Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 2nd December 2022
Date: 2nd Dec 2022 @ 10:42am
Mid Cheshire Guardian Education Awards
We are over the moon to announce that our wonderful Jane Reid has been shortlisted for an award, Unsung Hero of the Year, in the Guardian Education Awards 2022. Jane works tirelessly looking after our children and our school and we are delighted that she has been nominated for this award.
The awards, held in association with Recipharm, aim to recognise the outstanding achievements of our town’s schools, their staff and students, including those who may have had to overcome the odds or battled adversity during the coronavirus pandemic.
Support staff and headteachers will be among those honoured during the special virtual awards event, which takes place on Thursday, December 8.
Hosted by GP Dr Hilary Jones, who is known for his media appearances, everyone in Northwich, Knutsford, Winsford, Middlewich and surrounding areas are invited to watch live on the night.
A Newsquest Media Group spokesperson said: “We are delighted to see our first Education Awards come to fruition. We were bowled over by the incredible response we had to our appeal for nominations this year, with so many of you getting in touch. It’s evident from the entries we received that the impact recent lockdowns have had on education has made us all appreciate our children’s teachers even more than we did before. After some very difficult decisions, our judging panel have now been able to agree on a final shortlist.”
Please join us to celebrate people’s amazing achievements by watching LIVE at 7pm on Thursday, December 8, through this link: glsr.live/MCEA22
Field Update
It’s looking very exciting up there and it won’t be long now until it is complete. This week, the outdoor classroom has gone up with the electrics connected for the light and heat. The wet pour has gone down around the climbing frame, vegetable plot, outdoor classroom and MUGA. The running track around the edge of the field has been marked and laid. The flooring in the MUGA is yet to be completed and also there is some more wet pour surfacing to go down but it should all be finished before we finish for Christmas, although we will need to fully risk assess all the equipment before we unleash the children on it! Please take a look at the latest photograph updates below.
All Together Now Service
St. John's Church is holding their All Together Now service on Sunday 4th December at 4.30pm in the Church Hall. This is a fun event for all the family, with songs, games, craft, a Christian message and food. This month's service is an extra special event as you get to make your own Christingle and learn what it means. An event for all the family!
#WakeUpWednesday
Using social media has plenty of potential benefits for young people: it helps them stay connected to their friends, hear contrasting views on the world, find reassurance or support and ease social anxiety. It also brings, however, a corresponding number of negative possibilities – including compulsive use, unhealthy comparisons with others online and exposure to harmful content.
Ironically – for a medium designed to enable engagement with other people – social platforms can actually lead to children feeling increasingly isolated and lonely, taking an obvious toll on their mental wellbeing. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide has National Online Safety’s top tips on how trusted adults can support healthier social media habits in young people.
Late Arrivals
We are seeing an increase in the number of children who are arriving late after the gate has closed at 8:45am and having to enter school through the front door resulting in an L code in the register for ‘late.’ Our gate opens at 8.35am and closes at 8.45am, so there is a 10 minute window for children to enter school. In line with our Attendance Policy, which is available on our website, an increase in your child’s late arrivals in the morning may result in contact from the Education Welfare Officer, so please make sure that your children attend school on time.
Winter Mini Reading Challenge
This week we have received information from the Library as to events that are happening over the festive period.
The 2022 Winter Mini Challenge, presented by The Reading Agency in partnership with Science Museum Group, is on! The Summer Reading Challenge 2022 saw thousands of children reading and exploring science and innovation as part of this year’s Gadgeteers theme. Now that it’s getting chilly and the winter holidays are approaching, they’re back with even more fun experiments and reading encouragement.
Children can join the Gadgeteers as they use their ingenuity and creativity to keep everyone entertained during a snowstorm. Get ready for cool do-it-at-home experiments and learn along the way as you read for pleasure with the Winter Mini Challenge! The Challenge runs from 1 December 2022 to 20 February 2023. More information on the Challenge and how to get involved can be found at wintermini.org.uk.
Of course, that’s not all the Libraries are doing for Christmas. There’s a lot of events for children too, most of which can be checked out via Library events | Cheshire West and Chester Council and obviously, all by visiting the library itself. Joining the library is easy: a parent or carer just needs to give permission, there’s no ID requirement and no late fees for the Under 13s. Even if children can’t go in, then they can read and listen to hundreds of specially chosen titles via the Borrowbox app.
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
Monday 5th December: Linmere performing ‘Straw and Order’ at The Winsford Academy.
Wednesday 7th December: Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 3pm – 5pm (details previously sent home)
Thursday 8th December: Nurses in school to do flu nasal vaccinations
Thursday 8th December: Christmas Disco 6pm – 7.30pm. All OSJ children welcome.
Monday 12th December: Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 3pm – 5pm (details previously sent home)
Tuesday 13th December: Christmas Dinner Day
Wednesday 14th December: Carol Service in St. John’s Church at 1.30pm. 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
Tuesday 3rd January 2023: School reopens at the usual time.
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon