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Author: Mrs Owen

Safer Internet Day 2025

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Dear Parents/Guardians,

Keeping our children safe is of the utmost importance here at St. Joseph’s. On Tuesday 11th February, we will be celebrating Safer Internet Day in school and raising awareness about how children can keep safe online.

Please see the letter below which highlights a key message and shares links to resources to support how we can keep our children safe when using the internet.

Letter to parentsDownload

Check out the Top Tips below:

Top Tips for use Tips for Parents and Carers of 3-7 year olds

This Safer Internet Day we are starting a conversation about how to spot, respond to, and report all types of scams online. Scams can take many forms and could target anyone, including young people. Whilst your 3-7 year old may not yet be ready to use the internet independently, use our top tips to start good online habits now that will help keep them safe in the future.

Enjoy going online together

Spending time online together with family is an important learning experience for the youngest internet users. Not only will you both enjoy the quality time together, but you can supervise their usage and guide them to make the safest choices.

Talk about their online experiences

Help give your child the language to explain what they’re experiencing online by starting conversations about the internet and technology as early as possible. Talking regularly about what they love doing online, as well as any worries they may have , will help establish this habit and mean they’re more likely to come to you for help as they get older.

Make use of settings, especially relating to online purchases

Parental controls and other safety settings can help protect your child from online harms, including scams. To avoid any nasty surprises on your bank statement, make sure in-app purchases or new downloads require a passcode, and don’t set card details to autofill on devices your child has access to.

Explain that not everything online is true

If your child is too young to understand what fraud is, you can still lay the groundwork to help them stay safe online as they grow. Start simple and talk about the difference between real and make believe. Help them recognise that not everything online is true and that some things they see or hear could be stories, jokes or tricks.

Make sure they know they can always come to you

The most important thing for your child to know is that you are always there to support them, online and offline. Encourage them to talk to you if anything they experience makes them feel worried or upset, and show them they can trust you to stay calm, listen and help make things better.

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 

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Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 

Parents/Guardians,  

After the success of last year, we have decided to take part in the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal again this year. We understand that creating a shoe box filled with items could work out quite expensive, so we are giving you two options. 

Option 1: If you would like to create a completed shoe box then please follow the instructions overleaf and secure the checklist to the top of the box lid.  

Option 2: Alternatively, you can donate just one or two individual items listed overleaf that can contribute to making a complete box. 

Shoeboxes will be donated via Mrs Owen’s Parish, St. Joseph’s Neath and need to be sent in by Monday 21th October. They are going to be distributed to the poorest communities in Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine amongst others.  

Also, if you have any spare, empty shoeboxes then please send them into school! 

If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support,  

Mrs Owen

Filler Ideas: Filler Ideas for Blythswood Care Shoe Box Appeal

Leaflet: https://blythswood.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Blythswood-Shoe-Box-Appeal-Leaflet-2024-1.pdf

A group of children holding presents Description automatically generated

Christmas Shoebox Appeal – What a success!

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A HUGE thank you is in order to all who contributed shoeboxes and items to our Christmas Shoebox Appeal this year!
We were thrilled to have collected 47 boxes to donate to the charity – Blytheswood Care.

The shoeboxes were safely delivered to St. Joseph’s Parish Hall in Neath where they were presented to the Blytheswood Care Charity in preparation to be distributed. Shoeboxes will be sent not only to people abroad, but to those in need around the UK.

Children will receive a special award from the SVP (Saint Vincent de Paul) Society and also from the charity Blytheswood Care.

A heartfelt thank you from myself to all for supporting this special cause.

Mrs Owen

Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2023

Mrs Owen Leave a comment

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Thank you in advance for supporting our Christmas Shoebox Appeal this year! Below is a video sharing just how much a small gesture could make a big difference to the lives of others. Please send in individual items or a completed shoebox by Monday 9th October.

A helpful list of suggested items can also be found below.

Filler-ideas-for-Shoe-Box-AppealDownload

Please see any additional information in the School Porch where there is also an example of items required.
If you need any help or information, please do not hesitate to contact me,

Many thanks,

Mrs Owen

Come and See Summer 2023 News

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IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

The month of May is dedicated to Our Lady

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

(18 May)

After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days. Ascension Day is when we celebrate Jesus’ return to his Father in Heaven.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

(28 May)

This is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church.

THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

(4 June)

Today we celebrate our belief in the Trinity, the three persons of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD

(11 June)

On this feast we give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus in the form of bread and wine.

THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

(16 June)

On this day we remember how much Jesus loves us all.

SS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES

(29 June)

We celebrate the lives of these important saints who helped establish the Christian Church.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SUMMER TERM 2023 COME AND SEE AT HOME

Dear Parent(s)/Carer(s), 

As we return to school after Easter the Church is still celebrating this great event. The focus of this term’s work in Religious Education is the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. We will be studying the three themes of Pentecost (Serving), Reconciliation (Inter-relating) and Universal Church (World). 

PENTECOST—SERVING 
Early Years       GOOD NEWS – Passing on the Good News of Jesus
Year 1              HOLIDAYS AND HOLYDAYS – Pentecost: feast of the Holy Spirit
Year 2              SPREAD THE WORD – Pentecost: a time to spread the Good News 

SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME ACTIVITIES
Talk about good news in your family and how you shared it. Ask your child to tell you the story of Pentecost and the work of the Holy Spirit.
RECONCILIATION—INTER-RELATING 
Early Years       FRIENDS – Friends of Jesus
Year 1              BEING SORRY – God helps us choose well                                
Year 2              RULES – Reasons for rules in the Christian family 

SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME ACTIVITIES 
Talk together about times when you have forgiven and been forgiven. 
Discuss the importance of saying sorry. Look for opportunities for forgiveness and reconciliation in the day to day life of the family.

UNIVERSAL CHURCH—WORLD 
Early Years       OUR WORLD – God’s wonderful world
Year 1              NEIGHBOURS – Neighbours share God’s world
Year 2              TREASURES – God’s treasure; the world                                   
SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME ACTIVITIES  
Together, look through a family scrapbook or photograph album of a visit to a place that is special for your family. Look at a globe or an atlas. Find a special place and pray for the people of that country. 
Discuss how we can look after our world and support our neighbours, near and far.