Season’s Greetings from Sarah, Ella, Abbey, Owen, Berton, Joey and JP from 5th class. First of all, we would like to thank all of the teachers and students for supporting the Christmas joke competition. We have had a great giggle reading all of your entries. All of the jokes were even funnier than Mr Walsh’s awful dad jokes!
 
It was very tough to decide upon winners as the standard was so high, but here are our top jokes. In Réalta congratulations to Lauren Hayes with her joke:
What does Mrs Claus say to Santa? ‘Looks like rain dear’
 
In 1st and 2nd class congratulations to Noelle Boland with her joke:
Who brings presents to dogs at Christmas? ‘Santa Paws’
 
In 3rd and 4th class congratulations to Holly Sheehy-Curtis with her joke:
What do you get if you cross a duck and Santa? ‘A Christmas quacker!’
 
And finally in 5th and 6th class congratulations to Abbie Kelly with her joke:
Who suspiciously creeps around the bakery at Christmas? ‘A mince spy!’
 
Congratulations to all of our winners and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Slán agus Nollaig Shona Daoibh!

Wednesday August 28th 2019 - School re-opens after the summer holidays. Classes begin for all pupils.
On Wednesday 28th only, Junior Infant pupils start school at 9:30. 

Please note new school opening and closing times: 
8:50 - 14:30 (First - Sixth Class)
8:50 - 13:30 (Junior and Senior Infants)
Junior Infants will finish at 12:00 pm for the first two weeks (from August 28th - September 11th inclusive)
From September 12th junior infants will finish at the normal closing time of 13:30. 

The front door will open each morning at 8:45. 
All pupils may walk from the front door to their classroom. There is no outdoor assembly area for senior pupils this year due to the construction work. Assembly time will take place in the classroom from 8:45 - 9:00. All pupils must be in their classrooms by 9:00 am at the latest.
Parents may accompany pupils in Junior and Senior Infants to their classrooms in September. On the first morning parents of children from Junior Infants to 3rd class may drop their children to the classroom door if they wish. 
​

This month, we began Aistear. This is a curriculum for early years development and learning, with play as the main focus.  Aistear includes daily structured play at four different stations.
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This month our theme was Autumn and we set up a ‘Farm Shop’ in our role play area. We learned the names of many different fruits and vegetables and had great fun writing shopping lists.
 In our ‘Small World’ and ‘Construction’ areas we built animals homes and talked about all the work the farmer must do to get ready for winter. In our creative area, we created different hibernators such as the bat, the hedgehog and the bear. Take a look at our photos to see what we got up to! 

We had great fun on the Witchety Walk. Our costumes were fantastic! We had witches, skeletons, princesses and fairies, army men, ghosts, clowns, animals, a farmer and even Spiderman! We walked around the school twice, singing songs and reciting chants. Here are some photos of us enjoying our last day before the Midterm break. 

​September has been a very busy month in Senior Infants. We have all settled back into school really quickly and are learning lots of new things.
In art, we created self-portraits and designed monsters based on the storybook ‘Monsters Not Allowed’ by Tracey Hammett.
In P.E. we have been having great fun in Zumba with Patricia Murphy. Take a look at our photos to see what we got up to!
In History, we were learning all about old toys. We learned to play some games that our parents and grandparents used to play, such as; hopscotch, marbles, spinning tops and board games. We also conducted a short interview with our grandparents about their favourite toys. 

This week the new Junior Infants spent their first full week in 'big' school. They had great fun getting know all the children in their classes and learning lots of new things. They have also visited most of their brothers and sisters throughout the school and introduced themselves to the teachers. 

Here are some photos of the Junior Infants learning how to make the letter s: 

Congratulations to the Dublin team (in blue bibs) who won the Tom Hannafin Cup today after weeks of enjoyable and competitive matches. Well done to all 5th and 6th class participants who played their hearts out and developed their football and teamwork skills. Thanks to Patsy Barrett for refereeing and to Scoil Chonglais for the use of their hall. Here are some of Ms. Casey's photos taken mid way during the competition. 

The staff of Scoil Naomh Iósaf had a child protection training day on March 9th 2018. The purpose of the training was for the staff to become familiar with the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, published by the Department of Education and Skills. These new procedures take account of the Children First Act 2015 and the 'Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children' published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2017. These procedures came into effect from the 11th December 2017, except for those relating to the school safeguarding statement. From the 11th March 2018, all schools are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement. This replaces the previous requirement to have a child protection policy. Please note that the Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS) below is a first draft and is subject to revision and approval by the Board of Management on Wednesday 21st March. ​

Scoil Naomh Iósaf is closed today, Wednesday 28th February as a result of the red weather warning in
place in Co. Wicklow. Stay safe and warm everyone. Enjoy the snow. 

Scoil Naomh Iósaf will remain closed on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd of March. The Department of Education has recommended that the schools close in interest of pupil and teacher safety. 

School will re-open on Monday 5th of March. Please take care on your journey to school. ​

Irish Traditional Music Classes are held in Scoil Naomh Iósaf every Tuesday after school. Children from 2nd class and up are welcome. Children begin on the tin-whistle and if they wish, may progress to another instrument eg. fiddle, mandolin, banjo, flute, concertina or accordion after a year on the whistle. 
Here are some photos taken over the last few years of the musicians in their lessons, or in various performances in school. This year's summer school concert is a chance to hear the musicians play along with the school choir. The concert takes place on Monday 26th June at 7.30pm. ​

Sixth classes with their teachers Ms. Hannafin and Mr. Walsh presented their excellent science project at the RDS Young Scientist Exhibition. The project was entitled "Does Regular Exercise Contribute to a Healthier and Happier Child". The judges were highly impressed with the quality of the project and the children's excellent communication skills and the pupils were delighted with their trophy and the positive feedback.
Details of the project and photos and videos will be displayed on the School Activities Page on Friday. 

Congratulations to Scoil Naomh Iosaf Junior and Senior Quiz teams who competed in the local round of the annual Credit Union Quiz. The Senior Team - Orlaith O'Toole, Cadhla Moran, Evin Fleming and Ava Foley - came second after two rounds of tie-breakers. A fantastic result by a very talented and hard-working team. Our second team - Erton Ferizi, Finn Moran, Matthew Fisher and Seamus Doyle - came fourth in the Under 11 Junior Quiz. Another great result from this super quiz team. 
Watch this space!! More pictures to follow....​

On February 1st 2017 Pupils from first to sixth classes at Scoil Naomh Iósaf will attend a Prayer Service to Celebrate Catholic Schools Week. All family members, parents and friends are welcome to join our celebration. The Service will be in St. Joseph's Church at 11.15. Junior and Senior Infants will have their Spring Celebration in their classroom.

If you wish to view the Prayer Service from home you can access Baltinglass Parish Webcam at  http://www.baltinglassparish.ie/webcam/ at 11.15

Theme: Caring for our Common Home. 

1. School Band: Selection of Traditional Irish Music.
2. Welcome: Sr. Eileen
3. Spring Poems: Sixth class pupils.
4. Opening Song: Sing a Song to Brigid sung by all children. Actions by second class on the Altar.
5. Spring Poems: Sixth class
6. Building up the Sacred Space on the Altar. Symbols of Spring presented by third and fourth classes. Commentary read by sixth class pupils.
7. Leader Prayer: Sr. Eileen
8. Prayer: Fr. Tommy
9. Reading from the Book of Genesis: Principal Mairead
10. Weaving of St. Brigid’s Cross. Input from pupils on building up a good happy school and caring for our environment.
11. Prayers of Intercession: Read by third class.
12. St. Brigid – a selection of stories read and dramatized by fifth class.
13. Closing Prayer: Fr. Tommy
14. Presentation of Flowers to Sr. Brigid: First class pupils.
15. School Band present a medley of Irish Traditional Music
16. Closing Song: Grace Before and After Play.

Please note that this while this service is to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, children of other/non faiths are welcome to attend the service. Feel free to write a note in your child's journal if you would like your child to remain in the school for the duration of the Service. Pupils will be provided with suitable work and supervised by another teacher.