Friday 1st October 2024 - Issue 5

Birthday Greetings

Happy birthday to all the children and staff who have had or who will be celebrating their birthdays this week.

Albert Leighton, Ashton Wells, Indie Clarke, Isla Sephton and Jack Mushet

We hope you have had or will have a lovely day!

Cathedrals visit

Year 4 enjoyed a great visit to our two cathedrals this week. We started at the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral and then walked along Hope St to the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. We toured each cathedral learning about their history and significance to the region and we prayed for our families and for those in need and suffering in the Middle East and in Ukraine. As always, the guides commented on the children’s great behaviour and their knowledge.

Site Security

The first priority within school, before we think about the curriculum, is always the safety of the children and adults it comprises. Systems are put in place and protocols followed to ensure all are safe and the children are in the right place to flourish.

One of the many areas we monitor is the school perimeter. Mr Eckersley, the maintenance officer, carries out daily checks to ensure all is well. The governors have an annual walkabout to consider any necessary improvements and protocols are in place to secure the perimeter each day. Gates and monitored at all times and possible improvements are considered with the local authority and the Archdiocese. Presently, we are looking at windows and fencing, with window restrictors installed in the front-facing classrooms. You will notice too, that for the next few weeks Heras fencing will be in place along the length of the interior low fence in the staff car park.

Furthermore, for your information, each term we carry out a fire drill to ensure all follow the correct procedure in the event of a real fire. We carried out this term’s drill last week and all the children and staff evacuated the building as directed. Additionally, fire alarm call points are checked weekly before school and a record kept of checks and any necessary replacements.

Contacting Teachers

Please be reminded that if you need to speak with your child’s teacher you can email them via the office (stjosephs_primary@sch.warrington.gov.uk ). Please do not use their personal emails. Alternatively, parents can speak with Miss Cleary or Mrs Leighton in the office. We would ask that parents refrain from catching the teacher as they bring the children off the playground at the start of the day. Short conversations can soon become longer which hold up the whole class and therefore learning.

Information for parents is transmitted via the newsletter, texting through ParentApps, by telephone and sometimes by letter. Several WhatsApp groups exist but these are between parents and are unofficial. Please be aware of this when discussing or asking about issues or events. Likewise, please be kind on social media platforms.

October Rosary

October is traditionally the month of Mary and in school we pray a decade of the Rosary at lunchtimes with any children who so wish to join us.

St Joseph’s Family Centre Food bank and our own clothes day

Thank you for the food items for St Joseph’s Family Centre. It has been a tradition at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary for over two years to support the centre. For your information there is also a food bank at St Joseph’s church. It is wonderful that so many people are generous in their support for these food banks and we do so in response to the Gospel call to feed the poor. However, we should be outraged that there is a need for them in a country which is apparently the 5th richest globally. If I sound political, I make no apologies. We only need to read the Scriptures to be angered by poverty.

Thank you as always for your generosity.

Family Fast Day - Friday 4 October

This Friday, Christians across England and Wales will fast in recognition that many across the world go without many of the things we take for granted each day. The CAFOD Family Fast days in October and in Lent help us to reflect, pray and act for others. Please consider fasting for others and also give generously for the work of CAFOD. The children will be bringing an envelope home this week for your generosity. Please return the envelope next week. Thank you!

Levy payments

The school to which you have chosen to send your child is a Catholic Voluntary Aided school. Voluntary aided status provides distinct freedoms and flexibilities in the way that schools operate but, in return for the privilege of having and controlling such a school, there is a need to make a contribution to some costs, including those associated with capital investment.

The school share is based upon an annual amount calculated at £12.00 per child (or family where there is more than one child attending the same school).

We collect this money via Parentpay and this is now set up for parents to contribute. We do hope you will support the school and make a contribution for your child.

Food allergies

Please be reminded that some of our children suffer with severe allergic reactions to peanuts, nuts, lentils and peas. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs we are trained to immediately use Jext pens of Epipens and call 999.

Please do not use Nivea suncream as it has almond oil in it and we have children with severe nut allergies.

Please do not send any items containing the above into school for your child’s lunch or snack. This includes spreads like Nutella as it has hazelnut as an ingredient.

Thank you for your support, as always.