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

• By Golly, Be Jolly ..... It's Christmas Dinner Day!

  Wed 14 Dec 2022

  Today our pupils had their Christmas Dinner in school.  Pupils enjoyed a lovely Christmas meal in the school canteen with their classmates.  Many thanks to Mrs Weldon and all the canteen staff on catering for such a large number of pupils and serving up a great Christmas treat!  It was certainly enjoyed by all who attended.

   

  

• P1 visit The Elf Emporium at The Junction

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  Our P1 children had a fabulous day out visiting The Elf Emporium at The Junction.  Together with the elves they did some magic and travelled to Lapland for a disco! It really was a great adventure! Many thanks to The Arts Council NI and The Junction for providing the funding for the show and transport.  

  

• 'Ask for Angela' Safeguarding Initiative

  Sun 11 Dec 2022

  As part of their 'Tackling Violence against Women & Girls' Action Plan, the PSNI 'Ask for Angela' Safeguarding Initiative, in partnership with Hospitality Ulster, is being publicly rolled out across NI during December, and we have been asked to draw it to your attention.

   

  What is 'Ask for Angela'

   

  Anyone who is feeling unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that you require help, and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist you. This might be through reuniting you with a friend, seeing you to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or Police.

   

  What happens if you ask for 'Angela'? Staff in registered venues will know that you need help. They can ask the person bothering you to leave, help to ring a taxi, reunite you with friends or call Police. A map of local venues already signed up available here:

   

  https://www.psni.police.uk/AskForAngela

   

• Christmas Hampers collected by the Crumlin Community Residents

  Fri 09 Dec 2022

  Many thanks to all those children and their families in Years 2, 4, 5 and 6 who brought in items to create Christmas Class Hampers.  There was a fantactic response to the appeal. 

  Today members of the Crumlin Community Residents called at school to collect the hampers and were delighted with what they had to take away. 

  These hampers will now be distributed to help those in our own community who are vulnerable for many reasons and require support at a difficult time. To date the organisation have already received requests from over 300 families in need. 

  Again many thanks .... you support and generosity is very much appreciated!

  

• Our Magical Nursery Trail

  Thu 08 Dec 2022

  A magical Christmas experience for our Nursery children - our first Nursery Trial since 2019. It really was wonderful to see it operational again within the school and what a treat it was for the children.

   

  Our children had a wonderful time walking though our magical forest to collect the fabulous work they had made for their families, meeting Santa, having stories read and songs sung with Mrs Claus and her helper, decorating gingerbread men, dancing in the courtyard with some Christmas characters, toasting marshmallows, collecting reindeer food, visiting Santa in his grotto and finishing with refreshment in minor hall.

   

  Many thanks to all who helped in any way with the Trail - a special shoutout to all the Nursery team for their fantactic efforts in planning and hosting this special Christmas event!

  

• Open Evening

  Wed 07 Dec 2022

  Many thanks to all those who came along to our recent Open Evening.  All those in attendance were taken on a guided tour of our school and its facilities by our excellent Year 7 tour guides.  Staff were on hand to answer any questions as our visitors moved throughout the school. Many thanks also to our Digital Leaders  who showcased a wide range of mathematical and ICT topics and skills and to our wonderful choir who sany so beautifully in the main school hall.  We look forward to our prospective new pupils joining our school in September 2023. 

   

  Please Note:  If your child is starting pre-school or primary school in September 2023, you can apply online from  midday Tuesday 10th January 2022 to midday on Tuesday 31stth January 2022. Please note that places are not allocated on a first come, first served basis and applications will only be considered after the closing date.

   

  Further information is available on the EA website under the Admissions section at:

  https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions

  

• Team Trials

  Tue 06 Dec 2022

  Today we held our school team trials for gaelic football, hurling/camogie and soccer. 

  In the New Year we look forward to taking part in afterschool and in a number of competitions representing our school.

  #teamwork #dreamwork 

  

• Public Health Agency Press Release

  Tue 06 Dec 2022

  PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON 6^th DECEMBER 2022

   

  PUBLIC URGED TO BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF GROUP A STREP

   

  Parents and guardians are being urged to be alert for the signs of group A streptococcal (GAS) infections by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

   

  Group A streptococcus bacteria usually cause a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can be easily treated with antibiotics. In very rare circumstances, these bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness – called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).

   

  As well as an increase in notifications of scarlet fever, which is above the levels we usually see at this time of year, the PHA is also aware of a higher number of cases of iGAS being reported across the UK.

   

  While iGAS is still uncommon, it is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms of illnesses caused by group A streptococcus bacteria and seek medical advice so that their child can be treated appropriately and to help prevent the infection becoming serious.

   

  What to do if you suspect your child has scarlet fever

   

  Scarlet fever mainly affects children under 10, but people of any age can get it. In the early stages, symptoms include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel. 

   

  The PHA is asking parents to contact their GP if they suspect their child has scarlet fever, because early treatment with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

   

  Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “Scarlet fever usually clears up after about a week, but anyone who thinks they or a child may have it should contact a GP for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

   

  “To limit the spread of scarlet fever it is also important to practise good hygiene by washing hands with warm water and soap, not sharing drinking glasses or utensils, and covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. People should also stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after taking the first dose of antibiotics.”

   

  Don’t put off seeking help if your child continues to get worse

   

  There can be a range of causes of sore throats, colds and coughs. These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop an infection and that can make them more unwell.

   

  The PHA is also urging parents to seek help if their child is very unwell or seems to be getting worse – even if they have started treatment. Parents should contact their GP if they feel:

  • their child is getting worse;
  • their child is feeding or eating much less than normal;
  • their child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration;
  • their baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher;
  • their baby feels hotter than usual when they touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty;
  • their child is very tired or irritable.

   

  Call 999 or go to the Emergency Department if:

  • your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs;
  • there are pauses when your child breathes;
  • your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue;
  • your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.

   

  Dr McClean continued: “The PHA has issued an urgent message to all primary and secondary care healthcare providers alerting them to increases in group A streptococcal infection. Acting quickly if you suspect anyone has this infection could make a difference to the outcomes.”

   

  For further information on scarlet fever, visit www.pha.site/ScarletFever

   

  Rises in recent cases of invasive group A streptococcus across the UK may be due in part to more social mixing, which may also result in other illnesses circulating at the same time. The PHA would therefore urge everyone eligible for the free flu vaccine to get it at the earliest opportunity. In particular we would urge parents of all pre-school children aged two years and over and those aged 6 months to 2 years who are in risk groups to avail of the free flu vaccine.

   

  Find out who is eligible for the winter vaccines and where to get vaccinated see www.nidirect.gov.uk/wintervaccines

   

  For the UKHSA update on Group A Strep and scarlet fever on 2 December 2022 visit www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-scarlet-fever-and-invasive-group-a-strep

   

  The PHA has also written to Health and Social Care Trusts and GPs to inform them of an increase in GAS infections being seen across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. The letter advises that the increase in GAS infections has been accompanied by a rise in the rare, most serious, form of the infection called invasive Group A streptococcus (iGAS). 

   

• Daily Mile Santa Run

  Fri 02 Dec 2022

  Today, Friday 2nd December, St Joseph's joined over 500 schools from across Northern Ireland to take part in the Daily Mile Santa Run.  

   

  The children had a great time and puts lots of energy into ensuring they had a good workout #healthybody #healthymind

  

• Pupil Council Work

  Fri 02 Dec 2022

  Our Pupil Council have been working hard this week with Mrs Wray and Mr McGrattan visiting classes to raise awareness of children’s rights and in particular Article 23, Children with Disabilities as Saturday December 3^rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

   

  They have also been working with Mr Traynor and representatives of the Friends of St Joseph's on designing a new school sports kit which the Friends are kindly sponsoring.  After our meeting final designs have been decided through the use of a computer package.  We're now ready to place the order and the Pupil Council look forward to unveiling our new sports kits after Christmas.  We're keeping the design under wraps until then!