This week we joined the celebration of ‘British Science’ week, with a wide range of activities and experiments across the school.
Our youngest children found out which fruit and vegetables float and sink - this was part of their topic on ‘The Hungry Caterpillar’. In Reception, they made edible slime and ‘Gloop’ and things got a little bit messy, with a room full of smiling faces (until the cleaners arrived!) Year 1 and 2 made their own volcanoes, as they have been learning about volcanoes in Patagonia. They also explored leak-proof bags. In Year 3 and 4, linked to the theme of this year’s Science Week - ‘Time’, they made water clocks and experimented with a pendulum’s swing. Finally, in Year 5 and 6 they carried out fair tests to see whether more expensive paper towels absorbed more water. They explored parts of the water cycle and also found out whether people with longer legs jumped further. It’s been a busy week here and we look forward to seeing you all in an even busier week, next week….. It starts tomorrow (Saturday) with our Big Lent Walk (departing school at 11am). Then we will see you all for Parents Evening on Monday or Tuesday, Early Years Easter Concert on Wednesday morning and discos on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Don’t forget, you can also join the Juniors at mass on Tuesday (9.30am), to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph, and/or Whole School Easter Mass on Thursday (9.30am).
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On Thursday we celebrated World Book Day. As always, there were lots of fantastic, creative costumes on display showing our love of books and the characters within them.
On Friday we awarded prizes to five children who were selected as winners of our ‘Get Caught Reading’ photo competition. Many thanks to the Mayor of Colwyn Bay Town Council, Cllr Hannah Fleet, who chose the winners from the many who entered. But reading isn’t just for World Book Day - over the next few weeks keep an eye out for an addition to our Quiet Garden. Cyngor Ysgol (School Council) have requested a Cornel Darllen (Reading Corner) and the wonderfully creative, Mrs McGowan, has already made them a sign. We hope to have the new space ready for our eager readers before Easter. Reading is an essential skill. Please continue to encourage your child by………
If you were wide awake this morning, you may have spotted a St Joseph’s tie or two on BBC Breakfast News. Proudly wearing those ties (and huge smiles) were several Year 6 children making their national TV debuts. They appeared in a short clip of a new national song put together by ABC Opera. The song, in Cymraeg and English will be played at the Millennium Stadium when Wales play rugby and features children from all parts of Wales - a small section was filmed right here in St Joseph’s. For us, this was made possible by Conwy Music Service, who are striving to keep our nation’s musical traditions alive and well in this small corner of North Wales. What a great start to Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
There was a lot going on in school too for the children and adults dressed in our nations colours. As the smell of leek and potato soup floated down corridors, young children performed Dawnsio Gwerin in the hall and lots of Dewi Sant related activities and learning took place in all the classrooms. Thank you to all the staff for your planning and enthusiasm to make it a special day. In the morning, thanks to Colwyn Town Council, Years 5 and 6 pupils enjoyed the St David’s Day Parade around the streets of our town. They were cheered on and encouraged by shoppers and shopkeepers in a special event for our town. At the end of the day, in assembly, we prayed to St David and sang ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’. Of course the celebration of Cymru a Cymraeg is not just for today - we look forward to welcoming you all to our Eisteddfod soon after the Easter holidays. Cymru am byth. This week we started an extended project working with the Dementia Ward at Colwyn Bay Hospital. The initiative sees Dementia patients learning alongside young people over a series of sessions. It has already proved successful in other areas of North Wales and is of huge benefit to the wellbeing of the patients.
On Thursday, we took four Year 6 pupils to the first session where they learnt all about the prehistoric creatures living in Doggerland. They were able to handle actual mammoth teeth, tusks and even view strands of their fur. At the end, working alongside the patients they created model mammoth skeletons using twigs. It must have taken some bravery from our pupils to be learning in a hospital ward, with older people they had never met, some obviously struggling with their health condition but the children were fantastic. They were mature, respectful and enthusiastic throughout - a genuine credit to their parents and our school. They have all requested that they return again, next week. Thank you to Colwyn Bay Hospital for this opportunity and the children for making it such a success. Thank you to everyone who joined in with our Healthy Half last weekend by going for a walk. The staff almost reached their 100 mile target but not quite. We will all try harder with this weekend’s challenge - more news of that later. In school this week we have been talking about having a healthy diet especially eating more vegetables. So, on Thursday we did a quick spot check to see what percentage of pupils are having some vegetables for lunch. The results can be seen below. Well done to Year 3 who, as you can see, were the best vegetable eaters on the day (mainly carrots). We will keep checking over the next few weeks (and give Year 5 a chance to show that they love vegetables but just struggle with carrots!)
So to this weekend’s challenge - we’d like families to join us in eating more vegetables and encourage you to share your veg-loving pictures on Facebook. Next week, we will be trying to get healthier by taking more notice of beauty around us. This half term, we are going to get healthier. The staff are taking the lead, with the support of the School Council, to plan five weeks of activities for adults and children. Some will take place as part of classroom based learning, some will be part of the wider curriculum and some will, hopefully, take place at home. You are all welcome to join us.
The first week is about moving more. The children have been out walking and the council have requested some extra playtimes! This weekend we’ve asked the children to go for a walk and share their pictures. The staff are aiming to complete 100 miles over the weekend (collectively!) Next week, we will be trying to eat more healthily. Please help us by encouraging this at home. The council would like a competition between classes to see which class eats the most fruit and vegetables in school. The following week will be about taking notice of the beauty in our environment. After that we will be strengthening our relationships with the people around us. Finally, in the last week of half term, we will be doing something to pamper ourselves. We will keep you informed of how things are going and would be delighted if you join in with the themes each week. It’s been a very busy few weeks as Autumn term came to a close with the joy of Advent. There’s been too many things to describe in detail, so here’s a wonderful Christmas List….
Thank you to everyone who gave their best to make this wonderful time. Children made us smile and cry, parents/carers have been so supportive (and far too generous with gifts) and, as always, every member of staff has given their all for your children. Now, you’ll have to forgive me for picking out one person for a special Christmas mention. Miss Copp has not only been teaching full time but has also been lead our choir on their performance tour of the Bay, organised and lead mass and the Carol service and provided the inspiration and planning for our fantastic Christmas Tree Festival. Miss Copp brings something special to St Joseph’s. Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you and your loved ones are happy and safe over the holidays. Mr J Wilkinson This week, we have been helping others.
We have collected over 50 shoeboxes of presents which will be collected by T4U next week and delivered to young people in need. At the end of the week we got dressed up/wore our own clothes raising more than £200 for Children in Need. Thank you, children and families, for your generosity. But it wasn’t just the young who benefitted from our children’s kindness. The elderly residents of Merton Place Care Home also had brightness brought to their afternoon by children in Years 5 and 6. In their topic the children have been learning about World War II and, as part of the work, learnt the wartime classic ‘We’ll meet again’ with sign language accompaniment. They visited Merton Place on Thursday and performed the song for the residents. Da iawn Blwydden 5 a 6. As we race through November we are planning to make this ‘The Best St Joseph’s Christmas Ever’ - Cyngor Ysgol (School Council) have already come up with some fantastic plans. If you have any ideas to make it a really special time for children, staff and the wider school community, please let us know. (Ideally we are looking for ideas that don’t cost a lot of money or involve too much work resulting in grumpy children, parents/carers or staff!) Welcome back after the half term holidays and I’m pleased to say, on the whole, it has been a peaceful return to classrooms and learning.
During the week, I’ve been delighted to see so many individual acts of kindness, care and empathy. I’m not going to list them (or give examples) but will say that they include examples from children to children, children to staff, staff to children, parent/carers to staff and vice-versa. As we prepare for Remembrance Sunday, in a world again desperately divided by war, these acts of unity must be noticed, cherished and celebrated. Mr J Wilkinson If you’d to know what the new Curriculum for Wales looks like, in a Catholic school, take a look at the photos above.
Guided by Miss Copp, we have transformed our curriculum planning, with Religious Education at the core to meet our mission - to ‘Grow in Love’. In the past we focussed on scripture and read stories of people doing good things guided by that scripture. Our revised curriculum is far less passive - in Religious Education it is all about ‘Faith in Action’. So, what better way to show we understand Jesus’ message to serve others, than by playing games with, and reading to, residents of our nearest care home, Merton Place? The residents enjoyed it, the children enjoyed it and the staff from both settings felt very proud. This is faith in action. This is the new curriculum. This is ‘grow in love’ in 2023. |
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