Every year Pax Christi, the International Catholic Movement for Peace, promotes the Holy Father’s World Peace Day Message on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The organisation sends resource materials to every parish in the country to help them mark and celebrate the day - falling this year on Sunday 20th January. The theme for this year is taken from Pope Francis's message 'Good politics serves peace'. Pope Francis invites us to begin our New Year with a concern for the future of life and the planet, of the youngest and the weakest. Internationally thousands are displaced and suffer as a result of war, yet the global arms trade continues unabated and people profit from war. We hear of flashpoints of potential and real violence: Russia, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza… situations often brought about because of bad politics. Our own country is divided over Brexit and people are hurting and we need to explore better ways of reaching out to one another and finding ways to rebuild trust and community. All of this calls for ‘Good politics’ and the skills and the tools of peacemakers. Pope Francis says: good politics is at the service of peace. It respects and promotes fundamental human rights, which are at the same time mutual obligations, enabling a bond of trust and gratitude to be forged between present and future generations. Today more than ever, our societies need “artisans of peace” who can be messengers and authentic witnesses of God the Father, who wills the good and the happiness of the human family.
A huge thank you to Mr Davis and Mrs Smith for their commitment to St. Joseph's School as members of the our Academy Committee for the last four years. Since their term of office finished on Tuesday 15th January the school will be appointing two new parent representatives to serve on the local Academy Committee. You will have received a letter outlining the process of election on Wednesday this week. Please return the reply slip to school in inform us that you are aware of this process taking place. Mr Reeve and Mrs Motaban are also our newly appointed Foundation Academy Committee members - we thank them for their commitment in volunteering for this role to serve all the pupils within our school community.
On Sunday 27th January at 1pm, our Year 6 Confirmandi will be receiving the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady and All Saints Church. Bishop David, our Area Bishop, will be the celebrant at this special occasion - it is always joyful to welcome a former Parish Priest back to the parish! Bishop David will also be visiting our Year 6 children on Friday afternoon at St. Joseph's. This will also be an opportunity for him to look around our wonderful school. On Tuesday 22nd January at 7pm, there will be a special Service of Light at Our Lady and All Saints as part of the final preparations to receive this sacrament. Please keep our Confirmandi in your prayers at this time.
Winter Wonderlunch - Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Snowball spaghetti (Quorn option)
Bacon "wrapped" up warm.
Find a sticker and win a prize.
School dinners cost £2.30 for KS2 children, Reception and KS1 children are entitled to Universal free school meals.
Year Group | Catholic Virtues | Good Work |
Reception Class | Lloyd | Grace and Will |
Year 1 | Emmett | Zach |
Year 2 | Zach | Harry |
Year 3 | Sophie | Jacob |
Year 4 | Kieran | Emilia |
Year 5 | Ella | Liam |
Year 6 | Lucia | Ava |
Sunday 20th January | Peace Sunday | |
Tuesday 22nd January | Year 6 Confessions | 11am |
Tuesday 22nd January | Year 6 Service of Light | 7pm |
Wednesday 23rd January | Year 4 Class Assembly | 9.10am |
Wednesday 23rd January | Anniversary of the capture of St. Nicholas Owen | |
Thursday 24th January | Young Voices Concert (KS2 School Choir) | |
Friday 25th January | Bishop McGough to meet with Year 6 Confirmandi at OLAS Parish Centre | pm |
Sunday 27th January | Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation | 1pm |
Wednesday 30th January | Reception Class Mass | 9.10am |
Tuesday 5th February | Safer Internet Day - Together for a better internet | |
Wednesday 6th February | Year 3 Class Mass | 9.10am |
Wednesday 6th February | Dudley Inter School Maths Competition for Years 3 and 4 | |
Thursday 7th February | Tempest whole class photographs | am |
Thursday 7th February | Year 3 First Holy Communion Session for Parents at OLAS | 7pm |
Saturday 9th February | Year 3 First Holy Communion Preparation Session at OLAS | 10.30am |
Sunday 10th February | Year 3 First Holy Communion Enrolment Mass at OLAS | 10.30am |
Monday 11th February | Full Academy Committee Meeting | 7pm |
Wednesday 13th February | Year 4 Class Mass | 9.10am |
Thursday 14th February | Year 5 Pyramid Concert with Hagley Catholic High School | pm |
Friday 15th February | Dudley Primary Gymnastics Competition at Leasowes | am |
Friday 15th February | Finish school for half term break | 3.15pm |
Monday 25th February | School INSET Day - children not in school on this day | |
Tuesday 26th February | Spring term 2 starts for children | 8.45am |
Wednesday 27th February | Dudley Inter School Maths Competition for Years 5 and 6 | |
Thursday 28th February | Year 3 First Holy Communion Parents' Session at OLAS | 7pm |
Saturday 2nd March | Year 3 First Holy Communion Children's Session at OLAS | 10.30am |
Sunday 3rd March | Year 3 First Holy Communion Preparation Mass at OLAS | 10.30am |
Tuesday 5th March | SLP Unity Service at St. James' Church | am |
Wednesday 6th March | Ash Wednesday Service | 9.10am |
Thursday 7th March | Year 3 First Confession at OLAS | 6.30pm |
Monday 11th March | Gospel Assembly - Fr. Hudson's Appeal | |
Monday 11th March | Year 5 Confessions | 11am |
Tuesday 12th March | Parents' Evening | 3.30pm-5.30pm |
Wednesday 13th March | Year 2 Class Mass | 9.10am |
Wednesday 13th March | Dudley Area Finals - Tag Rugby | am |
Wednesday 13th March | Parents' Evening | 5pm-7pm |
Monday 18th March | Year 4 Confessions | 11am |
Tuesday 19th March | St. Joseph's Feast Day Mass | 2pm |
Monday 25th March | Year 6 Confessions | 11am |
Wednesday 27th March | Year 1 Class Mass | 9.10am |
Thursday 28th March | Year 3 First Holy Communion Parents' Session at OLAS | 7pm |
Saturday 30th March | Year 3 First Holy Communion Children's Session at OLAS | 10.30am |
Sunday 31st March | Year 3 First Holy Communion Preparation Mass at OLAS | 10.30am |
Monday 1st April | Full Academy Committee Meeting | 7pm |
Tuesday 2nd April | Years 3 and 4 Production | 6.30pm |
Wednesday 3rd April | St. Mark's Feast Day - children of this House can wear blue | |
Wednesday 3rd April | Years 3 and 4 Production | 6.30pm |
Friday 12th April | End of term Mass | 9.10am |
w/c Monday 15th April | Holy Week | |
Friday 19th April | Good Friday | |
Sunday 21st April | Easter Sunday | |
Monday 29th April | Start of the Summer term for children | |
Day | Activity | Year Group | Time |
Monday | Multi-skills | Years 1 to 3 | 8am |
Monday | Cross Country | Years 4 to 6 | 12.30pm |
Monday | Dance (to be confirmed) | Years 3 to 6 | 3.15pm-4.15pm |
Tuesday | Gymnastics | Years 3 to 6 | 8am |
Tuesday | Irish Dancing | Years 1 to 6 | 3.15pm-4.15pm |
Tuesday | Play Leader Training | Years 5 and 6 | 12.50pm-1.20pm |
Wednesday | Multi-skills | Years 4 to 6 | 8am |
Wednesday | Cross Country | Years 4 to 6 | 12.30pm |
Wednesday | Football (mixed) | Years 3 and 4 | 12.45pm |
Thursday | Gymnastics | Years 1 and 2 | 8am |
Thursday | School Football Team (mixed) | Years 4 to 6 | 12.45pm |
Thursday | High 5 Netball (mixed) | Years 4 to 6 | 3.15pm-4.15pm |
Friday | Football (mixed) | Years 5 and 6 | 12.45pm |
Friday | Football (mixed) | Years 1 to 6 | 3.15pm-4.45pm |
Next Thursday, a team of 12 boys and girls from Years 5 and 6 will be taking part in the Sportshall athletics competition at Oldswinford Hospital School. We wish them the very best of luck. Cross country training has also started in preparation for our competitions starting next month. Please ensure that your child brings an additonal kit to school including extra layers.
Pupils at St. Joseph's are growing to be Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.
How I wish that all men and women of good will would look at the Cross if only for a moment!
There, we can see God's reply:
violence is not answered with violence,
death is not answered with the language of death.
In the silence of the Cross the uproar of weapons ceases.
and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue and peace is spoken.
Pope Francis
Evangelization - Young People:
That young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.