Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 23rd September 2022
Date: 23rd Sep 2022 @ 2:19pm
It has been a quiet week in school this week as everyone settles down to their routines. Year 5 started their whole class violin lessons and I have to say that I was very impressed as I walked through the hall 10 minutes after they’d picked them up for the first time and they were all plucking the right string in the right rhythm – quite an accomplishment for lesson one!
Our Ethos Group, Roots of Faith, met for the first time this week and they are planning ahead to think of which charities we can support this year on a local, national and international scale and how best to do this. Once they have come up with some ideas, the children will be voting in their classes on which they would like to support and we will be in touch at differing points throughout the year with regards to this. We appreciate how difficult things are at the moment for everyone with the ‘cost of living crisis’ and so they are also tasked with thinking about how we can support charities which don’t always involve giving money.
Cycle to School Week
This year’s Cycle to School Week takes place from 3rd to 7th October to help encourage our children to use pedal power to get to school. Participants can choose between pledging to swap one journey for cycling, cycle to school every day, or just simply cycle with their family outside of school hours.
This year, the Trust is asking children and their families across the UK to choose one of the four pledges:
- Cycle to school everyday
- Swop at least one car journey for cycling
- Cycle with your family
- Discover somewhere new on a cycle ride
Visit www.bikeability.org.uk/cycletoschoolweek to find out more.
#WakeUpWednesday
Over the last ten years, Reddit’s monthly user count has grown from 70 million to an estimated 430 million. Around two-thirds of that total are in the 18–29 age bracket, which adds up to a lot of fairly young people discussing well, pretty much whatever they want. It’s easy to see how that environment might not always be suitable for younger users.
Unsurprisingly, age inappropriate content is therefore a common risk on Reddit, and as this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains, it’s not in isolation. Constant distracting notifications, online harassment and uninvited contact from strangers are also among the threats that young people might encounter through using Reddit. Please see this week’s guide attached below.
Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2023
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 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.
We have received details of an open afternoon at The Winsford Academy which takes place on Thursday 29th September with tours taking place from 4pm – 6.30pm and then an address from the Principal at 6.30pm. There is no booking system, so please feel free to arrive at a time convenient to yourselves.
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 14th October: Individual photographs
Friday 21st October: School closes for half term at 3pm
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
Thursday 15th December: Whole School Pantomime trip to Northwich Memorial Court
Friday 16th December: School closes at 2pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon