Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 7th July 2023
Date: 7th Jul 2023 @ 1:05pm
I was lucky enough to accompany the Year 5 children to The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester this week as they played their violins with the Halle orchestra – what a fabulous time we had! The children were a delight to be with and set a fabulous example as we shared the coach with another school and then went on to be fantastic at The Bridgewater Hall. They all played and sang with confidence but I will never forget the look on their faces as the Halle orchestra played for the first time – pure delight! I am sure that a number of them were really inspired.
Sports Days
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hold the Key Stage One Sports Day as had been planned on Wednesday due to the overnight rain turning the field at St. Joseph’s into a water slide. However, the staff made sure that the children didn’t miss out as they took them through our own mini sports day in school. The children had a lovely morning and we hope that made up for the disappointment.
Key Stage Two Sports Day was a different matter today. The sun shone and we went off ‘en masse’ to St. Joseph’s for a wonderful, non-stop morning of activities. For those of you who were there, my particular favourite was the one involving the water where the children ended up getting wet, although I’m sure that a lot of it was ‘accidental!’ The smiles, laughter and sportsmanship this morning were fantastic and I would like to send out a big thank you to everyone at St. Joseph’s for enabling us to share in the fabulous morning.
School Uniform for September
As the school year is drawing to a close, I would just like to share a uniform reminder with everyone in preparation for September.
Our School Uniform Policy, the full version of which is available here on our website, states that our uniform consists of:
- Light blue polo shirt
- Blue school sweatshirt or cardigan with the school logo
- Grey skirt or grey trousers
- Sensible black shoes (not trainers) which are flat and offer support, Velcro fastenings are ideal
- Grey or white socks, grey or black tights
- Optional blue/ white checked dress/ playsuit or grey shorts in the summer
The branded sweatshirt may be purchased from Winsford Market or obtained free of charge from The Green Uniform and Baby Bank (previously known as The Uniform Exchange.) All other items are widely available in supermarkets and other retailers.
Wake Up Wednesday
Big names, challenging opinions and comparatively lenient censorship; Rumble is a video-sharing platform which has achieved stellar growth in recent years – as well as drawing a similarly eye-catching amount of criticism for the views of some of its best-known account holders. As this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains, young users of the app (even ones who are over the recommended age limit) may encounter hazards including political bias, potentially harmful misinformation and inappropriate content if they stumble across Rumble.
Holiday Activity Fund
Edsential
Community interest company, Edsential, is working with 47 organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations, to organise 66 holiday activity clubs throughout the borough this summer period. The holiday clubs will provide local children and families with:
- healthy meals and snacks, along with family cooking sessions and nutritional/health education
- a variety of directly delivered physical activities such as, climbing, swimming, yoga, golf, judo, skateboarding, dance and drama workshops
- diverse enrichment activities, including arts and crafts, musical theatre, archery, street dance, mindfulness, forest school, and much more.
Families can also keep up-to-date with Edsential’s Holiday Activities and Food programme on social media and the Holiday Activity Fund Website
Youth Zones for 11-16 Year Olds (up to 25 for our SEND children and young people)
Operated by the Council’s Youth Service, Youth Zones will be providing eligible children and young people across the borough with a Summer offer. All children and young people will be offered a healthy balanced hot meal or packed lunch. Programme plans include Arts and crafts, Face painting, Silent Disco, Urban Music Event -including beat boxing, mc-ing and Rapping, Graffiti, Dance workshops with Studio 13, Boo Zoo, Multi sports, inflatables, and trips out.
For further information Holiday Activity Fund Website or email EHPChesterandRural@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Provision for all Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
A number of organisations have been funded to deliver SEND specific HAF provision across the borough of Cheshire West and Chester. The varied offer will include sessions for children and young people such as arts and crafts, gardening, music and dance, cooking and baking, cycling and swimming. Activities will be on offer across the whole of the summer holidays and a healthy meal will be provided at every session for the children and young people in attendance.
For more information, Holiday Activity Fund Website or email: AimingHighForDisabledChildren@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Brio Leisure
Brio Leisure will be running various activity programmes from sites across the borough. The range of activities include multi-sport activities, Fun and Floats and Sports Camps, all of which will include a healthy meal. You can find out more here.
Criteria/Eligibility for the Programme
This holiday provision is for school aged children from Reception to Year 11 (inclusive) who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and for all children with SEND.
Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority. Take a look at our School Dinners section below to see if you might be eligible for free school meals.
Any questions? Please email haf@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Cost of Living Support
Due to the cost-of-living crisis, families may be worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food and transport. They may need help accessing welfare rights, benefits and debt advice, support getting all the money they're entitled to, or simply want to know more about national recent support measures.
Whatever their money worries may be, the Council has put together some useful information to help. The web page includes a wealth of information including the Household Support Fund, the Council’s HELP Scheme, Warm Welcoming Spaces and much more.
Visit: Cost of Living Support
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.
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 Summer Term 2023
Week beginning 10th July: Dinners Week 1
Tuesday 11th July: Year 6 Leavers’ Service at Chester Cathedral
Wednesday 12th July: Leavers Disco. All children welcome. 6pm – 7.30pm
Tuesday 18th July: Year 6 Leavers’ Play at The United Reformed Church at 4pm. Ticket only.
Thursday 20th July: Leavers’ Service in St. John’s Church at 9.15am. All welcome.
Thursday 20th July: School closes for summer at 2pm
Tuesday 5th September: Autumn Term Starts
Have a lovely weekend – only 9 more get ups!
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon