On Sunday 7th June, pupils from our school took part in the Antrim junior parkrun, held in the beautiful surroundings of Antrim Castle Gardens. A fantastic total of 97 young participants completed the 2km course, showcasing great enthusiasm and determination.

It was wonderful to see a mix of first-time runners, newcomers to the Antrim event, and several pupils achieving personal bests. Every single participant represented the school brilliantly.

A special highlight of the morning was receiving a warm welcome during the pre-run briefing, along with a lovely mention on the Antrim Castle Gardens junior parkrun Facebook page.

Well done to all the boys and girls who took part—we are incredibly proud of you!

Mr. Traynor and Mrs. Wray were delighted to receive the Take 5 Level 2 Accreditation award today on behalf of St Joseph’s Primary School at a special awards ceremony held at Galgorm, Ballymena.

St Joseph’s Primary School is proud to have achieved this recognition, which reflects our continued commitment to prioritising the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff and wider school community.

Being awarded Level 2 highlights the positive journey we are on as a Take 5 School, where wellbeing is embedded in everyday school life. Over recent years, we have seen the Take 5 approach grow across our school and within the wider community, and it is encouraging to see so many schools embracing these shared values.

We are extremely proud of our pupils and staff for their ongoing dedication to wellbeing. A special word of thanks goes to our Pupil Council members, who ensure pupil voice is at the heart of our work and act as positive ambassadors for wellbeing across the school.

At St Joseph’s, we are proud to be a Take 5 School – where we Connect, Keep Learning, Be Active, Take Notice and Give.

Mrs. Campbell’s Year 5 class attended a wonderful celebration event for the 'For Arts’ Sake' Project at Black Mountain Shared Space on Thursday 4th June. The children took part in a range of engaging art, drama, and dance workshops, all of which were highly interactive and enjoyed with great enthusiasm.

At the end of the day, there was a valuable opportunity for reflection. The boys and girls confidently shared their artwork and spoke about the creative processes behind their pieces, showcasing their learning and pride in their achievements.

Mrs. Campbell was extremely proud of the class, and rightly so—well done P5!

This month's theme is Online Scams & Digital Footprints.

This video provides a quick overview on online scams targeting young people and the importance of digital footprints.

Please click on the link below:

https://www.knowsleyclcs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Scammers-and-Digital-Footprints-June-2026.mp4

Congratulations to our girls and boys in Primary 1 and Primary 2 who received the weekly Headteacher Award during the month of May for a variety of wonderful traits. 

Everyone Matters, Every Moment Counts – and our May Superstars are deserving proof of this.

We are very proud of them all! 

Today, a group of 20 boys and girls proudly represented our school at the inaugural Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach Gaelic Football Tournament, held in memory of Jennifer Magee. The event brought together pupils from the three local primary schools and Crumlin Integrated College, reflecting the strong links developed through Shared Education within the Crumlin area.

All pupils played with great skill, teamwork and determination going on to win the final against Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach in a very exciting and closely contested match.

Following the tournament, everyone gathered in the Ionad Teaghlaigh Gleann Darach for the presentation of medals and awards. Congratulations to Noah, who was named Player of the Tournament, Jude, who received Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and Áine, who proudly lifted the trophy as team captain.

A sincere thank you to Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach for organising such a well-run and community-spirited event, and for the warm welcome and hospitality afterwards.

This annual tournament continues to be a very fitting tribute to Jennifer’s memory and her love of Gaelic games.

We extend our thanks to St. James GAC Aldergrove for their generous donation of £300 towards our staff Belfast Marathon school fundraiser. Your support is greatly appreciated and will make a significant difference in our efforts. Your generosity not only supports our immediate goals but also strengthens the bond between our school and the community.  We look forward to your continued support and collaboration in the future.

Mrs. McCallum’s Primary 1 boys and girls led our Year 1–3 May Golden Assembly, providing a lovely way to bring the month of May to a close in school. Their focus on Mary was very fitting, reminding us that May is a special month dedicated to her. The children reflected on Mary as Our Lady Queen of Peace and thoughtfully shared the different ways we can bring peace into our classrooms, playground, homes and wider community.

The children spoke confidently and sang a selection of beautiful hymns to Mary, including both modern favourites and traditional classics. As part of the assembly, we also celebrated our weekly Year 1 and 2 Headteacher Awards, Year 3 Pupil of the Month certificates, recognised achievements outside of school and sang Happy Birthday to our May birthday boys and girls.

We finished with a prayer that the sunshine would continue over the mid-term break, giving everyone the chance to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends.

We had another great day hosting our Year 5–7 Sports Day.  A massive thank you to all the mums, dads, grandparents, families, and friends who came along to cheer on our pupils— your support truly made the day special.

Pupils took part in a variety of events, showcasing their energy, enthusiasm, and team spirit. Congratulations to our winning teams in Years 5, 6, and 7 who proudly received gold, silver, and bronze medals. Every participant was awarded a Sports Day certificate in recognition of their fantastic effort and sportsmanship.

A huge thank you goes to Mrs. Campbell our PE co-ordinator for organising such a fun-filled day, and to all the staff who helped make it a success by setting up and supporting the teams throughout.