Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 18th October
Date: 9th Oct 2024 @ 4:19pm
Roald Dahl Book Activities
What a fabulous time was had after school yesterday at our Roald Dahl Craft event organised by our fabulous Reading Champions and Mrs McLaughlin. It was so lovely to hear about how much fun everybody had as they got stuck into making slime, or dream catchers or any of the other fun activities chosen and organised by the Reading Champions. Thank you to everyone for supporting the event and making it so successful but a particular thank you goes to the Reading Champions and Mrs M. Keep your eyes peeled for a future event around World Book Day!
PTFA Updates
Don’t forget to send in your reply slips and money for the ‘Remember Them Glow Walk’ event that has been organised by the PTA. Walk the trail and collect the clues to solve the word! Each child will receive a poppy which they can choose to either take home or ‘plant’ to help them remember those lost as well as a small prize for each child upon completion. Glow items will be available to purtchase before and after each walk – the glow-ier the better as remember to ‘ Be Bright and Be Seen.
Responses and payment need to be sent to the school office by Thursday 4th October and the Remember Them Glow Walk takes place on Thursday 7th November.
Also, don’t forget to post a picture of your pumpkin carving onto the PTA Facebook page (@Friends of Over St Johns PTA) to be in with a chance to win a family sized box of spooky sweets! The competition closes at midnight on Tuesday 29th October with the winner announces on Facebook on Wednesday 30th October – good luck!
Guardian Education Awards 2025
The Guardian Education Awards 2025 for Mid Cheshire are back for another year and promise to be the best yet! Ten awards will celebrate schools, nurseries and colleges across Mid Cheshire, honouring pupils and students, teachers and teaching assistants, and classes and teams. The Guardian want to highlight everything that’s good about Mid Cheshire's educators, shining a spotlight on innovation and best practice across the town.
Who should win one of their 10 awards?
There’s pupil of the year for primary and secondary, class or team of the year and headteacher of the year as well as awards for teachers and teaching assistants.
They will also be handing out a lifetime achievement award and an innovation award.
Entries are invited from teachers, parents, governors, pupils and anyone with knowledge of a particular school or education establishment. All schools are welcome to enter as long as they are based in Mid Cheshire.
Individuals or institutions can enter more than one category, but this should be made clear on the entry form.
If you would like to make a nomination, you can do so here using this link:
https://forms.office.com/e/ePXVHHKK4h?origin=lprLink
I have attached a QR code below, as it takes people straight to the nomination form.
The closing date for entries is Saturday 30th November 2024.
Weekly Attendance
Congratulations to Sandymere and Oakmere who have had the best attendance this week.
Hatchmere: 92%
Sandymere: 96.67%
Delamere: 91.67%
Oakmere: 96.67%%
Linmere: 93.60%
Blakemere: 92.4%
#WakeUpWednesday
Ofcom’s latest Media Use and Attitudes Report states that most children can watch streamed films on a mobile device both in and out of the home, with 80% of UK children watching films on phones, tablets or laptops That’s a lot of youngsters who might be using their own gadgets to watch something suitably spooky this Halloween season or perhaps, something a little too frightening. With older children in particular, it can be difficult knowing how to manage their increasing interest in more mature content – including horror films, in many cases – let alone knowing how best to safeguard them from inappropriate material. Our free guide offers expert advice not only on the risks of exposure to horror films and other potentially upsetting content, but also on preventing young viewers from seeing this material or protecting them from being too deeply affected by it if they do.
Half Term Activities
I have received some details from New Images Winsford Community Forum about a range of activities available for young people this October half term. Posters also attached below.
Spooky Wednesday!
Join us for some spooky autumn crafts, find your own pumpkin trail, make a clay spider or if your dare a spooky face, perhaps even make your own spiders web and a scary bat on a stick. Each family will receive their own pumpkin to take home and make into a goulish face! A fabulous workshop with lots to keep the kids entertained
Two time slots available: 10am - 11:30am or 12:30pm - 2pm.
Parents must stay for this spooktastic event however please ensure you only book children’s tickets.
BugFest!
Book now and come to New Images on the 28th of October with your child/children for an hour with our six legged and creepy crawly friends!
This event is a lively, educational experience designed to engage kids in the fascinating world of insects and arachnids. The event features a wide range of hands-on activities, interactive exhibits and live demonstrations, making it a fun and immersive learning opportunity for children of all ages.
Time slots are 2-3pm or 3-4pm
Parents are to stay for this creepy crawly event! but please only book children’s places.
Absence During Term Time – Reminder
As shared towards the end of last term, there have been some changes to the way that Penalty Notices are issued for absences during term time. Penalty Notices are issued for irregular attendance, with days off here and there throughout the term including holidays.
The new National Framework for Penalty includes:
- A Penalty Notice must be considered for 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period – these days do not have to be all at the same time, they can be a couple of days here and a couple of days there; they can be a combination of a couple of days holiday and a couple of days absence at other times too.
- An increase to the amount of a Penalty Notice is now £160 if paid within 28 days, and £80 if paid within 21 days. This fine is issued to each parent separately for each child, so both parents receive the £80 fine, meaning that for one child it equals £160 (£80 for Mum and £80 for Dad) if both parents take the child.
- A second Penalty Notice could be issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period being charged at a higher rate of £160 with no option for this second offence to be discharged at the lower rate of £80.
- A national limit of 2 penalty notices that can be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another tool will need to be considered (such as prosecution or one of the other attendance legal interventions).
Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2025
If you have a child in Year 6, the application round has now opened for you to apply for a secondary school place. It is very important that you do this before the deadline, which is 31st October 2024, otherwise your application will be classed as a late application and could have a severe impact on your preferred school choice. Results are available from 12.30am on 3rd March 2025. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link. Before making your application, it is important you view the Transferring to Secondary School Guide to help you with your choices.
As a school, we are a partner primary with both The Winsford Academy and Hartford CE High School which means that applications for children from our school are considered above some other categories, should the school be oversubscribed. However, you have the option to apply for 3 secondary schools of your choice. Further details with regards to this can be found in the ‘Transferring to Secondary School’ information booklet in the link above.
Applying for Primary School Places for September 2025
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2025, or know of a child who is, then the application round is also open for them to apply for their Reception place. The timescale is slightly different for this and you have until 15th January 2025, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Primary School Booklet. Results are available from 16th April 2025. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link.
If you would like to visit Over St. John’s with a view to a Reception place next September or know of someone else who would, please do just ring the office and we will arrange a time to suit yourselves and us. We do not hold an open event as I prefer people to see us as we are on a daily basis and have more personal time during a look around with me to ask any questions that they may have.
School Dinners
School dinners cost £3 per day, £15 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 schools 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.
Confirmed Dates for the Autumn Term 2024 – new dates highlighted
Monday 21st October – Wednesday 23rd October: Chester Zoo workshops in school for Oakmere, Linmere and Blakemere
Tuesday 22nd October: Pupil Consultation Evening
Thursday 24th October: Trip to Chester Zoo for Oakmere, Linmere and Blakemere
Thursday 24th October: School closes for half term at 3pm
Thursday 24th October: Pupil Consultation Evening
Friday 25th October: INSET Day – School closed
Monday 4th November: School opens at 8:35am
Thursday 7th November: PTA Glow Walk – more details to follow
Friday 15th November: Children in Need Non Uniform Day
Thursday 12th December: Whole School Pantomime Trip
Friday 13th December: PTA Christmas Fayre
Thursday 19th December: Carol Service in St. Johns Church at 1.30pm – collection from Church
Friday 20th December: School closes at 2pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon