Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 8th February 2019
Date: 8th Feb 2019 @ 10:39am
First of all, a huge thank you to those family and friends who came out in the cold last Monday 28th January to help us remove the tyre park in preparation for our new allotments. The working party was small, but perfectly formed and with the help of a mini digger, organised by a parent, were able to get everything done in about an hour and a half! We have also had some very kind offers to help us prepare the ground and build the sheds and raised beds from parents, in preparation for when Barclays come over half term – also organised by a parent. As a school, we are really grateful for the help that has been offered as we couldn’t have done it otherwise – thank you!
As part of Mental Health Week, the children have been taking part in a number of activities in class to help them learn about how they can look after their mental health. They have also carried out questionnaires devised by the Winsford Education Partnership (WEP) Pupil Forum to find out about how schools support children to look after their mental health and what we can further do to improve this. The children in Year 5 also had an exciting trip down to Darnhall Primary school on Monday, along with other children from across the WEP to take part in the Pop Project’s ‘I Feel Good’. The children sang and toe tapped their way through the session with wholly positive messages. Take a look at the Winsford Guardian for more information!
Well done to our Year 5 and 6 netballers who, as you will remember, got through to the finals of the netball competition, which took place at Hartford CE High School last night. The teams were magnificent and worked so well together to produce some fantastic netball, and although they didn’t win the competition, they definitely were winners as a team for their dedication and sportsmanship – well done!
We have been thinking about our Christian Value of community in our Collective Worship this week. The children have been thinking about the different communities that they belong to, but in particular our school community and the Christian community. We have talked about how we all work together for a common good to ensure every one of us is happy and feels welcome. We talked about the story of the Good Shepherd and how God will go to great lengths to make sure that everyone is listened to, feels safe and is welcome in the Christian community. ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’ Psalm 133:1
This also worked nicely with our No Outsiders work this week where we read the book ‘Everybody’s Welcome’ by Patricia Hegarty. The books talks about a diverse group of animals who worked together to create a new home where everybody was welcome – even the big bear who other animals thought of as scary because of the way that he looked, but was actually very kind and helpful. We compared this with a picture of some graffiti in a London borough where someone had written ‘Speak English’ on a fence, however another graffiti artist had written ‘We’ in front of it and then added a variety of other languages to reflect the diverse community that they were living in. We talked about how everybody is welcome in our Over St. John’s community, regardless of their appearance, the languages they speak and any other differences that people may have. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:35-37
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2019
Monday 11th February: Parents Evening 3.10pm – 6.10pm Please book online via our school website.
Tuesday 12th February: Parent’s evening 4pm – 5.30pm Please book online via our school website.
Wednesday 13th – Friday 15th February: Year 5 and 6 residential to the Conway Centre, Anglesey
Friday 15th February: school closes for half term at 3pm
Monday 25th February – school closed (INSET)
Tuesday 26th February: School opens at 8:45am
Wednesday 6th March: Blakemere visit to Barclay’s Bank
Thursday 21st March: Nurses in school for Reception Health Screening
Thursday 21st March: Year 5 Research Project Conference at Portal Macdonald Hotel – more details to follow for those involved.
Thursday 21st – Friday 22nd March: Year 3 and 4 residential to Beeston OEC
Wednesday 27th March: Linmere at the MAKE IT! Challenge. More details to follow.
Thursday 28th March: Barclays visit for Oakmere class. More details to follow.
Friday 29th March: School closes at 2pm for end of term holiday.
Monday 15th April: School opens at 8:45am
Friday 19th April: School closed for Good Friday
Monday 22nd April: School closed for Easter Monday
Tuesday 23rd April: School opens at 8:45am
Don’t forget to keep checking the calendar on the school website. If you click on an event on the calendar, more information about that event will be given, if it has been added. I look forward to seeing you at Parent’s Evening next week.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon