Friday 15th January 2021

Pope Francis has designated this Sunday as Peace Sunday. The theme for the 53rd year is: Peace a journey of hope - Dialogue, Reconciliation and Ecological Conversion. To read the message from his Holiness, please click on the following link: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20191208_messaggio-53giornatamondiale-pace2020.html

Every year Pax Christi promotes the Holy Father’s World Peace Day Message on the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  This is in the Liturgical Calendar cycle of prayer. Pax Christi sends resource materials to every parish in the country to help them mark and celebrate the day. The Bishops of England and Wales invite us to keep this Sunday as a day of prayer for world peace and to reflect on the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the annual World Peace Day. 

Thank you to the critical worker parents who have managed to reduce the provision for their children in school, especially as we now enter a critical phase in battling this virus without the NHS being overwhelmed with case numbers.  The advice from the Government is to still 'stay at home', however, we will continue to support the needs of parents as and when required. If you need to change your child's provision, then please contact the school office. The deadline for parent requests is 12noon on the Wednesday before the following week's provision.  My thanks go out to the school staff for their continued commitment and hard-work - St. Joseph's is very blessed.  I also sincerely thank all our parents for their understanding and support during this challenging time. We aim to continue to work in partnership together as a community between school, home and parish.

I do hope that you found the remote education videos prepared by class teachers a useful support to the learning provided this week. This 'blended learning' approach (Asynchronous education) of recorded video interaction along with opportunities to access learning materials at a later time, will continue while we still maintain both face-to-face provision and remote learning. Ofsted have attempted to dispel the myth that the best way to deliver remote education is always through live lessons.  Although it has its advantages, it does not provide flexibility and interaction as we are able to offer through the approach currently undertaken by the school. However, we do take onboard feedback and will continue to develop and improve the remote education provision moving forwards. For parents of children who do come into school, please ensure that children complete the relevant days' learning when they are accessing remote learning at home so that they are able to follow the sequence of learning when in school.  Thank you.

Click on the following link to the NHS website for information on what to do if you or your child/ren show the main symptoms of Coronavirus. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/947315/EY_close_contact_actions_document.pdf

We have all experienced challenges and difficulties during this pandemic, but sometimes we may need support from someone else or know of someone who may need additional help.  Dudley MBC have created a 'Support for Families' leaflet which signposts local services to parents. We have also included an updated list of support for parents via a range of local and national agencies.  These documents can be found within the Covid 19 tab on the school website landing page.

8am – 6pm Booking Link

https://rbsportsactivities.kidsclubhq.co.uk/rdr?u=book&id=3344&t=2021-02-15

9.30am – 3.30pm Booking Link

https://rbsportsactivities.kidsclubhq.co.uk/rdr?u=book&id=3343&t=2021-02-15

Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be: Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others.

Intention for evangelization - Human fraternity
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.