This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us that we should be humble – especially when we pray. God is pleased with those who are humble. A humble person knows that all good comes from God and that any talents we have are gifts from God.
It has been brought to the school's attention that some of our families are not driving safely while entering and exiting the car park. Please respect the needs and safety of all who use this facility, especially the children who are potentially at a greater risk. If possible, reverse into car parking spaces so that you have a clear view on exiting rather than reversing potentially towards pedestrians walking across the marked pathway. The school is still awaiting a response from the Council at to whether a 'reverse parking policy' can be enforced. Please slow down - some cars have been seen at speed driving front facing into car park spaces and exiting without due care and attention of others. Stourbridge Police have been informed, and it is hoped that they will be able to support in monitoring the use of the car park shortly. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
Thank you for attending our first Parents' Evening of the school year. We hope that you find this useful and an opportunity to hear how well your child/ren are doing and their targets for the term ahead. The deadline for completing this term's parent questionnaire has been extended to Monday 24th October. As a school along with governors, we will look at what the school is doing well and what it can do to improve. Please click on the following link to access the form, and please complete one for each child.
https://forms.office.com/r/BGCUuL7vi6
Congratulations to the following children who have been chosen by their class teacher this week. Well done also to St.Luke for gaining the most house points this week.
| Year Group | Good Work | Catholic Virtues (Compassionate and Loving) |
| Reception Class | Issy | Phoebe |
| Year 1 | Matilda | Luca |
| Year 2 | Jackson | Elisa |
| Year 3 | Mary | Isla A |
| Year 4 | Alfie | Elissar |
| Year 5 | Feliks | Sam |
| Year 6 | Leo | Amelia and Sofia |
Please make a note of any changes to the days when your child/ren will have PE in school this half term. As we draw child/ren to come into school wearing their PE kit along with their school jumper and blue or grey tracksuit bottoms. Children in KS2 also need to bring in an additional pair of trainers so that they are able to go onto the playing field at lunchtime without bringing mud back into school. Thank you.
| Year Group | Day 1 | Day 2 |
| Reception | Friday | |
| Year 1 | Wednesday | Friday |
| Year 2 | Monday | Tuesday |
| Year 3 | Tuesday | Friday |
| Year 4 | Tuesday | Friday |
| Year 5 | Monday | Thursday |
| Year 6 | Wednesday | Thursday |
Monday 31st October - Autumn term 2 begins
Tuesday 1st November - All Saints Day (solemnity) - 1.30pm parents are welcome to attend
Wednesday 2nd November - All Souls Day
Friday 11th November - Year 2 Remembrance Assembly (10.45am) - parents of Year 2 are welcome to attend
Sunday 13th November - Remembrance Sunday / World Day of the Poor
Sunday 20th November - Feast of Christ the King / Youth Sunday
Sunday 27th November - First Sunday of Advent
Wednesday 30th November - St. Andrew's Day
Wednesday 30th November - Year 1 Advent Assembly - parents of Year 1 are welcome to attend
Wednesday 19 October 2022
Public urged not to touch sick or dead wild birds – as avian influenza confirmed by Defra in Dudley
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has now confirmed there is avian influenza A(H5N1) in wild bird populations in the Dudley borough area.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging people in Dudley borough not to touch any sick or dead wild birds in the borough – with die off in wildfowl including Canada geese and swans in a number of locations including Mary Stevens Park, Withymoor, King George VI Park Kingswinford, and Himley Hall.
The A(H5N1) strain is now the most common strain of bird flu in this country and is highly pathogenic to other birds. While the risk to human health is considered very low, it is vital that people do not touch sick live birds or bird carcasses, and infection control measures may be necessary if they do.
Kate James, UKHSA West Midlands Lead Health Protection Practitioner specialising in avian influenza, said:
The risk to the public from this strain of avian flu is very low, however it is possible for humans to catch the virus, so it is vital that people do not touch any sick or dead birds; or have contact with their droppings, eggs or bedding. As a precaution, anyone who has not worn appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) while in contact with a sick or dying bird and its bedding, in an area where the infection has been confirmed, will require close monitoring and follow up with UKHSA.
Councillor Ian Bevan, cabinet member for public health at Dudley Council, said:
We have been liaising with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) West Midlands over the last couple of weeks, for guidance and support. As a precaution, we made the decision to close areas of Mary Stevens Park and the pool at Himley Hall & Park until we knew more. Now avian influenza has been confirmed in the borough, and the strain we are dealing with is low risk to human health, we have revised our restrictions and will reopen areas that had been closed. However we will continue to review the situation. I urge members of the public to follow the guidance and not touch or let pets near to sick or dead birds.
In areas where the infection has been confirmed or is suspected, anyone who has been in contact with sick or dead birds or their droppings, while not wearing the correct PPE, should make sure any footwear is properly cleaned and thoroughly wash their hands in soap and water. They should then notify the UK Health Security Agency’s West Midlands Health Protection Team on 0344 225 3560 so that public health experts can determine if antiviral medication and active surveillance of their condition is necessary. If someone handled infected birds while wearing adequate PPE, they must still undergo active surveillance.
Following an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds and on commercial premises, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain, to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.
Anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds should also take extra precautions including keeping their birds indoors or taking appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. The RSPCA has provided a simple guide to help backyard flock keepers to protect their birds from bird flu. It is important to be vigilant for any signs of disease, if you are concerned about your birds’ health or suspect Avian Influenza, please contact your vet immediately.
On Tuesday 29th March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1st April.
Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1st April.
Updated guidance will advise:
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· adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature · children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend · adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days. |
For education and childcare settings from Friday 1st April:
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· regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children's social care settings. Therefore, settings will no longer be able to order test kits · residential SEND settings may be advised by their local health protection team to re-introduce some time-limited asymptomatic testing. This would be an exceptional measure, for targeted groups of staff and pupils or students (secondary age or above) in the event of a possible COVID-19 outbreak. These settings are scheduled to receive an automatic delivery of contingency supply test kits during the week commencing Monday 28 March · the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish new guidance. Most of the specific COVID-19 guidance for education and childcare settings will be withdrawn from GOV.UK on Friday 1 April. The operational guidance on the testing in education settings document sharing platform will also be removed on the same day. |
The Wednesday Word can be accessed via following link: The Wednesday Word Primary School Resource | Catholic Church. Please go through this with leaflet with your child so that they become more familiar and understand the focus of the Gospel each week.
O my God, I thank you for the gift of each member of my family, which you have given to me.
Help me always to serve you humbly and use my gift to make the world a better place. Amen.
Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.
OCTOBER
For a Church open to everyone
We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.
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St Joseph’s |
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| Lea Vale Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 2DT For enquiries or to request paper copies of information from this website please contact the school office. |
Contact Information |
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| Principal - Mr Anthony Wilkes SENDCo - Mrs J McCole (Vice Principal) Business Partner - Mrs D A Faux-Conduit Administrator - Mrs D Bradley Chair of Governors - Mr J Coyne Safeguarding Team DSL - Mr Anthony Wilkes DDSL - Mrs Jo McCole & Mrs Michele Riley Tel: 01384 431980 Email: info_stjosephs@emmausmac.com The school is open for 32.5 hours per week. Opening Times - 8:45am to 3:15pm Monday to Friday. Registration starts at 8.55am. |
Social Media |
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