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

• First Class Moments – Captured Forever

  Tue 16 Sep 2025

  Today marked a picture perfect beginning for our Primary 1 pupils as they posed for their very first official school photographs in the Minor Hall, courtesy of Flashart Photography.

   

  Dressed smartly and beaming with excitement, their smiles lit up the room.  These snaps are more than just photos; they’re cherished memories in the making. As we capture these special school days, we hope that children, families, and friends will treasure this moment for years to come.  

   

  Smiles, snaps, and school days—what a wonderful way to start the journey!

  

• New Faces, Bright Beginnings!

  Mon 15 Sep 2025

  Today, the boys and girls who recently joined our school community throughout the school had a special welcome meeting with Mr. Traynor and Mr. McMullan. Over morning treats and cheerful conversation, they shared stories about settling into their new classes, making friends, and enjoying their first weeks at St Joseph’s.

   

  Each pupil was presented with the Headteacher’s Award in recognition of how well they’ve embraced their new school—what a fantastic start!

   

  We wish all our new pupils many happy years filled with smiles, learning, and lasting friendships at St Joseph’s!

  

• Year 7 Prefects Ready to Lead

  Fri 12 Sep 2025

  Our Year 7 pupils are preparing to begin their prefect duties next week, marking an exciting step in their leadership journey. Today, they met with Mrs. Wray, our Prefect Co-ordinator, to learn more about how the prefect system works and the responsibilities they will take on.

   

  During the session, pupils explored the importance of:

  • Setting a positive example for others across the school
  • Wearing full school uniform with pride and showing responsibility
  • Carrying out daily duties with care, respect, and commitment.

  Prefect duties are rotated weekly and include a wide range of tasks such as monitoring lights and doors, computer/laptop duty, supporting younger pupils in the Year 1 Courtyard and Infant Playground, litter picking, checking music and PE resources, and helping in the library.

   

  We are confident our Year 7 pupils will rise to the challenge, demonstrating leadership, teamwork, and responsibility while developing valuable life skills along the way!

  

• New Water Butt for St. Joseph's

  Thu 11 Sep 2025

  We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Pat from NI Water for kindly delivering a free water butt to our school today. This generous donation will be placed in our science courtyard and used to collect rainwater, helping us conserve water resources and reduce our environmental impact.

   

  This initiative reflects our continued commitment to eco-friendly practices and sustainability. The water butt will support outdoor learning and science activities, while also encouraging pupils to think about how small changes can make a big difference to our planet.

   

  Thank you, NI Water, for supporting our school’s green journey!

  

• Welcome Primary 1

  Wed 10 Sep 2025

  A special welcome to all of our girls and boys who have joined us this year in Primary 1. 

   

  Mrs. McDonnell and Mrs. McCallum's Primary 1 classes have been touring our school to help familiarise themselves with our school surroundings.  Both classes popped in to say hello to Mr. Traynor in his office and he was delighted to welcome them all.  Such wonderful smiles on their faces and lots of stories to be told.  Both classes were presented with a Headteacher Award Certificate for making such a great start to their Primary 1 school year. 

   

  We hope that they have many happy years and create many special memories as they journey throughout our school.

  

• Mass to Mark the Beginning of the School Year

  Wed 10 Sep 2025

  With Mater Dei Church currently closed for renovation, staff and pupils in Years 5 -7 came together in the school assembly hall to celebrate the beginning of the new school year with a beautiful Mass. The uplifting atmosphere was made all the more special by the wonderful reading and singing from our pupils, whose contributions truly enhanced the celebration.

   

  We are deeply grateful to Canon Colm for leading us in prayer and reflection, and for helping us mark this important moment with such warmth and spiritual guidance.

  

• For Art’s Sake – Creativity Comes Alive in P5!

  Tue 09 Sep 2025

  We are delighted to have been selected to take part in the For Art’s Sake project — a vibrant, community-funded initiative designed to bring high-quality arts education into the classroom. The programme offers pupils hands-on experiences across four exciting art forms: clay, drawing & painting, drama, and digital art. Each art form is delivered through a series of six engaging two-hour lessons, supported by a dedicated teacher training session to help staff embed the learning across the school.

   

  This week, Mrs. Campbell’s P5 class kicked off the first block with a clay workshop led by visiting artist Andrea. The children explored Ancient Egyptian art, learning how to sculpt an Egyptian pot and a scarab beetle. The session was a huge hit — pupils were fully immersed in the creative process and loved working with clay for the first time.

   

  A big well done to P5 for your enthusiasm and focus! We’re already looking forward to welcoming Andrea back next Tuesday for the next clay session.

   

  Stay tuned as we continue our artistic journey through the remaining art forms — each one designed to inspire creativity, build skills, and enrich our curriculum

  

• Blessing of Schoolbags and Classrooms

  Tue 09 Sep 2025

  We were delighted to welcome Canon Colm to school today as he visited  to bless our pupils, their schoolbags, and our classrooms. This thoughtful gesture marked the beginning of our new school year in a truly meaningful way.  His blessing reminded us of the importance of kindness, learning, and looking after one another as we begin another exciting chapter together.

   

  Thank you Canon Colm for your continued support.

  

• Beginning of Year Assemblies

  Fri 05 Sep 2025

  We were delighted to begin the new school year by coming together for our first assemblies in the school hall. It was a special occasion where we had the opportunity to listen, reflect, sing, and pray as a school community. The sense of togetherness was felt by all.

   

  As part of our Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) programme, we used our assemblies as an opportunity to introduce our character trait focus for September and October: Respect. This important value will be explored and celebrated throughout September and October, helping our children to grow in kindness, understanding, and consideration for others.

   

  To encourage and recognise respectful behaviour, Pebble Points will be awarded within each class as part of our whole-school reward system. We look forward to seeing our pupils demonstrate respect in their words and actions, both in school and beyond.

   

  We are excited for the year ahead and all the opportunities it will bring. Together, we will make this a year full of learning, growth, and joyful moments.

  

• Grow Your Own Potatoes

  Fri 05 Sep 2025

  We are pleased to announce that our school has successfully achieved a Certificate of Achievement for participating in the Grow Your Own Potatoes initiative!

   

  Led by our enthusiastic Year 5 Eco-Council members, pupils cared for, nurtured, and harvested their very own potatoes. Through this hands-on experience, they learned about where food comes from, the importance of sustainable growing, and the joy of gardening.

   

  A huge well done to everyone involved – your hard work has truly paid off!