Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 1st October 2021
Date: 1st Oct 2021 @ 11:31am
This week in our Collective Worship, we have been thinking about courage – having the courage to stand up against others when we perhaps might think or feel a bit different. We used the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den to show how much courage Daniel had to continue worshipping God when he knew that others would want to throw him in the lion’s den and how God kept him safe. We thought about how we can show courage in our lives by shining our lights like Daniel, but also by realising just how amazing we all are, just the way God made us and to have the courage to stand up against others who may try to tell us different. Two songs that we have listened to this week are Colin Buchanan’s Be Strong and Courageous and Philippa Hanna’s I Am Amazing – have a listen to these songs with your children too.
Morning and Afternoon Routines
Thank you for adapting to the changes in the morning routine that I asked about on last week’s blog – ensuring that the children use the pedestrian gate so that they are on the pavement and not using the area outside of school as a playground whilst waiting for the gate to open. This is working well and I have had to do very few reminders.
Thank you also for ensuring that those entering the playground at the end of the day have the priority over those leaving. I have been standing at the gate asking people to wait to let others in and I am conscious that I am very much in the way and part of the problem, especially when I have an umbrella, so I am going to retreat back out of the playground!
Operation Encompass
As a school, we participate in a police-led initiative called Operation Encompass, a scheme which ensures that we can better support any child where a domestic incident has been reported to the police from their home.
Following a domestic incident, the police will make contact with the school via telephone and communicate relevant information to nominated, fully trained school staff. This will ensure that we are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe, supported and listen to.
Each school has a member of staff called a key adult who is trained to liaise with the police, when required, whilst ensuring support is available to the child.
The initiative is live in schools across the local authority areas of Halton, Warrington, Cheshire West & Chester and Cheshire East. You can find out more about Operation Encompass via the following site: http://www.operationencompass.org/
If you would like to speak to someone further about the initiative, or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Mrs Bettley as the key adults for Over St. John’s.
We are committed to working in partnership with local relevant organisations to safeguard and protect children across Cheshire and provide the best possible care and support for our pupils.
#WakeUpWednesday
How often do you see someone not paying attention to where they’re walking because they’re engrossed in their phone? Those distractions might just last for a matter of seconds – but Pokémon GO is a game which actually relies on players focusing on their screen for long periods while they’re out and about – with all the glaring physical hazards that entails.
Pokémon GO was rightly heralded as a game-changing release thanks to its pioneering use of augmented reality on mobile phones (in fact it was the first ever title to utilise that feature on Android devices). As today’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains, however, an increased likelihood of injury isn’t the only safety concern around the game.
Reminder: Morrison’s Good to Grow
Morrisons are running a new programme in stores for primary schools during September and October called ‘Good to Grow’ that enables schools to receive free gardening equipment ready for next Spring. Anyone can take part in collecting Grow Tokens for school between the 6th September and 24th October 2021, all you need to do is use your MyMorrisons card each time you shop in store or online. In doing so, you’ll get one Grow Token for every £10 spent and can donate these straight to Over St. John’s via the MyMorrisons app or website. After the collection period ends, we can redeem our Grow Tokens against a wide range of gardening equipment for the school. Examples only of the equipment include: spades, forks, children’s wheelbarrows, trowels, gloves, aprons, smocks, planters, grow bags, flower pots, mini greenhouse plus many more items. So please spread the word amongst family friends and start collecting. Thank you!
Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2022
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 2021, 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 2022. 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, 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 2022
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2022, 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 2022, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting School booklet. Results are available from 16th April 2022. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in if you have an existing online account.
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 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 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 Autumn Term 2021 – new dates highlighted
Friday 15th October: Individual photographs
Tuesday 19th October: Annual flu vaccinations for Reception to Year 6
Tuesday 19th October: Pupil Consultation Evening from 3.15pm to 5.15pm
Thursday 21st October: Pupil Consultation Evening from 4pm to 6pm
Friday 22nd October: School closes for half term at 3pm
Tuesday 2nd November: School opens with registration at 8.45am
Sunday 7th November: All Age Service in St. John’s church hall with Blakemere at 10.30am (more details to follow)
Friday 26th November: Blakemere to take part in the Winsford Lantern Parade (more details to follow)
Tuesday 14th December: Carol Service in St. John’s Church at 1.30pm – collection from church
Thursday 16th December: Pantomime Day (further details to follow)
Friday 17th December: School closes at 2pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon