Latest News

Faith Group Christmas Colouring Competition

Mon 15 Dec 2025

Our Faith Group faced a tough challenge judging the Christmas Nativity Colouring Competition! Working together in groups, they carefully selected the final entries to be sent off for judging.

Well done to all who took part and to our Faith Group for showing great teamwork and decision-making skills.

Year 7 Carol Service

Mon 15 Dec 2025

Congratulations to our Year 7 pupils who led a beautiful Carol Service. Through their readings and songs, they helped us pause and reflect on what truly matters at this special time of year - a time of hope, joy, and togetherness.

Thank you to the Year 7 team who organised the event and well done to all involved.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Blessing of the Bambinelli

Mon 15 Dec 2025

The Blessing of the Bambinelli is a cherished tradition that began in Rome with Pope John Paul II. The word Bambinelli means “little baby boy” in Italian and refers to the Baby Jesus from the Christmas Crib.

Each year on the Third Sunday of Advent, the Pope invites children to bring the Baby Jesus from their family crib to St Peter’s Square for a special blessing, so that families may carry that blessing home as they prepare for Christmas.

Today at St Joseph’s, Canon Colm visited our school to bless the Baby Jesus from our Christmas Crib. This beautiful tradition reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas and brings a sense of peace and hope to our preparations.

What a lovely way to mark this special season.

“Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.” – Pope Francis

Our Nursery Christmas Trail

Fri 12 Dec 2025

The Magic of Christmas at St. Joseph’s Nursery Trail

Our nursery children experienced the true magic of Christmas during their festive Nursery Trail! From the moment they arrived, excitement filled the air as the Three Wise Men greeted families at the school entrance and presented each child with a golden coin.

The children then wandered down a sparkling corridor lined with Christmas trees, collecting their own unique decorations before joining Mrs. Claus for an enchanting storytelling session.

Santa’s Kitchen Adventure

Next stop was Santa’s kitchen, where JoJo the nursery bear caused plenty of giggles by arriving dressed as a pirate and then a mermaid! Eventually, JoJo got it right and helped the boys and girls decorate delicious gingerbread baked by one of our very talented parents.

Courtyard Fun and Sensory Play

The trail continued into the courtyard for dancing with Christmas characters and a tasty treat—hotdogs kindly donated by one of our parents. Children also enjoyed sensory play activities with Carla from Sensory-at-home.

A Visit to Santa’s Grotto

Finally, the children reached Santa’s Grotto, where they shared their Christmas wishes and received a book and selection box from Santa’s elves. A huge thank you to The Friends of St. Joseph’s for providing these wonderful gifts!

The evening ended in the minor hall with refreshments for families and sensory circuits for the children. This magical event was made possible by the incredible teamwork of staff, parents, and our wider school community. Your generous donations, behind-the-scenes preparations, and on-the-night performances created an unforgettable experience for our children.

A special thank you to our Nursery team for their creativity and dedication in planning and hosting this very special Christmas celebration!

Tots & Tea at Christmas

Fri 12 Dec 2025

Our Tots & Tea sessions have now finished for this term, and what a wonderful way to end with a special visit from Santa! 🎅

A huge thank you to everyone who came along. A special thanks to Amy for her fantastic organisation and making each session so welcoming.

We look forward to seeing you all again after Christmas. The start date and time for the new term will be confirmed soon, so keep an eye out for updates.

Wishing you all a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dairy Council Workshop

Fri 12 Dec 2025

Today, our Year 5 and 6 pupils enjoyed a fantastic visit from the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. The session focused on Food and Fitness, helping the children explore the concept of balance—both in their diet and lifestyle.

Pupils learned about eating a variety of foods from the five food groups and the importance of staying active every day. They also took part in fun activities and discovered more about different dairy foods and their role in a healthy diet.

A big thank you to the Dairy Council team for delivering such an informative and interactive session for our children!

Twinning Programme – Second Visit with Crumlin Integrated Primary School

Thu 11 Dec 2025

We were thrilled to welcome pupils from Crumlin Integrated Primary School for the second face-to-face session of our 6-week Twinning Programme, delivered in partnership with Sport Changes Life and fully funded by Clanmil Housing.

This initiative continues to promote friendship, inclusion, and teamwork through sport and shared learning experiences. Our Primary 6 pupils took part in a dynamic day of inclusive sports, icebreakers, and values-based workshops exploring empathy, respect for difference, disability awareness, and collaboration. It was inspiring to see pupils from both schools connecting, learning together, and building lasting friendships.

A huge thank you to Scott and the Sport Changes Life team for delivering such an excellent programme that truly celebrates equality, respect, and excellence.

A Musical Treat for St Joseph’s!

Thu 11 Dec 2025

Today, our Year 4–7 pupils were treated to a spectacular performance by our talented school musicians and orchestra. From classic melodies to festive Christmas favourites, the hall was filled with music and joy!

A huge well done to all the boys and girls who entertained us so brilliantly. Your hard work and talent shone through every note. Special thanks to Mrs. McDonnell, Mr. Heron, and Mr. Tohill for their dedication and guidance throughout the year – what an achievement!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the season and showcase the incredible musical talent in our school!

Crumlin Residents Group Christmas Class Hampers

Thu 11 Dec 2025

A huge thank you to all the children and families in Years 2, 4, 5, and 6 who contributed items for our Christmas Class Hampers. The response to this appeal was truly fantastic!

Today, Maria visited the school to collect the hampers and was delighted with what she received. These hampers will now be distributed to support members of our own community who are vulnerable and in need during this difficult time.

Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated, especially as we approach the Christmas season.

“For it is in giving that we receive.” – St Francis of Assis

Creative Journeys with Artist Sinead McDermott

Wed 10 Dec 2025

As part of the For Arts Sake project, Primary 5JC have spent the past six weeks working with artist Sinead McDermott on exciting art and design activities.

They began by exploring their Ancient Egyptian topic, creating impressive 3D masks of Tutankhamun and designing detailed sarcophagi.

With the festive season approaching, the focus shifted to Christmas-themed art. Pupils used watercolours to bring vibrant images of Santa and robins to life, learning how line and shape form the foundation of great drawings. They also discovered techniques for blending and shading with water to achieve beautiful effects in their paintings.

Their Santa paintings were transformed into Christmas cards, which have been posted to our link school in Spain. Feliz Navidad!

This has been a wonderfully creative experience, and the children have developed new artistic skills they will carry forward.

A huge thank you to Sinead McDermott for sharing her talent and inspiring our pupils throughout this project!