Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 3rd November 2023
Date: 3rd Nov 2023 @ 10:33am
Welcome back! I hope that you all had a lovely half term and managed to get some rest. It has been a strange one this time as a number of schools have had this week off so you may have had siblings at home at different times. However, it was a real pleasure for me to see the children arriving back at school on Monday morning with such lovely smiles on their faces! This half term will get very busy on the run up to Christmas (I’ve mentioned the ‘C’ word – but it is November!) so do please keep your eye out on this blog, the class weekly blogs and any other communications sent home via School Spider so that you know what is happening in school.
New Extra Curricular Clubs
Information has been sent out regarding the extra-curricular clubs provision for this half term, which start next week. We have some familiar clubs on offer and some new ones too. We offer clubs on a half term basis because our staff meeting night changes each half term, so it depends on availability of staff as well as how well clubs were received the previous term. Please may I remind you that if your child signs up to a club, the expectation is that they attend it every week – there is usually a waiting list for each club so there are other children who would really like to take up a place that is being left vacant if your child does not attend. My thanks go to all the staff for giving up their time on a voluntary basis to ensure that we provide many engaging opportunities for our children.
Blakemere Trip to the Imperial War Museum
Blakemere had a wonderful trip to the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays on Wednesday. They had a fabulous time looking around the exhibits as well as learning a great deal from some veterans who gave up their time to speak to them. Mrs McLaughlin said the children were fantastic and asked some really good questions. Their trip will help to support the work that they are doing in History on World War II.
Hatchmere Bedtime Stories
I can’t tell you how much I wished I was in Hatchmere today! The children have had a very cosy day dressed in their pjs whilst they have shared some of their favourite bedtime stories with each other – such a lovely thing to do. Reading for pleasure is such a valuable experience for all children and a wonderful opportunity to cuddle up with their adults. What a lovely day!
Attendance
I have been analysing the attendance data for the last half term and I am very pleased to say that there has been an increase in whole school attendance on this time last year. Last year, up to half term, our attendance was 93.5% and now it is 94.6% - this is certainly heading in the right direction and I would like to thank everyone for your continued support with this.
On closer inspection, the number of illnesses has reduced significantly from this time last year and we compare very favourably to the national trend (1.9% lost to illness at OSJ compared to 4.0% nationally). As I said at the beginning of the year, it is hard to shift that Covid legacy of having to stay off, even for a cold, but I would like to thank you for taking on board the guidance from the NHS around Is my child too ill for school? and sending them into school.
Unfortunately, the number of absences for holiday has almost tripled since this time last year and we do not compare favourably to the national trend (1.8% lost to holidays at OSJ compared to 0.5% nationally). Our school holiday dates are published in plenty of time each year and it is expected that holidays are taken during this time – 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.
However, our attendance is moving in the right direction and as I said earlier, I would like to thank you all for your continued support with this – don’t forget that at the end of this half term, we will see our first certificates and prizes awarded for attendance which were shared on my blog right at the start of term:
“The magic number that we are aiming for is 96% and above and for the children who achieve this, we will be putting is some special rewards for attendance.
At the end of each term there will be certificates for all children who have attendance at 96% or more and a special prize draw of a £15 Argos voucher for those children with 98% attendance or more. Each term will be a ‘new start’ so if someone didn’t manage to make the percentage in one term, there will be future chances.”
|
Attendance during one school year |
Equivalent Days |
Equivalent Sessions |
Equivalent Weeks |
Equivalent Lessons Missed |
|
95% |
9 Days |
18 Sessions |
1.4 Weeks |
45 Lessons |
|
90% |
19 Days |
38 Sessions |
3.4 Weeks |
95 Lessons |
|
85% |
29 Days |
58 Sessions |
5.4 Weeks |
145 Lessons |
|
80% |
36 Days |
72 Sessions |
7.1 Weeks |
180 Lessons |
|
75% |
48 Days |
96 Sessions |
9.3 Weeks |
240 Lessons |
Well done to Blakemere with the highest attendance this week and a special mention to Delamere coming in very close behind them!
Hatchmere 95.5%
Sandymere 91.67%
Delamere 97.22%
Oakmere 95.24%
Linmere 96.53%
Blakemere 97.78%
#WakeUpWednesday
Around 35 million X users are under 18, so it's essential that parents and carers stay up to date with the changes made to Twitter since its reinvention as X and the online safety hazards these alterations might pose, including exposure to explicit content and unpleasant behaviour. That’s not to say, however, that X is a ruined platform: a more cautious approach can still enable young people to navigate it comparatively safely. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide suggests some steps that can help children avoid common pitfalls – both new and old – on X.
Local Events
I have been aware of a couple of local events that the children and yourselves might find of interest.
Home Bargains are running a Christmas Card competition to design the 2024 Alder Hey Christmas card – please see the details attached below.
Cheshire West and Chester are running a two week Business Admin/ Finance course from 20th November to 1st December 9.15am to 2.45pm. This is a fantastic qualification for anyone who is looking to upskill or work in administration or on a Reception. I am not sure of the venue, but the attached poster has a phone number on for more information if you are interested.
Applying for Primary School Places for September 2024
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 2024, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Primary School Booklet. Results are available from 16th April 2024. 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 £2.70 per day, £13.50 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.
Confirmed Dates for the Autumn Term 2023 – new dates highlighted
Dinner Week 2
Monday 6th - Friday 10th November: Parliament Week
Monday 13th – Friday 17th November: Anti Bullying Week
Monday 13th November: Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying
Thursday 16th November: Vale Royal Falconry visit for assembly and to work with Delamere
Friday 17th November: Friendship Friday
Friday 17th November: Children in Need Non Uniform Day
Monday 20th November: Some Year 5 children lantern making at Oak View
Friday 24th November: Lantern parade for Winsford Christmas Lights Switch on
Thursday 30th November: Linmere trip to Weaver Hall
Wednesday 6th December: Christmas at Cotebrook trip for Hatchmere, Sandymere and Delamere
Tuesday 12th December: Carol Service in St. John’s Church at 1.30pm. All welcome. Collection of all children from church.
Thursday 14th December: Whole school pantomime – Beauty and the Beast – at Northwich Memorial Court
Friday 15th December: End of term at 2pm
Wednesday 3rd January 2024: School opens at 8:35am
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon