Friday 26th January 2018

Racial Justice Sunday

This Sunday is Racial Justice Sunday. On this day Catholics are called to pray for those who experience unjust discrimination or are marginalised because of their race and ethnicity. We think in particular of those who feel they do not belong within our society or our communities because of this discrimination. As Catholics we are asked to treat all humans with dignity, regardless of their background or circumstance. There are many stories of alienation throughout the Bible, with clear calls to "Love the stranger". That the Church is a place where all belong is clearly seen in the recent Feast of Epiphany, when Christ is revealed not only to the Israelites, but to all of God's people. All the money raised will go towards supporting the Church's work on racial justice issues. The theme this year is "Belonging", emphasising that we are called not only to ensure our parishes welcome newcomers, strangers, and those from different backgrounds, but also that all people will know they will find a welcome in our parishes

Holocaust Memorial Day

This Saturday is Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). The theme for this year is 'The Power of Words'. Spoken and written words from individuals, corporations, community organisations or the state, can have a huge impact, whether good or bad. The theme for HMD 2018 explores how language has been used in the past, and how it is used in the present day. 'I want to go on living even after my death! And that's why I am so grateful to God for having given me this gift, which I can use to develop myself and to express all that's in me. When I write I can shake off all my cares; my sorrow disappears; my spirits are revived.' - Anne Frank, written in her diary, 5 April 1944.

Online Safety Presentation

As part of this year's Safer Internet Day we have organised a session to support parents on how to keep their children safe when using technology in school and at home. You will have received a letter earlier this week with further details about this meeting. The session will be delivered by Heather Jeavons, the DGfL Senior Education Development Manager.

What's On

Saturday 27th January Holocaust Memorial Day (The Power of Words)
Sunday 28th January 10.30am Year 6 Confirmation Preparation Mass / Racial Justice Sunday
Tuesday 30th January 2.15pm Year 3 Class Mass
Wednesday 31st January Memorial of St John Bosco
Friday 2nd February Bishop David to visit Year 6 Confirmandi
Friday 2nd February Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Sunday 4th February 1pm Year 6 Confirmation
Monday 5th February pm Cyber Safety Workshops for Years 5 and 6
Monday 5th February 7pm Online Safety Presentation for Parents
Tuesday 6th February Safer Internet Day 2018 (Create, Connect and Share Respect)
Tuesday 6th February 2.15pm Year 4 Class Mass
Tuesday 6th February 4pm Stourbridge Learning Partnership Cross Country Event at St. Joseph's
Wednesday 7th February am Tempest Photographers in school (Class Photos)
Thursday 8th February 6.30pm Year 3 First Confessions at OLAS
Friday 9th February Mufti in aid of Macmillian Cancer Research
Saturday 10th February 10am-12noon Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy Sale
Monday 12th February 7pm Full Academy Committee Meeting
Tuesday 13th February am Loud Mouth Theatre Workshops for Years 5 and 6
Wednesday 14th February 9.10am Ash Wednesday Service at St. Joseph's
Wednesday 14th February 4pm Stourbridge Learning Partnership Cross Country Event at Brindley Heath School
Thursday 15th February 7pm Hagley Schools Pyramid Concert (Year 5)
Friday 16th February Break up for half term / Chinese New Year

Praise Assembly

Year Group Catholic Virtues Good Work
Reception Feliks Patrick
Year 1 Noah Christopher
Year 2 Isabelle Rose
Year 3 Jude Elan
Year 4 Phoebe C Phoebe E
Year 5 Ava Chanelle
Year 6 Lola Elena

Sponsorship Required to Support The Hagley Pyramid Concert

If you have a business and would like to place an advertisement in this year's Pyramid Concert programme then please contact Mr Mallinson at Hagley High School via the following email address - fmm5@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk. Our Year 5 children have been working hard in preparation for this special event and will continue their final preparations during the course of the next six weeks. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to perform at a first class venue in front of a large audience. The concert will take place on Thursday 15th February at Birmingham Town Hall starting at 7pm. Tickets are £10 and are available from the school office. Please support this event as future funding for next year and beyond is uncertain.

DPA Open Evening, 20th March 2018 @ Netherton Arts Centre, 6.00pm - 8.30pm

Children and families are invited to the Arts Centre to find out about learning a musical instrument. We hope that you will encourage children who have expressed an interest to come along and try a range of instruments/meet teachers. This is an excellent opportunity for schools with whole class programmes to provide an opportunity for students to think about learning next year.

Macmillan Cancer Support Charity Event

Mr Gibbons, one of our parents here at school, will be running for Macmillan Cancer at the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April 2018. In order to help him raise as much money as possible, we have agreed to hold an event here at St. Joseph's School on Saturday 10th February 2018 from 10am until 12noon. This will include a table top sale of children's toys, games and books as well as a coffee morning. All proceeds from this event will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. Further details about this event will be provided through a flyer which your child will receive in their school bag shortly. We will be collecting donations of any unwanted children's books, games or toys from this Monday 5th February which can be brought to school via the main office. Nearer the time we would also appreciate any donations of cakes to help with the coffee morning too. Thank you for your continued support for our brothers and sisters in need.

Lunchtime Sports Clubs - Starting Monday 22nd January 2018

Monday Years 4 - 6 Cross Country (Mr Carry)
Tuesday Years 4 - 6 School Football Team Training (Mr Taylor/Mr Carry)
Wednesday Years 3 and 4 Football Training (Your Sport)
Thursday Years 4 to 6 Cross Country (Mr Carry)
Friday Years 5 to 6 Football Training (Your Sport)

Volunteers Required - Cross Country Event at St Joseph's

The first round of the Stourbridge Learning Partnership Cross Country Competition will take place on the playing field beside the school on Tuesday 6th February starting at 4pm. We are looking for volunteers to help marshal at this event. If you are able to help please contact the school office next week. Thank you.

Primary Sportshall Athletics Competition

Congratulations to our Years 5 and 6 team who won the local round of the School Games Primary Sportshall Athletics Competition at Oldswinford Hospital School yesterday. They will take part in the Dudley finals later on this term. This winners of this round will also represent Dudley at the Black Country Summer Games on Friday 29th June 2018. Thank you to all the children who took part in the trials earlier in the week too.

Trompos Planeta Tournament

Trompo is a highly popular, traditional Latin-American game of skill. A Mexican Trompos Champion visited St. Joseph's last week to demonstrate these skills to the children. The next step within this programme is for the children to take part in a workshop led by these champions (Thursday 8th February) and then prepare to participate in a West Midlands Competition. Trompos can be purchased from the school but are also available to buy on Ebay. They range in price from £2 to £6 and with every purchase a contribution is given to Birmingham's Children's Hospital. For further details about Trompos please go to the following website: www.tromposplaneta.uk.

Children Walking Home

We have been informed of two incidents, which have taken place this week in Dudley, where adults have approached some secondary aged students and offered them a lift in their car. Please remind your child to not talk to or accept a lift from a stranger. It may be a good opportunity to risk assess your child's route from home if they have been given permission to walk from school.

Primary Dudley Debate

Congratulations to our Year 5 children who took part in today's primary debate at Dudley Council House. The children were great ambassadors of the school and spoke eloquently living out this Catholic virtue. Thank you also to the staff and parents in supporting and preparing the children too.

Virtues Focus - Curious and Active

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

Year 4 Class Assembly - Kindness

Thank you to Year 4 for performing their assembly earlier this week on the theme of kindness. If provided everyone with the opportunity to reflect on how we can be more 'active' in living out this value to each other in our daily lives. Thank you also to Miss Brissett, Mrs Jenkins and Mrs Bach for supporting and preparing the children too.

Prayer of the Week - Racial Justice Sunday

O God,

Who created all people in Your Holy Image,

Who loves the stranger,

Who cares for the downtrodden,

Walk with those who face discrimination,

protect them from harm

help them see Christ in our community.

Guide those who fan the fires of discrimination

to open their eyes to the beauty of all your creation

and respect the human dignity of all people.

Open our hearts to those who face hatred

and injustice because of their race, their background,

their ethnicity that we might better help them belong.

Through Christ Our Lord,

Amen

Pope's Intentions for January

That Christians, and other religious minorities in Asian countries, may be able to practise their faith in full freedom.

Emmaus CMAC
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Ofsted

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