Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 4th November 2022
Date: 4th Nov 2022 @ 1:30pm
Welcome back to one of the busiest half terms in the school calendar! We have already mentioned the ‘C’ word in school as we have begun preparations for the songs for our Carol Service in December. The date for the service in St. John’s church is listed below – please do try to come as it is such a special occasion. All are welcome.
Work started yesterday on our field development and what a transformation has already taken place! The children in Hatchmere are quite privileged as they are able to see from their classroom windows the work as it is taking place, but as the field is out of action and the other children can’t go up there, then they are unable to see. I was chatting with the children in Blakemere yesterday and I promised that I would take some photographs as the work progresses and post them on my weekly blog – so please do take a look below.
Thank you to those who were able to send in their details yesterday for the ticket to the Bonfire and Fireworks display at Barton Stadium tomorrow. All the names went into the ‘hat’ (glass jar!) and we pulled one out in Collective Worship this morning. Well done to the Kingston family who were drawn out and the ticket has gone home with them today.
National School Meals Week
From 7th-11th November 2022 it is National School Meals Week, this is the perfect opportunity for your child to try new things and get involved with meals at our school.
Next week, we are celebrating National School Meals Week with a mid week roast on @EdsentialUK National Roast Dinner Day. If your child would like a roast dinner on Wednesday 9th November, just order in the usual way.
All Together Service at St. John’s Community Centre
St. John’s church are starting a new monthly service. ‘All Together Now’ is a new kind of service at St John’s. Once a month on a Sunday at 4.30pm in their community centre, they’re going to have a shorter service that’s put together to help everybody enjoy some time together and learn more about God. They’ll be playing games, making crafts, singing songs, hearing a short talk explaining the bible and having some food. They’d love for you to go along and try out this new style with them – see the poster below.
Help your child with Anxiety
New Images Youth Centre are delivering a ‘Help your Child with Anxiety’ course. The course starts on Tuesday 8th November at New Images Youth and Community Centre from 10.00am until 11.30am for 5 weeks. If you are interested in finding out more about this, I have attached a leaflet and poster below with further details. They have had some fabulous feedback and some very positive outcomes from their previous courses.
#WakeUpWednesday
Amigo is a communication platform with, according to its marketing blurb, ‘the most intelligent algorithm’ which is capable of matching users with potential chat partners who could live anywhere from the other side of the world to within the same postcode. Once paired, users are rewarded for interacting with each other frequently by additional features being made available to them. These unlockable extras include private video calling. This is an app for mature audiences. There is the flimsiest of barriers to children using it. If the potential correlation between these three facts has set alarm bells ringing for you, National Online Safety would like to direct you towards this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide for the whole enchilada about Amigo.
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
Tuesday 8th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm
Thursday 10th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 3.15pm – 5.15pm
Monday 5th December: Linmere performing at Winsford Lifestyle Centre – more details to follow.
Tuesday 6th December: Linmere performing at Winsford Lifestyle Centre – more details to follow.
Thursday 8th December: Nurses in school to do flu nasal vaccinations
Thursday 8th December: Christmas Disco 6pm – 7.30pm All OSJ children welcome.
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
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon