This week marks the start of St. Joseph's Safeguarding Week, and our amazing Pupil Council is leading the way in making sure every child knows just how much they matter.

Last year, our pupils worked alongside our Ethos Governor, Mrs Wright, to explore our school motto; “Everyone Matters, Every Moment Counts” and what it means to them. Together, they created child-friendly posters to share our school’s vision and values, which are now ready to be delivered to every classroom by the pupil council as part of this year’s Safeguarding Week.  Please click on link below:

https://www.stjosephscrumlin.co.uk/news/detail/celebrating-pupil-voice-a-visit-from-our-ethos-gov/

But that’s not all...

The Pupil Council is now helping to create a school mascot that will bring our motto and values to life!  They’re working with Mr. Traynor and Mrs. Wray to:

• Choose a mascot character;
• Give it a name and personality;
• Write a story to introduce it in assembly;
• Plan weekly classroom visits so every pupil gets to meet the mascot and explore our motto, vision, and values in more detail.

This exciting project is all about pupil voice, teamwork, and making sure our school values are felt in every moment.

Keep an eye out for our mascot's big debut — coming soon to a school near you!

As part of our Season of Creation celebrations, Year 5 pupils were delighted to welcome Mr Gerry McNally, a seasoned fisherman whose family has been fishing on Lough Neagh for over six generations. Gerry shared his deep knowledge and passion for the lough, offering pupils a fascinating insight into its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. 

Gerry spoke about the variety of fish species found in the lough, the traditional methods of fishing passed down through generations, and the environmental challenges facing the ecosystem—particularly the impact of blue-green algae. Pupils were captivated by the real-life examples Gerry brought along, including fish, netting equipment, and models of birds like the heron and mammals such as the otter, all of which play a vital role in the Lough Neagh ecosystem.

The session was brought to a thoughtful close by Canon Colm, who joined the visit and led a collective prayer for the lough, its caretakers, and the communities who live nearby.

A heartfelt thank you to Gerry for his engaging and informative presentation, and to Johanna and Canon Colm for organising such a meaningful event.

All three Year 7 classes at St. Joseph’s proudly took part in Restart a Heart Live, a nationwide, live-streamed CPR training event broadcast on YouTube. This inspiring initiative aims to equip as many people as possible with the skills to respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests—potentially doubling survival rates.

Pupils joined thousands across the UK in a Guinness World Record attempt, learning CPR. The event, supported by the Department of Education NI, highlighted the importance of CPR and empowered our young people to become life-savers in their communities.

A huge well done to our Year 7 pupils for their enthusiastic participation in this vital and memorable experience!

Our school orchestra practice has officially commenced.  This vibrant ensemble offers pupils the opportunity to develop their musical talents on a range of instruments including violin, clarinet, flute, trumpet, cello, and harp.

Under the expert guidance of Mrs McDonnell and Mrs Lawlor, our young musicians will rehearse weekly, building skills, confidence, and camaraderie. Their dedication and teamwork will culminate in what promises to be another outstanding orchestra recital for family and friends in Term 3.

Let the music begin!

This week marked a special moment as the children in Mrs. Wray's Year 6 class welcomed Baby Freya, our little learner, for her very first visit as part of the Roots of Empathy programme. Accompanied by her mum, Geraldine, Baby Freya was met with wide eyes, warm smiles, and curious minds.

Led by Mrs. McDonnell, this internationally recognised programme helps children develop emotional literacy and deepen their understanding of empathy by observing and interacting with a baby over time. Through these visits, pupils learn to identify and reflect on feelings—both their own and those of others—building the foundations for respectful relationships and emotional wellbeing.

As Baby Freya grows and changes, so too will the children’s ability to recognise emotions, nurture compassion, and understand the importance of caring for others. Her presence in the classroom is more than adorable—it’s transformational.

We’re excited for the journey ahead and the many lessons Baby Freya will help us learn.

This week, our school canteen is buzzing with excitement as we take part in “Eat Smart Week” in partnership with The Lunch Bunch and the Education Authority NI. Pupils are enjoying delicious, healthy meals and learning all about making smart food choices through fun activities and themed menus. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate nutritious eating, try new foods, and build healthy habits together!

Bonjour, dia dhuit, guten tag, hola!

Today, our school came alive with the sights and sounds of Europe as we celebrated European Day of Languages. Pupils took part in a vibrant array of activities, including art, singing, dancing, dressing up, and visits to our local Shared Education partner schools. Throughout the day, children enthusiastically learned and spoke a variety of European languages, embracing the diversity and richness of our continent.

It was a fantastic day of fun, friendship, and learning for everyone involved!

Many, many thanks to all who organised and supported our Coffee Morning for Macmillian Cancer Care. There were so many beautiful cakes, tray bakes and buns on display.

There was a great atmosphere in the hall with so many staff (past and present), volunteers from 'The Friends of St Joseph's', grandparents, parents, past pupils and friends from the local community who popped in to show their support.  

We finished off the day with a bun sale in school with lots of treats being enjoyed by the boys and girls.

Draw Winners were:

Helen Doran

Geraldine McMullan

Danny Trowlen

Christine Robb

Marie Thompson

Keva Lawlor

Barbara Gourley

Brenda Bailie

Mark Docherty

We will announce the final total raised next week.  Again many thanks to all - what a team effort and what a great morning!   

#greatteameffort  #welldoneandthanks

We were delighted to be selected by Gaelfast as one of the pilot schools to trial 'Gaelic Time'; an exciting new range of online lessons and interactive games designed to enhance fundamental movement skills for children in Primary 1–3.

Today, members of the Gaelfast team visited our school to showcase these innovative resources with our Year 2 pupils, engaging them in fun, movement-based activities. Following this, staff from Years 1–3 took part in a professional development session to learn how best to integrate the resources into their teaching.

As part of the pilot, we also received 50 mini hurls, which we’re looking forward to using in the coming weeks. Gaelfast coaches will return in eight weeks to track progress, gather feedback, and provide further support.

We’re proud to be part of this forward-thinking initiative and excited to see the impact it will have on our pupils’ physical development and confidence.

To mark ECO-Week, a number of our classes joined thousands of others across Ireland in a series of free, online sustainability sessions designed for young people.  Organised around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these interactive talks helped our pupils explore key topics such as climate change, biodiversity, and the vital connection between nature and wellbeing.  This was a fantastic opportunity to connect classroom learning with global issues — and to inspire the next generation of eco-leaders!

We’re proud to be part of this growing movement and look forward to continuing our sustainability journey.