I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of your children. They have been working so hard this year and it is showing in their work and conduct. Despite the heat, they have remained focused on their learning and respectful and kind to one another- a testament to the wonderful children they all are.

We would be grateful if you ensure that your child has a bottle in school and do not wear their jumpers or fleeces. We are doing all we can to help them to remain cool.

This week Y2, 3 and 5 performed excellent class assemblies. The children were so articulate and clear. They shared their growth, memories and learning with us all and it was clear to see that they had enjoyed their time in their year group. Many parents shed tears of joy and the children's singing was both uplifting and inspiring. I am so grateful to the teaching team for their commitment and diligence.

We have received Y6 SATs results this week! We now know how well our children performed in their statutory tests in the EYFS, Phonics, Y4 MTC as well.

I am pleased to let you know that our results are in line with or above national for each assessment! And the percentage of children achieving Greater depth marks in Y6 is double the national average!

48% children in Y4 achieved full marks in their multiplication assessment which is remarkable! Our children in Reception have a superb start to their education and we have exceeded the national average by almost 20%.

These results, show what St. Joseph's is all about. Our commitment to developing exceptional students as well as people go hand in hand and I am so grateful to all the teaching staff for continuing to hone their practice and put the children at the centre of all we do.

We had such a fun sports days yesterday. Our old students from BTG came to help the day run smoothly and it was wonderful to welcome them back. Mr Abrahams organised fun-filled events and it was great to see the children shine in the varying events. They cheered for others in their houses and did their very best. It was great to see so many parents come to support the children. As always the parents races were very eventful well done to all those who participated.

Your child's report was sent home today. If you would like to discuss the report with your child's class teacher, please speak to them to arrange or contact the school office.

I hope you and your family have a lovely weekend in the sunshine,

Mrs Ashley and the Team

Inclusion

Eating Well for Less Workshop

Trying to eat well and make healthy choices when shopping on a budget can seem very daunting. However, healthy choices don’t need to be expensive choices. Come along to one of our free Eat Well for less workshops running over the Summer for top tips to help keep to a budget and help the whole family eat more healthily. Monday 22nd July 10am-12pm - Woodlands Family Hub Tuesday 20th August 10am-12pm - Online If you are a Croydon family with children under 12, please book your place by clicking here.

Please note, places are limited and need to be booked in advance.

Early Years

This week, Nursery children explored what happens when food colouring is added to white flowers- and watched in awe as it turned blue! It was a fun and magical science discovery for all. Also the children have been keeping cool in the warm weather by adding ice cubes to the water tray- a fun and refreshing way to beat the heat!

On Friday the reception classes had a fantastic trip to Norwood Park. The children had a fabulous time hunting for mini beasts and spotting different types of birds, trees and flowers. They have truly developed their skills in observation. Armed with magnifying glasses and tweezers, the children delved into the natural world- these tools were a real hit! They even drew the glorious London skyline from one of the park's most elevated points! Through out the day, we could see their confidence and learning bloom! It is clear to see that our reception children are more than ready for year 1! The day ended with a joyful picnic and lots of playground fun. Everyone returned to school safely. Although the children were awfully tired by the end of the day, they all said it was the best day ever!

Key Stage 1

The year 2’s had a Royal Adventure today. They travelled to The Tower of London. It was such an exciting trip exploring this historic landmark. The highlight of the day was taking part in a fascinating Knights and Castles workshop, where the children learned all about life in medieval times. They were also thrilled to see the magnificent Crown Jewels and even spotted the famous ravens that guard the Tower. This was a memorable day of learning and discovery for everyone!

This week, year 1 had an exciting time at Crystal Palace Park. As well as a reward for being a stellar year group this academic year, this was to support their geography topic 'What it is like to live in Shanghai'. Children will have further opportunities to explore physical and human features within their local area through out the term. Following the trip, children were surprised to learn that parks are a human feature as they have been built by humans. So, as well as having lots of fun, lots of learning took place too!

This week has been another busy week in KS1. We were lucky enough to be invited to the year 1 assembly on Tuesday, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The children presented well and were very confident. They have set the bar very high and we've taken note as our assembly is next Wednesday!

We took part in the sports experience day last Wednesday and in between the rain, we enjoyed events such as the bean bag toss, hurdles, javelin (Nerf ball) throwing and even tug of war! We would like to thank Mr Abrahams for organising such an amazing event.

Lower Key Stage 2

Pupils in Year 3 have certainly had a busy and exciting week! The week started with a brilliant performance at their assembly, confidently showcasing everything they've learnt this term to a very appreciative audience. The children spoke clearly and articulately, demonstrating their deep understanding of the topics covered. Following this impressive display, they moved on to a truly fantastic Sports Day. The weather was perfect for the event, and the children participated with immense enthusiasm and great sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see their teamwork and determination shine through in every race and activity.

What a week it has been. Year 4 have been working hard, learning about the properties of shape in maths and non chronological reports. Along with this we took part in a Sports Experience Day on Tuesday, where we had to complete 5 different sporting activities, the tug-of war was particularly epic! We also got to perform our Year 4 Assembly on Thursday - the children were fantastic and a huge thank you to all the parents that attended. Finally, today we are heading up to Tower Bridge, to walk across the glass walkways and see the River Thames from above.

Upper Key Stage 2

Year 6 had a fantastic week visiting the Isle of Wight for PGL. The children loved travelling on the ferry and immediately got stuck in to the activities on offer once they arrived.

During their stay they had sessions of abseiling, archery, laser tag and dragonboat racing! Along with this, the children were able to develop their teamwork, resilience and independence.

RE

We have had a busy and uplifting time in RE this term. We had a beautiful Marian Procession at the end of May - thank you for your donations of flowers, they were gratefully accepted by the residents at Beulah Spa who really enjoyed meeting the Year 6 children who took the flowers to them. The whole school learned about Buddhism as our 'Other Faiths' lesson this term. We had a selection of children who made their First Holy Communion and we will be ending the term with an outdoor Mass on the school field at 9.30am on Thursday 17th July. We look forward to seeing many members of our community there as possible, as it will be an opportunity to give thanks for all the wonderful experiences we have had this year, and say goodbye to those who are moving on to other things.