St Joseph's Academy Parent Portal - Friday 15th December 2023

Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudate Sunday

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete means rejoice. And so as Christmas Day draws closer, Guadete Sunday reminds us of the joy that the birth of Jesus brings to the world. The candle that is lit on the Advent Wreath is coloured rose to show the change from penance and preparation to joy that Jesus is almost here! Christmas is a very special time of joy because of the arrival of Jesus.

World Human Rights Day

World Rights Day was on 10th December as it marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

Every class spent last Friday finding the answers to some Big Questions in recognition of this momentous occasion

What rights do all children have and why?

What can we do to respect the rights of all children in school and beyond?

We learnt to recognise that human rights, are there to protect everyone
and recognised the importance of having compassion towards others. We identified the basic needs of all children are food, shelter, to be safe, to feel happy and to have the opportunity to learn and develop. We discussed the meaning of ‘right’ and found that all children have the same rights – to be protected, to have an education, to have access to health care and an adequate standard of living and to be heard and taken seriously. We also looked at what we could do to respect the rights of children throughout the world and help their basic needs to be met.

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KS1 Nativity

On Wednesday and Thursday the children in years 1 and 2 performed ‘Little Angel Gets her Wings’ for our families and friends. The children enjoyed taking on different parts to retell the events leading up to when Jesus was born. The children were fantastic at bringing the Nativity story to life and encouraging us to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

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Reception Nativity

Our Reception Class have worked so hard to learn all of the songs and words so they could perform their Nativity Play for the school and their grown ups. They wriggled and danced with lots of enthusiasm. They sang and spoke so confidently and clearly. It was obvious they were enjoying themselves and they made their audiences smile. They were amazing and we are very proud of them all.

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Top tips for good school attendance

create good attendance habits from when your child first goes to nursery
talk to your child about the importance of school for their future
take a positive interest in your child's work, including helping them with homework
help your child to get into a good night-time, sleep time and morning routine
have a good relationship with school, talk to them about concerns you have and your child’s progress
contact school on the first day of absence if your child is not able to attend
be honest with school if your child is absent or not wanting to attend
book all holidays in the school holidays and not in term time
book medical appointments after school or during the school holidays. If you can’t, then make sure your child attends before and after their appointment
prioritise school attendance over other activities and ask for help if you need it

Weekly Attendance - week beginning 11th December 2023

Our whole school attendance target for this academic year (23/24) is 96.5%

Follow the link below for further information:

NHS 'Is my child too ill for school?' guidance

Friends of St Joseph's School

Great News!

The Christmas Raffle Tickets are now on sale on the School Gateway!

1st, 2nd and 3rd prize will be £50. If you would like to donate a prize please speak to the office staff

The draw will take place on Monday 18th December

The Christmas Masses at St Joseph’s Church

Sunday, 24 December, Christmas Eve
4.00 pm Vigil Mass
6.00 - 6.55pm Carols before Mass during the Night
7.00 pm Mass during the Night
Monday, 25 December, Christmas Day
8.45am Mass at Dawn
10.00 am Mass during the Day

There will also be Confessions available from 3:15pm until they are finished on Monday and Tuesday 18th and 19th December.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

Mon 18th December - Visit by Maker Van

Mon 18th December - Elf Day

Tues 19th December - Carols in Church 2pm

Wed 20th December - Breakfast with Santa

Thurs 21st December - Christmas Jumper Day

Thurs 21st December - Dip and Dab's Christmas Remix am

Thurs 21st December - KS2 Party pm

Friday 22nd December – School finishes at 1:30pm

Christmas Break – 25th December – 5th January

2024

Mon 8th Jan - Pupils return to school

Thurs 11th Jan - Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal visit

Thurs 18th Jan - Year 5 visit to Magna

Thurs 1st Feb - Star Man visit Year 5

Thurs 1st Feb - South Yorkshire Fire Service visit Year 3

Fri 9th Feb - Year 3 visit Kelham Island

Spring Half Term - 12th to 16th February

Please Note

The school day will finish at 1.30pm on the last day of the autumn term, Friday 22nd December.

School is closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from 25th Dec - 5th Jan.

We re-open to pupils on Monday 8th January 2024

Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal (CFR)

In January the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal will once again be visiting our school. They will travel from their convent in Leeds to spend the day working with the children and sharing their experiences of religious life. An important part of the sisters' life is to serve those in need and we would like to support them by collecting tins of meat, vegetables and fruit for them to share with those families they work with. There will be more information to follow in the new year.

Thursday 21st December - Christmas Jumper Day

We are fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity this Christmas!

We are wearing our Christmas Jumper for Sheffield Children's and helping spread the festive cheer!

Date : Thursday the 21st of December 2023

Please support our fundraising if you can, every penny makes a difference.

Please follow the link to donate

The Children's Hospital Charity

Thankyou!

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Hanukkah, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration honouring the Miracle of the Oil. Over 2,000 years ago, the Jews won a battle for religious freedom and lit an oil lamp as part of the celebration. It only had enough oil to light its holy light for one night, but it miraculously burned for eight days.

It became a yearly tradition to remember or “dedicate” the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights. One candle is lit for each night of the celebration using a menorah – a nine-branch candelabrum.

The tallest candle in the center of the menorah is the shamash (servant) which is used to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left and are lit from left to right.

Prayer for the light of the world

God of light, shine brightly,

show us how

to bring hope to others.

God of mercy, help us

to comfort people and

to share in their joy.

God of hope,

help us this Advent,

to share your light with others.

Amen.