Dear Parents and Carers,

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

As another successful week draws to a close, I have been reflecting on just how much there is to celebrate across our school community. It has been wonderful to see our pupils return with such positivity, enthusiasm and determination, setting a strong tone for the weeks ahead. We are delighted to announce the start of the Power of Polo this Thursday (and the next 6 Thursdays) for a selected group of pupils who we deem would benefit greatly from this exceptional experience.

One of the most meaningful moments this week was welcoming veterans from the Royal British Legion into school. Their stories of service, courage and sacrifice were both inspiring and humbling. Listening to their experiences reminded us of the importance of gratitude, community and the responsibilities we have towards one another. I know many of our pupils were deeply moved by the conversations and the opportunity to learn directly from those who have served our country.

I would also like to congratulate our Year 11 pupils on their recent mock examinations. They approached this important milestone with impressive maturity, focus and resilience. Their conduct throughout the examination period reflected the high standards we expect and the growing confidence they are developing as young adults.

As educators, we are also mindful of the world our pupils will enter after they leave school. Hardly a day passes without news of new developments in Artificial Intelligence and the rapid changes taking place across society. By 2030, many of the jobs our young people will undertake may not even exist today. Success will require adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy and the ability to work collaboratively with others. Yet despite these changes, the foundations remain the same. Strong literacy, secure numeracy and excellent social and communication skills continue to be the bedrock upon which future success is built.

As the weather begins to turn colder, may I also remind pupils to come to school suitably equipped with warm coats and appropriate outdoor clothing.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school.

Mr Higgins and Mr Rooney

As we begin this new half term, November is a particularly special month in the life of the Catholic Church. We began by celebrating the Feast of All Saints, remembering those holy men and women who inspire us through their lives of faith. We also commemorated All Souls, when we remember and pray for our loved ones who have died. Throughout November, we are encouraged to reflect, remember and pray for all those who have gone before us.

Remembrance and Our Special Visitors

Remembrance has also been an important focus in school this week. We were absolutely delighted to welcome two veterans, John and Wendy Baber, together with Susan from the Royal British Legion, who kindly came to share their experiences with our pupils in Room 4.

The visit was superbly organised by Mrs Ingham from our History Department, together with Mrs Shuttleworth and Mr Rooney.

It was wonderful to see how engaged our pupils were throughout the presentation. They asked some really thoughtful and deep questions, which was noted by our visitors. John, Wendy and Susan were very complimentary about our pupils, particularly their interest, respect and the maturity of their questions. It was a lovely opportunity for our young people to learn from those who have served and to appreciate the importance of remembrance, gratitude and peace.

CAFOD Family Fast Day – Thank You!

I would also like to say a very big thank you to all our parents, carers, pupils and staff for supporting our last term’s CAFOD Family Fast Day.

Together, we raised a fantastic £150!

This is a wonderful contribution, and your generosity will make a real difference to those who are most in need. Thank you once again for supporting this important part of our Catholic mission and for putting our faith into action.

Christmas Shoebox Appeal – Chaplaincy in Action

Our Christmas Shoebox Appeal is now well underway, and we are looking forward to putting our faith into action once again!

I will be meeting with our pupil chaplains on Friday morning to organise those who would like to help pack the shoeboxes at the Downton’s church. We hope to take a minibus full of enthusiastic chaplains to help prepare these special gifts for children and families who need them.

Please do continue bringing in your donations and shoebox items. Every contribution, however small, is greatly appreciated and will help us bring a little joy to someone this Christmas.

Chaplaincy Commissioning – 17th November

We are also very much looking forward to our special Chaplaincy Commissioning Service on Tuesday 17th November, which will take place at St Osmund’s Catholic Church.

This year, we are delighted that our pupil chaplains from St Joseph’s will be commissioned together with the chaplaincy team from St Osmund’s Catholic Primary School.

The service will be led by Father Joseph, and our chaplains will receive their badges and certificates as a sign of their commitment to serving others and sharing God’s love within our school communities.

It promises to be a very special occasion, and I am particularly delighted that our two Catholic schools can come together in prayer and celebration.

Year 7 Retreat to Kintbury

Finally, next week I will be sharing further information about our forthcoming Year 7 Retreat to Kintbury Retreat Centre, organised by the De La Salle community.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all our Year 7 pupils to spend a day away from the usual school routine, reflecting, building friendships and growing together in faith.

Parents and carers are kindly asked to respond to the retreat letter once received and complete the necessary arrangements so that their child can take part in this special experience.

As always, thank you for your continued generosity, encouragement and support of our chaplaincy activities. It is wonderful to see so many opportunities for our young people to put their faith into action, both within our school and in the wider community.

Wishing you all a lovely and restful weekend.

School Chaplaincy Team