St Joseph's News and Events

• Chestnut Court Care Home - Mini Vinnie Carol Singing

  Wed 04 Dec 2024

  Our Mini Vinnies visited Chestnut Court Care Home in Dagenham to sing Christmas carols, deliver Christmas cards and bring joy to the residents. This heartwarming visit was a wonderful way for the children to live out our Catholic Social Teaching principles, showing compassion, solidarity, and respect for the dignity of every person.  Through singing and spreading kindness, the Mini Vinnies shared the true spirit of Christmas.

  

• Year 2 - Local fieldwork trip

  Mon 02 Dec 2024

  Year 2 enjoyed a hands-on learning experience at Barking Abbey Park, where they conducted a data collection exercise by counting the different types of vehicles passing by. Back at school, they used the data to create graphs and had thoughtful discussions about their findings, interpreting the results together.  

   

  

• KS1 and EYFS Celebrate the Start of Advent with Christingles

  Mon 02 Dec 2024

  As we enter the holy season of Advent, our KS1 and EYFS children have been reflecting on its meaning and preparing their hearts for the coming of Jesus. To mark this special time, they created beautiful Christingles, each filled with powerful symbolism to remind us of Jesus as the Light of the World. Through making these Christingles, the children deepened their understanding of Advent and reflected on how they can share God's love with others during this season of preparation. It was a joyful and meaningful activity that brought the message of Christmas to life in a truly special way.  

  

• Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal Success!

  Mon 02 Dec 2024

  We are thrilled to share that today, 119 shoeboxes were picked up for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal! A huge thank you to everyone who generously donated and helped make this possible.  This incredible effort is a wonderful example of us putting our Catholic Social Teaching principles into action by supporting those in need. Your kindness and contributions will bring joy, hope and love to children around the world. Well done, everyone! 

  

• Y1 Local Walk inc. Barking Abbey

  Fri 29 Nov 2024 DH

  Today, we continued our topic of "Our Wonderful World" by focussing more locally. Our tour guide showed us some local history and some local human geography. We played "Eye Spy", sang some local songs and learnt about the tallest building in Barking! 

  

• Anti- bullying week poster competition winners

  Fri 22 Nov 2024

  A big congratulations to the winners of our Anti-Bullying Poster Competition, announced during our recent celebration assembly! Each poster displayed a clear and impactful message, showcasing creativity and a deep understanding of the importance of kindness and respect in our school community.  

  Well done to everyone who participated—your thoughtful and artistic contributions made it a tough decision for our Mini Vinnies to judge. Your work has inspired us all to stand together against bullying and promote a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. 

  

• Year 4 Educational Visit to the British Library

  Wed 20 Nov 2024

  Our Year 4 students had an unforgettable experience at the British National Library, where they took part in a mindful and creative workshop on sound. They uncovered the fascinating history of recorded sound, explored how sounds can transform spaces, and tuned into the everyday noises around them, discovering where close listening could take their imaginations. Inspired by these activities, the students expressed their ideas through discussion, drawing, and movement.

  The day concluded with an exciting tour of the library, where they explored its many fascinating areas and gained insight into its incredible collections. It was a truly inspiring day of learning and creativity!

  

• St. Joseph's SPOTacular Support for Children in Need

  Fri 15 Nov 2024

  Pupils and staff came together in a colourful display of kindness, donning spotty outfits to raise funds for Children in Need. This SPOTacular event showcased our school community’s commitment to making a difference, one spot at a time. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and donated to support this wonderful cause! Together, we’ve helped to brighten the future for Children in Need.

  

• Anti-bullying Week 2024

  Tue 12 Nov 2024

  To kick off Anti-Bullying Week 2024, St. Joseph’s pupils and staff wore odd socks for 'Odd Socks Day', celebrating individuality and acceptance. We also came together as a school community for an assembly about how we can 'choose kindness' every day, reminding everyone of the importance of inclusion, respect, and standing up against bullying.

  

• Eastbrookend Country Park - Year 2 trip

  Fri 08 Nov 2024

  Year 2 had an amazing day at Eastbrookend Country Park! We started with pond dipping, discovering a variety of pond creatures, and enjoyed birdwatching, spotting coots and swans. In the woodland area, we closed our eyes to listen to the different sounds around us—it was so peaceful! We even built habitats for our 'happy hedgehogs,' 'cheeky squirrels,'and 'fantastic foxes.' To top it all off, we had a blast in the playground before heading back to school. What a fantastic adventure!