Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 16th February 2024
Date: 15th Feb 2024 @ 3:19pm
Once again, it has been another busy week in school with more library visits, a violin concert, a Samba workshop and a dance workshop. The children have been very busy!
The adults have been very busy too as we welcomed lots of adults to our Pupil Consultation Evenings on Tuesday and Thursday as well as staff training on fluency in Maths after school on Wednesday. I don’t know about you, but half term has come at a very welcoming time!
I hope that you all manage to have a lovely time with family next week, whatever you are doing.
Junior Safety Officers Report
Last week I shared with you that the Junior Safety Officer’s (Lauren, Oliver and Seth) had been carrying out a traffic survey before and after school. They have been to visit me in my office this week to report their findings and they have requested that I share the following information with you all:
‘During our survey, which we carried out before school and at the end of the day, we were looking at:
- cars parked on footpaths
- cars parked on zigzag lines
- cars parked on double yellow lines
- cars parked over neighbours’ driveways.
We found out that no cars were parked on the zigzags or double yellow lines, which is good. We saw a few cars parked on the footpaths and a couple over drives.
Unfortunately, we did see people crossing the road in between cars which is unsafe. Please can we remind our families to use the zebra crossing?’
Well done to the Junior Safety Officers for carrying out such important work and it would be fantastic if we could spend an extra 30 seconds in the morning to use the zebra crossing and remember not to park on footpaths or across driveways. Thank you.
School Uniform - Reminder
The Green Uniform and Baby Bank have asked us to let all schools know about their uniform event to celebrate their 5th year of helping the local community manage uniform costs. They are rewinding back to the beginning by returning to offer generic school uniforms for FREE until February 29th. This offer is open to everyone. All generic uniforms are included, with exception to coats and shoes, so parents can get themselves stocked up with spares or prepared for summer at no cost!
To find out their opening times, please see their Webpage.
Please can I also ask you to ensure that your children come to school without make-up. We have a few girls who are starting to wear makeup for school, something that has not happened before, and it is not part of our school uniform. Thank you for your support with this.
Attendance
Well done to Delamere with this week’s highest attendance. A few classes are currently in the low 90s for attendance. Please remember that good attendance needs to be at least 96% or above.
Hatchmere 94.76%
Sandymere 92.72%
Delamere 98.33%
Oakmere 93.50%
Linmere 96.36%
Blakemere 96.30%
Smoking and Vaping
Please may I remind everyone that we are a 'No Smoking and No Vaping' premises. Please may you refrain from smoking or vaping as soon as you enter the school gates. Thank you for your support with this.
Town Mayor’s Oskars Awards 2024 - Reminder
We have received information about the Town Mayor’s Oskars Awards 2024 which are to be held at Meadowbank Social Club on Saturday 13th April. Please take a look at the following link to see the nominations for various categories and complete one if you know of someone who fits the bill! The closing date for nominations is Monday 18th March at 9:00am. https://winsford.gov.uk/events/oskars-2024/
#WakeUpWednesday
A number of teen online dating apps have emerged over the past few years and the most popular of these recently hit a huge one million users worldwide. With some teens spending more time online than with their friends, young people are increasingly using the internet to meet new people and form relationships. Unfortunately, making friends and dating online can come with serious issues, from catfishing, to scammers, to stalking and harassment. With the inherent risk that users might also arrange face-to-face meetups, it’s easy to see how these services can present a range of #OnlineSafety risks to their young audience. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide dives into online dating and relationships, detailing the associated risks and offering tools and strategies to keep your child safer online.
School Dinners
As previously shared, we have received information from Edsential, the company contracted to deliver our school meals. As of 1st April, the cost of school dinners will be rising and we will now be charging £3 per meal, £15 per week.
Edsential have shared: “Whilst we understand that price increases are never welcomed, as a non-profit community interest organisation our priority is simply to fill young people’s tummies, not shareholders’ wallets. This price increase reflects only the inflationary increases we have experienced across food and labour as outlined in our previous communication below. Where other providers are compromising on food quality, meal choice, mobile cover and the welfare and terms and conditions of their staff, Edsential catered schools will receive the same high quality school meals, service and ethics you are accustomed to.”
Between now and 1st April, school dinners will continue to cost £2.70 per day, £13.50 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 as we do not accept cash in school.
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 Spring Term 2024 – new dates highlighted
Dinner Week 1
Friday 16th February: School closes for half term at 3pm
Monday 26th February: School opens at 8.35am
Wednesday 6th March: Sandymere visit to Winsford Library
Thursday 7th March: World Book Day – more details to follow
Tuesday 12th March: Some Y5s involved in Extra-ordinary Earth Project
Wednesday 13th March: Hatchmere visit to Winsford Library
Friday 22nd March: Some Y6s involved in Community Planting
Tuesday 26th March: Blakemere to Oak View Academy to join an online safety session called Snap Trap
Thursday 28th March: Easter Service in St. John’s Church at 9.15am. All welcome.
Thursday 28th March: School closes at 2pm
Monday 15th April: School opens at 8.35am
Have a lovely half term holiday.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon