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 hosting a special assembly to talk about the fantastic services on offer, as well as introducing the Summer Reading Challenge 2026. Keep an eye out for library membership forms coming home!

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 positive impact across the whole school, within the local community and globally, as St Joseph’s reached out to make a meaningful difference. A quote from the assessor. I was very impressed by all I heard this afternoon. I believe the actions carried out by the school fully meet the criteria of the Live Simply scheme. But, you also carry out other activities beyond those necessary for the Live Simply scheme, which is the mark of a school in which the spirit of living simply is embedded in the ethos of the school. You are demonstrating a whole-hearted commitment to the principle of Catholic Social Teaching now and into the future. The emphasis you put on engaging with parents as well as outside organisations is good see. Also, it is gratifying to note that you collect money for CAFOD as well as other charities. As ever, it was good speaking to the pupils. They were a credit to the school. I was impressed that they had such a good understanding of Live Simply and CST as well as why they were participating in the scheme. They eloquently and confidently demonstrated that they were fully engaged in and enthusiastic about living simply. I am pleased to recommend the award of a Live Simply Award. We continue to stand by our Catholic Social Teachings, supporting our school, local and global neighbours, and striving to show Love, Trust and Respect to everyone. Well done to the children, staff, family and friends of St Joseph’s. We can make a difference!

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 clothing inspired by Bulinya’s artwork.

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 watching them grow and observing the changes each day. 🌱 The children have had lots of fun learning to be responsible and helping to care for the ducklings. 🧡🦆

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.