Message from Missio School Council:
Please send books of an excellent quality into school by Thursday 23rd January.
Missio Council will collect them. If everyone sends at least one book into school, every child will have the opportunity to choose a new book on Friday 24th, to take home and read. Age range 4-8 years.
Laudato Si- Care for our common home. God’s gift to us.
Missio Pupil Council are working on projects in school to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.
Small changes can make a difference.
AS part of our work with our local community, Year 2 pupils welcomed a visit from Mid and West Fire Brigade. We discussed how we can keep ourselves safe at home and in school.
Prevention Saves Lives:
We also found our that we can all have free smoke alarms for our homes. Please contact the number below for more information.
Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
I thought it would be useful to outline the implications of a change in the law.
This change means all physical punishment of children will be illegal in Wales, including by parents, carers and anyone acting in loco parentis in any setting in Wales.
What has changed?
The Act came into force on 21 March 2022. It abolishes a defence of “reasonable punishment” in the existing criminal offences of assault and battery against a child.
What does this mean for families?
Physical punishment includes smacking, hitting, slapping, shaking or otherwise punishing a child using physical force.
For schools
It has been illegal in schools, children’s homes, local authority foster care homes and childcare settings for some time.
The change means all physical punishment of children will be illegal in Wales, including by parents, carers and anyone acting in loco parentis in any setting in Wales.
Thanks to those friends of St Joseph’s Infants who were able to make our catch up and coffee meeting this morning. During our catch up we discussed the following:
2. Charities and events that we might support
3. Community engagement events
4. Celebrating our wide cultural diversity
Overview for coming year
Term 1
Community engagement :Pumpkin Carving Tuesday is planned for 22nd- 25th October. Help will be needed to clean up the dining hall please.
Extra-Curricular: Spooky Harvest Disco – the date has yet to be confirmed (4th/11th November). Venue to be confirmed – possibly Margam Parish Hall or St Joseph’s Junior.) Help will be needed to buy glow sticks, tattoos ,cup drinks, crisps. Time 5-6:30pm. Help also needed for the clean up at the end.
Extra- Curricular: Christmas Film Night. Ideas for the choice of film please, learning from last year a shorter film might be better. Venue to be arranged. Date to be confirmed, suggested week beginning 2nd December.
Visit by Father Christmas: Ideas for where is our bargain buy of selection boxes please.
Additional Dates for the diary:
Friday 29th November Crazy hair- could we incorporate the use of butterflies? EB Butterfly skin -raising awareness and money.
Thursday 5th December School Christmas Lunch. Everyone is invited to wear Christmas jumpers
Thursday 12th Christmas Jumper Day, all invited to wear Christmas or favorite jumper.
Christmas Raffle is on the horizon! Please start collecting red, gold, green gifts to include in hampers.
Term 2:
Community Engagement: Easter craft activity
In school: Easter Scavenger Hunt
Term 3:
Community Engagement: May Crowns
In School: Summer Fete
Extra Curricular: Beach Walk
Jingle all the way!
Huge thanks to our wonderful Parent Teacher Association and staff who worked so hard to pull off a fantastic family movie night. Thanks also to Father Andrzej and Margam Parishioners for allowing us to use their recently refurbished hall. Pjs and sleeping bags were non negotiable!
A real team effort, thanks also to those who helped clean up at the end of the evening.
What’s going On
Working together – one family in Christ
Loving and Compassionate. Huge thanks to all who sent in one of 48 Shoe boxes that have now been collected from school. Thanks also to everyone who sent in food for the Food Banks Harvest Appeal. PTA and children are going to help distribute the food.
Parents and teachers met today to plan activities for the coming months.
Harvest Pumpkin Carving: Come along and have some fun carving and decorating pumpkins. Please bring a small / medium pumpkin to carve with your child. Venue: Dining Hall Y2 Mrs Owen Monday 23rd October 9:10 am Y2/1 Mrs Turner Tuesday 24th October 9:10 am Y1/2 Mrs James Wednesday 25th October after assembly 9:40 am Reception Mrs Torrance Thursday 26th October 9:10 am Please bring: small pumpkin, carving set (eg. Poundland- plastic), stickers to decorate |
| Brighten Up Harvest Friday 27th October: Non school uniform day. Children are invited to wear harvest colours and bring £1 for School fund. |
Poppy full of Prayers: Come and join your child to design a poppy remembering those in our families who have died. Venue: Dining Hall Y2 Mrs Owen – Tuesday 7th November at 9:10 Y2/1 Mrs Turner – Wednesday 8th November at 9:10 Y1/2 Mrs James – Thursday 9th at 9:10 Reception Mrs Torrance – Friday 10th November at 9:10 Please bring copies of small photos that you might want to add to you poppy. Template will be provided. |
CAFOD Crazy Hair: Friday 17th November children are invite to wear CRAZY HAIR. Please send £1 which will be sent to CAFOD and money will be directed towards families fleeing conflict, support parents fighting climate change, and stand with communities overcoming poverty together. |
Polar Express Christmas Film Night Date to be confirmed, hopefully 6th or 7th December. Venue: Margam Parish Hall Children to dress in PJs and dressing gowns. Bell, pop corn and drink will be provided on purchase of Polar Express Ticket. |
Language and Play: If you know of any families with pre school age children, please invite them along. Could you help along with parent Rachael to help run sessions for pre school on Wednesday afternoon 1:15- 2:30? Please contact Ms Beaumont if you can help out. Start date: Wednesday 8th November |
Christmas Raffle – Heads Up Following the success of previous years, we would like to ask parents to send in small colourful gifts to make up several Christmas Hamper prizes. Mrs Owen’s Class: Red Mrs Turner’s Class: Gold Mrs James’ Class: Green Mrs Torrance’s Class: Gold Mrs Coughlin’s Class: Red |
Christmas Dinner Jumper Day 7th December. All are invited to wear Christmas jumpers and hats. Optional NSPCC donation |
Visit to Father Christmas to be confirmed, as is visit from Father Christmas to school. We are looking to buy an inexpensive selection box for all children to receive. |
Christmas Concert provisionally planned for Tuesday 12th and or Wednesday 13th December. Venue to be confirmed (Comprehensive School or St Joseph’s Church hall.) To be confirmed. |
Charity begins at home…
To celebrate Family Fast Day, children are invited to wear own clothes and bring in tinned food and toiletries for local Food Bank on Friday 6th October.
Family Fast Day is on Friday 6 October.
If you would like to send in a donation you are very welcome.
Come together as a parish, so that families like Meera’s can get help from doctors and other local experts when they need it most.
Dr Nasha’s mobile medical clinic gets life-saving help to where it’s needed most, fast – so when her team arrived in Meera’s village after it had been destroyed by flooding, she rushed to the clinic to get her children the treatment they needed.
Thank you for all your support!
Join us in praying this Harvest as we celebrate God’s gifts and seek to respond with gratitude and generosity.
Generous God, we thank you
for the gifts you have given
for all people to share.
We plant seeds of hope
and nurture them as we seek
a harvest of plenty for all.
Forgive us for the times these seeds
fail to take root in our hearts.
We grieve when homes and crops
are washed away by floods,
when lives are uprooted by disaster,
or trampled by fear and greed.
Living God, you lead us
to a new way of being.
Move us to help one another
in our times of need,
to care for the earth and
to love one another,
sharing your harvest with all.
Amen.
Catherine Gorman/CAFOD
Dear parents and carers,
Have you any clean, good quality coats that you would like to recycle?
Answering Pope Francis’ call
Less is more… it is a way of living life to the full.
Please bring cleaned, coats week beginning Monday 25th September. Coats are to be taken free of charge. I would be grateful for help manning the Recycle Rail. Many thanks, Ms Beaumont
Great News! We will be able to offer a Nurturing Programme for parents and carers.
It’s aim to support parents and carers to get the best out of family life.
Where: St Joseph’s Infant School, Water Street, Port Talbot, SA12 6LF
When: Wed 20th September at 9:00
Contact details: 01639 882579 or speak to Mrs James or Ms Beaumont
Check out familylinks.org.uk for more information on
The Parenting Puzzle book and the Nurturing Programme
What is the Nurturing Programme?
Children are rewarding, stimulating and fun, but looking after them can be
stressful and challenging.
The Nurturing Programme helps deal with those challenges so
that you can have a calmer, happier life.
A tried and tested programme, it helps us think about what we do,
why we do it and how it makes us feel.
What does it cover?
Over the 10-week Programme, you will look at lots of different topics, including:
Understanding why children behave as they do
Recognising the feelings behind behaviour (ours and theirs)
Exploring different approaches to discipline
Finding ways to develop co-operation and self-discipline in children
Learning the importance of looking after ourselves
Practical information What does it cover?
Over the 10-week Programme, you will look at lots of different topics, including:
Understanding why children behave as they do
Recognising
the feelings behind behaviour (ours and theirs)
Exploring
different approaches to discipline
Finding ways to develop co-operation and self-discipline in children
Learning the importance of looking after ourselves
Partners are welcome and it’s also fine to come on your own
or with a relative or friend
There are ten 2-hour sessions with a tea and coffee break
8-10 parents are invited and there are two Family Links trained group leaders
You need to come to all ten sessions as they fit together like a puzzle
Thanks to Amy, Eleanor, Kelly, Rachael, Jessie, who attended the meeting on Thursday 7th September 2023. Apologies from Carina and Carly.
Event for Autumn Term
All children and parents are invited to a Welcome Come Back Disco in Our Lady of Margam Parish Hall, 13th September from 5 – 6:30 pm. Entrance £2. Sweets, drinks, crisps and glow sticks will be on sale. Please could a responsible adult stay with children.
Recycling Uniform – Pope Francis’ asks us to look after our common home
Thanks to our team of willing parents, uniform will be put out in rail (outside when possible/ in entrance when not) to be recycled. Please take coats and uniform free of charge. If you have good quality uniform/coats to recycle please send in washed and ironed on a hanger if possible.
Proposed activities for 2023-24
Autumn
Christmas Movie Night- pop corn and hot chocolate (Margam)
Singing in Care Home/ hospital (ideas welcome)
Giving something back -Shoe Box /Gift Tag / Mr X /Local Community
Food Bank – local
Spring Term
Easter Disco
Easter egg hunt
Easter Bonnet
Charity Danceathon
Easter Service
Beach Walk
Summer Term
Festival of colour – multi cultural celebration
Fete
Beach Walk
Teddy Bears Picnic
Next Meeting: 11th October 2023 at 9:00am.