Nine children from St Joseph’s (Years 4 and 5) celebrated their First Holy Communion on 28th June, alongside pupils from St Bede’s and St George’s schools. It was a truly special and joyful occasion, shared with family and friends at St Bede’s Church. The celebrations continued the following day during Sunday Mass, where the children proudly presented themselves to the parish community and received their certificates from Father Maridas. On Monday, the children enjoyed a spec

Our Year 6 pupils were privileged to lead their final St Joseph’s Mass. Despite it being the hottest day ever, every child and adult did us proud. Well done St Joseph’s!

Year Six experienced a fantastic day at the Newcastle United Foundation on Tuesday 3oth June. The children took part in a range of exciting and thought provoking activities including; virtual reality (HADO) games, multi-sports team games, health and well-being activities and basic first-aid (re-start a heart).

The Youth Ministry Trust put on a great day for hundreds of Year 6 children from across the region. We explored activities around the youth village, met pupils from other schools and reflected on the central theme of ‘Behold’. Being in the Durham countryside on a beautiful day was such a treat.

Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic visit to Scotswood Nature Garden, where they learned all about bees. The children discovered the different roles within a hive and how worker bees collect pollen. To bring this learning to life, the children took part in a fun activity using sticky paper bees to collect “pollen” themselves. They also completed a Bee Trail around the woods, searching for ten interesting bee facts hidden along the way. The day continued with two engaging bee-themed st

Year 2 pupils, alongside the rest of the school, recently took part in an engaging and interactive online assembly focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and online safety. The session encouraged curiosity and discussion, with children asking thoughtful questions and developing their understanding of how AI is used in everyday life. During the assembly, pupils explored key principles to help them use technology safely and responsibly. They learned about: Safe – understanding

Children in Year 2 practised their jumping skills by using a mat to measure how far they could jump. Their classmates helped by measuring each jump. The children had several attempts, giving them the opportunity to improve both their technique and the distance they could achieve.

Year 2 children have been learning about the different types of animals around us and were excited to have a special visitor come into school. During the visit, they had the opportunity to learn lots about tortoises, including their habitats, diets, and how they are cared for. The children were very curious and asked lots of thoughtful questions, showing great enthusiasm for their learning. It was a fantastic hands-on experience that brought their topic to life and helped dee

We are delighted to announce that we have made formal links with our local community library. Throughout June, each of our Key Stage 2 classes will be visiting the library. During these visits, the children will have the valuable opportunity to become library members. We highly encourage you to return to the library with your children over the summer holidays to keep up their reading habits. In addition, Sarah from the library will be visiting us here at school. She will be h

Our nursery children have been busy exploring our outdoor areas and searching for minibeasts! 🌿🔍 We had lots of fun learning interesting facts and investigating natural habitats to discover a range of fascinating creatures. 🕷️🍃 We discussed how to handle minibeasts safely and respectfully, as well as what they need to survive in their environments. 🏡💚 The children showed great curiosity and enthusiasm as they became little nature explorers! 🌎✨

St Joseph’s School is proud to have achieved the Live Simply Award, recognising the school’s commitment to living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with communities around the world experiencing poverty. The award, championed by the international aid charity CAFOD, was presented to the school after pupils and staff successfully planned and carried out faith-inspired actions that highlighted the importance of caring for both people and the planet. These actions have had a

Year 2 children have been exploring the artwork of Martin Bulinya, focusing on his African-inspired paintings of the Maasai tribe. His work often depicts Maasai people in a variety of poses and groupings, with particular attention to the intricate patterns and detailed designs of their traditional clothing. Inspired by his style, the children used iPads to create their own patterns digitally. They then applied these designs to felt, producing their own unique pieces of clothi

Year 2 children have been exploring how the seaside has changed from Victorian times through the 1950s to the present day. They had the opportunity to handle a range of artefacts and worked together to sort them into “then” and “now.”

Year 4 visited Housesteads Roman Fort. They found out about life at the fort and they walked on Hadrian’s Wall!

This week we have had an egg-citing delivery! 🥚✨ Our focus story was “Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones”, where we learned about all the different animals that lay eggs. 🐔🐍🐢 We received a special package containing some eggs and a message asking us to take care of them. 💌 We talked about what might hatch by looking closely at the colour, size, and shape of each egg. 👀 We were so excited when we saw some adorable ducklings beginning to hatch! 🐣💛 We have been fascinated wat

Year 1 had great fun learning to count in 2s using pairs of socks! This practical activity helped children understand that counting in 2s links to grouping objects into pairs. The children sorted socks into pairs and counted them aloud: 2, 4, 6, 8… They quickly noticed patterns in the numbers and began to develop their understanding and confidence.

In Year 1. we have been busy exploring and measuring weight. The children worked collaboratively to compare different items, using key vocabulary such as heavy, light, heavier than, and lighter than. They demonstrated great teamwork as they shared their thinking and explained their reasoning.

Our Year 1 children had a wonderful time creating their very own Easter gardens to help them understand and retell the Easter story. They then took part in a thoughtful collective worship in our prayer garden, reflecting on the themes of hope and new life. To finish the celebration, the children enjoyed an exciting Easter egg hunt, bringing lots of smiles and fun to the end of a special day.

Year 1 – France Bonjour! In Year 1, we enjoyed learning all about France and its culture. We started off the day by understanding what Languages Day is about. We looked at France, where it is on a map, famous landmarks and traditional dishes. We learnt how to say the different colours in French and some simple phrases Bonjour, Merci, Au revoir, je m’appelle. We tasted some French baguette and croissants and created our own French flag!

Pentecost Year 2 children have been learning about the story of Pentecost. They discussed how the disciples may have felt during this time, moving from fear and uncertainty to feeling comforted and brave enough to share the Good News. The children then created a display to express their thoughts and feelings.