The sun shone briefly as the whole school took part in pancake races this morning. Children were very resourceful and had lots of fun attempting to toss pancakes and race. Maybe some practise at home would help?
Spring Come and See Newsletter for Parents
Religious Education
Spring Term 2019
Come and See at home
Dear Parent(s)/Carer(s),
This term we will be studying the three themes of Local Church (Community), Eucharist (Relating) and Lent/Easter (Giving). Each class will approach the themes through different topics.
Local church – Community
(Jan/Feb 2019)
Early Years Celebrating – People celebrate in Church
Year 1 Special people – People in the parish family
Year 2 Books – The books used in Church
Eucharist – Relating
(Feb/Mar 2019)
Early Years Gathering – Parish family gathers to celebrate the Eucharist
Year 1 Meals – Mass, Jesus’ special meal
Year 2 Thanksgiving – Mass, a special time to thank God
Lent/Easter – Giving
(Mar/Apr 2019)
Early Year Growing – Looking forward to Easter
Year 1 Change – Lent: a time for change
Year 2 Opportunities – Lent: an opportunity to start anew
Try something at home… Suggestions for home activities
Explore the Diocesan website, looking at the number of churches, and finding out about our bishop, Bishop Tom.
Read Bible stories together or encourage older children to read a child’s Bible.
Suggestions for home activities:
Look through the family photograph album to help the children remember important events and special people in their lives.
Discuss how we come together for special celebrations.
Suggestions for home activities
As a family talk about how you are going to practice self-control and self-giving for the rest of the season of Lent. You may decide to give up biscuits or cakes and donate the money to a charity.
If you have an older child provide him/her with an opportunity to take part in The Stations of the Cross. Ask your child/ren how the school is focusing on Lent and self-giving.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM
Mary, the Holy Mother of God
1 January
The Epiphany of the lord
6 January
The Baptism of the lord
13 January
The Presentation of the Lord
2 February
Ash Wednesday
6 March
St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
19 March
The annunciation of the Lord
25 March
PALM SUNDAY of the Passion of the Lord
14 April
Maundy Thursday
18 April
Good Friday
19 April
Easter Sunday
21 April
Doing Something Different for Lent
Pope Francis’ message this Lent:
Nobody, no situation and no place
is beyond God’s care
Dear Mums and Dads, Aunties, Uncles, Staff, brothers and sisters,
Missio have met today and decided that during Lent we would like to do something different! Missio have suggested that together as a Catholic community we might:
- Give up or limit time on phones, i-pads, Play Stations?
- Find 5 minutes extra a day to pray to Jesus?
- Save pocket money and give to those in need?
Together we have decided to rise to the challenge of walking 10,000 steps a day during Lent. We would like everyone to join us ‘Doing something different’, getting fit and raising money for Missions in Peru (Father Giovanni) and Mission Together.
We thought it would be fun to do this together and are hoping that our whole community will join us in this adventure.
Please fill in the promise below asap and send donations in by Monday 8th April.
Thanks, Missio
Weekly Mass St Joseph’s Parish
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.
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.