Our Year 5JC pupils have just completed the first six-week block of the For Art’s Sake Project, with a focus on clay work. The children had a fantastic time learning new techniques and creating some truly impressive pieces of art.

To celebrate their achievements, we decided to showcase their wonderful creations in the classroom, inviting pupils from Years 5–7 to visit, ask questions, and share in the celebration. It was a brilliant opportunity for peer learning and appreciation of artistic talent.

A huge thank you to Andrea for her excellent guidance throughout this block. We are excited to begin the next six-week phase with Sinead, which will focus on drawing and painting—and we can already feel another showcase coming on!

We were delighted to host the first session of our new mother and toddler group, Tots and Tea, this morning in the Minor Hall. It was a joyful and relaxed gathering where little ones played and parents, grandparents and carers connected over a cuppa. A huge thank you to Mrs. O’Doherty and Mrs. Martin for organising and facilitating the session. We’re also very grateful to all the parents for their kind donations of toys and resources.

Tots and Tea will continue every Friday from 10.30–11.30am. Everyone is welcome – we look forward to seeing you there!

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.

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

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

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. 💛

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.

Our witch this year was none other than Zelda — and she certainly brought the Hallowe'en magic to St Joseph’s.

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY SAFE AND RESTFUL HALLOWE'EN BREAK!

Over the past six weeks, our Primary 5 pupils have had the fantastic opportunity to receive hurling coaching from Pádraig Dorrian of Ulster GAA and Gaelfast. The children have been developing their hurling skills, focusing on striking and catching the sliotar with growing confidence and enthusiasm.

We are also grateful to Loch Mór for their support in delivering these sessions. The coaching has been a brilliant experience for our pupils, helping them build new skills and enjoy active learning.

Thank you to all the coaches involved!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed a shoebox to our recent appeal in support of the Drop Inn charity.

When representatives from the charity visited today to collect the donations, they were overwhelmed by your generosity.

Thanks to your kindness, many children will receive thoughtful gifts just in time for Christmas.

Your support truly makes a difference.

Thank you!

'Kindness creates ripples that reach far beyond the moment.'