This week has been full of interesting learning experiences for the children and we have been doing all we can to maintain high standards of teaching and learning despite the high level of staff sickness.

There are lots of viruses and illness going around and unfortunately many of our staff members have become unwell. Everyone has been reminded to wash their hands regularly and take their vitamins. Ms Johnson has sent out a letter earlier in the week about this. If your child's teacher will be absent for more than a week, we will let you know our plans for the class in their absence. Fortunately, we have a highly skilled support team who know the children well. As a result, we have been able to keep every year group open and teach as normal. We feel very blessed to have such a team and I am grateful for the flexibility and team work that has been shown to ensure the children continue to have fun and engaging lessons.

On Monday, Year 1 visited the V&A museum and had fun learning interesting facts to deepen their understanding of their learning. And on Wednesday, Year 3 visited the science museum, we are so grateful to Miss Arthur for leading the year group and Mrs Power for her supporting on this trip so that it could go ahead. Thank you to all the parents and family members who helped on the trips. We are grateful to you for giving of your time so freely to ensure the children remain safe and have a great time.

The Junior children had a Wellbeing Talk on Monday and the focus was on the impact of having a breakfast. I have sought funding from the Magic Breakfast and will be working with the Pupil Leadership Team to roll this initiative out across the school. More details to follow soon.

We hope to be able to do the same in the infant school, but to qualify you need to have a certain percentage of pupil premium children. We are approximately 10% away. You can complete a check here to see if your eligible and your child qualifies for additional funding at school.

We would like to pray for Mrs Swain and her family. This week her Uncle suddenly passed away and she travelled to Ireland to say goodbye. Please keep the family in your prayers, we hope God comforts and strengthens them as they grieve. May her Uncle rest in peace.

We hope you and your family have a great weekend.

Prayers and best wishes,

Mrs Ashley and the Team

Wellbeing

Health Benefits Of Walking For Children

We all know that movement is a must for a healthy body, no matter how old you are. However, as technology continues to make life easier and more convenient, it also tends to result in more inactivity, even in children. Encouraging children to move is a great way to balance out screentime, and according to the experts, walks are an essential part of healthy development for kids.

Here are a few benefits of walking for your little ones:

Increased stimulation and learning opportunities

Walks can be beneficial even if the kids can’t technically walk yet! The mere act of heading out into a new environment is an opportunity to discover the world. Babies get to hear, see, smell, and feel different things from the comfort of their stroller seat, even if they can’t interact with the world around them yet.

Improved mental health

Research has proven that walking can improve mood and boost feelings of well-being. This applies to toddlers and children just as much as adults! These effects are amplified if the walk takes place in a natural, green space.

Better sleep patterns

Do the babies and toddlers in your care have trouble going to sleep sometimes? Try letting them burn off some of that energy during a walk. Regular physical exercise can improve sleep cycles as well as the quality of sleep that children get.

Strengthens children’s bodies

Walking helps build strength in bones, muscles, hearts and lungs. Research shows that even walks as short as three minutes can help improve the health and metabolism of children. All that arm waving babies do from the pram seat contributes towards strength building too.

Helps develop motor skills

Although the act of walking feels effortless to adults, it’s still a skill in progress for toddlers. A research study from Loughborough University reported that nearly 30% of four-year-olds are not physically ready to start school because they’re lacking in essential motor skills, such as the ability to hold a pencil or sit up straight. This is attributed to a lack of physical activity overall during the early years. Every walk improves balance, posture, flexibility and coordination.

Reduces risk of disease

Regular physical activity, such as walking, can reduce children’s risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and type-2 diabetes later in life. Keeping them moving throughout the day helps to build healthy bodies.

Early Years

Nursery feeding and watching the birds

The nursery went bird watching in the forest school, after we made bird cake using the recipe below, we put it on our bird table and waited to see if the birds would come to eat it and they did!

Key Stage 1

In Art this week, Year 1 have been exploring a sculpture by Australian artist Samantha Stephenson called 'Other' (2014). We looked closely at the sculpture and discussed what we could see, what it might be made of, and where it might be placed. We learned that this artwork is a three-dimensional sculpture, made using metal and curves to show movement, with bright colours that give it energy.

Our challenge was to create something like the sculpture by rolling the paper into tubes.

Lower Key Stage 2

Year 4 have had a fabulous week, we have been working really hard and enjoying our learning. In maths we have been finding out about measurements - particularly in length (km, m, cm and mm). We have begun some fantastic writing based around the character of the Iron Man, learning about grammatical features such as adverbial phrases, expanded noun phrases and similes. Ask the children to give you examples of these features.

In history we have continued to learn about the Anglo-Saxons and how they built their settlements. Do you know what wattle and daub is? Ask the children..

In art we have been looking at tints and shades and did some lovely paintings to show this.

Upper Key Stage 2

In Year 6, children have started Week 3 of boosters, in preparation for SATs later this year. We have been incredibly impressed with the commitment children have made to starting the school day earlier. In reading, we have been focussing on retrieval and inference questions. In maths, children have been challenged to use a range of methods to solve problems, and use drawings, such as bar models, to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.

In English, children have been working on a creative writing piece. After watching a video about a boy with superpowers, children wrote diary entries and drew story boards in preparation for writing their own science fiction stories, based on a short story called 'Titanium' by M.Abdul Haq. This has given them the opportunity to use a range of literary devices, including imagery ('show, not tell'), repetition and simile. After editing their work, they will get the chance to share their writing and peer evaluate.

Children continue to practise recalling multiplication facts at speed and enjoy the weekly maths challenge where they have to complete a blank multiplication grid (up to 12 x 12) in under 4 minutes. All have made very good progress and some have even been given the new target of completing the grid in under 2 minutes! How long would it take you? Why not have a go at home to see who is the fastest? Don't be surprised if your child wins!

Curriculum Update

P.E

All year groups (except Year 4) have started Gymnastics this term and are enjoying being out on the mats, developing their strength, balance, and coordination. Year 4, meanwhile, are our super swimmers this term, making great progress in the pool. The 1st VII Football Team has been busy, playing four games since the last update—winning one, drawing one and losing two. They still have a chance to qualify for the next round if they can secure victories in their remaining four matches.

We have some exciting P.E. events coming up in the near future! Next week, we will be taking a group of swimmers to the Croydon Schools Swimming Gala. Our boys' and girls' football teams also have fixtures lined up, showcasing their skills and teamwork on the pitch. In March, we are looking forward to the Girls' Catholic Football Tournament, a highlight of the term. Finally, we are thrilled to announce that Jump Start Jonny will be returning to school on Wednesday 5th March for an action-packed day of fitness and fun. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone!

Swimming.

We recently took 15 children to Trinity School to compete in the CSSA Swimming Gala. Each of them was a fantastic role model, representing St Joseph’s Federation with pride and sportsmanship. We are eagerly awaiting the results to see if any of our swimmers have qualified for the finals and we’re hopeful to see a few of them make it through. A huge thank you to Mrs. Burgess and Daniel Fleming’s mum for their invaluable support throughout the day!