Congratulation to our wonderful Primary 3 boys and girls who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Canon Colm on Wednesday 6th March, in Mater Dei Church.  They were just amazing - a real credit to their families and their teachers and classroom assistants and indeed their school.  Well done boys and girls.

Following First Confession the pupils celebrated as a year group with cake and a party on their return to school.

• Primary 7 visited Antrim this morning to take part in the 2024 Bee Safe Event. This event is tailored towards Year 7 pupils and informs them about how to react and deal with challenging situations that they potentially may be faced with over the coming years, as they move on to their new schools.  Each agency present used interactive scenarios and role-play exercises to encourage the pupils to think for themselves. 

   

  BeeSafe covered: bus safety; fire safety; safety in the home; safe use of the Internet; staying safe around electricity; personal safety; farm safety; water safety and how to act if approached by strangers.  Pupils were also provided with a healthy snack and received a goody-bag filled with stationary for their pencil cases. An afternoon well spent!

   

Many thanks to the Run-Anon Running Club in Crumlin for their very kind donation of £400 towards school funds.  The £400 will be used to support the introduction of Freckle in Year 6. 

Freckle is an online mathematics programme which support pupils to achieve their best results through personalised maths practice and with activities tailored to pupils' individual abilities.  

Many thanks again - we really appreciate the support!

The Engineers Ireland STEPS programme gives children the opportunity to discover engineering with the main aim being the promotion of engineering. 

Today pupils in Year 6 and 7 were fortunate to have two engineers from AECOM Engineering in school to complete a series of workshops and highlight the importance of the profession to the children.  Many thanks folks - much appreciated.

This half term, Miss Agnew’s Year 7 class along with Mr. Coey’s Year 7 class from CIPS will take part in a cross-community basketball programme delivered by Peace Players Northern Ireland as part of a secured funding initiative.

This project will involve basketball drills and skills, community relation work and team-building activities to further establish common ground and continued relationships developed through Shared Education.

Today marked a very successful beginning to the programme and all involved look forward to taking part over the next 3 weeks!

Congratulations to our Credit Union Group A Competition Winners who travelled to Malone Lodge in Belfast on Sunday to take part in the next round of the Credit Union Competition.  The girls and boys did exceptionally well representing their school and finished in third place on the day.  Well done everyone .... great representatives for St Joseph's!

Congratulations to our Year 7 pupils who celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation in Mater Dei Church on Thursday 29th February - what a unique date for a wonderful school and parish celebration!

We pray that the Holy Spirit will bless and guide them today and in the days and weeks ahead as they continue on their educational and spiritual journey. 

Many thanks to the Year 7 team for ensuring the children were so well prepared for today, to the boys and girls in the Year 5 and 6 choir for the beautiful singing, to Mrs. McDonnell and Mrs. Matthews for the wonderful music and to Canon Colm for delivering the service. 

When back in school the pupils celebrated with the presentation of Confirmation Certificates and some delicious Confirmation cake and treats!

Well done everyone!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you will renew the face of the earth

There was great excitement today when the fire service came to visit the nursery children.  They had  a great time learning all about the work of a fire fighter, trying on some of the equipment, using the hose, seeing inside the fire engine and hearing the siren sound.  Many thanks for coming along today - the children had a great experience.

This week we marked the end of another month in school with our February Golden Assemblies.  Mrs. Loughran's Year 4 pupils led both our Year 1-3 and Year 4-7 assemblies.

Mrs. Loughran's Year 4 class chose the theme of Lent for their assembly.  This theme enabled us all to focus on what Lent is all about and how we can best prepare for this special season in the lead up to Easter.  Indeed it also reminded us that making promises in Lent can be very difficult, that we may be tempted, but that we should never give and keep trying.  All of the children were wonderful representatives for their class and school.

We also had time to sing Happy Birthday to all of our February girls and boys; present our February Pupil of the Month Awards, Accelerated Reading Certificates and Confirmation Certificates; celebrate success outside of school and deliver some important messages. 

Well done everyone - it's nearly March!