Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 3rd December 2021
Date: 3rd Dec 2021 @ 9:50am
Carol Service
Details were sent out earlier this week with regards to the arrangements for this year’s Carol Service. I realise that some people will be thrilled that we are able to hold this event face-to-face and I also realise that some people will be disappointed with the ticketing system - it is incredibly difficult to make everyone happy and there is no easy solution, but feel that we have done our best in the current climate. Holding such an event for a school is very different to an external event that you may visit as a family and as such, we have to put different systems in place and have different considerations.
Tickets can now be obtained on School Spider and the system will close at the end of the school day on Tuesday 7th December to allow us time to organise the named tickets and arrange seating. No more tickets will be available after this time. Tickets must be shown on 14th December – there will be no entry without a ticket and a ticket is for one person only.
Thank you for your support with this event.
Pantomime
With regards to face-to-face events that are externally organised, we are continuing with our plans to attend the pantomime at Northwich Memorial Court on Thursday 16th December. I appreciate that some of you may be a little nervous about this, but we have looked very carefully at the risk assessment that has been carried out by Brio and feel that the event is well organised and managed. If you would like to see a copy of the risk assessment, please e mail admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk and ask for a copy.
Staffing News
I am delighted to share two lovely pieces of news with you all. The first is that Mr and Mrs Rutherford are expecting their first baby in April! I am sure that you will all join with me in sending Mrs Rutherford and her husband lots of love as they look forward to the new addition to their family.
Another family that has recently grown is the Highton family. Mrs Highton recently began adoption leave as she and her husband have welcomed a gorgeous daughter into their family. Once again, I know that you will join with me in sending the new, larger Highton family lots of love.
Mrs Conlon has moved from Linmere to work in Blakemere during Mrs Highton’s adoption leave and next week, we look forward to welcoming Miss Hawkins to Over St. John’s to work in Linmere.
#WakeUpWednesday
According to research carried out by the British Board of Film Classification, last year 60% of children had to talk to their parents after viewing something online that had left them feeling uncomfortable, scared or confused. One in seven (13%) teens said that watching content online, that they later wish they hadn’t seen, is a daily occurrence.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than half of the content reported by children featured either violence, hate speech or explicit sexual material. Social media often acts as a gateway to this material: trending topics tend to be seen whether they were searched for or not. This week’s National Online Safety #WakeUpWednesday guide examines this and other sources of inappropriate online content.
COVID Guidance
You may be aware that there have been a couple of changes to the COVID guidance in light of the new omicron variant. Anyone who is identified as a close contact of the omicron variant must isolate for 10 days, regardless of age or vaccination status. When contacted by Track and Trace, you will be notified whether this applies to you. If you are not a close contact of the omicron variant, then you do not need to isolate if you are fully vaccinated or under the age of 18 years and 6 months however, it is recommended that you get a PCR test between day 3 and 5 of your first contact with the positive case and also take an LFD test each day for 7 days following first contact with the positive case.
Some of you may have noticed that staff in school have been wearing face coverings as they answer the door. The Department for Education has requested that all staff and visitors inside school should wear face coverings in communal areas. No other guidance has changed for school settings as I know that some people have asked if they need to wear face coverings on the playground – this continues to be a matter of choice.
St. John’s Church Links
St. John’s church is running a community survey to try and find out what the needs of the local area are and would be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes to take part in the survey via this link: St. John's Church Survey It’s a Google form that asks various questions about belief and the role of the church. Thank you in advance of your responses.
Following on from the success of St. John’s Church Family Film Night, there is another one coming up for Christmas and also a Street Nativity on Christmas Eve – please see the flyers attached below for more details. If you would like to attend either of these exciting events, just scan the QR codes on the flyers.
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 open to apply for their Reception place for which you have until 15th January 2022. 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.
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
Sunday 5th December: All Age Service in St. John’s Church at 10.30am. Hatchmere to take part but all are welcome.
Sunday 12th December: St. John’s Church Family Film Night at 4pm
Tuesday 14th December: School Carol Service in St. John’s Church at 1.30pm – collection from church by 3pm Collection from school as usual.
Thursday 16th December: Pantomime Day and Christmas Jumper Day (non-uniform event)
Friday 17th December: School closes at 2pm
Friday 24th December: St. John’s Church Street Nativity 2pm – 4pm
Tuesday 4th January 2022: School re-opens at the usual time
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon