Newsletter 21st June 2019

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had a busy few weeks at St Joseph’s! Year 6 have been on their residential trip to Marwell, close to the New Forest and had a fantastic time. Please see the pictures on our school website.

Sports

Numerous sporting activities have taken place over the past few weeks. Children across year groups have experienced sailing, golf, athletics, cricket, gymnastics and various challenge days. This week our Year 3 came second in the Southwark indoor athletics at Bacon’s college! Well done Year 3! 90 pupils in Year 5&6 went on The Battersea Park Fun Run this week. Well done to all who participated.

Multiplication Tables Check

This week the trial multiplication tables check are taking place for Year 4.  Next academic year this becomes a statutory test for children in Year 4.  It would be helpful if times tables practice became part of your home routine. It would be good to start this over the summer holidays.  Use My Maths for resources.  

Science Week

A big thank you to Mrs May, our Science coordinator who has arranged a great week of Science activities for every class.  We have taken part in The Great Science Share which allows children to communicate something they have been investigating which starts from a question they are interested in. An exploration into Forensic Science was the order of the day for the Junior School whilst the Infants have had a day of investigations into skeletons, electricity, fireworks and fingerprints. Sounds exciting!

Friends of St Joseph’s

We have a group of parents who have created the ‘Friends of St Joseph’s’.  This group aims to support the school with fund raising and fun events.  You will be hearing more from them in the future but in the meantime if there is anyone who would like to find out more about the work this group and how you could support the school please speak to someone in the office. 

First Holy Communion

This year’s First Holy Communion cohort will make their First Holy Communion this Saturday 22^nd June.  All are welcome to attend this wonderfully special ceremony. Remember to be at the church by 11.30am and sit in the gallery.

Signing for Passports

We appreciate that it is difficult and somewhat expensive to find professionals to sign for passports. The school knows families and children well so sometimes it is the first port of call.  However, it has been increasingly time consuming to do this.  The Home Office has been sending documentation back to school for further verification.  This again is time consuming as the documents are complex. Please ask at the school office and give time for your request for passport completion to be answered.  All requests must go through the school office and please do not be offended if the answer is no at the time of your request.

Behaviour

As we come towards the end of our academic year sometimes children’s behaviour gets very excitable. Please remember that the school tries to ensure that behaviour expectations are upheld in all circumstances.  The primary educators of the children are the parents/carers and this includes teaching them manners, courtesy to peers and adults and responding to instructions.  Let’s hope we have a good end of term and that we remember we are here to help each other.

Dates for your diary

Saturday 22^nd June:   First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart Church from 11.30am

Friday 28^th June:         Infant Mass ‘Going out to make a better world’

Friday 28^th June:         Friends of St Joseph’s Bake Sale after school – Infant playground

Monday 1^st July:         One World Week begins

Thursday 4^th July:       One World Week Sale - playground after school

Thursday 11^th July:     Junior Sports Day at Myatt’s Field

Monday 15^th July:       Infant Sports Day at Myatt’s Field

Tuesday 16^th July:      Year 6 Leavers’ Production

Thursday 18^th July:     Year 6 Leavers’ Mass 6.30pm at Sacred Heart followed by Disco

Friday 19^th July:          Last day of the summer term

Mrs A Gallagher

Executive Headteacher

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The Dates for the next academic are as follows:

School Term Dates 2019 – 2020

The Holiday dates for the period September 2019 to July 2020 are given below for your information.  The academic year is based on 195 days. Of these 5 days are INSET (staff training) days. Children attend for 190 days.

Holidays in term time are not permitted. Please note these dates carefully so that you do not book holidays or flights in term time.

Autumn Term

School Starts for children                   Tuesday 3^rd September – Friday 18^th October 2019

Half Term                                            Monday 21^st October – Friday 25^th October 2019

School ends                                         Monday 28^th October - Friday 20^th December 2019

Inset Day

School Closed to Children                   Monday 2^nd September 2019

School Closed to Children                   Friday 29^th November 2019

Spring Term

School starts for children                    Tuesday 7^th January – Friday 14 February 2020

Half Term                                            Monday 17^th February – Friday 21^nd February 2020

School ends                                         Monday 24th February - Friday 3^rd April 2020

Inset Day

School Closed to Children                   Monday 6^th January 2020

Summer Term

School starts for children                    Monday 20^th April – Friday 22^nd May 2020

Half Term                                            Monday 25^th May – Friday 29^th May 2020

School Ends                                         Tuesday 2^nd June – Friday 17^th July 2020

Inset Days

School Closed to Children                Monday 1^st June 2020

School Closed to Children                Monday 20^th July 2020

May Day Bank Holiday                      Friday 8^th May 2020