Monday 27th February 2017
www.st-joanofarc.islington.sch.uk
Newsletter number 8
www.st-joanofarcpa.org
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back to the second half of our school year. We hope you all had a restful half term.
PA Quiz Night
Thank you to everyone who organised this event and participated on the night. It was a great success!
Special thanks are extended to Eleanor Byram for writing the questions and hosting the quiz, and to Mr
Campana for helping the PA to organise the evening.
Digital Leaders
The Digital Leaders represented the school for Safer Internet Day at a special conference held at the BT
Centre by St Paul’s. The children showed representatives from Facebook, Google and other businesses
around their exhibition, as well as leading a debate alongside representatives from Child.net. The
children were amazing ambassadors for our school and spoke with real confidence and knowledge. In
return, they experienced what a day in a real working environment was like and were treated to a nice
business lunch.
Representatives from Child.net are coming in to school on Friday 3rd March to give out the prizes for our
Safer Internet Day Competition. Thanks are extended to Miss Newson for coordinating this link with
Child.net.
Rugby News
Our tag-rugby team participated in a tournament at Whittington Park just before half-term.
Team members: Elliot (captain) Manie, Shea, Lucas R, Shay Marie, Stephanie, Sequoia, Simona, Jarvis
and Henry represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating great skills and teamwork. They won all
their matches and are through to the next round of the competition which takes place this Thursday.
Many thanks are extended to Miss Newman and Ms Graham for organising the team and
accompanying the children on the day.
Spellathon
Thank you for helping your child to learn their spellings for the spellathon which was held on Friday. The
results in each class were amazing, with some children getting all their spellings correct, which led to a
nail-biting tie breakers. The spellathon was given at three different levels in each class to ensure that
each attainment band was catered for. If you have a spare five minutes, perhaps you would like to test
yourself on some of the year 6 words which included: thoroughfare, exaggerate, guarantee,
mischievous, sacrificial and categorical. Tie breaker spellings included - discombobulated, government,
poisonous and wretchedness. Three children from each class were awarded a £5 book token for
achieving the top score within their group.
Many congratulations to the following winners:
Class A: Thomas, Amelia & Noah
Class B: Salihom, Charlie & Jack
Class C: Aurin, Mia & Alexander
Class D: Nyla-Louise, Sophie M & Lorenzo
Class E: Feven, Jack & Oscar
Class F: Rebecca, Mikel & Isidore
Class G: Mimi, Susanna & Dylan
Class H: Mikhaela, Sadhbh & Edward
Class I: Chiara, Max & Daniel
Class J: Chinyelu, Alexander & Edward
Class K: Alexander, Naod & William
Class L: Gabriella, Francesco & Jake
Class M: Zoe, Elizabeth and Carlos
Class N: Elliott, Tabitha & Mathew
Afternoon Play
In order for teaching staff to deliver the new curriculum, we trialled the removal of afternoon play to see
if we could complete two lessons in the afternoon session and to assess the impact of this on the
children. Although playtime is only 15 minutes, in reality, the afternoon break takes at least 25 minutes
of the timetable by the time the children have their coats on etc. and have settled back in after play.
Staff reported numerous benefits to this and when the older children were asked, they responded
positively towards it. Therefore, we have now removed afternoon play for the juniors.
However, teachers can use their professional judgement and if they feel that their class would benefit
from some fresh air, they have the authority to make that decision.
Infant children will have afternoon play at their teacher’s discretion depending on what they are focusing
on in class.
Use of film / photography
Throughout the year, there will be numerous opportunities to film/photograph your child partaking in
school activities.
While we welcome caregivers to film their children during a performance, any images taken, (photos or
film), must be for private use only and if they include others, they should not be put on the web/internet
without their consent.
This is to uphold safeguarding issues concerning the children.
We hope you understand the reasons regarding this.
Events to come:
World Book Week
This week the children will be participating in a number of activities to celebrate Book Week. Our focus
this year is stories written by Roald Dahl. World Book Day is on Thursday 2nd March and is a dressing
up day. Costumes need to reflect one of the characters from Roald Dahl’s books. I wonder how many
Charlies from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, foxes from Fantastic Mr Fox or Miss Trunchbulls from
Matilda will be in school that day? The school council will be judging the best costumes in each year
group. Each pupil will also receive a £1 book token, which can be spent in any bookstore. Thanks go to
Miss Vassallo for organising this week.
If any parents/carers have any talent, experience or enthusiasm for story reading, and would like to help
us celebrate Book Week, please speak to Miss Vassallo.
Ash Wednesday – Mass on Wednesday 1st March
Mass will take place at St Joan of Arc Church at 9.15 and will be led by Class G.
CAFOD appeal
The focus for our Lenten appeal this year will be on the theme of livelihoods where we are inviting
schools to “Turn Little Fish into Big Fish”, to change the lives of people around the world. Your support
will mean that CAFOD partners can train more people to set up small businesses and earn a living. All
your little actions will make a really big difference to people living in poverty.
Lenten appeal envelopes will be sent home this week and need to be returned before the Easter
holidays. Your support in this area of school life is always much appreciated; thank you for joining us
this Lent to support people transforming their communities, one fish at a time!
Parent consultations
These will take place on Tuesday 14th and Thursday 16th March from 3.45 - 6.30pm. Meetings will
take place in your child’s classroom. Nursery parents, please go to the Green Room for your
appointment.
Appointments can be made from 10am on Monday 27th February to 10am on Monday 13th March using
the online booking system. If you do not have access to the internet, appointments can be made using
the tablet in the main entrance.
If you require support from an interpreter, please leave your details at the school office and we will do
our best to help you. For security reasons, entry and exit to the school is via the main door on
Northolme Road.
Mothers’ Day Coffee Morning – Thursday 23rd March
This year, as part of our celebration of Mothers’ Day, we are having an open morning for all parents.
Any parents, who would like to attend, please come to the large hall at 9:00am to sign in. Year 4 will be
serving refreshments until 9:15am, and then you are very welcome to visit your child(ren) in class until
10:00am.
EYFS Mothers’ Day Assembly – Friday 24th March
This will take place in the large hall from 9:00 - 9:30am. Parents/carers of pupils in Nursery or Reception
are very welcome to attend.
Sainsbury’s Vouchers
We are collecting vouchers again this year and will be using them to update school sports equipment.
The collection box is located outside the school office.
Diary dates are listed below and are also available on the school website.
Yours sincerely
Clare Campbell
Headteacher
Dates for your diary:
March
Wednesday 1st
Thursday 2nd
Thursday 9th
Friday 10th
Monday 13th
Tuesday 14th
Thursday 16th
Friday 17th
Wednesday 22nd
Thursday 23rd
Friday 24th
Thursday 30th
Friday 31st
9.15am Ash Wednesday Mass led by Class 3G
World Book Day- Roald Dahl Theme
Visit from Olympic Athlete
Nursery visit to Gillespie Park Ecology Centre
Class B visit to Gillespie Road Ecology Centre
3.45-6.30pm Parents’ Evening
3.45-6.30pm Parents’ Evening
9.15am St Patrick and St Joseph Mass led by Class 3H
Class A visit to Gillespie Park Ecology Centre
3.25pm PA Cake and used uniform stall
Cross Country Run, Finsbury Park
9am Special Mother’s Day Coffee morning for Parents
9am Mother’s Day Assembly led by Nursery and Reception
9.30am Easter Passion Play Year 5
9.15am School Mass led by Class 5L
2pm School Closes