Many thanks to Stephanie from Time Steps for delivering a very informative and enjoyable workshop to our Year 7 classes today. 

The programme looked at the background to and events surrounding the Titanic.  Pupils looked at and discussed the year of 1912 and the social and economic factors which led to the building of Titanic, through major events and people of this period.  Popular theories and myths about its sinking were explored, in addition to the follow on effects from this tragedy.  Pupils finished the workshop by participating in a competitive boat building workshop.

Congratulations to all those boys and girls who represented our school at the recent Camlin Credit Union Quiz.  Our Year 6 team finished as Runners-Up and our Year 7 teams finished in first place overall.

Team members were:

Year 6 Team (Runners-Up) - Aoibhinn Benstead, Oliver Brady, Oran Gilliland and Noah Peoples.

Year 7 Team B (First Place) - Scarlett Collins, Sarah Donnelly, Jenna Gibson and Joseph Owens.

Well done girls and boys - super representatives for St. Joseph's!  

Many thanks to everyone who supported our 'Wear it Red' Day for defibrillator and mental health first aid training .  There was a sea of red across St. Joseph's. A great day was had by all. 

Enjoy the Mid-Term Break!  School will reopen for all pupils on Monday 17th February.

Many thanks to Rick and the canteen staff for hosting our Valentine's Special Dinner today - We LOVED it!

Congratulation to Bella in Year 6 who scored the most points in the various challenges and activities completed at the recent Antrim Grammar Open Day.  Representatives from Antrim Grammar called to school today to present Bella with her certificate and a bag of goodies.  Well done Bella - Congratulations!

We are delighted to be one of 29 schools chosen in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to partake in the Healthy Kids Programme. 

The objectives of the sessions will include Sport/Physical Activity delivery, Nutrition, and Mindfulness with the overall aim:

• To promote healthy nutrition, emotional mental health and exercise across the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area.

• To create an opportunity for boys and girls to learn about Mental Health and nutrition and use the opportunity to help participants appreciate the role of mental health and nutrition in their daily lives

• This Project links to the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Community Plan, by addressing improved health and mental wellbeing, lifelong opportunities and aspiring to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Each week the session will begin with an interactive nutrition or mindfulness video followed by a fun physical activity element. We look forward to participating in the programme with our coach Paul and learning lots of new facts, all whilst getting fitter and more active!

#KnowYourselfGrowYourself

There have been lots of amazing individual and class achievements with our Accelerated Reading Programme during the first half of Term 2.  The word count continues to rise along with the number of Word Millionaires. 

Today it was the turn of Mrs. Campbell's Year 5 class to celebrate as deserving class winners.  There were rewarded with a class party for their efforts. 

Keep up the excellent reading ...... who will be our next class winners?

#watchthisspace #lovetoread

Many thanks to the team from Core Kids for the delivery of their online fitness lesson during Children's Mental Health week. 

Lots of our pupils from different classes thoroughly enjoyed participating!

#KnowYourGrowYourself

During Children's Mental Health Week it was very fitting to welcome Sarah from the Nurture Advisory and Support Service to complete a series of sessions on the use of the Nurture in 5 programme. 

This programme provides a practical application of emotional health and wellbeing techniques within a nurturing approaches framework.  Over the coming weeks Sarah will be modelling the use of the programme in all classrooms and providing advise of the best use of resources.  To date the children have been enjoying the sessions and staff have found it most beneficial.  Thank you Sarah and we look forward to welcoming you back after Mid-Term Break!

#KnowYourselfGrowYourself

Our Digital Leaders introduced Safer Internet Day to the whole school via a virtual assembly on Tuesday morning.  The Digital Leaders then take part in their fifth Dream Space Ambassador’s Workshop where they explored the role of influencers and algorithms in the lives of pupils.

The Digital Leaders have also been working hard to create a number of tasks for our pupils to complete on Safer Internet Day to include:

· P1-P3: Colouring Competition

· P4-P7: Just2easy collage activity.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning entries in each category.        

#saferinternetday