Friday 8th March 2019

We began our Lenten journey on Wednesday at our Ash Wednesday Service here at school.  The ashes placed on our foreheads are our pilgrim badge marking us as penitents seeking God's grace and mercy.  During the season of Lent we are called to holiness by entering more deeply into the mystery of our baptism.  On Easter Sunday, renewed and refreshed in body and soul, we renew the reality of baptism and our baptismal promises. The ancient disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are visible signs that we are indeed penitent pilgrims, praying from our hearts.  Our prayer is a sign of our hunger and thirst for God.  Our fasting is a sign of sorrow for our sin and an openness to conversion and turning back to God.  Finally, our almsgiving is a sign of gratitude, for we have received mercy, and through generous giving show mercy.  Lord, create in me a cheerful heart and a willing spirit so that I may give generously as I have received.

One of our parents here at St. Joseph's, Mrs Davis, who works for Father Hudson's Care, will be speaking with the children at our Gospel assembly this coming Monday.  Since the early days of the twentieth century, children in the Archdiocese of Birmingham have helped raise funds for Father Hudson's Care throughout Lent.  The money raised helps to support the community across the Archdiocese in so many ways i.e. offering a caring home to older people, supporting refugees and asylum seekers, providing shelter and a new start for homeless people amon others. The children will be given small boxes to collect any pocket money they would normally spend on sweets and treats, thereby practising abstinence and almsgiving.  Last year we raised £500 for this worthy cause to improve the quality of life of so many different people in our community. 

This term's Parents' Evening sessions will take place on Tuesday 12th March (3.30pm-5.30pm) and Wednesday 13th March (5pm-7pm). After you have spoken with your child's class teacher, please complete the online parent questionnaire which is available through the school website on the home page.  Computers will be set up in the Key Stage 2 Corridor by the IT suite for you to complete this.   We value your feedback to make our school even better. There will also be an opportunity for your child to be supervised in the IT suite to allow you to speak with your child's class teacher.  This will be available at both sessions. 

We will be holding a World Book Day on Thursday 14th March 2019. The theme this year is " Share a Story ". We would like the children to wear their pyjamas, slippers and dressing gown to school that day (plus trainers to wear outside) and to bring along their favourite bedtime story to share with their friends and teachers. A letter has been sent home this week with more details.

There will be a non uniform day on Friday 15th March to help raise funds for the PTA. The children can wear their own clothes to school which may be green or the colours of the Irish flag and also bring to school a £1 donation.  All the money raised will go back into supporting all children across the school. 

Well done to the children who were selected to represent St. Joseph's at the Inter School Book Quiz earlier this week.  This was open to teams in both Lower and Upper Key Stage 2.  Congrtulations to the Years 3 and 4 team who have made it to the finals which will take place later this year.

Well done to our Cross Country Team of 8 boys and 8 girls who took part in Round 2 of the township competition earlier this week at Brindley Heath Junior School.  We also wish our team of 12 competitors who will be competing at the Dudley Competition at Himley Hall and Park on Saturday morning.

We have a vacancy for a Lunchtime Supervisor, Monday to Friday 12.00pm-1.25pm each day. If you are interested or know someone who might be contact the school office for more details.

Have you a free hour or so during the week?

Would you are interested in organising a group of parents' to join the Church cleaning rota, to hoover and dust the inside of the church at a time that suits you. It would only be once every 9 weeks. Contact Sarah Price at the Parish office on 01384 395308 or email olasoffice@talktalk.net for more details.

Ruth Hill is supporting a different local charity each month as a way to mark her 50th Birthday. For the month of March she is supporting Jude's Smile.  On Saturday 16th March there will be a coffee morning held in the Parish Centre between 10.00am- 12.00 noon.  Jude has multiple diagnoses - microcephaly, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, all of which lead to various other challenges for him. But, to everyone who meets him he is just Jude who smiles when he’s happy and lets you know when he’s not. Jude's Mom Mrs Marrey works in our school office, please call into the coffee mornig if you can spare the time to help support Jude's Charity.  Thank you

Pupils at St. Joseph's are growing to be Learned by finding God in all things; and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good.

Dear Lord Jesus, please help me and my family to grow in love and strength during Lent through keeping our Lenten promises. Amen.

That Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, may feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected.