Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 10th June 2022
Date: 10th Jun 2022 @ 1:35pm
I hope that you all had a lovely holiday last week and managed to spend some time as a family enjoying the Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the long Bank Holiday weekend.
Well done to all the children in Sandymere who have carried out their Year 1 Phonics Screening Check this week with Mrs Kelly. We are so proud of them and how they showed off the best of their phonics skills to read the real and alien words. Information with regards to their results will be available in their end of year reports.
Next week, Year 4 take their turn doing the Multiplication Tables Check, the first year this has been carried out, and they have been busy practicing their times tables at all opportunities. Once again, information with regards to their results will be available in their end of year reports. Good luck!
It has been lovely to welcome Mrs Bettley back into school this week. Mrs Bettley is on a phased return and will gradually be spending more time with Sandymere class. In the meantime, Miss Marsh will continue around Mrs Bettley’s times to ensure continuity for the children.
#WakeUpWednesday
Virtual reality has been around, in various rudimentary forms, since the late 1970s. After a prolonged gestation period, the technology’s march to the mainstream has begun to gather momentum in recent years. The UK government is predicting a meteoric 78% rise in spending on VR and its stable-mate AR (augmented reality) by 2024.
The potential applications of VR in gaming and entertainment are obvious. From its longer-term physical and mental effects on users to its rules of online engagement, however, virtual reality remains an area that most of us know comparatively little about. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide attempts to put trusted adults in the picture about the emerging phenomenon of VR.
Library Summer Reading Challenge
This year’s library challenge is called ‘Gadgeteers’ and the library would love as many children as possible to take part. Children will be encouraged to read by being given core packs for joining the Challenge, stickers when they read books and a certificate and a medal when they complete the Challenge. They are also planning lots of events for children in CWAC libraries which will be publicised very shortly. See https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ for more national information.
The challenge is a great way to encourage children to keep reading over the summer break. There are no set titles, so children can choose to read anything that interests them, even non-fiction books.
Pop down to any CWAC library to find out more information.
School Dinners
Please may I remind those taking school dinners that they must be paid for in advance? We recently had as much as £600 owing in dinner money and this has to be covered by the school, which takes vital money from the budget that can be spent on the children’s education. Thank you.
School dinners cost £2.34 per day, £11.70 per week. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive free meals as part of the government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) scheme. Dinner money must be paid in advance via School Spider.
If you are in receipt of benefits and think that you may be entitled to free school meals, please click here for more information and support and how to apply. It is very important to apply for free school meals whatever year your child is in, even if you receive the UIFSM in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, as the school receives a sum of extra money to further help support your child and their education.
Absence during Term Time
Please may I remind you that schools are not allowed to authorise pupil holidays in term time. Any child going on holiday in term time will receive an unauthorised absence. Our registers are regularly checked by the Education Welfare Service and parents may be issued with a fine from the Local Authority for unauthorised absence, which is currently £60 per child, per parent and this rises to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2022 – new dates highlighted
Thursday 16th June: Year 5 Come and Play with the Halle at The Bridgewater Hall
Tuesday 21st June: Year 5 and 6 trip to Weaver Hall Museum
Friday 24th June: Year 3 and 4 trip to Weaver Hall Museum
Saturday 25th June: Delamere Street Festival – Hatchmere to perform (details to follow)
Thursday 30th June: Sports Day – weather dependent. Please note – pending some big plans, we may not be able to hold Sports Day, but I will share news as soon as I am able.
Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July: Year 6 transition days at The Winsford Academy
Friday 8th July: Pupil Reports due out
Tuesday 19th July: School closes at 2pm
Monday 5th September: School opens for the Autumn Term
Have a lovely weekend,
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon