Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• St Joseph’s Awarded Distinction in The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2021

  Tue 26 Jan 2021

  It is an honour and a great achievement for the school to receive the highest accolade of ‘Distinction’

  from

  The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2021.
   

  This is in recognition of the school’s outstanding commitment to and engagement with promoting and

  developing Catholic ethos and values! 

   

  This award is a tremendous honour for our school and is a fantastic reflection of the hard work put in by our pupils, staff and entire school community.

   

  Well done everyone!

   

  

• Art Work inspired by the story 'The Dot'

  Fri 22 Jan 2021

  During Week 2 of Lockdown, some of the children attending the Key Worker/Vulnerable Scheme had the opportunity to work on the story ‘The Dot’.  ‘The Dot’ is a 2003 picture book written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds about a girl named Vashti who eventually discovers her artistic talent.

   

  Vashti is a girl who says she cannot draw. Her teacher says a polar bear in a snow storm. When she tells her teacher, the teacher tells her "make a mark and see where it takes you." Vashti draws a dot on her paper, and her teacher then says "now sign it." The next week she is surprised to see her dot framed on display in the teacher's office. Seeing her dot, she says "I can make a better dot than that." She then starts drawing elaborate, colourful dots and realizes she is indeed an artist

   

  This powerful story inspires self-confidence and creativity in children and reminds them that they can indeed be whatever they want to be. 

   

  Have a look for yourself …… St Joseph’s has indeed some amazing and very creative artists!

  

• Council secures £10k funding to help you Get MORE Active!

  Fri 22 Jan 2021

  Following the continued success of MORE Live, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is expanding its online offering of virtual fitness classes. Funded by Northern Healthy Lifestyles Partnership and Sport NI, the new MORE Active programme has a range of classes all of which are suitable for young people and the older generation, but absolutely anybody can enjoy them. 

   

  MORE Active will operate the same way as MORE Live with all classes free of charge and accessible by anyone. Suitable for the first-time beginners to the fitness fanatics, users will be able to live stream fitness classes at set times of the day, as well as having access to a back catalogue of pre-recorded classes at any time.  

   

  Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Jim Montgomery said, “I am delighted we are expanding our online offering of these much-loved fitness classes. We have received so much positive feedback with over 25,0000 views to date. The latest restrictions have resulted in our leisure centres closing, so this new range of taster sessions will hopefully keep everyone active, in particular kids, teenagers and older folk until our leisure centres reopen.  

   

  “This week we are also supporting the ‘Choose to Live Better’ festival which aims to encourage people to take positive steps in making healthier lifestyle choices. By participating in these taster sessions, users will be taking the first steps into a more active, healthy lifestyle which can potentially have long term health benefits. 

   

  “MORE Active also includes classes such as Active Pregnancy which demonstrate suitable exercises for women both during and after pregnancy. Mental wellbeing is also extremely important, so we have new sessions that aim to improve your mental health including mindfulness, yoga and Tai Chi. I would encourage everyone to get involved and take advantage of these free fitness sessions, should your goal be health, fitness or mental wellbeing.”  

   

  For more information including class timetables, the class archive or to access the live stream, visit www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/MORELive   

• Sustrans Outside In

  Tue 19 Jan 2021

  Sustrans are relaunching Sustrans Outside In, a free resource to help parents.

   

  Sustrans Outside In provides fun ideas and inspiration for parents to bring education, health and wellbeing activities into their home.

   

  Parents can access resources by registering for a free parent newsletter. Over four weeks, you will receive weekly videos, themed activities, games and challenges designed by experienced school officers.

   

  If you think these resources would be useful, please log on to the subscription page at www.sustrans.org.uk/OutsideIn

   

   

• Applying for Wi-Fi Access for Pupils on Free School Meals

  Tue 19 Jan 2021

  We wish to inform you that the Education Authority have given us the option of applying for Wi-Fi access for eligible pupils. The criteria set by the EA for eligibility is:

   

  Requests can only be made for pupils who:

  1. Do not currently have access to Wi-Fi and
  2. Who are eligible for Free School Meals.

   

  Two Wi-Fi options have been made available:

   

  Option 1. BT Wi-Fi Voucher This means that Wi-Fi is provided through BT hotspots in urban areas. A BT postcode checker at www.btwifi.co.uk is available to enable you to check if there is a hotspot near your home. Each voucher can support up to 3 devices concurrently - please take this into account when applying for children in the same family.  

   

  Option 2. Mi-Fi Solution This is a Wi-Fi device that provides 4G access (dongle) in rural areas - this is similar to 4G mobile phone connectivity. The coverage checker for this solution is at https://coverage.ee.co.uk/coverage/ee   One Mi-Fi device is required per one user device.  

   

  The EA have stated that priority will be given to pupils in P4 and P7 but that if there is availability , access to Wi-Fi will be widened out to children in other year groups.  

   

  If you meet the above criteria and wish to apply for Wi-Fi access, please email the school info@stjosephspscrumlin.ni.sch.uk by 12 noon on Monday 25 January, stating your option choice and your child's name and Year Group.