Today we say goodbye and good luck to our Year 6 children as they prepare to continue their education and faith journey at their chosen secondary schools. We also say farewell to Mrs Watts who is retiring after nearly 18 years of service and dedication to the children and families of St. Joseph's. We give thanks for her continued commitment and care- we wish her a well-deserved, happy and fun-filled retirement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs Watts and all our Year 6 children and their families. On behalf of all the Staff, Academy Committee Members and Directors, I wish all our children and families a happy and safe Summer break. We look forward to continue to work in partnership with our parents next year and beyond. Thank you for your support and God Bless.
Congratulations to the children of St. Matthew's House who gained the highest number of house points for this term and year. Three out of the four houses achieved over 7000 house points and there was only 40 points difference between 1st and 2nd place! The children were rewarded with a special treat on Thursday afternoon - watching a film with popcorn and a drink!
Well done to the 71 children who achieved 100% attendance during the Summer term and the 24 children who achieved 100% attendance all year. Congratulations to Simon and Jacob who were selected from the 100% attendance prize draw. Both were given book vouchers.
Many thanks to the members of the PTA, other parents, staff and volunteers (including the Catenians) who supported with the Summer Fayre last Saturday. The money raised will be used to support every child in the school. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the PTA for their commitment and dedication at all school events and hope that our PTA membership will continue to develop and grow. Every school across the country, including St. Joseph's, will be faced with challenging finance from now on due to a reduction in overall income to schools and an increase in expenditure year-on-year.
Monday 3rd September | School INSET Day - children not in school on this day | |
Tuesday 4th September | School Term starts for children | 8.45am |
Thursday 6th September | Key Stage 1 Gym Club begins | 8am |
Thursday 6th September | High 5 Netball training begins | 3.15pm |
Friday 7th - Sunday 9th September | Adoremus - National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress | |
Monday 10th September | Reception Class in full time | |
Tuesday 11th September | Key Stage 2 Gym Club begins | 8am |
Friday 14th September | Swimming sessions start for Years 3 and 4 | |
Friday 21st September | Feast Day of St. Matthew - House Mass | 9.10am |
Tuesday 25th September | Wecome Assembly for Reception (with Year 6) | 9.10am |
Sunday 30th September | Rception Welcome and Staff Commitment Mass at OLAS | 10.30am |
School's out for summer - swimming is in! Let's get kids active with free swimming sessions at Dudley borough leisure centres.
Children aged 16 and under who reside in the Dudley borough are eligible to swim for free at Dudley Leisure Centre, Halesowen Leisure Centre and Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge during public swimming times.
Free swimming will be offered during the school summer holidays, starting on Saturday 21st July and finishing on Sunday 2nd September, the day before most children return to school.
Swimming is a great way to get children active, keep them healthy and have fun during the six-week break.
To access this offer, registration must be completed in advance and parents can sign their children up from Tuesday 17th July to Saturday 1st September at www.freeswimindudley.co.uk. They will then be issued with a QR code which can be scanned every time they visit one of the leisure centres. Families without access to a computer or internet can sign up at any of the borough's libraries.
Details of the latest Township activities during the Summer holiday can be found on the Dudley Family Information Service website outlined below. There are also some big family events taking place during July for Under 5's and also for the whole family to enjoy, these details are as follows:
Events for the Whole Family
•Saturday 23 June - Saturday 29 July - The Black Country Festival 2018 Events: http://www.black-country-festival.co.uk/whats-on
All other events can be found on our website, if you click on the 'Events - what's on' section, the information will be on there. Any further activities and events we hear throughout the year will be uploaded onto our directory, so it's always worth checking this out on a regular basis.
http://fis.dudley.gov.uk/fsd/
Pupils at St. Joseph's are growing to be attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about their choices they make and the effects of those choices.
Lord God, You have blessed us in our relationship with you and with our friends.
Our school has shared many things this past year. We were linked by common tasks and time together.
At the end of this week we say good bye and end our school year. This is a time of praise and a time of thanks.
Lord bless our children, teachers and staff, especially those we will not see again. Keep each of us in your care both during the coming summer and throughout our lives.
Guide our steps and strengthen our hearts, until we gather once again in your Kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Evangelization: Priests and their Pastoral Ministry. That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in the friendship with their brother priests.