Autumn term has been an incredibly busy term at St Joseph’s. We celebrated Harvest  as a school and your very kind donations were shared between St Matthew’s foodbank and Sutton food store.

Year 6 faith leaders are doing an amazing job and leading collective worships and  assemblies whilst also supporting younger children across the school.

Liturgies

We have celebrated the feast days of  St Matthew, St Andrew, St Cecila, St Francis. Children across the school marked all saints day with two liturgies at school. Year 6 led the whole school in a liturgy for Remembrance day with the whole school community observing a two minute silence. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have all attended Mass at St Joseph’s and had an opportunity to chat with Father Tony afterwards.

Wintershall

We were incredibly lucky with the weather and everyone had an incredible day attending the Wintershall workshops. The children moved from station to station and were given an item to recall the part of the Nativity story. Children have been using these bags in the class collective worship sessions. Comments from Children focused on how much they enjoyed seeing the visiting Donkey as well as learning about the role the donkey played in the nativity.

Christmas Cards

The Year 6 Faith leaders met with Marie Norbury from Pact and she shared information about her job and how the charity supports both prisoners and their families. She linked the charity's work to the CST principles and they discussed ways they could help and support the charity. Following her visit the faith leaders worked with Mrs Osman - they made a powerpoint and presented this information to Year 6.  They shared the workshop in a Collective worship session and the Year 6 children then made prayer cards and Christmas cards for the prisoners and their families. Marie came back in early December and collected the cards. She sent an email to the school afterwards saying-  'Once again, thank you for the opportunity to speak to Year 6.  The Christmas cards have been given to our Family Services team at HMP Downview (women) so they will be written by the mums and given to their children at the Christmas family days.   I will be at HMP High Down and HMP Downview for Mass on Christmas Day so I’ll give the prayer cards out then.  Bishop Richard is celebrating both Masses.'

CST Day

Mrs Osman with the Faith leaders led an incredible CST day with each year group having a different activity that was focused on the different principles. They ran a cake sale and raised an amazing £ 606.00 for CAFOD. Children enjoyed learning about how to show compassion to the world and those in it.

Daily Disciples

Each day in class we have two Daily Disciples who help lead prayers. Mr Aldridge has made each year group a lanyard with their year group saint picture on the back. This reminds the children of their important job for the day

Fr Tony and Fr Binoy have visited the school children in Years 5 and 6 and staff had the opportunity to attend reconciliation or just have a chat should they wish

Key stage one have shared with us their Nativity productions at school. Key stage 2 have led Nativity concerts at the Church - reminding us of the true message of Christmas. This year our chosen charities for our retiring collection are Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes fund at the request of our Bishop and East Surrey hospital children’s appeal,  which the faith leaders discussed and decided was the charity they wished for us to support.

Thank You!

Again many thanks to you all when things are hard for us-for your continued support and generosity with our Christmas foodbank appeal.