Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 14th December 2018
Date: 14th Dec 2018 @ 11:04am
First of all, thank you to everyone who helped to make our Christmas Fair such a success last week. A lot goes on behind the scenes from our dedicated PTA – thank you so much for everything that you do to help organise the fair in the build-up and on the day as we couldn’t do it without you; thank you to everyone who generously donated items; thank you to the team who arrived on the day to help set up or run stalls; thank you to the staff who also helped to support the Fair and thank you to all our supporters on the day who came along and spent money to enable us to raise an amazing amount of £791.30 – amazing! Thank you!
Next Thursday 20th December, we will be holding our annual Carol Service in St. John’s church at 1.45pm. This is a highlight of the year for me to which everyone in our school community is invited to attend. The children in Blakemere will be guiding us through the story, ably assisted by the children in Hatchmere who will present the nativity, and all skilfully interweaved with music from the children in the other classes. Our fabulous PTA will be opening the church from 1.15pm for refreshments and we look forward to seeing you there. If you are unable to attend, please don’t forget that the children need to be collected at 3pm from church instead of school on that day, as I have mentioned each week in my blog since September.
A number of staff have been busy on training this week, alongside other teachers from across Winsford. As the Winsford Education Partnership, we are all working together to raise the attainment and progress of children in Maths across the town. Staff have been on training in relation to this this week and all staff will be attending at some point to ensure that we are giving our children the very best opportunities to achieve the very best outcomes in Maths.
We were all treated to a fantastic performance by our talented guitar and ukulele players yesterday. The children have been learning their instruments in school and came together to play for the whole school. Although I was unable to attend as I was at a meeting, I know it is great to listen to those children who are just starting out on their musical journey as well as those that have been playing for some time – well done to all those involved. We look forward to the violin players next week!
If you will remember from the parent questionnaires in the summer, it was felt that parents wanted more regular information with regards to the attainment and progress of their children. As you know, we now have more parents’ evenings throughout the year and next week, we will also be sending home your child’s end of term assessment information. This consists of a data sheet that tells you your children’s attainment and progress in Reading, Writing and Maths and will look very similar to the front page of the reports that are usually sent home at the end of the year. There is a short explanation at the bottom of the page that will help you to understand what the information means – please do ask your child’s class teacher if you are unsure.
Confirmed Dates for the Autumn Term – additions/ changes from last week are highlighted.
Thursday 20th December: Blakemere to carol sing at Overdene Care Home (am)
Thursday 20th December: Carol Service in St. John’s Church at 1.45pm. All welcome. Please note: All children to be collected from church at 3pm instead of school.
Friday 21st December: Whole School to Northwich Memorial Court for the pantomime – Cinderella
Friday 21st December: Non Uniform Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children
School closes for Christmas at 2pm
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2019
Monday 7th January 2019: School opens at 8:45am
Wednesday 13th – Friday 15th February: Year 5 and 6 residential to the Conway Centre, Anglesey
Thursday 21st March: Year 5 Research Project Conference at Portal Macdonald Hotel – more details to follow for those involved.
Thursday 21st – Friday 22nd March: Year 3 and 4 residential to Beeston OEC
Don’t forget to keep checking the calendar on the school website. If you click on an event on the calendar, more information about that event will be given, if it has been added.
This is my last blog of 2018 as we are all busy down at the pantomime next Friday. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the continued support that you give to your children and to the school in such a wide variety of ways and to also wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I look forward to welcoming you all back to school in the new year.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon