Newsletter 6th September 2019

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back! We hope you had a great summer! We have had a good start to the new school year.  The children have settled down to work well and are enjoying what they are doing in class and playing with their friends at break times.

We would particularly like to welcome the families of our 60 new reception children as they begin their learning journeys here at St Joseph’s. We hope that they settle in well and soon feel part of our St Joseph’s family.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of our school mission statement. The mission statement underpins the schools values and ethos. It says:

At St Joseph’s we aim to ensure that every child matters and all children are nurtured and learn without barriers.  Our children are raised in the context of a diverse and vibrant Catholic community within the teachings of Jesus Christ and are witnesses to a Christian way of life.  At St Joseph’s we belong to a loving, welcoming, forgiving family that lives in the life of the Gospels. We celebrate that St Joseph’s is a secure, happy school with high expectations; trusted by the community.  We embrace honesty, responsibility, respect, equality, tolerance and acceptance. We recognise that children have the ability to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, intellectually and creatively and so will consequently, achieve their very best in an ambitious, supportive environment.

Our expectation is that we will work TOGETHER to help the children progress and to be a united community.  We need the wholehearted support of our families. This is very important when it comes to the attendance and the behaviour of the children.  At our assemblies this week we have outlined the behaviour we expect and so have class teachers. Below are the expectations for children. Please make sure you discuss these at home so the children know we are working together. 

In class:

• YOU are the boss of YOU! Do not touch anybody else, hands by your side.
• Follow all instructions the first time.
• Be ready to learn in every lesson.
• Always complete your work the best you possibly can.
• Treat others with respect.
• No talking when adults are teaching.
• Go to the toilet at break time (unless there is a medical need)

Around the building:

• Move about in a calm, orderly manner to one side.
• Treat everyone with respect.
• Walk into assembly/lunch in silence. Leave in silence.
• Quiet talking during lunch.
• The bell will go five minutes before the end of play to remind you to go to the toilet, have a drink.
• When the whistle/bell goes, FREEZE! Then listen to the adult on duty.

As parents you are the first educators of your children. The more you engage with them in learning the more they will love it. We ask families to read with their children for ten minutes daily and to sign the reading diary. This is really important because it builds the children’s vocabulary. We ask that any homework set is completed and returned to school for the teachers to mark.

We look forward to having a productive academic year - working together to support the children in their learning.

Safeguarding our school  

Please remember that if you are dropping off or collecting a child in the Junior school you must walk around the building on the outside to drop off or collect in the Infants.  This is a matter of safeguarding. Time has been set aside for parents/carers to do this.  The Infant School starts 10 minutes later than the Juniors in the morning for this reason.  In the afternoon the children will be looked after by their teacher until you arrive. No one should walk through the building to use it as a short cut.

Please remember to let teachers and the school office know who is picking up your child if you cannot do so.  It is imperative that the school knows who is collecting your child at all times.  Children are not allowed to go with anyone else without parental permission.

Car Parking

It is illegal to park on the zig-zag lines outside of the school.  They are there to protect the children.  Please park in the parking bays.  The children are taking part in the TfL ‘Travel Ambassador’ Scheme.  This is a scheme that promotes active, safe, sustainable travel to and from school. The children want to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and walk, scoot, use public transport, car share or ‘park and stride’ on their journeys to and from school.  Listen to the voice of the children. Here is a rap one of the children has written:

‘I tell you parents your parking does matter

Stop leaving your cars on the zig zag pattern

Whatever you do don’t park outside the school

Or I the traffic warden will come for you

If you try parking on the zig zag line

I will give you a parking fine

Keep clear, keep away and stick to these rules

And do them every day

Dates for your dairy

• Wednesday 11^th September: Year 6 Transition Evening - Moving to Secondary School
• Friday 13^th September: School Mass for Years 1 - 6 at Sacred Heart at 10.30am
• Wednesday 18^th September: Meeting for Reception parents - Home Learning Diaries at 9.15am and repeated at 3.15pm
• Wednesday 25^th September: Meeting for Reception parents Phonics and Reading at 9.15am and repeated at 3.15pm
• Friday 27^th September: MacMillan Coffee Morning 9.15am

Reflection

Lord we pray that we may live in such a way that we value all that is good in our lives and never take anyone or anything for granted. Amen. Nicholas Hutchinson FSC

Mrs A Gallagher

Executive Headteacher