Friday 19th June.MOVOne of the joys of our Bedtime Story is that is gives us a good chance to introduce you to different members of the community. This week we have the great pleasure of sharing a story from Dave Barrett, our Chair of Governors.
Dave would like to tell you all about his legs!
Did you know that you can actually grow tomatoes from slices? It's true! Tomatoes aren't only grown from seeds, but also from an actual tomato. Year 5 were set the task to find out how to grow tomatoes from slices and why this happens.
Thank you to Nathan for giving this a go - you have been amazingly dedicated to your home learning! Keep your eyes peeled for some juicy tomatoes.
Why not try it at home yourself? All you need is soil, a flower pot and a few slices of tomatoes.
This week, the children in Reception have been looking at the story of Supertato and the mischievous Evil Pea. Potato superheroes have been created, masks have been decorated and it's been a whole lot of fun!
But wait... What have we here!?
Look at what the Evil Pea did to the Reception classrooms last night!
Following on from our focus of overcoming fears, today we have the great privilege of sharing Witness Worship from a TA duo: Mrs Barrett and Mrs Eadie have very kindly prepared today's slides. They have been reflecting on their own fears and some of the amazing people who have inspired them, despite experiencing some very scary events in life.
WARNING - This worship contains reference to spiders and sharks!
Please share your spiritual journaling later in the week, we'd be so excited to see it: cbarrett@stjosephsguildford.com and keadie@stjosephsguildford.com
As we look ahead to the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we meet Jesus in Matthew's Gospel sending out his disciples in pairs. Just before this week's Gospel reading, Jesus warns his disciples, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." What a scary image! However, he reassures them, "Don't not be afraid." With a confident faith in the Good News and the vocation God has called them to, there's nothing more they need...
Mrs Barrett takes us to the moon and back...nearly!
Friday 12th June 2020.movThis week, Year 4 have taken up the challenge of baking some tasty savoury treats - don't they look delicious!?
Well done!
After Mr Collins' thought-provoking worship yesterday, we look today at the way that sharing meals can help build communities.
By reflecting upon when we share meals together and why, we realise that it is so much more than the actual food we eat. Through the Eucharist, we are spiritually fed and can use this to help others around us.
Miss Green would love to see your spiritual journaling later this week. Please email her your thoughts and reflections on this week's worship: deputy@stjosephsguildford.com
This afternoon, I was sat in my office and I could hear the laughter of one of the Year 1 bubbles during their playtime. As I looked out of the window, I was delighted to read 'What I love about my friends' in chalk on the ground. I was intrigued and popped down to see more...
The children told me that they had decided to write all the lovely things about their friends and decorate it for all to see.
Despite the many changes over the last couple of months, it is so wonderful to see that love and friendship are shining through!
I hope this warms your heart as much as it did mine.
A Green
In worship this week, we look ahead to the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi Sunday). As a Catholic school, it gives us a great opportunity to reflect specifically on the miracle of the Eucharist and the act of faith required to embrace Christ's promise, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him." We are thinking and praying especially for all those in our community who have been preparing (and now waiting) for their First Holy Communion.
Friday 5th June.movMiss May's bedtime story is totally out of this world! - Thanks Miss May for taking us all on an exciting journey before bedtime.
I'm sure we all have things we'll be looking forward to after lockdown is eased. Here's one of mine. We've been using the quieter time at school to develop and improve some of our unloved spaces. We're turning the old courtyard into a beautiful garden chapel. We're currently mid-construction and are hoping to have it finished in the next couple of weeks.
I can't wait to see it filled with children enjoying class worship and spiritual journaling outside. It's going to be the most wonderful space!
After Miss Green's beautiful worship yesterday, we have the great pleasure of offering a Witness Worship prepared by Mrs Jopson.
Today. Mrs Jopson looks at the work of the Holy Spirit all around us, especially in the lives and actions of our local heroes during lockdown. It is a powerful reminder of the amazing work of God's spirit in our lives and the inspiration we can draw from it.
Mrs Jopson would love to see your spiritual journaling later this week. Please email her your thoughts and reflections on this week's worship: kjopson@stjosephsguildford.com
As we reflect back on yesterday's celebration of Pentecost, we remember the truly powerful gift of the Holy Spirit and how it filled the disciples with the strength and courage they needed after Jesus' Ascension to carry on spreading the Good News.
The transformation from their fear and silence to their joy and Spirit-filled proclamations is remarkable: a true gift from God.
We're so excited to share the celebration of Pentecost with you this week and hear about how you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Following on from last week's ParentMail regarding our initial thoughts around reopening school on 1st June, please now find significantly more detail.
Firstly, our Protective Measures Risk Management document, detailing the actions identified to help manage and minimise the risk of reopening school (written in collaboration with Surrey County Council). Secondly, and probably more accessible for many parents, our presentation about the protective measures you will see in place from Monday 1st June (lasting approximately 30 minutes).
I am eager to share this information with you, to be as honest and straightforward as I can be and then allow you to make the decision as parents/carers. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you feel school will be safe enough for your child to return. We will respect and support your decision.
My deepest thanks go out to all the school staff who have worked tirelessly over recent weeks, providing care in school for children of key workers and managing the brave new world of online education too. My particular thanks to Miss Green and Mr Cunningham (School Business Manager) who have helped to prepare the details in these plans: it has been a complex and sensitive challenge.
