A Joyful Return to St. Joseph’s Primary

Welcome Back to a Fantastic New Year at St. Joseph’s!

What a wonderful first day back we had at St. Joseph’s! The school was buzzing with excitement as we welcomed our pupils, including three new faces in Primary 1 – a big St. Joseph’s welcome to Kianna-Leigh, Noah, and Rebecca! It was a joy to see everyone back and ready to embark on another year of learning, laughter, and growth.

Primary 1-4: A Creative Start

Our P1-4 class had an amazing time with their new teacher, Miss Scott. The children dove straight into creativity, making their very own self-portraits. These little artists put so much effort into capturing their unique selves on paper! Alongside their creative work, the class spent time learning about the routines and expectations that will help us all have a smooth and successful year ahead. Miss Scott was so impressed with how quickly everyone settled in and got to work!

Primary 5-7: Games, Catch-ups, and Positivity

Our P5-7 pupils kicked off the day by reconnecting with each other after the summer break. They spent the morning playing games and catching up, filling the classroom with smiles and laughter. Miss Lisi was thrilled to see them all again! In the afternoon, they got to work on designing positive message posters to decorate our classroom. The ideas were flowing, and we can’t wait to see the final designs brighten up our learning space!

Assembly and Meta-Skills

We wrapped up our first day with an exciting assembly where we introduced the concept of ‘meta-skills’—those important life skills that help us all succeed, like curiosity, sense-making, initiative, and creativity. Each pupil reflected on a meta-skill they’ve recently used and felt proud of, writing it down to add to our new ‘Proud Wall’. The senior pupils showed incredible responsibility, helping the younger ones with this task—what a great example of teamwork!

Looking Ahead: Pupil Groups and Leadership Roles

The day wasn’t just about fun and games—we also took some important votes! Each pupil chose their top two preferences for which pupil group they’d like to join this year: the Pupil Council, Eco Committee, or Enterprise Group. We’ll be counting the votes soon and announcing the results, so stay tuned!

Our Primary 7s will be busy preparing presentations for House Captain roles next week—good luck to all our candidates! Additionally, applications for STEM Leaders and Digital Leaders will be going out to Primary 6 and 7 pupils. It’s going to be a year full of opportunities for leadership and responsibility.

We couldn’t be prouder of how our pupils started the new school year. It was a day full of creativity, collaboration, and lots of enthusiasm. We’re so thrilled to have everyone back and can’t wait to see what this year will bring for our wonderful St. Joseph’s community. Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead! 🌟

• UNCRC Children’s Rights:
  • Article 12 – Respect for the Views of the Child: The pupils exercised their right to express their opinions during the voting process for pupil groups. Their views were listened to and considered, ensuring they had a say in how they will contribute to the school community this year.
  • Article 13 – Freedom of Expression: Through activities like creating self-portraits, positive message posters, and reflecting on meta-skills, the children expressed their thoughts, ideas, and emotions freely. This allowed them to communicate their feelings and creativity in a supportive environment.

• SDG Goals:
  • SDG 4: Quality Education – The first day back at St. Joseph’s Primary focused on providing an inclusive, equitable, and quality education. Activities like self-portraits, learning routines, and understanding meta-skills are all part of ensuring that every child receives a holistic education.
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The emphasis on pupil voice, respect, and responsibility reflects a commitment to promoting peaceful and inclusive communities within the school. By allowing pupils to participate in voting for pupil groups and supporting their leadership roles, the school fosters a sense of justice and strong, inclusive institutions.