St Joseph's News and Events

• Making Music - Year 4

  Sat 19 Oct 2024

  It's electronic, it's versatile, and it opens up endless possibilities for experimentation—it's the MakeyMakey! Our Year 4 students had an incredible opportunity to delve into the principles of electricity and harness their knowledge to create music. They explored musical scales, used crocodile clips, and ingeniously turned their rulers into unique musical instruments. The workshop culminated in a performance of a song they composed themselves. It’s safe to say they’ll never look at a ruler in quite the same way again!

  

• Civil Engineering Role Models Workshop - Year 4

  Fri 18 Oct 2024

  Our Year 4 students of Sycamore class recently attended an engaging online civil engineering workshop hosted by a panel of university students. The speakers shared insights into the diverse roles of civil engineers, revealing that their responsibilities go far beyond building structures. The students learned that civil engineers are also involved in designing and managing projects like dams, transportation networks, and more. The panellists also discussed pathways to becoming civil engineers, highlighted the significance of their work, and shared the legacies they hope to create in their careers. The workshop was truly inspirational, and our students had the opportunity to ask a few burning questions during the Q&A session. When asked about their inspirations, one panellist mentioned the Burj Khalifa, which our students discovered is the tallest tower in the world, located in Dubai. It was a defining workshop that left a lasting impression on our young learners!

  

• Year 6 Code-Along Workshop

  Thu 17 Oct 2024

  Year 6 got their virtual binoculars out today while taking part in a birdwatching themed code-along workshop organised by charity digit<all>. They were tasked with programming the micro:bits to send radio signals symbols when they fund different native bird species around the classroom. The Year 6 children showed excellent computational thinking skills and a sound, reasoned approach to debugging problems within their code. This was an excellent activity that reminded us of real-life uses for technology. We look forward to using what we have learned in our Geography field trip after half term!

  

• Yr 4 Trip to the Science museum

  Tue 15 Oct 2024

  The Yr 4 children had a fantastic trip to the science museum. They attended a gross, squirm-inducing show about the workings of the human digestive system. They followed the journey of food from their mouth, through the acid bath in their stomach, along metre after metre of pulsating guts and out the other end! Apart from that, they got a chance to enjoys the different sections of the museum.

   

  

• Year 6 trip to Barking Library

  Tue 15 Oct 2024

  Year 6 spent some time this afternoon at the local Barking library. We checked out the range of books and took a moment to relax and enjoy some reading for pleasure. 

  

• Year 5 Code-Along Workshop

  Tue 15 Oct 2024

  This morning Year 5 got into the autumnal spirit by playing a game of Conkers with a difference. Instead of finding their conkers on the ground and playing the old-fashioned way, they used their knowledge of the BBC micro:bit and their coding skills to make digital conkers. They were challenged to code the micro;bit to react to motion and receive radio signals that caused changes in 'damage' and score, before a winner was eventually crowned. 

  

• Year 5 IMAX Experience at the Science Museum

  Mon 14 Oct 2024

  Year 5 had a fantastic time at the Science Museum, where they watched a 3D IMAX film about our planet. The film had stunning visuals, and the children learned about the roles of astronauts on the ISS, the international co-operation involved, and the ongoing studies designed to further our knowledge about the universe and our place within it. The children were particularly struck by the comments of the astronauts; when they view Earth from space, they are reminded of our role as caretakers of the planet, and that we are crew members, just like they are, all with a role and responsibility to play in the future of humanity. What an incredible experience!

  

• CAFOD - CST Workshops for Year 5 & 6

  Thu 10 Oct 2024

  We were delighted to welcome Margaret, a CAFOD volunteer, to our school. She led insightful workshops on Catholic Social Teaching (CST) for all Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. During these sessions, the children explored the origins of CST principles and engaged in meaningful discussions about the significance of each one. They also reflected on how they can apply these principles in their daily lives, fostering a deeper understanding of their faith and its practical impact.

   

  

• Space Week

  Mon 07 Oct 2024

  World Space Week is an annual week-long event to celebrate mankind’s endeavours, contributions, and victories in space science. The children celebrated science and technology and their impact on the development of the human condition, with particular reference to Space. The children learnt about space science, its importance, and the impacts it has had on humanity, it helped raise awareness and encourage the use of space for sustainable economic development. A fantastic week with lots of fun with Space.

  

• Harvest Festival Liturgy

  Mon 07 Oct 2024

  This morning we celebrated the Harvest Festival. Our wonderful Mini Vinnies led a Liturgy to the whole school,  each sharing their thoughts about the harvest . They reminded us that Harvest is a time when we gather the crops that have grown in fields and orchards throughout the year, celebrating the fact that once again, we have these delicious and nutritious foods to eat. It is also about recognising the hard work of farmers who plant the seeds, nurture the plants, and take care of them until it's time to pick the fruits and vegetables. It's a chance for us to be grateful for their efforts.

  The harvest also teaches us about the changing seasons and the importance of taking care of the land. Farmers use sustainable practices to make sure the Earth continues to provide food for generations to come. We learn about the cycle of life, from planting to harvesting, and how we can be responsible stewards of our environment. Lastly, harvest reminds us to share. Not everyone has access to fresh food, so we share our harvest with others who may need it. It's a way of being kind and making sure everyone has enough to eat.

  Each class had the opportunity to bring their donations to the front of the assembly hall and contribute our whole school collection. All food items collected will be donated to Barking Foodbank. Thank you again to our wonderful school community for being so generous and kind.