Head Teacher Blog: Friday 21st October 2022

Date: 21st Oct 2022 @ 1:25pm

We have reached the end of the first half term! As usual, we have had a very busy seven weeks and I therefore expect that the children will really be looking forward to the holiday! Please don’t forget that school is closed on Monday 31st October and we reopen on Tuesday 1st November.

Foodbank Donations and Free Rice

Thank you so much for all your very generous donations over the last week towards the Mid Cheshire Foodbank, especially as we appreciate that things are difficult for everyone at the moment with the cost of living crisis. Mrs Bettley will be gathering all the donations together and will take them to the foodbank. The Foodbank usually send us a letter with the weight of the donations, so we will share this with you when we get it.

Thank you also to those that have been able to log on to freerice.com. This is the international charity that we are supporting and no money or donations are needed – just log on and have a go of the trivia game – every question answered receives 10 grains of rice for the World Food Programme. Further details were sent out via e mail last Friday, so do please take another look if you missed it.

Field Re-Development

You may remember that towards the end of the last academic year, I shared some exciting news with regards to the development that will be taking place on our field area. This work will commence on Thursday 3rd November, the first week after the holidays. The field will be out of action for approximately four weeks whilst all of our new equipment is installed – a MUGA, climbing frame and trim trails, an outdoor classroom, a Golden Mile track…. This is so exciting and the children will be able to use it all year round as specialist flooring is also being installed all around the equipment. For those who have not seen the plans before and for those who would just like to have another look, I have attached them below.

St. John’s Church Family Film Night

This weekend, St. John’s church are holding a family film night in the church hall at 4.30pm. The film showing is Sing. There is no charge for tickets – just turn up on Sunday – and there will be popcorn and hot dogs too! Please see the poster below.

#WakeUpWednesday

On general principle, any app which allows children to communicate with others anonymously online should be treated with a substantial measure of caution – and Sendit is no exception. For some individuals, the extra layer of security that anonymity provides is an open invitation to post negative and hurtful comments without fear of the consequences.

Indeed, some Scandinavian schools have already gone as far as warning parents about the dangers of children downloading and using Sendit, following a spate of bullying and harassment incidents. As this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights, the cost of subscriptions and the tendency for young people to be drawn into using the app habitually are among Sendit’s other potential risks.

Half Term Activities

There are lots of fun activities and events taking place at New Images Youth & Community Centre and down at The Marina during the October Half-Term Break. All of the activities are aimed at primary school aged children with the majority being completely free of charge (those that are chargeable cost £5 or less) so please do consider booking some

Please see this link to last week’s blog for a quick breakdown of what is being offered each day and posters giving more info, including how to book your child's place.

This week I have received details of a ‘Learn to Ride’ course taking place in Winsford over the holiday – please see the information attached below. Children will need to bring along a parent/carer, bicycle and helmet.

Although not in half term, please also see the link below for details of this year’s Town Council Fireworks event.

Fuel Poverty Consultation

The Council is asking residents and organisations across the borough to share their views on proposals to tackle fuel poverty in west Cheshire.
Fuel poverty covers the areas of energy costs and consumption, energy efficiency of properties, poverty and hardship, mental and physical health and climate change. With rising energy prices and current cost of living crisis stretching resident’s household budgets, the draft strategy aims to address these areas and support households who are classed as fuel poor.
The latest figures from 2020 estimated the fuel poverty level across the borough to be 11.9 per cent, the equivalent of 18,093 households.

The draft Fuel Poverty Strategy sets out actions to address five key themes around fuel poverty.

  • Reducing debt and maximising household income
  • Improving residents’ health and wellbeing by tackling cold-related illnesses 
  • Improving the energy efficiency of homes
  • Increasing renewable and low carbon technology in domestic properties
  • Encouraging behaviour change to reduce energy use

The Council would really value your views on the draft Fuel Poverty Strategy and would be grateful if you could take the time to complete the consultation.

To view the strategy and take part in the online consultation visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/fuelpovertyconsultation. The consultation closes on 23rd November 2022.

Hard copies and easy read versions of the consultation are available on request by emailing: climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or by calling: 0300 123 8123. Hard copies will also be available in the borough’s libraries from early October.

Residents who are worried about the cost of living and rise of energy bills can find some useful information from the Council and other local organisations on the Council’s website and energy saving tips on the Council’s Climate Emergency Inspire hub.

Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2023

If you have a child in Year 6, there is only one more week left to apply for your child’s secondary school place. It is very important that you do this before the deadline, which is 31st October 2022, 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 2023. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link. Before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Secondary School booklet to help you with your choices.

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 2023

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 timescale is slightly different for this and you have until 15th January 2023, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Primary School booklet . Results are available from 17th April 2023. 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

School dinners cost £2.45 per day, £12.25 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.

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 2022 – new dates highlighted

Friday 21st October: School closes for half term at 3pm

Monday 31st October: School closed – INSET day

Tuesday 1st November: School opens at 8:45am

Thursday 3rd November: Work begins on the redevelopment of the field

Tuesday 8th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm

Thursday 10th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 3.15pm – 5.15pm

Monday 5th December: Linmere performing at Winsford Lifestyle Centre – more details to follow.

Tuesday 6th December: Linmere performing at Winsford Lifestyle Centre – more details to follow.

Thursday 8th December: Nurses in school to do flu nasal vaccinations

Thursday 8th December: Christmas Disco 6pm – 7.30pm All OSJ children welcome.

Wednesday 14th December: Carol Service in St. John’s Church. All welcome. Collection will be from church between 2.30pm and 2.45pm.

Thursday 15th December: Whole School Pantomime trip to Northwich Memorial Court

Friday 16th December: School closes at 2pm

 

Have a lovely half term holiday.

 

Take care,

Mrs E Snowdon

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