99% or 100% attendance will get a special non-uniform day on Friday 24^th October.

Celebration Assembly

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 20^th October, where the following children will receive their Headteacher's Award:  Liam (Y3), Haris (Y3), Fletcher (Y1), Joel (Y6), Amber (Y4), Cheyenne (Y4), Josh M (Y4), Caspar (Y2), Ellie (Y5), Natasha (Y5), Daniel (Y6) and Shaan (Y6).

Super Stars:- Clara (Y1). Bogdan (Y1), Anns (Y1),Charlie (Y1), Darrell (Y2), (Sammie (Y2), Chloe (Y3), Lorenzo (Y3), Josh (Y4), Pawal (Y4), Beatrice (Y5), Lena (Y5), Taychon (Y6), Josh (Y6), Summer (Y6), Marco (Y3)  Eva (Y1), Alfie (Y5), Janice (Y2) and Jacks (Y1),

Dates for Diaries

Wednesday 22nd October                                             -           Parents Evening

Thursday 23rd October                                                    -           Parents Evening

Friday 24th October                                                         -           Cake Sale and Tea and Coffee

Friday 24th October                                                         -           End of Term 1

Monday 3rd November                                                   -           Start of Term 2

Thursday 6th November                                                  -           Y1 Playspace visit

Thursday 13th November                                               -           Y2 Playspace visit

Thursday 11th December                                               -           Infant Nativity – 2.30pm

Friday 12th December                                                     -           Infant Nativity – 9.30am

Friday 19th December                                                     -           End of Term 2

Monday 5th January                                                        -           Start of Term 3

Monday 2nd February                                                     -           Staff training day (school closed)

Friday 17th July                                                                   -           End of school year

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher