Friday 16th October 2020

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us how we can live happier lives by giving God what is due to him - our gratitude! Being grateful to God puts us in the right frame of mind. It is good for our well-being and helps us to be happy in life. Saying ‘thank you’ to God (at anytime throughout the day) is a great way for us to show our gratitude. It is good for us to be grateful to God for the blessings of his love, for our lives, our talents, our families, our school and for the love of those around us. This Sunday is also World Mission Sunday. Let’s show our gratitude to God by helping those in poorer countries. For further information please visit the Mission Togther website:https://missiontogether.org.uk/calendar/missionmonth/

Due to the current Coronavirus restrictions in place, there will not be a face-to-face Parents' Meeting this term.  Instead, a report card will be created by teachers and then sent home to parents  (electronically) on Friday 23rd October.  This will provide parents with a synopsis on how their child has settled back into school life at St. Joseph's and what learning priorities are in place for the coming academic year.  A letter explaining the content of the report will be set home to parents this coming Monday.  

Built on the edge of a rubbish dump, Kotusilo is a poor village without running water or electricity. The villagers live in overcrowded, basic and unsafe conditions: many of the houses are made from mud and it is not uncommon for them to fall down during the rainy season. When visiting Kotusilo, adults and children can be seen on the rubbish dump, often with bare feet, scavenging for anything they can reuse or sell. For the children who live here Christmas day will be like every other day; very little food and no presents. In November, Project Gambia will be shipping  ‘Christmas Shoeboxes’ to  children who live in Kotusilo and children who attend the schools at Half Dye, Hanne Vibe and Spring of Life. Please help us to do this by filling up a shoe box and returning to school on Friday 23rd October.  A flyer has been sent out with the list of items to place in the box.  Thank you for your generosity.

Click on the following link to the NHS website for information on what to do if you or your child/ren show the main symptoms of Coronavirus. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms

Congratulations to the children who have been chosen by their teachers for either Good Work or the Catholic Virtues this week. Well done also to the children of St. John's house who gained the most points this week.

We are pleased to announce that the start of the 'Your Sports' football after school clubs will commence from Monday 2nd November.  Your child will have received a flyer with further details today, if you would like your child to particpate in this activity then please complete and return the consent form by Friday 23rd October.  The Years 1 and 2 sessions take place on Mondays from 3.15pm until 4.15pm, and the Years 3 and 4 sessions are on Fridays from 3.15pm until 4.45pm.

A reminder for parents of Year 6 children, Secondary School admissions for 2021/22 are open from 1st September - 31st October 2020.

Primary School Admissions for September 2021 Intake are open from 1st 0ctober 2020 - 15th January 2021.

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/learning-and-school/school-information/school-admissions/

Please contact the school office for a supplementary form to support your child's 2021 Primary application.

Lord, you search us and you know us better than we know ourselves. Help us to see your watchful care over our lives and prompt us to respond with grateful hearts to the many gifts you bestow upon us. Give us the courage to face moments of trial and challenge and reassure us of your presence. Bless our school family and all those we love. Inspire us to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are in need at this time so that we may be vessels of your loving kindness to them. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better.