Dear Parents/Carers,

This we saw the start of Lent, a period of reflection, resetting and deepening our relationship with God, drawing closer to him. We reminded the children acts of kindness (almsgiving), prayer to strengthen their relationship with God and sacrifice (giving something up). Last year we went to Mass at the beginning of Lent and worshipped as a whole school community and feedback was very positive, so this year we wanted to do the same. On Ash Wednesday, we attended Mass at St. Matthew's RC Church, West Norwood and Fr Celestine delivered an uplifting and interactive homily which reminded us all that we we give something up during Lent this is an act of fasting. It was great to have so many parents join us at and ministers who gave of their time to ensure Ash Wednesday was a memorable start to Lent for us all. Thank you to all the readers and Mrs Phillips and Mrs Parry for helping to organise such a heart-felt Mass. 

Like many of you, I am concerned by Pope Francis being unwell. We have been keeping him in our prayers and know that God is watching over him. We are praying that God gives him strength and courage and brings him back to good health. I have keeping abreast of developments on his twitter page @Pontifex. Yesterday Pope Francis thanked everyone for their prayers and prayed for our protection in his time of need. A testament to the leader he is.

For all of us at St. Joseph's it has been one of the best weeks of our careers and a reminder of why we work so hard for the children and each other.

As you know, enrichment and engagement is one of our core priorities for this year and we've been working hard to ensure the children have a varied and enriched educational journey that develops their cultural capital.

We had been approached by one of the company's that support the Mini Marathon and women in STEM as they wanted our children to be featured in their video for International Women's Day! After an intensive process the film crew arrived on Monday and our Year 5 and Year 6 girls showed why they are fabulous examples of excellence and children of St. Joseph's! We are so proud of them all and I am sure you'll be impressed with the video that has been created.

Happy International Women's Day to all  the females in our school community, you inspire our children each and everyday.

Book week has been truly fantastic and Miss Bickmore and Mrs Daniels have worked diligently to plan and organise wonderful events for the children. West End in Theatre delivered sensational storytelling workshops which the children will be using as stimulus for some fantastic writing next week. The teacher dash excited the children and they were able to hear teachers across the school read their favourite extracts from books to them and on Friday the children who made the best hat in their classes were rewarded with a special certificate. Our annual World Book Day Parade, was a huge success and the children looked fantastic in their pyjamas and favourite character costumes. Nothing like hearing a book being read to you in your pyjamas after a full day of learning. I would like to thank all the team, parents and children for making this a memorable wee for the children.

In addition, we also had Jonny Jumpstart at school on Wednesday! It was 'whhoopa' amazing and he brought so much joy to the schools! The children (and staff) were ecstatic and we all joined in the workout with him. We are so grateful to Mr Abrahams for organising this fun-filled day of exercise for us all.

Congratulations to First VII football team, who beat Cypress this week and showed what an amazing team they are.

Don't forget to book your appointment for Pupil Consultation Meeting taking place on 24th-26th March. It is a fantastic way to see and hear about the progress and hard work of your child. Let us know via the office if you need our support.

We hope you have an amazing weekend and look forward to seeing you next week.

Mrs Ashley and the Team

Reception had an exciting time during Book Week, filled with fun and creativity! They kicked things off by attending a fantastic West End Theatre Workshop, where they learned dance moves inspired by The Rainbow Fish, bringing the story to life in a whole new way. On Thursday, the children had a blast dressing up in their cosy pyjamas for Book Day, adding a special touch of comfort to the celebrations. Throughout the week, they also got creative by making hats of all the characters from The Gruffalo, showcasing their artistic talents. To finish the week, Reception enjoyed shared reading sessions with the Year 6 children, fostering a love for books and building connections across the school. It was a week full of adventure, imagination, and learning! 

This week has been a whirlwind of exciting activities. We started off the week with a trip to the local library, where Year 3 pupils selected their own reading treasures. We also enjoyed a fantastic storytelling and drama session led by West End in Schools, followed by an energetic boost from Johnny Jumpstart! We joined the world in celebrating World Book Day with a live BBC session and a delightful "Teacher DASH," where teachers dashed between classrooms to share their favourite stories.

There was a full display of creativity and talents as we designed incredible hats for our much-anticipated hat parade! To foster a love of reading, we paired up with buddy classes to share stories, creating a lovely atmosphere of shared enjoyment. The week culminated in a celebratory assembly, where we recognised outstanding achievements. Congratulations to Omotore, our 3S winner for the World Book Hat competition and a special shout-out to Wilhemina who received a certificate for consistently reading at home and writing thoughtful comments in her reading record. Well done to all!

On Wednesday, we had a thoughtful preparation for Lent by attending Ash Wednesday Service at St. Matthew. As we move into Lent, we carry with us the joy and inspiration from this action-packed week.

Jump Start Jonny Brings the Energy!
This week we had the absolute joy of welcoming Jump Start Jonny to St Joseph’s and what an experience it was! His infectious energy, high-octane workouts and non-stop enthusiasm had everyone up on their feet moving, grooving and having an amazing time. It was a truly inspiring session and we can’t wait to have him back next year!

First VII Show Their Class Against Cypress
Our First VII football team took on Cypress in a thrilling double-header showcasing their skill, teamwork and determination. The first game ended in a 3-1 victory with Roman netting two crucial goals. The second game was nothing short of spectacular—a 10-1 win with Daniel F scoring an incredible four goals! The team demonstrated their true capabilities in both matches—what a performance!

Cricket Sessions in Full Swing
Year 6 have been thoroughly enjoying their sessions with Platform Cricket, developing their skills and embracing the game with enthusiasm. It’s fantastic to see so many pupils engaged and learning from top-quality coaching. We’re also excited to announce that Year 4 are booked in for sessions during the Summer 1 Term, ensuring even more pupils get to experience this fantastic opportunity.

Exciting Events on the Horizon!
There is so much to look forward to in the coming weeks including:

• Football Fixtures

• Bishop Thomas Grant Netball & Football Tournaments

• Umbrella Trust Sports Days

• Futsal Experience Day

• And we’ve just confirmed that an Olympian will be visiting us in Spring 2!

St Joseph’s sport continues to go from strength to strength—watch this space for more exciting P.E.  updates!

Mr Abrahams

P.E. Leader

We hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend.

The St. Joseph's Team