Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 31st January 2025
Date: 30th Jan 2025 @ 3:21pm
That’s it – January is done. It always feels like such a long month and hope you are looking forward to the change in the weather and the lighter evenings with the arrival of Spring.
World Book Day
Our Reading Champions have lots of plans afoot for World Book Day, which is on Thursday 6th March and more information will be coming out soon. However, I wanted to share that as a school, we don’t dress up as book characters on this day. We find that there can be a lot of pressure on parents to buy/ make/ get costumes for this one day as well as children coming to school in outfits that aren’t necessarily linked to books. We try to celebrate reading throughout the year, rather than just on one day and do a special themed day on World Book Day, organised by our Reading Champions.
However, I have received some information from Winsford Library about a Fancy Dress Swap that they are holding. You may be interested in this in general for dressing up clothes for your children:
‘Public libraries are hosting their highly successful Fancy Dress Swaps again this year from 1st February, in preparation for World Book Day. Using the scheme could not be easier: donate any unwanted costumes to the library or see what outfits they have and take them for no charge, it’s that simple. Participating libraries are Barnton, Frodsham, Hope Farm, Lache, Little Sutton, Neston, Northwich, Sandiway, Weaverham, Wharton and Winsford. And why not use the opportunity to borrow a book or join the library while you’re there? Joining a child is free and easy and does not require ID. There are no late charges for Under 13s.’
Attendance
As always, we are looking for attendance to be at least 96%. For the school this week we are at 95.84% and here is a rundown of each classes attendance:
Hatchmere: 97.14%
Sandymere: 95.24%
Delamere: 97.78%
Oakmere: 90.80%
Linmere: 98.46%
Blakemere: 96.15%
Well done to Linmere for the best attendance this week.
Football Players Wanted
For those who might be interest, I have received details of a local football club who are on the look out for some new players. Please see the poster below for more details.
#WakeUpWednesday
Anger at a toy being stolen. Sadness when losing a game. Frustration when struggling in class. All children will experience challenging feelings sooner or later. Emotions are a natural part of life, and while youngsters should be allowed to express themselves, it’s important they also learn how to process these more difficult emotions in a mindful way.
Of course, many children may well be encountering these intense feelings for the first time, and it can be intimidating to skirt the line of helping them properly handle their emotions while also validating their experiences. That’s why this week’s #WakeUpWednesday have put together a free guide, offering expert advice on how supporting youngsters to develop emotional literacy – see below.
Absence During Term Time – Reminder
As I have shared a number of times previously, there have been some changes to the way that Penalty Notices are issued for absences during term time. Penalty Notices are issued for irregular attendance, with days off here and there throughout the term including holidays.
The new National Framework for Penalty includes:
- A Penalty Notice must be considered for 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period – these days do not have to be all at the same time, they can be a couple of days here and a couple of days there; they can be a combination of a couple of days holiday and a couple of days absence at other times too.
- An increase to the amount of a Penalty Notice is now £160 if paid within 28 days, and £80 if paid within 21 days. This fine is issued to each parent separately for each child, so both parents receive the £80 fine, meaning that for one child it equals £160 (£80 for Mum and £80 for Dad) if both parents take the child.
- A second Penalty Notice could be issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period being charged at a higher rate of £160 with no option for this second offence to be discharged at the lower rate of £80.
- A national limit of 2 penalty notices that can be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another tool will need to be considered (such as prosecution or one of the other attendance legal interventions).
School Dinners
School dinners cost £3 per day, £15 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.
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.
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2025 – new dates highlighted
Dinner Week 2
Wednesday 29th January: Blakemere to visit Winsford Library
Wednesday 5th February: Linmere to visit Winsford Library
Tuesday 11th February: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm
Wednesday 12th February: Oakmere visit to Winsford Library
Thursday 13th February: Pupil Consultation Evening 3.15pm – 5.15pm
Friday 14th February: School closes for half term at 3pm
Monday 24th February: INSET day – school closed
Tuesday 25th February: school opens at 8.35am
Wednesday 26th February: Delamere visit to Winsford Library
Wednesday 5th March: Sandymere visit to Winsford Library
Thursday 6th March: World Book Day – more information to follow
Wednesday 12th March: Hatchmere visit to Winsford Library
Monday 31st March – Wednesday 2nd April: Year 2 and 3 Residential to Robinwood
Friday 4th April: Easter Service in St. John’s Church at 9.15am. All welcome.
Friday 4th April: School closes for Easter at 2pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon