Newsletters

Friday 1st December 2023

First week of Advent

On Sunday we will light the first candle on our Advent wreath. Each week we will
light an extra candle and watch as the light from the wreath grows brighter. The growing light is a sign of our growing hope as we wait for the birth of our Saviour, Jesus.

Advent is a holy time of preparation. During the first two weeks of Advent, we don’t just prepare for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day; the Bible also encourages us to prepare for the day when Jesus will come again.

Congratulations to our children who displayed their Innovative Maker Spirit this week and earned a place on the golden chairs.

Aubrey, Tilly, Rex, Derek, Ollie and Theo

Children who are innovative analyse and identify problems. They develop new methods to solve problems. Innovative thinking will allow them to see opportunities, use their creative ideas and develop independent problem-solving skills. These skills are essential for becoming ‘work ready’ but also ‘life ready’.

Our Angels and Saints House Captains, Kaiden, Ezekiel and Amelia, then shared ways to become an Autonomous Learner.

This maker spirit will help the children become responsible for their own learning in school and in life. Children are also encouraged to approach learning in an autonomous way, taking control of how they learn and engaging with topics as effectively and genuinely as they can.

Blessing of advent wreaths

It was lovely to welcome Fr Mark into school today to bless our Advent wreaths and celebrate the start of Advent. The Liturgy Leaders led a whole school celebration of the word in the school hall before Fr Mark blessed our class Advent wreaths and our travelling cribs.

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Thursday 21st December - Christmas Jumper Day

We are fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity this Christmas!

We are wearing our Christmas Jumper for Sheffield Children's and helping spread the festive cheer!

Date : Thursday the 21st of December 2023

Please support our fundraising if you can, every penny makes a difference.

Please follow the link to donate

The Children's Hospital Charity

Thankyou!

Health officials have urged people to be vigilant following a measles outbreak in Sheffield.

Clinicians at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust are warning parents and carers to be vigilant for symptoms of measles and to make sure their children are vaccinated against the infection.

Health services across the country are starting to see an increase in the number of cases of measles.

The advice to parents is to watch out for the symptoms of measles in their children and act if they suspect they have the infection. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash which usually starts on the face or behind the ears a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.

The first symptoms are:

· high fever

· sore, red, watery eyes

· cough

· aching and feeling generally unwell

· a blotchy red/brown rash on white skin. It may be harder to see or more subtle on brown and black skin.

Weekly Attendance - week beginning 27th November 2023

Our whole school attendance target for this academic year (23/24) is 96.5%

Follow the link below for further information:

NHS 'Is my child too ill for school?' guidance

Friends of St Joseph's School

Great News!

The Christmas Raffle Tickets are now on sale on the School Gateway!

1st, 2nd and 3rd prize will be £50. If you would like to donate a prize please speak to the office staff

The draw will take place on Monday 18th December

Travelling Cribs

This Advent, our travelling cribs will be available for children to take home and share with their families. Inside includes a leaflet about celebrating Advent, a copy of the Nativity story, a model Nativity scene to set up in your own home and a class book so something can be added about your experience of Advent.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

Fri 8th December - Human Rights Day

Wed 13th December - Year 1 & Year 2 Nativity 2pm

Thurs 14th December - Reception Nativity 10am

Thurs 14th December - Year 1 & Year 2 Nativity 2pm

Fri 15th December - Y5 Cannon Hall Farm

Fri 15th December - Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 Party

Mon 18th December - Visit by Maker Van

Mon 18th December - Elf Day

Tues 19th December - Carols in Church 2pm

Wed 20th December - Breakfast with Santa

Thurs 21st December - Christmas Jumper Day

Thurs 21st December - Christmas Show am

Thurs 21st December - KS2 Party pm

Friday 22nd December – School finishes at 1:30pm

Christmas Break – 25th December – 5th January

2024

Mon 8th Jan - Pupils return to school

Thurs 18th Jan - Year 5 visit to Magna

Thurs 1st Feb - Star Man visit Year 5

Thurs 1st Feb - South Yorkshire Fire Service visit Year 3

Fri 9th Feb - Year 3 visit Kelham Island

Spring Half Term - 12th to 16th February

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The social media network formerly known as Twitter has undergone numerous alterations since its change of ownership and rebranding as X – and many of these recent developments have proved controversial. With any user now simply able to pay a fee for account verification, for example, the once-reliable ‘blue tick’ system has become largely meaningless.

WOW Travel Tracker

We are continuing to participate in an initiative to encourage more children and their families to walk to school. WOW – the walk to school challenge is delivered by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, to help as many children as possible experience the benefits of walking to school.
The pupil-led challenge enables children to self-report how they get to school every day. If they travel actively (walk/wheel, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride) at least once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge.

Some FAQ

What are the benefits of walking to school?
• Children feel happier and healthier
• They arrive to school refreshed and ready to learn
• Helps reduce congestion and pollution at the school gates

What if we can’t walk to school?
Park and Stride to help your child earn their WOW badges. You can park or hop off public transport at least ten minutes away from the school and walk the remaining journey.

What is a WOW badge?
There are 11 badges to be earned from September 2023 – July 2024. Each badge has been designed by a pupil from across the UK as part of our annual WOW Badge Design Competition.

On average, WOW schools see a 30% REDUCTION IN CAR JOURNEYS taken to the school gate and a 23% INCREASE IN WALKING RATES.

Rainbow Talk in Reception

The children in Reception have been thinking about their senses in their Rainbow Talk sessions. Rainbow Talk is a powerful tool to build children's talk skills in Early Years and beyond. Talk is the essential foundation upon which all learning develops. This week they were investigating the sense of “touch”. The children had great fun guessing what was in the box.

The Christmas Masses at St Joseph’s Church

Sunday, 24 December, Christmas Eve
4.00 pm Vigil Mass
6.00 - 6.55pm Carols before Mass during the Night
7.00 pm Mass during the Night
Monday, 25 December, Christmas Day
8.45am Mass at Dawn
10.00 am Mass during the Day

There will also be Confessions available from 3:15pm until they are finished on Monday and Tuesday 18th and 19th December.

Advent

What we are is God's gift to us.

What we become is our gift to God.

Advent is our preparation for becoming more of a gift.