Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 12th January 2024
Date: 12th Jan 2024 @ 4:32pm
We have had a quiet week in school this week, but always busy with our work!
Attendance – Reminders
Just to remind you all that I now carry out ‘Welcome Back’ meetings where a child has had an absence of at least 5 days. At these meetings, the children and their adults will be invited to meet with myself to discuss the reasons that the child was off and any support that can be put in place to increase their attendance.
It is important to note that Fixed Penalty Notices can also be issued for irregular attendance – not just for holidays – when there are 5 or more days absence over the course of a term.
|
Attendance during one school year |
Equivalent Days |
Equivalent Sessions |
Equivalent Weeks |
Equivalent Lessons Missed |
|
95% |
9 Days |
18 Sessions |
1.4 Weeks |
45 Lessons |
|
90% |
19 Days |
38 Sessions |
3.4 Weeks |
95 Lessons |
|
85% |
29 Days |
58 Sessions |
5.4 Weeks |
145 Lessons |
|
80% |
36 Days |
72 Sessions |
7.1 Weeks |
180 Lessons |
|
75% |
48 Days |
96 Sessions |
9.3 Weeks |
240 Lessons |
Hatchmere 97.14%
Sandymere 90.53%
Delamere 96.51%
Oakmere 92.61%
Linmere 87.84%
Blakemere 94.81%
Reminder - please find some guidance from the NHS around Is my child too ill for school?
Natasha’s Law
We have had a few children bring treats in recently to share with their friends when it is their birthday, which has made me realise that I have not shared the information with regards to Natasha’s Law with you all for a while.
From 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked food for direct sale (PPDS) labelling changed in Wales, England and Northern Ireland. The new labelling was to help protect customers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.
As a result of Natasha’s Law, we are no longer able to accept donations to share out on birthday’s as the pre-packaged information is not always available to the children and families after we hand them out or we cannot guarantee that children have shared the information on the packaging with their adults and therefore there could be potential that allergen information is missed. This is also the reason we send out the labelling information of any products that we sell at, for example, the disco and obtain your permission for children to buy them.
I am sure that you can understand the importance of us complying with Natasha’s Law and I know that you will understand and support us with this which means that we are unable to share treats out that are brought in for children’s birthdays.
Winsford Cine Window Animation Club
Some of you may be aware of the Cine Window in the town centre that displays a variety of animations for you to see – most recently involving snowmen which our children contributed to (you can watch it on their YouTube channel here). They are starting to run a free animation course for young people, in partnership with Mako Create and Winsford Library, starting at the end of January. Please see the attached flyer below for more details in case your child is interested in getting involved.
Edna’s Laundrette - Reminder
Motherwell community share hub is opening Edna's Laundrette which is open to the public from Tuesday 9th January. The laundrette is for everyone, not just the community of Winsford - if people can travel to New Images to use the laundrette, it is there for them to use. The laundrette is situated within New Images Youth and Community Centre with parking to the rear of the building. The laundrette is open every Tuesday from 9:30am – 12pm and Wednesday 12pm – 3pm. Use of the laundrette will need to be booked through Motherwell’s Calendly system: please see links below. Use of the laundrette is FREE and detergent and softener will be supplied. When booking the laundrette, you are booking time in the laundrette and there will be a washing machine and a tumble dryer free to use.
The booking system is live 24hrs a day, links are below.
Wash 1: https://calendly.com/ednalaundrette
Wash 2: https://calendly.com/ailsalaundrette
#WakeUpWednesday
Contentious or provocative viewpoints are shared every second of the day online. That’s not to say, however, that an opinion is less valid simply because it’s initially unpopular: just think about Galileo or Emmeline Pankhurst. The facility to have our beliefs questioned and to challenge other people’s in return, is often a catalyst for scientific and social progress.
With disturbing frequency, though, some individuals post damaging hate speech online under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ and unless young people can identify hate speech, there’s a risk of them being influenced by such harmful content. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explores the crucial differences between free speech and hate speech.
Applying for Primary School Places for September 2024
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2023, or know of a child who is, then the application round is also open for them to apply for their Reception place. The closing date for applications is very soon - you have until Monday - but before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Primary School Booklet. Results are available from 16th April 2024. 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 morning 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
Next week we will be having a special themed ‘Pizza and Pasta’ lunch (including jacket potato, but no sandwich option!) on Thursday. If your child would like to have one, please pay in the usual way on School Spider and they can order their lunch on Thursday morning – see the flyer below.
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2024 – new dates highlighted
Dinner Week 3
Monday 15th January: Applications for Reception places in September 2024 close
Wednesday 17th January: Bookstart Bear visiting Hatchmere
Thursday 18th January: Pizza and Pasta Lunch
Wednesday 24th January: Blakemere visit to Winsford Library
Wednesday 31st January: Linmere visit to Winsford Library
Wednesday 7th February: Oakmere visit to Winsford Library
Tuesday 13th February: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm
Wednesday 14th February: Delamere visit to Winsford Library
Thursday 15th February: Pupil Consultation Evening 3.15pm – 5.15pm
Friday 16th February: School closes for half term at 3pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon