Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 18th September 2020
Date: 18th Sep 2020 @ 1:58pm
What a beautiful week we have had! It has been so lovely seeing the children playing outside and taking full advantage of the lovely weather that we have had this week
Thank you to everyone for continuing to support our new staggered drop off and pick up at the start and end of the school day and ensuring that you only arrive within 5 minutes. With the new ‘Rule of 6’ that came into force from the government on Monday, I would just like to remind everyone that our risk assessment asks for just one person to come to school for drop off and collection and also asks for adults to ’drop and go’ – please do not wait around to talk to other parents or wave to your children as they enter school and in this way, we can all avoid being accused of ‘mingling’ in groups of 6 or more.
In our Collective Worship this week, we have been thinking about the story of Cain and Abel and we used the first part of the story as an opportunity to think about how we should always give our best and do our best – whether that’s in our school work, being nice to our friends, offering help at home. We also looked at the bible verse ‘Whatever the activity in which you engage, do it with all your ability.’ Ecclesiastes 9:10. I’d be very interested to know if any of our children carry this out at home with you – have you noticed them trying extra hard with jobs at home or just getting on with their homework?!
Testing for COVID-19
Cheshire West and Chester have asked schools to share the following information with parents and carers with regards to testing for COVID-19:
The Testing Programme in Cheshire and Merseyside, like the rest of the country, is experiencing continued exceptionally high demand. It is still vitally important that someone with COVID-19 symptoms gets tested to help us stop the spread of the virus. However, there are more people without symptoms booking tests and they could be taking one away from someone who really needs it.
Schools are asked to remind families not to attend A and E or other hospital facilities requesting a test as they are not able to provide these nor should they contact GP practices requesting testing.
Schools are asked to remind pupils and families that only people with the main symptoms of COVID-19 need to get tested. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
If a pupil, student or staff member develops one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms listed above, only they should be tested. There is no need for their households to have a test, unless they are also symptomatic.
As schools and colleges have returned, some pupils and students may feel unwell for example with a sore throat, stomach upset or a headache. These pupils and students don’t need to book a test but may seek medical advice through a GP or pharmacist.
Please see the ‘Quick Guide for Parents’ as a reference for information shared previously.
#WakeUpWednesday
Children are accessing the online world more than ever before, consuming all different types of content which isn’t always moderated or regulated. So, what can parents do? What safety steps can you implement? And how can you help? Created by National Online Safety, this week’s guide aims to give parents and carers a number of tips to help them keep their children safe online
We're going on a Story Hunt with Cheshire Libraries
As the summer draws to a close, Cheshire Libraries would like to invite you to join them in one last Summer Reading Challenge Celebration. Join storyteller John Kirk for a storytelling scavenger hunt. Suitable for families with children age 3+ during the 30 minute session you'll be going on an adventure to find the naughty monster who has stolen the keys to the library and helping to get Cheshire West reading again. Including a retelling of The Billy Goats Gruff, this session is recommended as interactive fun for the whole family. Adventurers will need a piece of paper, crayons, pens or pencils to draw a picture and permission to turn their house upside down!
This is a celebratory event for the end of the Summer Reading Challenge but there is no need to prove any reading has been done (this would be quite hard to do anyway!) and they just want to encourage everyone to read more.
Please see the link to a poster below for more details on hot to access this event via Zoom – only one ticket per family is needed.
Applying for Secondary and Reception Places for September 2021
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, 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 1st March 2021. Before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Secondary School booklet. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in if you have an existing online account.
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. Further details with regards to this can be found in the ‘Transferring to Secondary School’ information booklet in the link above.
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2020, 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 2021, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting School booklet. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in if you have an existing online account.
Reminders
School dinners cost £2.30 per day, £11.50 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 the School Money system as we do not accept cash in school anymore due to our COVID-19 Risk Assessment.
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.
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 Autumn Term 2020 – new dates are highlighted
Wednesday 23rd September: Skipping Workshops for all classes
Thursday 24th September: Flu Vaccinations (letters have been sent home)
Friday 23rd October: School closes for half term
Monday 2nd November: School reopens
Friday 18th December: School closes for Christmas – if government COVID-19 guidelines are still in place, finishing times will be as follows, but I will keep you updated:
Blakemere at 1:45pm
Linmere at 1:45pm
Oakmere at 1:50pm
Delamere at 1.55pm
Sandymere at 2pm
Hatchmere at 2.05pm
I hope that you all have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon