This was a very difficult week. The lights were shining, there was music and singing but we couldn’t shake the sadness. We were present but our thoughts and prayers were with the family of Mrs Gelezinis, our much loved colleague.
One of the joys of working with young people is that they keep you going, whatever the difficulties. This week our school choir, brilliantly lead by Miss Copp shone brightly. As did Years 1 and 2 in their ‘Big Little Nativity’. Author, Damian Harvey opened our new library, with fantastic murals painted by local artist Gary Drew. We celebrated mass with Fr Frank and our super kitchen staff provided a wonderful Christmas dinner for 162 pupils and 15 staff. There is as always, light in the darkness. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year.
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We started the week, on Saturday, with a superb Christmas Fair. Huge thanks to all who worked so hard to make it such a success. The total funds will be split equally between school and parish and will help both to keep supporting our community in these challenging times. In the middle of the week, we welcomed Nursery parents to school for ‘Cocoa and Catch Up’. Parents, carers, staff and pupils shared Hot Chocolate, cakes and biscuits (baked by Nursery), the school choir entertained us with Carols and we looked at the classroom and the pupils’ work. This was a lovely event and one we hope to repeat with more classes. Thank you to all who came along. To end the week, we were assessed for the Cymraeg Campus Bronze Award. Our Criw Cymraeg, Mrs Martens, Miss Jones and all the staff and pupils worked really hard to meet all the targets. Their efforts were rewarded as we passed ‘with flying colours’. Da iawn, pawb.
Our curriculum aims to create…..
A busy week and we haven’t even started thinking about Christmas, yet! Bishop Peter recently visited our school. He came to every class and joined us for Collective Worship. On the day we were celebrating Brighen Up for Harvest. As you all know the curriculum in Wales is changing. Typically, learning will be based on real-life contexts, integrate different areas and will be embedded in the local area. So what does this look like? Well, this week there were a few glimpses and it looks good, to me. Developing enthusiastic readers, bridging the gap across generations and bringing joy to older people? This was certainly appreciated by the residents of Merton Place, our star readers and the thousands who engaged with our Facebook post. Even the North Wales Pioneer wanted in on this one. Or what about the generous donations for our fantastic, parish Foodbank and a curriculum that promotes support for the vulnerable? I am told that our wonderful Harvest Service was a real highlight, last week. Children’s letters to local supermarkets resulting in donated vegetables, homemade soup (with thanks to the cook) and grateful faces at the Kind Bay Initiative? I have rarely seen young children so proud of their achievements.
So, new curriculum? Yes, there is still work to be done. It is going to take time and we will need help but together we will create a fantastic a wide range of fantastic teaching and learning experiences which will support you in developing well rounded children and enhance our community. Mr J Wilkinson Thank you to everyone who supported today’s event, in aid of MacMillan Cancer Charity. Special thanks to our PTA, our school cook, Gina, and others who provided cakes to sell.
Congratulations to the winners of our design a cake competition and thank you to the talented mums who turned a drawing into REAL cakes, for the delighted overall winner. We will let you know how much was raised next week. It’s good to be back.
This week everyone seems to have settled in really well. We’ve welcomed quite a few new pupils, across the school, as well as our new Nursery class. We went to mass on Thursday, where Fr Vimal congratulated everyone on their behaviour. It was lovely to see Miss Copp back leading the singing but it was a little boy in Nursery, who copied Fr Vimal as he blessed each child, which brought a tear to the eye. There was happiness and sadness on Friday, as we prayed for the family of the Queen but were also able to award our usual certificates. Staff have noticed lots of children who have returned after summer with increased confidence, determination and maturity. Please look out for important forms, which came home today, and return them immediately. If you have any concerns, questions or problems please speak to the teachers on the gate or contact school by phone, email or social media. It’s transition time, at St Joseph’s and, as a nurturing school, we know that transitions are vital for pupil wellbeing.
Throughout the year we use a variety of strategies and interventions to encourage and support positive transitions. For example, some children struggle with transition from home to school - for these children 20 minutes in Crumpet Club, each morning, results in a much happier day in school. Others may struggle with transition from work to play (or vice-versa) - for these a key adult, by their side, with a carefully chosen word or two, can provide the safety and support they need. Above are just a couple of examples of ‘everyday transitions’ but, at this time of year, we start to focus on the bigger transitions - those from one classroom (and teacher) to another. (For some, there is the even bigger leap into a new school.) So, this week, many children spent some time in their next class, with their new teachers. (The rest will get this opportunity next week) Also, Year 6 pupils spent most of the week up at their new high schools and came back smiling, so things must have been OK. As part of our carefully planned transition, teachers will also be spending time observing children learning in their current class. There will also be ‘handover meetings’ in which each child is discussed in detail by the current and next class teacher. We will be preparing pupil and staff profiles so everyone can get to know one another. Early in Autumn Term, we will be holding parent/carer evenings so staff and parent/carers can get to know one another too. But why wait? Now you know who your child’s teacher is next year, why not say hello when you see them at the gate? As we said to the children, this week, don’t hold on to worries or questions over the summer holidays - ask now. Our aim is that Monday 5th September is a day to look forward to - for child, parent/carer and teacher. If we get transition right, the rest will follow. |
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