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

• SW Cumann na mBunscol Quiz

  Wed 01 May 2024

  Well done to our pupils today who represented St. Joseph's at the SW Antrim Cumann na mBunscol Quiz 2024 hosted today by St. Brigid's Ballymena.  The children performed very well and showed a wonderful knowledge in Irish culture, politics, history, geography and Gaelic games.  Our attendance at the quiz does indeed show the commitment of St. Joseph's to supporting the ethos and events of Cumann na mBunscol both on and of the pitch. 

   

  At the end of the quiz the pupils were presented with a book celebrating 50 years of Gaelic games in primary schools.  This book will be placed in our school library for all to read and enjoy!

  

• Trócaire Cheque Presentation

  Wed 01 May 2024

  Many thanks to Mark from Trócaire who came along to school this morning.  We presented Mark with a cheque for £800 which was raised from our Lenten Copper Coin Challenge.  This challenge was part of our Trócaire Lenten Campaign for 2024.  We know that the money raised will be used to good effect and look forward to supporting this very worthy charity in the future.   

  

• Year 4AL Come Dine With Me

  Wed 01 May 2024

  Many thanks to all the family members who joined our boys and girls in Mrs. Loughran's Year 4 class for a beautiful meal in the canteen. Rick and his staff had prepared a beautiful feast for everyone to celebrate and eat together before we celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion together on Saturday 18th May.

  

• M & M Theatre Company perform 'The Secret Garden'

  Tue 30 Apr 2024

  We had a very special performance in school this morning thanks to M & M Theatrical Productions.  They enchanted us with their adaptation of the classic children’s novel ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  Frances Hodgson Burnett's wonderful story 'The Secret Garden' beautifully depicts the sheer delight that children take in nature and its positive effect on their mental and physical health.

   

  The children loved having the opportunity to experience the wonder of a live theatre performance.  Thank you M & M Theatrical Productions for putting on this wonderful show for us.

  

• LMC Cookery Demonstration

  Mon 29 Apr 2024

  Many thanks to Wendy Donaldson, an LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission) demonstrator, who came to school today to demonstrate a recipe using Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured Beef with our Year 7MMC.  Liz encouraged the children to sample what she had cooked, talked to them about the ingredients used with the emphasis on choosing local food, cooking from scratch, and of course how the ingredients used contribute to a healthy diet.  All pupils were also given a Beef and Lamb Recipe Book which contains lots of delicious dishes.  The children had a great time - many thanks again Wendy!

  

• Year 1 -3 April Golden Assembly

  Mon 29 Apr 2024

  Congratulations to our girls and boys in Mrs. McDonnell's Year 1 class who led our April Golden Assembly.  The children did an excellent job delivering the message of the importance of saying thank you; thank you at home, in school and within our community.  They also spoke about the importance of saying thank you to God and how we can do this at Mass each Sunday.  They finished with a wonderful uplifting song which had all the children - and the adults - singing along with them.

   

  We continued our assembly by giving thanks for the many wonderful talents and gifts our children have.  We had a number of wonderful achievements on stage this week in judo and in Irish dancing at the Belfast Championships.  We finished our assembly by wishing all those boys and girls who had recently celebrated a birthday a very happy one and then all in Years 1-3 joined in with singing 'The Rain Came Knocking' which quickly changed to 'The Sun Came Shining'.  Let's hope the sun does indeed come shining as we move into the month of May! 

  

• Niall Plays at Half Time Hurling Game

  Sat 27 Apr 2024

  Congratulations to Niall who represented his school and club at the Cumann na mBunscol half time game during the Antrim v Wexford Hurling Championship match in Corrigan Park, Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

   

  Well done Niall and well done to Antrim on this magnificent victory!

  

• Annual Friends of St Joseph's Fun Run

  Fri 26 Apr 2024

  Many thanks to everyone who sponsored our children for the recent Friends of St Joseph's Fun Run. We had a great day and all our boys and girls enjoyed the exercise as they lapped the playground to raise funds for school resources. 

   

  Many thanks to Shane and Catherine from Oaktree who donated the juice and refreshments for the children and to the parents who came along to serve them to the children.

   

  Sponsorship money can still be returned to school up to and including Friday 2nd May.  Please remember every penny helps and will be spent directly on resources for all of our children.  Thank you - the support as always is much appreciated!

  

• Girls' 7-a-side Gaelic Football Tournament

  Thu 25 Apr 2024

  Congratulations to this group of girls who represented St. Joseph's at the SW Antrim 7-a-side Football Blitz at St Comgalls' GAC.  The girls really looked the part in their brand new kit kindly sponsored by St. James.

   

  In addition to looking the part the girls played their hearts out and were narrowly beaten in the final of the shield competition, finishing runners-up in this section.  Great team work, determination and skill on display today.  Well done girls and many thanks to St Comgall's Antrim for hosting.

  

• Year 4-7 April Golden Assembly

  Wed 24 Apr 2024

  Today it was the turn of Mr. McKenna's Year 5 class to lead April's Golden assembly.  The children's assembly focused on the importance of having a growth mindset, being determined, never giving up and finding solutions which require us to think in alternative ways.  During their assembly the children were introduced to some famous faces such as the author J.K. Rowling, basketball star Michael Jordan and the famous scientist Albert Einstein who despite many setbacks continued until they had achieved success.  Some of the musicians, dancers and sports people in Year 5 also relayed how they at first found certain things difficult but with  perseverance achieved success.

   

  Success was also evident when celebrating the vast range of achievement by a number of the boys and girls in a variety of extra-curricular activities.  We also congratulated our Gaelic footballers for their participation in the recent Creggan Gaelic Tournament, our Year 5 poetry winners in Mrs. Campbell's class and Coragh and Corey - two of our Digital Leaders - who designed the winning Safer Internet posters using Adobe Express.  It is very evident that we have many talented girls and boys who do indeed have a positive growth mindset. 

   

  Our teachers too were awarded with certificates with both Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Lawlor receiving certificates for courses completed in Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

   

  Indeed there was lots to celebrate, give thanks for and much to look forward to as we move into the final months of this school year.  They're going to be good ones with lots more to celebrate!

   

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