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

• Orchestra Christmas Recital

  Fri 15 Dec 2023

  Today our Year 4-7 pupils were treated to a fabulous performance by Mr. Herron/Mrs. McDonnell and their pupils.  'Santa's Silly Strings' and 'Santa's Silly Strummers' performed a number of Christmas classics.  

   

  Well done to all the girls and boys who entertained us today and to Mr. Herron and Mrs. McDonnell's pupils for all their hard work

  

• Year 1 and Year 5 Christmas Shows

  Thu 14 Dec 2023

  A massive congratulations to our Year 1 and 5 pupils on their Christmas show performances this week. Year 1 performed 'Simply Nativity' and Year 5 performed 'The Ordinary Ox'.  Our Christmas shows epitomise the family atmosphere we all enjoy within our school.

   

  The children performed to the whole school over two shows and to parents on Thursday.  They sang, acted and danced with such great enthusiasm. A really beautiful occasion for all who attended – the children were quite simply outstanding, giving such a wonderful message about the true meaning of Christmas and putting us all in a wonderful Christmas spirit.

   

  Many thanks to the Year 1 and 5 teams for all the hard work in preparing the pupils with their many roles.  Our Christmas show is indeed very much a team effort and we thank our entire school community who helped or supported us to ensure another sterling performance!

   

   

  

• New Books for the Accelerated Reading Programme

  Wed 13 Dec 2023

  We were delighted to receive so many new books to support our Year 5 - Year 7 pupils with the Accelerated Reading Programme.  We were able to purchase these books with the commission we received from our latest Book Fair purchases. 

   

  We would like to thank all those who supported the Book Fair which had enabled us to acquire these additional reading resources.  They will certainly be put to good use.  Many thanks to Mrs. Kinnaird for all her work in organising the books. Members of our Pupil Council will showcase the new books purchases to all the pupils at our next school assembly.

  

• Winner, Winner; It's Christmas Dinner!

  Tue 12 Dec 2023

  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. Darragh and all the canteen staff on catering for such a large number - over 500 pupils -  and serving up a great Christmas treat!  It was certainly enjoyed by all who attended.

  

• Nursery Parents' Workshop on Play

  Mon 11 Dec 2023

  Nursery Session: The Power of Play

   

  Today our Nursery morning and afternoon parents/guardians attended an information sharing session ‘The Power of Play’ delivered by Mrs. McConkey, our Year 2 teacher and qualified Play Therapist.  Within the sessions the key principles of setting up and managing play sessions within the home environment as well as the importance of regular play time with their children was shared.

   

  Thank you to all who attended the session.

  

• Year 6 Dairy Council Workshop

  Mon 11 Dec 2023

  The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland came to visit our Year 6 children today.  They talked to the children about Food and Fitness.

   

  The aim of this programme is to help pupils explore the concept of balance within their diet based on eating a variety of foods from the five food groups and balance within their lifestyle focusing on the importance of being active. The children also took part in activities and learned about the different dairy foods.

   

  Many thanks to the Dairy Council for coming along today and for working with our Year 6 children.  

  

• Friends of St Joseph's Christmas Draw

  Mon 11 Dec 2023

  Friends of St Joseph’s Annual Christmas Raffle 2023

   

  Our Pupil Council visited each classroom to help promote the Friends of St Joseph's Christmas Draw.

   

  £1.00 per ticket.

   

  Draw will take place on Thursday 21st December 2023.

   

  1st Prize – Children's Bike from Hicklands cycles donated by Oaktree Day care.

  2nd Prize - £30 Ballymac Voucher

  3rd Prize – Omniplex Voucher and Nando’s Voucher

  4th Prize – The Chip Factory Voucher Glenavy

  5th Prize – Fiddlers Inn Voucher

  6th Prize – 3 Months Membership (The Little Gym)

  7th Prize – Crooked Glen Voucher

  8th Prize – Christmas Hamper

  9th Prize – HP Printer (Tesco)

  10th Prize – Christmas Bouquet ( The Flower Bee Crumlin)

   

  If you're not in, you can't win!

  

• Our Magical Nursery Trail

  Fri 08 Dec 2023

  A magical Christmas experience for our Nursery children - what a treat it was for the children.

   

  Our nursery girls and boys had a wonderful time walking though our magical forest to collect the fabulous work they had made for their families, having stories read and songs sung with Mrs. Claus & her helpers, decorating gingerbread men, dancing in the courtyard with some Christmas characters, toasting marshmallows, creating artwork & 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 fantastic efforts in planning and hosting this special Christmas event!

  

• Faith Group Hard At Work

  Thu 07 Dec 2023

  Our Faith Group have been hard at work today.  After deciding on their chosen area for our outdoor sanctuary area and sacred space they got to tidying.  This project led by the Faith Group is in direct response to Pope Francis' Beatitudes - Beatitude Number 4; 'Blessed Are Those Who Care For The Common Home'.  Some of their parents and grandparents were there to give a hand and we thank them for giving up their time and coming along to help.  We also thank Dobbies Garden Centre for their donation of a real Christmas tree which will add a touch of festival spirit to this special area.  We are sure that this space will look amazing when the group have finished all their planned work.

   

  After all this hard outdoor work, the boys and girls enjoyed some treats in Mr. Traynor's office whilst judging the Christmas Nativity Colouring Competition.  They had a difficult time judging with so many wonderful entries but they worked very well together to choose the final entries to be sent off to Missio Ireland in Dublin.  Well done to all who entered the competition and to our Faith Group for their commitment to these projects.

  

• St Joseph's Open Evening

  Wed 06 Dec 2023

  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 sang so beautifully in the main school hall.  We look forward to our prospective new pupils joining our school and nursery unit in September 2024. 

   

  If your child is starting pre-school or primary school in September 2024, you can apply online from  midday Tuesday 9th January 2024 to midday on Friday 26th January 2024. 

   

  Please note the existing statutory Nursery provision at St Joseph’s Primary School Nursery Unit will be modified to provide 52 full-time nursery places only with effect from 1^st September 2024.  Places for both the nursery unit and main school 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