In 2023 Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will be using the new Religious Education Directory guidance, ‘To Know you more clearly’ to support the teaching and learning of Religious Education in classes. Many of you attended your child’s year group curriculum evenings where the teachers gave you an overview of the learning for the year- copies of the powerpoints are on Google Classroom and will be on our website soon. The new Prayer and Liturgy directory has also been updated, ‘To love you more dearly’.

Harvest Festival

The children of St Joseph's know that it is their mission to help others, especially those in need. On the 9th October our Faith Leaders lead an assembly to promote Harvest Festival . They explained why we need to donate items to our local food bank and 50p to CAFOD.  Father Tony joined the school community in a Harvest Liturgy on the 19th October. Thank you to all those who contributed to help provide food to those who are not as fortunate. We thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Mrs Osman led our staff in a beautiful collective worship on the first day back. At the end of the session they were each given a paper heart and asked in silence to reflect on their hopes for the school and the children in our care over the coming academic year.

The reflections from Staff and Children can be found in a book next to the St Joseph statue in the foyer

Mrs Barnes went on a pilgrimage to Medugorge at the beginning of September and very kindly has had a Mass offered up for the intention of all pupils, staff and their families at St Joseph’s.

Mrs Lawlor and Mrs McGrath interviewed the Year 6 children who had applied for the position of Head Boy and Head Girl- it was fantastic to meet with them all. One of the questions posed to the candidates was about our Catholic school - what we do well and what we could do even better. The children had lots of fantastic and positive things to say about life at St Joseph’s- they also came up with some wonderful ideas of things we could do which we will endeavour where possible to  put into place.

Mr Aldridge is working with the children and staff about sustainability and how we can all play our part in helping the planet, this links with our Catholic Social Teaching principles. Keep an eye out for further information about this.

Our Primary Leadership team went from strength to strength with new members and great new ideas. We feel these positions are important for the children as they represent their peers and their ideas are incorporated into various aspects of school life.

This year's Faith Leaders are already in post. A key part of their role is to find ways that children can contribute to the Catholic life of the school. They have already got off to a flying start! During their first meeting they came up with ideas about how the school can gather for assemblies more reverently.

A huge thank-you to the SJA  who have ordered new Bibles for KS2 replacing some of our existing books- this will be very welcome as children use them each week. Additionally they  have provided each class with a YOUCAT book which is a resource that can be used to help children with further questions they may have about our faith and help to deepen their understanding.

Rosary Club

Mrs Barnes will be running her October rosary club and all children in Key Stage 2 have been invited. The children will be able to take the rosaries that were kindly donated last year by Catenian Rosary Group and Father Tony blessed at the May procession.

Over the course of the year each year group will lead an assembly on their Year group Saint and they will present what they have learnt to  their buddy class.

More information on the Year Group Saints can be found on the menu at the top of the page.