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

• War Memorial Museum Visit Year 4

  Thu 04 Dec 2025

  Today, Primary 4 enjoyed a fascinating visit from a representative of The War Memorial Museum in Belfast as part of their topic on World War II.  The session was packed with interesting facts about WWII and the Belfast Blitz. The children saw photographs of the Home Guard, evacuees, and even an aerial view of the Belfast shipyard where ships and bombs used in the war were built.

   

  There were lots of amazing artefacts to explore, including gas masks and helmets. At the end, everyone had the chance to try on the helmets, hold the gas masks, and even clang the gas rattle!

   

  It was an incredible experience – thank you to the museum for bringing history to life for us!

  

• It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

  Tue 02 Dec 2025

  It looks very like the Christmas Season is in full swing here in school.  With the foyer decorated and rehearsals in full flow for our Christmas Shows and Carol Service it is indeed the season to be jolly!

   

  Here are some dates for December:

   

  Tuesday 2nd December: Year 6 & 7 — ‘Matilda’ @ Crumlin Integrated College

  Thursday 4th December: Open Evening (6.00-7.30pm) - All choir members to attend from  6.00pm-7.00pm                                        

  Thursday 4th December:  Year 4 World War 11 Outreach Museum Visit

  Friday 5th December: Santa Daily Mile

  Tuesday 9th December Christmas Dinner  (1.45pm finish for Years 1-3 and 2.00pm finish for Years 4-7 on Tuesday 9th December)

  Thursday 11th December: Nursery Trail (Staggered start from 4.30pm)

  Thursday 11th December: Year 6 Twinning Programme ‘Sport Changes Lives’ @ CIPS

  Friday 12th December: Dairy Council Visit Year 5 @ 9.30am & Year 6 @ 11.15am

  Monday 15th December: Year 7 Carol Service (1.30pm - Years 5 & 6 to attend)

  Tuesday 16th December: Year 5 Choir - The Whins from 1.30pm — 2.30pm

  Tuesday 16th December:  Friends Years 1 — 2 Christmas Movie Evening (5.00pm-6.30pm)

  Wednesday 17th December: Year 1 Show (9.30am) & Year 5 Show (11.00am)

  Thursday 18^th December: Christmas Assemblies; Years 3 - 7 Disco from 9.30am – 12.00 noon – Main Hall; Year 6 Choir — Tesco @ 1.45pm; Year 7 Choir — Lakeview @ 1.45pm

  Friday 19th December: Non-Uniform Christmas Jumper Day & Friends Christmas Draw

  Monday 22nd December: School closes for Christmas Holidays (Non-Uniform Day)

   

  

• Year 6 & 7 Visit CIC to see Matilda The Musical

  Tue 02 Dec 2025

  A huge thank you to Crumlin Integrated College for inviting us to watch their fantastic production of Matilda The Musical.

   

  Our children had a wonderful time, and it was such a joy to see so many of our past pupils shining on stage.

   

  We wish the entire cast and crew the very best of luck with their upcoming performances later this week. Thank you again for a truly memorable experience.

  

• Preparing Our Sacred Garden for Advent

  Tue 02 Dec 2025

  As we enter the season of Advent, our Faith Group, together with Mrs. Loughran, has prepared and tidied our Sacred Garden to ensure it remains a peaceful and reflective space. This week, pupils will continue to enhance the garden, adding items and images that help us focus on the Nativity and the true meaning of Christmas.

   

  We are especially grateful to Mrs. Loughran’s brother, Fr. Gerard, for his generous gift of a beautiful real Christmas tree, which will make this special space even more meaningful during this holy season

  

• Year 1 and 2 November Principal Awards

  Mon 01 Dec 2025

  Congratulations to our girls and boys in Primary 1 and Primary 2 who received the weekly Headteacher Award during the month of November for a variety of wonderful traits.  We are very proud of them all!

  

• Blessing of the Advent Wreath

  Fri 28 Nov 2025

  This Sunday 29th November marks the First Sunday of Advent.  Today Canon Colm called to school to bless our Advent Wreath.  During our Prayer Service we had a number of special readings.  To conclude the service our Year pupils sang a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.  The Advent Wreath was then moved to the foyer of our school.   

   

  After the Prayer Service our Year 4–7 pupils were also presented with their Accelerated Reading certificates and November Pupil of the Month awards to mark the end of another busy month in school. Congratulations to all our pupils for their hard work and achievements!

   

  Also today Canon Colm was presented with a festive Christmas Hamper generously donated by the staff of St. Joseph’s. The hamper will be featured at the Annual Parish Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, 30th November, helping to support our parish community and spread seasonal cheer.

  
  "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."

  

• SW Antrim Girls' Gaelic Football Tournament

  Thu 27 Nov 2025

  Congratulations to the Girls' Gaelic Football Team who travelled to Antrim Forum to take part in the SW Antrim Indoor 5-a-side Football Tournament. 

   

  There was great team work, determination and skill displayed and the girls did St. Joseph's proud finishing as Runners-Up in the Allianz SW Antrim Cumann na mBunscoil Shield.

   

  Thank you to Mrs. Rogan, Miss Rogan and Mr. McMullan for the work which they do in promoting and developing Gaelic sport in St. Joseph's.  Also thank you to St. James' GAC Aldergrove and Gaelfast for all of their support and for the provision of coaches to assist with the coaching of these girls and indeed the development of Gaelic sport throughout our school.

   

  WELL DONE GIRLS!

  

• Wild About Maths Day at St Joseph’s!

  Wed 26 Nov 2025

  We were delighted to welcome Jackson Kavanagh from AS Creatives, Liverpool to lead our exciting Maths Day. The day began with a fun and interactive assembly for Years 4–7 on the theme Wild About Maths. Jackson captivated pupils with a mathematical story that required audience participation to solve a series of problems along the way—a brilliant way to kick-start the day!

   

  Each year group then enjoyed hands-on workshops featuring a carousel of activities, packed with resources and designed to link different mathematical topics to problem-solving challenges. Pupils showed fantastic critical thinking and problem-solving skills throughout, and they left with further activities to explore back in class.

   

  The day concluded with a highly informative staff development session on Shape and Space, one of our key mathematical priorities this year. A huge thank you to Jackson for an inspiring day that was thoroughly enjoyed by pupils and staff alike!

  

• Year 6 Attend Business Masterclass at Mossley Mill

  Wed 26 Nov 2025

  Our Year 6 pupils travelled to Mosley Mill on Tuesday to attend a Business Masterclass. They learnt about the supply chain for apple juice and the importance of branding and packaging. They also learnt that higher prices don't necessarily guarantee better taste! They are now in the process of designing their own juice cartons which they will be completed over the coming days and sent back for judging.  Well done and good luck boys and girls!

  

• Year 1-3 November Golden Assembly

  Tue 25 Nov 2025

  A big thank you to the boys and girls in Miss Patton’s Year 2 class for leading our November Golden Assembly on Tuesday morning. On Monday afternoon, they called in to visit Mr. Traynor in his office to share all about their assembly, which was on the lovely theme of forgiveness—a perfect message as we move towards the season of Advent. They proudly showed Mr. Traynor their beautiful friendship blankets, each one a reminder of how important it is to care for one another.

   

  During their assembly to Years1-3 on Tuesday morning they delivered a wonderful message about being a good friend. In their own words:
  “A good friend is someone who shares, listens, and never gives up on you.”  Simple but powerful words from our some of our youngest pupils!

   

  We also celebrated lots of achievements:

  • Year 1 and Year 2 Principal’s Awards for this week
  • November Pupil of the Month certificates for Year 3
  • And of course, we sang a big Happy Birthday to all our November birthday boys and girls!

  The countdown to Christmas has officially begun—lots of excitement ahead as we prepare for a season full of joy, kindness, and celebration.