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

• Year 3 Service of Enrolment

  Fri 07 Nov 2025

  Congratulations to all our Year 3 pupils who celebrated their sacramental Service of Enrolment in school today. Due to ongoing renovations at Mater Dei, this year’s service was held in our assembly hall, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for this special occasion. The children were amazing—reverent, enthusiastic, and proud to take this important step in their faith journey.

   

  Sincere thanks to their teachers and classroom assistants for preparing the pupils so beautifully, and to Canon Colm for leading the service with kindness and encouragement.

  

• Pupil Council Explore Children’s Rights at NICCY Webinar

  Thu 06 Nov 2025

  Our Pupil Council, joined by Mrs. Wray, recently attended a live online Q&A webinar hosted by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) and CCEA. The session focused on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), helping pupils understand their rights and how these apply to everyday life.

   

  Led by Commissioner Chris Quinn, Dr. Leanne Henderson from Queen’s University, and members of NICCY’s Youth Panel, the webinar gave pupils the chance to ask questions, share their views, and explore issues that matter to them—such as education, wellbeing, and participation. It was an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience that encouraged our young leaders to reflect on how they can use their voices to help shape a better future for all children and young people

  

• Wheelie Big Challenge

  Tue 04 Nov 2025

  Our Eco-Council has officially launched the Wheelie Big Challenge with support from Aodhan at Eco-Schools, who visited to help us get started.

   

  To kick things off, the Eco-Council carried out a bin survey in a Year 6 classroom. They emptied the bin, sorted the contents into recycling, general waste, and compostable waste, and then weighed each category.

   

  The results showed that there was too much food waste in the general bin—waste that should have gone into the brown compost bins. This gives us a clear target for improvement this year!

   

  Next steps? The Eco-Council will complete two more bin surveys in different classrooms and record the results to track progress

  

• St Joseph’s Celebrates Compassionate School Award

  Tue 04 Nov 2025

  After just one year of dedicated work, we are thrilled to announce that St Joseph’s has been awarded the Bronze Level Compassionate School Award. This wonderful recognition marks a significant milestone in our journey to embed Global Citizenship through the Children in Crossfire's 'Educating the Heart' initiative across our school community.

   

  This award celebrates the dedication of our whole school community in embedding values of empathy, compassion, and active citizenship throughout school life. From our pupil-led steering group and curriculum integration across PDMU and WAU, to our strong environmental partnerships and global connections, we have worked together to create a culture where every child is encouraged to think critically, act kindly, and make a difference.

   

  Displays of pupil work, meaningful advocacy projects, and our engagement with local and global issues reflect the breadth and depth of our GCE journey. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and excited to continue this important work as we aim for Silver Level in the coming year.

   

  Together, we are growing compassionate global citizens—one moment, one action, one heart at a time. 💛

  

• Digital Leaders Step into Their New Role as Dream Space Ambassadors

  Mon 03 Nov 2025

  Our Digital Leaders were proudly presented with their Dream Space Ambassador lanyards and notebooks today, marking the beginning of an exciting journey in STEM leadership.

   

  As part of the Dream Space Ambassador Programme, these pupils will take part in virtual training sessions led by Microsoft Ireland’s Dream Space team. Through hands-on activities and creative challenges, they’ll develop key digital skills in areas like coding, computational thinking, and digital storytelling.

   

  But it’s more than just upskilling—it’s about leading learning. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow pupils, staff, and even family members, helping to embed STEM learning across our school community.

   

  This programme encourages confidence, creativity, and collaboration, and we’re excited to see how our Ambassadors grow as leaders and role models throughout the year.