Friday 8th November 2019

In this Sunday's Gospel, the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or heaven, but they came to ask Jesus what marriage would be like in heaven. Jesus knew that they did not really want an answer to their question; they were just trying to trap and embarrass him.  So he gave a two-fold response to their question.  Firstly, marriage is for this life: in heaven love is unlimited and embraces everyone equally.  Secondly, in God, we all remain alive, safe and treasured.  We were created for heaven: to live in complete harmony and happiness with God and each other - forever. For almost 2000 years, people have been joyfully celebrating Jesus' resurrection and his return to heaven.  His resurrection assures us that he is close to us now, that heaven exists, and that everlasting happiness in the life to come with God and each other can be our hope too.

This coming Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when we think about all the people who have died and those who have been affected by the impact of war.  We remember the men and women who died in the two Great World Wars but in all conflicts before and after these events.  Our Year 2 pupils will be leading an assembly of remembrance on Monday 11th November staring at 10.40am.  Parents of our Year 2 pupils are very welcome to attend.

This year's theme for National Anti Bullying Week is 'Change Starts with Us'.  The Anti Bullying Alliance have worked with over 1,000 children to decide upon this theme which aims are: 'Small change. Big difference.' Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life well in to adulthood. By making small, simple changes, we can break this cycle and create a safe environment for everyone. Because together, we can challenge bullying. Change starts with a conversation. It starts with checking in. It starts with work together. Change starts here. Change starts now. Change starts with us. For further informaion please with the Anti Bullying Alliance website: https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week. On Tuesday, children can wear odd socks to help raise awareness of this week and also to celebrate all that makes us unique.

The fifth anniversary booklet of St. Nicholas Owen Catholic Multi Academy Company is now available on the school website.  Simply select the 'Key Information' tab followed by 'St.Nicholas Owen Multi Academy Company'.  This includes an introduction from our Catholic Senior Executive Lead, Mrs Horan, as well as articles on recent events and school life from across our family of schools.  We hope that you find this an informative summary about the work undertaken with our children and staff as part of St. Nicholas Owen CMAC.

St. Joseph's has been accredited the Music Mark for Schools membership in recognition for its commitment to quality music education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.  With support from the Dudley Performing Arts (DPA) and Mrs Cangiano (Music Coordinator), the quality of music education on offer to pupils continues to go from strength-to-strength. 

St. Joseph's has been highlighted as a school of best practice by the Black Country PE and SS Consortium in relation to promoting physcial activity to its children.  Consequently, the school has been selected to be part of a best practice case study on strategies to promote greater physical activity in relation to the CMO's recommendations of 60 minutes of physical activity per day.  This case study will focus on the implementation and impact of an Active Travel programme as a strategy to meet this recommendation for all pupils. 

Please bring any items into school outlined below so that we can pass on these essentials to our brothers and sisters in need.  Thank you.

FOOD SHORTAGES: FRUIT JUICE (1L cartons), TINNED FRUIT, COOKING SAUCES, 1L CARTONS UHT MILK, SMALL JARS COFFEE, TINNED POTATOES, INSTANT MASH, TINNED MEAT, BISCUITS, TINNED READY MEALS (e.g. MACARONI CHEESE, VEG CURRY), TINNED FISH, JAM/MARMALADE, RICE PUDDING.

NON-FOOD SHORTAGES: TOOTHPASTE, TOILET ROLLS, SINGLE TOOTHBRUSHES
SHAVING FOAM, SHOWER GEL, DEODORANT, SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER, WASHING UP LIQUID

The Board of Directors of St Nicholas Owen Catholic Multi-Academy Company seeks to appoint an enthusiastic, practising Catholic with a high level of interpersonal and organisational skills to support the liturgical and Catholic life of Hagley Catholic High School. Do you: Live as a disciple of Jesus in the Catholic Church?  Have a sound understanding of the Catholic faith and how to share it with others?  Enjoy working with young people and adults?  Know how to organise and plan liturgies and events such as the celebration of Mass, retreats and fundraising activities? The post will be based at Hagley Catholic High School.  However, the successful candidate will also be required to travel to the MAC feeder primary schools throughout the year. How to apply: Application forms and further details of the post are available from St Nicholas Owen Catholic MAC website: www.stnicholasowen-mac.org.uk or from Mrs Hannah Hingley, PA to St Nicholas Owen MAC Catholic Senior Executive Leader [CSEL]: hhingley@stnicholasowen-mac.org.uk Closing date: 12:00 NOON 11TH November 2019.

The Raffle tickets for our Christmas Fayre will be available the weekend of 02/03 November.  If you can make a donation towards one of the cash prizes or donate another prize, please sign the sheet in the porch. A big thank you to those who very generosity donated raffle prizes last year.

If you are having a sort out over the coming half term, please think of donating items to the fayre. We are looking for good quality unwanted gifts, toiletries, candles, toys, games, bottles for the Tombola (anything from Squash to Whisky!) and Chocolate for our new Chocolate Tombola.  Please can we make a request – NO BOOKS, CD’s or DVD’s!! 

Boxes will be available at the back of our Church from the beginning of November.  

Thank you for anything you feel able to donate.

Nearer the day we welcome lots and lots of home-made cakes for the cake stall.   LOOK OUT FOR MORE DETAILS!

Living God, you walk alongside us and speak to us throughout the Scriptures.  Your Son, Jesus Christ, listens to our hopes and fears and shows us how to live for one another.  Send us the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds so that we may be your witnesses throughout the world. Amen. Our Lady of the Annunciation - pray for us. St. Matthew - pray for us. St. Jerome - pray for us.

Pupils at St. Joseph’s are growing to be: Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices.

Dialogue and Reconciliation in the Near East: That a spirit of dialogue, encounter, and reconciliation emerge in the Near East, where diverse religious communities share their lives together.