A - Corpus Christi

Respect for Christ

In Celebration of the Word this week, we looked forward to the solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We reflected on the precious mystery of Christ’s presence that we receive in the Eucharist at Catholic Mass and we also discussed the importance of learning and respecting what others think, feel and believe in other Christian churches and other faiths too.

We explored how the Fundamental British Value of mutual respect helps us to recognise and celebrate our differences and the diversity they bring to the world. We are proud to be a community of 715 unique children - made, known and loved by God and respected by each other.

Celebrating Musical Brilliance at the Xavier Young Musician Competition

Two of our talented pupils shone brightly this week as they represented our school at the Xavier Young Musician Competition - and what an unforgettable evening it was.

Nikolai from Year 3 and Mattias from Year 6 performed with exceptional confidence, maturity and musicality, tackling ambitious pieces that took the audience's breath away. We are especially thrilled to share that Nikolai was crowned the overall winner of the entire competition. Out of 20 gifted performers from Years 3–6 across the Trust, this is an extraordinary achievement and a moment of immense pride for our whole school community. Mattias also delivered a stunning, polished performance that demonstrated skill, dedication and a deep love of music. Together, the two children were a powerful reminder of the joy that music brings and the way it can lift, inspire and unite us. They really are ambassadors for music and for the values we hold dear at St Joseph's.

Catholic Social Teaching

Year 1 have been busy learning about how the mission of the church begins at Pentecost. We listened to the story of Jesus' mission from the Bible and then discussed how the apostles going out to tell everyone about Jesus was the day the church was born. The church teaches us to be kind, fair and helpful to everyone and we call this Catholic Social Teaching. Once we had explored the Catholic Social Teaching Principles, we made posters for children starting in Reception to show them how we live out the Catholic Social Teaching Principles at St Joseph's.

Choir of Angels

On the Friday afternoon before half-term, a large number of children from Year 3 participated in a Choral Afternoon at St Joseph’s Church, Guildford with two other Catholic schools in the diocese. The event was a culmination of many weeks of work delivered in the schools by Choral Director, Fraser Ellson. This year’s theme was Exploration and Discovery and children performed songs about the ocean and travel, such as Go the Distance from Disney’s Hercules, Loch Lomond/Shenandoah and One More Step Along The World I Go. Parents were invited to attend the performance later in the afternoon. All the children worked together exceptionally well and sang beautifully.

Very Hungry Caterpillars!

Reception children have been very excited to welcome some furry friends this week. Our tiny caterpillars have already grown so much since Monday, much like the hungry caterpillar from the classic story! We learned about their life cycle and we are excited to see each stage in action.

Delving into Data!

After a well-deserved break following SATs, Year 6 have switched their maths brains back on this week by delving into data and revisiting their knowledge of statistics.

As part of their maths learning, the children have been exploring a range of data sets, using their analytical skills to interpret information and identify patterns and trends. They have been challenged to think critically about what the data is telling them and to justify their answers using mathematical reasoning. The children have also been solving problems using a variety of graphs, carefully reading and interpreting the information presented. From comparing values to answering multi-step questions, the children demonstrated confidence in applying their statistical knowledge to real-life situations.

One of the highlights of the week was drawing and interpreting their own pie charts. The children worked hard to accurately calculate proportions, represent data clearly and present their findings neatly. It was fantastic to see them applying their understanding of fractions, percentages and angles alongside their statistics skills. Throughout these activities, Year 6 showed great determination and resilience, tackling increasingly challenging questions and supporting one another when discussing their ideas. Revisiting these important concepts has helped to strengthen their confidence and ensure they are well prepared for future mathematical challenges at secondary school.

Well done Year 6 for your excellent effort and enthusiasm as you continue to develop your mathematical thinking!

Fruits of the Spirit

This week in RE, the children have been learning about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and reflecting on how they can put these virtues into practice in their own lives. Each class also explored the life of their class saint, making connections between their saint's actions and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. The children then created posters to illustrate how their saint demonstrated these fruits through their words and actions.

A Mission for Life

Just before half-term, we were very pleased to welcome Father Eddie to our school. He came to speak to us about continuing God’s mission on Earth and how we can all help others through kindness, love and forgiveness in our daily lives.

During his visit, the children listened carefully and asked Father Eddie thoughtful questions about his mission as a priest. We were interested to learn about how he helps people in the community, leads worship and shares God’s message with others. Father Eddie explained that being a priest means serving others and showing compassion to everyone (and a lot of talking, in one way or another!)

One of the most special parts of the visit was hearing Father Eddie remind us that we are all loved by God and welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. His words encouraged us to think about how we can follow Jesus’ example in our own lives.

We would like to thank Father Eddie for visiting us and sharing his inspiring message.

Sunflowers

This week, our Nursery children enjoyed learning all about sunflowers. We talked about how sunflowers grow and what they need to stay healthy, including sunlight and water. The children learned that roots grow down into the soil to absorb water and nutrients, while the leaves help the plant use sunlight to grow strong. We also explored the important role of bees in pollination. The children discovered how bees move pollen from one flower to another, helping new plants to grow. To support their learning, the children planted their own sunflower seeds. They were very excited to take them home and are looking forward to caring for them and watching them grow over the coming weeks.We also enjoyed a creative activity, making our own sunflower paintings. The children carefully used bright colours to create beautiful artwork inspired by the sunflowers we had been learning about.

It has been a wonderful week of hands-on learning, discovery, and creativity.

Respect with 2S

St Stephen's Class delivered a beautiful worship this morning on the theme of mutual respect. The children reflected on how we can share the same love Jesus gave to the world by treating others the way we expected to be treated. Through the example of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector, the children showed how Jesus modelled respect to everyone in the community and how we are called to do the same. Our differences can be our strength!

Respectful Witnesses

Congratulations to our host of Witness Award winners this week. We have been looking to live out the Fundamental British Value of mutual respect - the recognition and celebration that our differences make our diverse society special! Thank you to this group of children for going the extra mile in their words and actions this week, embracing the differences between us and upholding the dignity of all. God bless you!

Spellbinding Sorting Ceremony

A burst of magic swept through Year 5 this week as our school hall transformed into the Great Hall of Hogwarts for an unforgettable imaginary Sorting Ceremony. Excitement crackled in the air as the enchanted Sorting Hat took its place and began assigning each young witch and wizard to their house. The moment each child discovered whether they belonged to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin was met with cheers, gasps and plenty of proud smiles. It was the perfect spark to launch our new writing unit inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.