Dear Parents and Carers,
As we draw this half-term to a close, it is important to pause and thank God for all that we have, and for the many opportunities He places before us each day. As I gradually approach the end of my journey at St Joseph’s and begin handing over the reins to Mr Rooney, I have found myself reflecting on several powerful messages I have encountered this week.
I was struck by the words of St John Henry Newman, who reminded us of the importance of listening carefully to our conscience. Father Anthony’s homily on the value of healthy boundaries reinforced how important it is that people feel safe, respected and valued. A selection of G&T pupils were also challenged by a speaker who shared the realities of war and conflict in Africa, reminding us never to take peace, stability and community for granted alongside the greed of few that affects the many.
These messages are deeply connected. Guided by conscience, rooted in faith and strengthened by clear boundaries, we create a community where everyone can flourish. I am confident that Mr Rooney will continue the journey we have set out on together, building on our shared vision, values and commitment to ensuring every child feels known, supported and loved. May God continue to bless our school family and all those who make St Joseph’s such a special place.
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a wonderful week it has been at St Joseph’s! I would like to begin by celebrating the fantastic House of Opportunities assemblies, during which we had the pleasure of welcoming our guest speaker, Richard, who delivered truly inspiring assemblies to all our year groups, from Year 7 through to Year 11.
Richard did a brilliant job engaging our pupils, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to him for the time, energy and enthusiasm he brought to our school community.
Equally importantly, I must say how incredibly proud we were of our pupils. Their behaviour, focus and attention throughout the assemblies were exceptional. From the moment they arrived, throughout the presentations, and right through to their dismissal, they represented our school beautifully. It was a wonderful reflection of the values we seek to encourage at St Joseph’s, and our pupils certainly deserve recognition and praise.
Our Chaplaincy Team Continues to Grow!
Another particularly encouraging outcome of the assemblies was the interest shown by pupils in joining our school Chaplaincy Team. Following our reminders about the Friday morning chaplaincy meetings, several more pupils came forward expressing their wish to become involved. This is wonderful news!
I would therefore like to encourage parents to remind their children that our Chaplaincy Team meets every Friday morning during tutor time in our beautiful new school chapel.
All pupils, whether existing chaplains or those who would simply like to find out more, are very welcome. They only need to register promptly with their tutors before making their way to the chapel.
We are now looking forward to organising our chaplains into smaller groups, allocating responsibilities and beginning our outreach work within the school and wider community. Pupils will have opportunities to get involved in activities that reflect their own interests, gifts and talents, while working alongside friends and fellow chaplains.
It is genuinely heartwarming to see so many young people willing to give their time to help others and put their faith into action.
Family Fast Day and Harvest Foodbank Appeal – Please Keep Giving!
A sincere thank you to all the families who have already contributed to our CAFOD Family Fast Day and Harvest Foodbank Appeal.
Our collection is continuing, and we would be most grateful for any further contributions, whether in the form of food donations for our local Salisbury Foodbank or financial donations towards our charitable appeals.
Collection baskets are available at the school reception, where pupils and parents can leave their contributions when arriving at school in the morning.
Our school chaplains will be helping to deliver the collected food donations, and we are also planning a special packing session, during which our young volunteers will have the opportunity to help sort and prepare food parcels for those in need.
Every donation, however small, makes a difference. Thank you for helping us teach our young people the importance of generosity, compassion and practical Christian service.
A Special Date for Our Chaplains – Monday 23 November
On Monday 23 November, we are planning to visit the shoebox sorting centre in Downton, where our chaplains will be able to take part in the wonderful work of preparing Christmas shoebox gifts.
During this visit, which will take place within the school day, pupils will receive some initial training before spending a few hours helping to sort, check and prepare shoeboxes for distribution.
This promises to be a rewarding experience, giving our chaplains a practical opportunity to make a difference to the lives of others, particularly as we approach the season of Christmas.
Please put Monday 23 November in your diaries! I am very much looking forward to sharing this special experience with both our new and returning chaplains. Further details will follow nearer the time.
Christmas Carol Service – Calling All Musical Talents!
Although Christmas may still seem some way off, preparations for our annual Christmas Carol Service are already beginning!
We are starting to think about the readings, the structure of the service, the music and, of course, the wonderful talents of our pupils who help make this occasion so special every year.
I would particularly like to encourage any pupils who enjoy singing, have musical abilities or would like to become involved in our school choir to speak to Mr Blakey, who will be helping to prepare the musical contributions for this year’s celebration.
Whether your child enjoys singing in a choir, playing a musical instrument or taking part in readings, there will be opportunities to contribute to what we hope will once again be a truly beautiful and memorable Christmas Carol Service.
We would love to see as many of our pupils involved as possible, sharing their gifts and talents with our whole school community.
Finally, thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school chaplaincy and the many charitable and spiritual activities taking place at St Joseph’s.
It is a real privilege to see our pupils growing not only in knowledge and confidence, but also in kindness, generosity and their willingness to serve others.
As we approach the final week before our well-deserved half-term break, I wish you and your families a lovely, peaceful weekend and a positive final week of term.
May God bless you all.
Otto Blaho-Schlogl
Parent Notices – New Format
Please check ClassCharts or your email to ensure that you have the weekly letters and key information. We are committed to streamlining our communication to make it more effective for parents and carers. Parent Notices will be sent out every Thursday afternoon.
