As we continue our journey through the liturgical year, it has been wonderful to see our school community living out our Catholic values of love, respect, kindness and excellence.

There has been much to celebrate across the curriculum this week. Year 5 have taken part in some fantastic Forest School sessions, making full use of our outdoor environment. Through carefully planned activities, the children worked collaboratively, solving problems, communicating clearly and supporting one another. It has been a joy to see their confidence grow as they developed teamwork skills and resilience, all while connecting with God’s creation and learning in a calm, reflective setting.

Year 6 have also had an exciting start to a new enrichment opportunity, with their first specialist dance session. The pupils approached this with enthusiasm and focus, learning how to express themselves creatively while developing coordination, discipline and confidence. The session linked beautifully with our commitment to nurturing the whole child - body, mind and spirit - and we look forward to seeing how their skills progress over the coming weeks.

Our enrichment clubs have now begun, offering a wide range of opportunities for pupils to explore new interests, build friendships and develop talents beyond the classroom. These clubs play a vital role in widening experiences, promoting wellbeing and helping children to discover gifts that God has given them.

On a personal note, I was privileged this week to attend an educational conference hosted by Apple, where school leaders explored innovative ways in which technology can enhance teaching and learning. It was inspiring to see how digital tools can be used to support creativity, inclusion and engagement across the curriculum. I returned with many exciting ideas about how we can further enrich the use of technology across our federation, ensuring it supports high-quality learning while remaining rooted in our values and purpose.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. Together, as a faith community, we strive to provide an environment where every child feels loved, challenged and inspired to be the very best they can be.

A reminder that our spring term Pupil Consultation Meetings will take place on Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th, and Wednesday 5th February. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress, celebrate their achievements, and work together to support their learning. Booking is open on Arbor.

We recognise that this can be a demanding time for many families, and we want you to know that you are never alone in facing any challenges. The wellbeing of our children and their families is incredibly important to us. If there is anything you would like to talk about, whether it relates to learning, emotional needs or home circumstances, please do get in touch. We have close links with a range of local services and can help signpost or support you in accessing the right help. All conversations are handled with care, understanding and in confidence.

Thank you for the trust you place in us and for your continued support. With God’s blessing, we look ahead with hope and optimism to a year filled with progress, happiness and opportunity for every child in our community.

We hope you and your family have a restful weekend,

Mrs Ashley and the Team

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” (Numbers 6:24–25)

Inclusion

Welcome back to the Spring term—although returning to school after the Christmas break can take some adjustment, children usually settle back into routines quickly. Research consistently shows that good quality sleep is essential for children’s learning, memory, attention, behaviour, and emotional regulation, with children who follow regular bedtime routines experiencing better sleep quality and fewer sleep difficulties. Establishing consistent bedtimes that are appropriate for a child’s age (approximately 7–8.30pm for 5–6 year olds, 7.30–9.00pm for 7–8 year olds, 8.00–9.30pm for 9–10 year olds, and 8.30–10.00pm for 11–12 year olds), alongside structured morning routines, preparation the night before, visual aids, reduced screen time, and calm evening habits, can significantly support children’s wellbeing and readiness to learn. Being flexible, patient, and involving children in shaping routines helps make the transition back to school smoother for the whole family.

Early Years

In Science this week Reception explored sound. We made musical instruments and played with them making loud and quiet sounds and exploring how we can change the volume.

We discussed what happens to sound when we cover our ears? What happens to sound if we play it underwater? What happens to sound if it travels through cups attached with string. We learnt lots and loved making loud noises.

Key Stage 1

This week in Art, the children in Year 1 continued to explore shapes and design by using different card shapes to create their own sculptures. They experimented with cutting, folding, and joining materials, developing their creativity, fine motor skills, and understanding of 3D shapes.

Lower Key Stage 2

This week, Year have pupils have been revisiting how numbers can be partitioned up to 10,000 to help consolidate and strengthen their mathemathical understanding. They have been representing numbers in different ways using dienes, counters, and part–whole models. Exploring numbers through practical resources and visual models supports children in seeing how numbers are made, building confidence with place value and preparing them for more complex calculations as the term progresses.

Upper Key Stage 2

This week, our booster lessons were successfully launched. The children have shown great commitment to their learning by starting the day earlier to gain extra support with Year 6 reading objectives. In English, the children have begun writing setting and character descriptions for an exciting science-fiction story, inspired by a scene from a video. They are developing their descriptive language and imagination while building strong narrative skills. The children also started Dance lessons this week, where they are learning new routines and developing their performance skills.

Please ensure that children arrive on time every day for an 8.30am start, so they can make the most of these valuable learning opportunities.

Well done to Year 6 for a fantastic start to the term!

History

This half term all pupils are completing their second History topic. In Year 5 the children have fully immersed themselves into World War II, using role play, looking at a range of sources, as well as linking it to their writing and creating thoughtful diary entries and stories. They have used art to make inferences, focussing on their skills from reading to show a deep understanding of emotions of the events of the war.

Happy Birthday!

Everyone at St. Joseph's wishes you the happiest of birthdays

Nursery: Luna Reception: Juliet Year 1: Teison

Year 2: Esteban Year 4: Nicolas and Victoria

Key Dates

06.01.26

School reopens for Spring Term 8.50am

06.01.26

Holy Feast Day of the Epiphany

3rd-5th February Parents Evening

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