Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 1st July 2022
Date: 1st Jul 2022 @ 11:00am
July? Already? I can’t believe how the time is running away with us and yet we still have so much to squeeze into this academic year!
We have had a busy, but fabulous week in school this week. Last Saturday, the children in Hatchmere went along to the Delamere Street Festival, organised by St. John’s church and helped to open the festival by taking part in the parade and then performing a song and dance on the stage in front of hundreds of people! The children were so confident and made the audience laugh and smile throughout with their enthusiasm. I’m no dancer – but they certainly inspired me! Well done Hatchmere.
On Wednesday this week, we had our Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools. Whilst the outcome of the inspection remains confidential until the report is published, the inspectors were so complimentary about our children and school and it was a pleasure to be able to share with them what we see and do on a daily basis. Thank you for all the messages of support that we have received with regards to our inspection and to those parents who kindly spoke with the inspectors for us. Our school is truly a special place.
Sports Day
That then brings me to yesterday – Sports Day and it was such fun! Our KS1 children have never had a Sports Day in school before where they have been able to show their sporting prowess to their adults, but that all changed and both KS1 and KS2 got back on track (no pun intended!) yesterday. The weather was beautiful in the morning and although things didn’t quite turn out the same in the afternoon, it was so lovely to see the fun that the children were having, whether on the track or off it, to hear how they supported each other during the races, to see their exemplary behaviour and conduct and most of all – their pride at their enormous collection of stickers! Well done to everyone involved in making it such a success yesterday.
Hatchmere’s Collective Worship
This morning, the gorgeous Hatchmere led the whole school in Collective Worship focussing on their class Christian value of friendship – it was fabulous! They shared the story of the paralysed man from the bible and how his friends helped get him to Jesus as they had faith in his ability to help him. They shared with us how we could be good friends by giving us some examples and then they sang a fabulous song as well. Well done Hatchmere – it was a real pleasure to watch. I’m sure that Mrs Kelly will put some photographs on the Hatchmere blog later.
Summer Fair
Next Friday we are excited to be holding our Summer Fair combined with the children’s Enterprise Fair at 2.30pm – we will send out separate information next week as to how this will run with a 2.30pm start. We have some fabulous prizes for our raffle including a full set of nail extensions from The Male Nail Tech, a £20 voucher for Nicky Cain Bakes, a gold car valet from Time to Shine, a £20 voucher for Body Bliss and Beauty with Jo…. and the list goes on! If you didn’t get opportunity to purchase a ticket at Sports Day yesterday, they will be available again on the playground at the end of the day today and then at the Summer Fair itself. Please send in any donations for the fair to the school office, such as toiletries, chocolates, bottles of wine and any other goodies that you may be able to spare.
We are desperate for volunteers to help run this event next week otherwise we may have to cancel with short notice. If you can spare a couple of hours, whether that be to help set up, run a stall or clear up afterwards, please may you e mail the office on admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk by Wednesday lunchtime? Many thanks.
Exciting News!
I shared some very exciting news with the children in assembly yesterday morning. In the autumn term, we are going to be having our field redeveloped thanks to some funding that we have received from the local authority. The plans are amazing and mean that our children will benefit from the use of the space in many, many ways all year round. There will be a multi-use games area, an outdoor cabin, climbing frames, trim trails, a Golden Mile track… and all with a surface that means they won’t get muddy! We will still have some field area left too. I have attached a plan of the changes below for you to have a look at. The work is due to start at the beginning of November and should take around 4 weeks, during which time the field will be out of action but that is a small price to pay for the benefits it will bring!
#WakeUpWednesday
Giving players the freedom to craft entire worlds from an interactive landscape, Minecraft has been described as the ultimate sandbox game (that is, it changes the usual pre-determined goals or objectives in favour of creativity and exploration). With enthralling gameplay that encourages inventiveness and problem solving, it’s been a runaway critical and commercial success. Every Eden has its serpents, however – even virtual ones. Minecraft is no exception. Although the game itself is mostly child friendly and conflict free, some hazards persist that could upset younger users, including disruptive rival players, contact from strangers and the occasional in-game scare. This week’s National Online Safety #WakeUpWednesday guide digs a little deeper into Minecraft.
Help Your Child with Anxiety
We have received some details to share with you about a course that is running for parents entitled 'Help your child with anxiety.'
The course will be delivered from Wednesday 21st September at New Images Youth & Community Centre from 6.30pm until 8.15pm over a 5 week period. It will be delivered and facilitated by a qualified CBT Psychotherapist and a qualified Children and Young People's Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.
Some of the positive feedback that they've had from parents previously attending includes:
'It give me time to think;'
'I have no one to talk to at home, this gives me time to talk and go back home stronger;'
'It has given me clarification that what I'm doing is right and helps me with the gaps;'
'I love this course it has given me and my child so many tools and I'm so pleased with the outcomes and the difference that it has already made to our live.;'
Please find attached below a leaflet that gives you all the information about the sessions and what will be covered and bookings are now being taken.
School Dinners
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.
We use an external company, Edsential, to provide our catering and from September, the cost of school dinners will rise to £2.45 per day, £12.25 per week
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
Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July: Year 6 transition days at The Winsford Academy
Friday 8th July: Pupil Reports due out
Friday 8th July: Summer Fair at 2.30pm
Tuesday 19th July: Leaver’s Service in St. John’s church at 9.15am. All welcome
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