Caring, warm and happy
St. John's has been the local school for Over since the 1860's; the original building dates back to 1840 and has been modernised recently to provide extra classroom space and improved facilities. Our aim at St. John's School is for every child to achieve their potential and this is reflected in our OFSTED report and successful national test results. We also seek to support those children who have learning needs.
The school warmly welcomes enquiries and visits from any prospective pupils and their parents.
Telephone: 01606 592608
Fax: 01606 861841
E-mail: admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk
Website: www.overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk
Over St Johns School News Get the full newsletter in PDF
Autumn Term November 2009
With just three weeks left until the end of term here are a few reminders of the up and coming events:Christmas Fair - Friday 4th December 6 p.m.
Christmas Disco - Wednesday 9th December 6 – 7.30 p.m.*Please note this is a change of date*
Christmas Dinner - Thursday 10th December
Pantomime - Friday 11th December
Carol Singing - Monday 14th December 6 – 7 p.m. Delamere Street
Christmas Parties KS1 - Tuesday 15th December
Christmas Parties KS2 - Tuesday 15th December
Nativity/Carol Concert - Thursday 17th December 6 p.m.
Term ends - Friday 18th December at 2pm
Christmas Fair
Our Christmas Fair takes place this Friday evening from 6pm. Many thanks for all the items already sent in and offers of help, however, we still need more donations and people to man the stalls. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated and all the money made on the night is for the benefit of the school and most importantly the children.
Pantomime
The whole school will be going to see Sleeping Beauty at Crewe Lyceum on Friday 11th December. Please could we have any outstanding money for tickets by the end of this week. A special thank you to ‘The Friends of St. John’s’ PTA who are funding the transport costs for what is sure to be a really enjoyable trip.
New Arrivals
A warm welcome to Keira, Kymberley, Lauren, April and Daisy and their families. We hope they will be very happy at St. John’s.
A special thank you to all who attended the lovely Harvest Festival in St. John’s Church and who supported Children In Need day. A magnificent £153.92 was raised. We were also able to give £43 to this year’s British Legion Appeal. Thank you to everyone who bought poppies.
Other Reminders
Attendance
Our record of attendance is generally good; however, we do seem to have a significant increase in the number of children being late for school. Please note that school starts at 8.45 am and children arriving after the class registers close will be given a late mark.
If your child arrives after 9.15 am then this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, unless there is a specific acceptable reason e.g. medical appointment, in accordance with Local Authority policy and persistent unauthorised absence may result in a fixed penalty fine being issued.
The school will be contacting, by letter, parents of children who are frequently late or if we have any concerns about attendance. If your child is absent please let us know the reason why by ringing the school, sending in a note, or by speaking directly to the class teacher. We will contact you on the first day of absence if we have not heard anything. Please note that absences can only be authorised for specific reasons e.g. illness, medical appointments. Additional holidays must be requested using the appropriate form, available from the school office.
It is at the school’s discretion to authorise up to ten days absence in one school year, however, anything above ten days will, unfortunately, be automatically recorded as an unauthorised absence and it is not possible to authorise holidays if there are already concerns over a child’s attendance.
We would encourage you not to take holidays during term time if it can be avoided, particularly in the first half of the Summer Term for children in Years 2 & 6 due to SATs. Our class registers are regularly scrutinised by the Educational Welfare Officer who will follow up any irregularities in attendance, including lateness, by contacting parents directly.
PE Kits
A number of pupils have not had the necessary kit for PE lessons this term. All children must participate in PE, unless there is a medical reason for not doing so, as it is part of the statutory curriculum. Please send PE kits in on Monday mornings and take them home for washing on Fridays. [When necessary but at least once each half term please] Please note that during the cold weather the children are allowed to wear track suits for outdoor PE.
Jewellery, except small stud earrings, is not to be worn for school please. To comply with Health and Safety regulations earrings will be covered with micro-pore tape during physical activities.
Please note: No jewellery can be worn during swimming lessons.
Head Lice
Head Lice seems to be an ever-present problem. Please keep checking your children’s hair on a regular basis. Thank you to the parents who let us know when it affects their child/children. This helps us to monitor the situation. If you need any further information or advice about this or other medical matters the school nurse will be pleased to talk to you. Please come in to the school office for her contact number.
At St. John’s we welcome parental involvement and will be pleased to talk over any ideas or concerns you have. The staff are usually available for brief discussions from 8.30 – 8.40 each morning and after 3.00 p.m. [except on Tuesday when we have a staff meeting immediately after the school day ends]. Please note, however, that teachers are not available once the school day has begun i.e. once the children have left the playground. If you have an important message for the class teacher then please come to the school office or if you wish to have a more detailed meeting then we will be pleased to make an appointment.
Parking
We would like to encourage all parents to use the rear car park of the White Lion Pub whenever you are bringing or collecting your child to/from school. Unfortunately the size and location of the school car park means it can only be used by members of staff as access to the school must be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles.
Teachers2Parents
We are having a one month trial of a new texting service which will mean we can keep you up to date with everything that is going on in school and contact you quickly by sending out texts and/or emails. For this to work effectively we need our records to be up to date. Please complete the attached form with your current mobile numbers and email addresses. We feel this will greatly simplify and improve how we can communicate with our parents.
St John’s Church Calendar 2010
Our church has produced a beautiful 2010 calendar which shows delightful photographs of the church both inside and out. These will be on sale at the Christmas Fair for the price of £4.95 each. You can also order one through the school office if you would prefer. Please send £4.95 in an envelope marked ‘St John’s Church Calendar’. All profits raised will go to the church restoration fund.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Sheridan
We are committed to providing a broad balanced and relevant curriculum. Pupils are offered a wide range of direct experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, including both day and residential visits. There are modern computers in each classroom and a cookery area.Children are encouraged to become self-confident, self-disciplined and caring. The school adopts a positive approach to discipline where the emphasis is very much on praising and rewarding good behaviour.
St. Johns is
a Church of England school and our Vicar is a
welcome visitor who takes a weekly assembly. The
children attend services in the Church during the
major festivals.
We have an open partnership with parents including an open-door policy where parents can meet members of staff when they are free. There is also an active PTA.
Children starting school in Reception begin in September, but are introduced gradually to school life through a pre-school group with their own teacher, which meets on an afternoon during the preceding two terms.