St Joseph's Academy Parent Portal

Welcome Back to a Magical Half Term!

We’re so happy to have all the children back at school – they’ve settled into their routines brilliantly, and it’s lovely to see their excitement and energy.

This half-term is always a really special one – full of fun, creativity, and festive cheer. There’s something truly magical about this time of year in a primary school, and we can’t wait to share all the wonderful activities with the children.

A full list of our Advent and Christmas celebrations and events will be coming to you very soon, but in the meantime, some of the key events are already in the “What’s On” section of our newsletter, so you can start planning and looking forward to the festive fun!

As November begins, this season invites us to reflect and give thanks. The month of November is a month of remembering all those we love who have died. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, and All Souls' Day, when we remember the men and women of faith who have gone before us. Nationally, on Remembrance Sunday, we remember those who have died in wars around the world.
Through this theme of remembrance and gratitude, our resources help children to reflect on Jesus, the King of Kings, who unites us with love and who is always with us, especially in times of difficulty.
This newsletter shares some of the content children will experience in school throughout November, and suggests ways for you to engage with them about it. We hope it is a useful resource for your family prayer time.
https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/prayers-for-home/parent-newsletter/

Creating a Special Remembrance Display 🕯️

As November is the month when we remember and pray for our loved ones who have passed away, we have started to create a special display in school to honour and remember them.

Thank you to all the children who have already brought into school a special cross – if you haven't yet done this, perhaps it would be a nice activity to do together as a family over the weekend.

Thank you for your support in helping us create this meaningful tribute.

Pie and Pea Celebration 🥧💚
A huge thank you to all the parents and parishioners who joined us for our Pie and Pea Celebration on Monday. It was a truly lovely event, made even more special by our wonderful Year 6 children, who performed three songs from Victorian times — all in period dress! They were absolutely incredible.

We would also like to give special thanks to Richard Godley from The Sheffield Heritage Food Trust for sharing such fascinating insights into Sheffield’s food history — both the old and the not-so-old establishments!

And, of course, a heartfelt thank you to Mr Bond for baking us such delicious pies!

MAKER Spirit Assembly

Today in our Saints House Assembly
Our wonderful Saints House Captains, Deya and Robert, introduced our MAKER Spirit Assemblies, focusing on the spirit of Resilience. They shared some brilliant strategies to help us all build resilience — especially during challenging times. Their thoughtful presentation reminded us that perseverance, a positive mindset, and learning from setbacks are key to growing stronger together.

Well done, Deya and Robert, for leading with confidence and inspiration! 🌟

🌍 Cultural Extravaganza 🌍
A huge thank you to all the parents who came to our planning meeting this week! I understand that it can be tricky to pop into school, especially if you are working, but we really would love to celebrate all of our cultures in school.
So far, from our planning meetings, we have representation from Africa (Nigeria), Hong Kong, Poland, Belgium, Burma, Albania, and Italy — but I know there are so many more!
We’d love to think of the best way for you to share your cultures and national dishes if you’d like to take part.
Our final planning meeting will take place on Thursday , 20th November, at 2:30pm, and the Cultural Celebration event will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, 27th November.

If you’d like to contribute a dish but can’t attend in person, that’s absolutely fine — dishes can be dropped off at school on the morning of the 27th.
Please could I ask if you think you could be part of this special day — either in person or by contributing food — then please get in touch with school.
As always, thank you so much for your help and support.
We are really looking forward to working together with you to create an extra-special event! 🎉

Special Recipe Book – We’d Love Your Input!

Many years ago, our school and parish created a special recipe book to showcase some of the unique culinary traditions of our community. Following the upcoming cultural event later this month, we would like to create a new recipe book featuring dishes that are special to our school community today.
We have approached publishers and are excited to share that a full-colour version, complete with photographs and images, could be available in time for Christmas. Due to publishing costs, the book will be available to purchase for £10 per copy.
To help us plan, please complete the attached survey to indicate whether you might be interested in purchasing a copy. Your feedback will give us a better idea of how to proceed.

https://forms.gle/niniSkWNPRmFVX6b7

Denver VC Primary School - Open Morning

Dear Families,

We are excited to invite prospective families to our Open Morning on Saturday 15th November, from 9:30am to 12:00pm, for children who will be starting school in September 2026.

If you know any families who might be interested in St Joseph’s, please do pass on this information. We would love to welcome them to see our school, meet our staff and Y6 prefects, and explore the learning opportunities we offer.

Thank you so much for your support!

Fireworks Stay Safe Poster for Bonfire ...

Bonfire Safety Reminder

This week, the children learnt about Bonfire Safety during assembly. We discussed important ways to stay safe around fireworks and bonfires.

As a reminder, if your family is attending an organised bonfire event or having fireworks at home, please make sure your child follows these safety rules:

Always stay a safe distance from fireworks and bonfires.
Never touch fireworks or sparklers without adult supervision.
Wear gloves when holding sparklers and never run with them.
Keep pets indoors to prevent accidents.
Have water or a bucket of sand nearby in case of emergencies.
Follow the instructions for all fireworks carefully.

By following these rules, we can make sure everyone enjoys the celebrations safely. Thank you for supporting our safety message!

Pokémon TCG Pocket has exploded in popularity, with over 100 million downloads worldwide. The mobile trading card game is packed with quick battles , colourful decks , and the thrill of opening booster packs – but the excitement can come at a cost.

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide helps trusted adults navigate the risks – from addictive spending habits to endless new card sets. With tips on monitoring purchases, managing play time , and encouraging fairness , our expert advice supports parents and educators in keeping young players safe while still enjoying the game.