Published May 13, 2022
Year 11 GCSEs
Whilst we have had some Year 11 final exams and assessments already, the main GCSE exam period begins in earnest on Monday 16th May. This weekend the school hall will be set up for exams for the coming weeks all the way through until the end of June (the first time this has happened for public exams since 2019!).
The Year 11 exams timetable can be found here.
When Year 11 pupils are not in exams, they will be following their normal timetable and revising for forthcoming GCSEs. The scheduled revision sessions before school, at lunchtime and after school will continue as normal. We’d like to wish all of our Year 11 pupils the very best of luck as they start ‘exam season’!
Revision session timetables can be found here.
We will also be reminding all pupils of the need for them to be silent as they move around the parts of school in close proximity to the school hall. The lunch sessions will also be changed to accommodate longer exams in the afternoon. Times will be displayed for pupils on the screen in the canteen area; Year 9-11 will be the first lunch sitting, Yr7 & 8 will be the second lunch sitting.
TD Day Reminder
As per the dates shared at the beginning of the academic year, Monday 23rd May is a TD Day. School will be closed for all pupils with the exception of those pupils taking the GCSE Geography exam.
This Girl Can
This week, a number of Year 9 pupils attended a ‘Girls That Can’ session. They all returned absolutely buzzing from the experience where they got to take part in an inflatable obstacle course, a yoga session, and kickboxing!
Jubilee Celebrations at St Joseph’s
Last week I referred to how St Joseph’s will be marking the Queens Platinum Jubilee on the final day of this half term (Friday 27th May). It promises to be a lovely day and end to the half term and our commemorations will include:
- Mon-uniform day for a voluntary contribution; red, white and blue theme!
- Assembly for all pupils on the longest serving monarch and her achievements
- A Royal Quiz to be held virtually during period 6 lessons (Year 11 will continue with revision lessons)
- The canteen to be decorated with British bunting and to be offering traditional British food
- Great British Bake-Off Cupcake Competition & sale
- Staff vs Yr11 Football Match after school
Pupils have requested that all funds we raise on the day will go towards supporting one of our Year 11 pupils and her family in this time of need. Please see the GoFundMe page for more information.
Homework Reminder
All homework at St Joseph’s is set via Satchel One (formerly known as SMHW). All pupils at school have an account, and as parents and carers, you too have access to the platform which enables you to see what homework is being set and deadlines for the homework. If you would like a reminder of your login details, please contact admin@sjcs.org.uk and we can rectify this for you.
Homework timetables can be found here.
We also offer a HW club after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for an hour in one of our computer rooms. If you would like your child to attend, please email rro@sjcs.org.uk.
We monitor HW completion weekly and where we spot patterns of pupils not completing HW we have a supportive intervention system in place. Initially, form tutors will engage with the pupils and parents if necessary. If there is still no improvement, Directors of Learning engage with the pupil and parents and a period of close monitoring of HW completion via a HW report before the final stage of intervention with SLT where HW club becomes compulsory for pupils struggling to complete HW of their own volition.
End of Year Exams
As with GCSEs, this year will also be the first year since 2019 that we will be in a position to run our normal end of year exam programme. Next week pupils will be given details on when the exam window will be, how the exams will happen, and how to prepare. For Year 7-9 all end of year exams will be classroom based and a revision booklet will be produced to help the pupils revise for their exams.
Due to this Year’s GCSE exam timetable being much longer than previous years (a measure put in pace due to covid), we will not be able to hold Year 10 mock GCSEs in the School Hall this summer (the last GCSE exam is during Year 10 work experience week). However, Year 10 will be completing assessments in class prior to going on work experience and will have a GCSE mock exam period in September and again in January.
Year 5 Taster Day
It is also the first year since 2019 that we’ll be hosting a taster day for year 5 pupils! If you have younger children who would like to experience a day at St Joseph’s or have friends in Year 5 who are interested, then please see the flyer attached below and/or direct them to our dedicated transition page on our website to reserve their space.
Flower Festival
A team from St Osmund’s Parish are representing the church at the Salisbury Cathedral Festival of Flowers which is open until Sunday 15th May. If you would like to book a ticket and go along, you can do so here.
Additionally, each day a number of ‘non-ticket holder’ entries are being permitted – simply go along to the Cathedral and go to the ‘non-ticket holder’ entrance point.
The exhibits that have been prepared by St Osmund’s parishioners are being removed from the Cathedral and placed in St Osmund’s church during next week after the event is broken down on Sunday evening – so if you don’t manage to get to the Cathedral you can still see their contribution to the event.
Achievement Points
Teresa have jumped up to 2nd place!
- 1st: Margaret with 45,085 points
- 2nd: Teresa with 41,874 points
- 3rd: Vincent with 41,622 points
- 4th: Francis with 36,754 points
Have a lovely weekend!
Mr Rooney