Headteacher's Blog
At St. Joseph’s, our children are at the centre of everything we do.
We value the support and input of our families hugely and place great importance on the collaborative effort between school and home, in ensuring our children achieve the best they can.
I believe in working in partnership with parents to create a welcoming school community that is inclusive for all.
The idea behind my Head Teacher Instagram page, our school Facebook page and my weekly parental newsletters is to promote partnership between the school, our children and all parents and to highlight our engagement in whole school community activities, which support the education and welfare of the pupils.
I will be updating this page with the latest newsletter each week. You can also find copies of our past newsletters on our newsletters page.
I will also be uploading our Wednesday Word newsletter each week. You can find copies of this newsletter in our Catholic Life section.
Miss D. Buckley, Head Teacher
Open Evening
On Wednesday 23rd September 2020 we will be holding an Open Evening from 5-8pm for prospective parents. Pupils are not required to attend. Attendance by parents is by appointment only. If you know anyone who would like to come, please ask them to call the school office to make an appointment. Places are limited.
Coronavirus Helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Ukulele Club Year 5 & 6
Mrs. Martin will be starting her ukulele club on Wednesday at lunch time for Year 5 & 6. There is no charge for the club, however, there is limited availability. The pupils will not need a ukulele, we will provide one. Please sign up at the school office.
Dates for your Diary
24.11.2020
Flu vaccination for children in Year R-6 Consent forms will be sent home nearer the time
15.10.2020
Kent Test—Year 6 pupils
Ballet
Pre-Prep & Reception Wednesdays at break time
KS1
Tuesdays at lunch time
KS2
Wednesdays after school (3.20-4.10)
Pre-Prep
This week the children have been developing their phonics skills by taking part in listening walks and sound discrimination games. In circle times we have been discussing who we are, what we look like and what some of our favourite things are.
Reception
During phonics lessons this week the children have been learning to identify and blend words that begin with the phonemes /s/, /a/ and /t/. They have worked hard at writing their names, remembering to form letters correctly. In Maths this week we have been working on touch counting and number recognition to 20.
Year 1
We have been practising our number bonds to 5 and 6 and have been finding one and two more than a given number. Also, we have used our problem solving skills to make different combinations using two colours of beads to produce symmetrical necklaces.
In English, we have been using the conjunction ‘and’ in sentences and remembering a capital letter at the beginning of them. Additionally, the children have been learning the ee, ai, ng, igh, oa and er digraphs and trigraphs in Phonics lessons.
In Cornerstones, we went on a Senses Hunt and used our senses to explore the outdoor area. We sorted night and day activities and sequenced morning routines. Finally, Year 1 explored their local area and identified landmarks in photographs. They learnt to write their addresses and recalled familiar places in their locality. Well done Year 1G, you have worked very hard.
Year 2
We have been looking at reading and writing instructions this week. We have written instructions for how to thoroughly wash our hands and enjoyed reading instruction in a recipe so that we could make gingerbread people. In maths we have continued to work on place value and the different ways that 2 digit numbers can be represented. In RE we have studied the creation of the world and thought about how proud and pleased God would have been with the outcome of his beautiful world. During Cornerstones we have looked at the history of the Paralympics and in particular the Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson. In Art we used a variety of balls to produce a marbled piece of artwork, we then used peer assessment to peer evaluate their designs and were extremely complimentary of the final pieces.
Year 3
We have been working really hard this week. We have learnt all about conjunctions in English and started exploring the features of adventures. In Maths, we have been working on jumps to 100 and getting our brains fired up with mental addition and subtraction. Cornerstones has been interesting with the children learning all about Archaeologists and how they helped us learn about the Stone Age. We also got creative and made replicas of cave paintings from around the world. In Science, we discovered how fossils are created and looked at some examples. Our RE focus is all about homes; we have been thinking carefully about how our homes are important and how our parents help us. We have been looking at the holy family for inspiration. Keep it up Year 3.
Year 4
This week, we have learnt about Roman gods and goddesses and what each of their roles were. This helped us in understanding the family tree of Romulus and Remus which is the myth we are currently studying. Using this information, we then have begun to draft our own versions of the myths focusing on using interesting vocabulary to add detail. In Science, we began to explore different states of matter. We identified solids, liquids and gases and have even drawn what their particles would look like if we studied them with a microscope. In Maths we have finished off our revision of place value and investigated patterns in different time’s tables.
Year 5
In the second full week of learning, Year 5 have extended their learning od ‘Place Value’ in Maths, demonstrating their ability to identify up to 7-digit numbers and numbers with up to 3 decimal places. In English, there has been a more concentrated focus on using inverted commas to demarcate speech and their use of a wider range of punctuation. In Science, we have gained a better understanding of the relationship Earth has with the Sun and the Moon and how the Earth is affected by the Sun and Moon. The science has overlapped with our Cornerstones, in which the children have learned more information about the planets within our solar system. Year 5 have settled back in and are working well.
Year 6
We have had another busy week! Through our RE topic of Loving, we have read the Prodigal Son and have considered how unconditional love is shown. In English lessons, we have been drafting and editing their own biographies about Winston Churchill and have been finding out some interesting and exciting facts about him. We have continued looking at rationing this week and have begun to think about the impact that clothes rationing would have had on a family. Keep up the fantastic enthusiasm and hard work year 6!
P.E.
In P.E. we are running! Lots of running! I'm sure the children have been telling all about Cross Country. Everyone has been trying hard and at the end of every lesson we have happy red, sweaty faces! We have been looking at how to pace ourselves during a longer races, and when we need to.