Join us for weekly Mass at 9:30. All welcome!
Chinese New Year Celebrations
School will be celebrating Chinese New Year on Monday 4th Feb 2019.
NSPCC
Wear something Green
Children are invited to wear something green as we raise awareness and raise money for NSPCC. Many thanks to NSPCC lead Dannielle Boyce who led a Parent Drop In on Wednesday 23rd January.
Let’s Learn about TIME
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please could you help develop your child’s understanding of time. This is an important life skill. Telling the time on phones and during games is embedded into every day life.
May I suggest that all children should check clocks regularly and wear a watch?
Have a look at the following adapted learning sequence,
an effective technique for learning to
read the analogue clock.
1. Begin with a clock which has only the hour hand and use approximate language: “It’s about 4 o’clock, “ It’s just past 11 o’clock”, “It’s
half way between… etc.
2. Discuss what happens to the minute hand as the hour hand moves around. E.g., On the hour = hour hand exactly on a number, half
way around = ?, a little past the hour = ?.
3.During the day, discuss the one-handed clock in approximate language and have children predict where the minute hand might
be.
4. Teach time after the hour at 5-minute intervals by counting by five around the clock. Rather that predict the minute hand being on the 4 like
in step 3, have children say 20 minutes past. Highlight the importance to look at the hour hand first to see an approximate time then the
minute hand.
Mind your language
Another confusing aspect of time that teachers should be conscious of is the way language describes time. We will often say ‘back in a second’ or ‘wait a minute’in everyday conversation, which can confuse younger children. We should also be referring to the ‘hour hand’ and ‘minute hand’ instead of the ‘big or little hand’, so as to link their function to the name.
Making Links in pupil Learning
During Whole School assemblies I am using this very useful tool to develop understanding of time.
It would be great if you had a go with your child!
Thank you Team St. Joseph’s
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Governors,
Thanks to everyone for all the positive support we have received in the run up to, and during Estyn Inspection.
The children are a credit to our school, our Parishes and of course to you! We look forward to building on the feedback received to help our children become more confident, capable and independent.
Nursery begin their new topic – People Who Help Us
Road safety Officer Chloe Lyons visited Nursery to talk about staying safe. Chloe explained to the class who/ what can help us when we are out and about.
Here we are in-role as a Lollipop lady, instruction signs and pedestrians.
Stop, look, listen and cross.
Missio Prayer Buddies
Missio Ambassadors have today been developing the prayer garden. The sun shone as we cleaned and began to decorate the Chill out zone. Thanks to Mr Michael O’Brien who has given the area a fresh coat of paint. Today our Missio thought about friends in school for whom they would like to pray. Simple baubles were decorated and hung on the conifer trees.
Welcome back to an exciting term of learning.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the Spring term 2019. It is going to be a term filled with exciting adventures for our pupils, embedding resourcefulness and resilience whilst reflecting on problems such as those created by whales living in garden ponds and naughty seagulls stealing the lighthouse keeper’s lunch. As always the Spring term will be action packed.
I am so pleased to inform you that attendance has remained above 95%. Thank you for working with school to continue this excellent improvement. Golden time for the final week of term was won by Year 2, they will have Golden time play on Friday 18th. The Attendance Lottery will take place tomorrow 10th January. Every child who has attended a full week will be entered into the draw. I will share the names of the lucky winners tomorrow, each Year group will have one winner who on this occasion will receive a scooter.
Following the Feast of the Epiphany, we have our own visitors arriving on Monday 14th January. We look forward to Estyn Inspection team, led by Andrew Thorne arriving. As an integral part of our school life, and as part of our home-school partnership, we would be grateful if you could attend the Inspection meeting on Monday 14th at 3:30pm. Film Club will held in the main school, we hope that this might help with child care.
A warm welcome is extended to all who are free to join us on Sunday 13th for Family Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and school on Wednesday 16th.
Language and Play
Calling all Parents, Grandparents and Carers.
You are all welcome to attend our Language and Play ‘Speech, language and communication’ drop-in session this February (date tbc).
This is a great opportunity to discuss any worries or concerns you may have about your pre- school child with both a qualified speech and language Therapist and the Nursery teacher/s.
Language and Play is run every Wednesday* from 1.45- 3.15pm
*(Spring term sessions beginning Wednesday 9th Jan)
Family Mass in Margam Parish
The Infant and Junior School joined together for a Sunday morning celebration.
Canon Paul talked about Missio, telling us why we need to help others and how we can do this, by collecting money in the Red Mission Boxes.
