Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 8th March 2024
Date: 8th Mar 2024 @ 3:30pm
World Book Day
We have had a fabulous time this week with our World Book Day activities which we have managed to stretch out over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It all started on Wednesday with our after school craft activity where children and families decorated book characters on wooden spoons. There were some amazing creations leaving the hall at the end of the day! I know Mrs M took lots of photographs so there will be a blog posted in the near future with those on. Thank you to Mrs M for organising this activity.
The children also took part in World Book Day activities in class with each class having a book to base their work on. If you missed it earlier this week, these were the books.
All the classes also learnt a part of Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem ‘People Will Always Need People’ and this was recorded today as a whole piece – keep a look out for this too!
We had a fantastic day showing that World Book Day is about a lot more than just dressing up, as the children enjoyed a wide variety of books on being unique and diverse and they expressed themselves in the clothes that they wanted, to show how unique and special they all are too!
Swimming
The children in Year 2 have started a 3 week set of daily swimming lessons, in small groups of 6, as we have teamed up with St. Josephs to use a ‘pop up pool’ on their premises. The children in Year 2 are definitely getting their steps up (as are the adults who go each day!) as they are walking up and down Delamere Street to their lessons. The children have been fantastic as they have really enjoyed their daily swimming lessons. Two more weeks to go!
Consent for Trips
Following on from some updated advice from our health & safety adviser, we will be implementing some changes to our procedure when taking pupils off site during the school day, for example, on a trip or a walk in the local area. From today, you will be sent information about the trip taking place, with details of where they are going, the date of the trip and the amount of the contribution we are requesting, should there be a contribution. We will no longer require you to give your permission for your child to attend as the event takes place in school hours. You do however, have the right to withdraw your child from any school trips. To do this please email the school office on admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk.
The exception to this will be any trips that involve out of normal school hours, such as sporting events or residentials. For these we will still require your permission and a permission survey will still be sent on School Spider for these.
Attendance
Well done to Hatchmere with this week’s highest attendance. Attendance has been much improved this week with all classes over 95%. Thank you so much for your support with attendance as children can not learn if they are late or aren’t here.
Hatch 98.57%
Sand 97.73%
Del 95.56%
Oak 98.08%
Lin 95.45%
Blake 95.93%
Absence during Term Time – Fine Increase
You may have seen reported in the news that the Fixed Penalty Notice for absence during term time is to rise in September. Schools are not allowed to authorise pupil holidays in term time. The parents of any child going on holiday in term time may receive an unauthorised absence. This is also true for irregular attendance in general, not necessarily holidays. 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, in September, this fine is rising to £80 per child, per parent and will rise to £160 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.
#WakeUpWednesday
Since 2018, 'Wake up Wednesday' has been providing schools, parents and carers alike with the tools to better understand the digital world and to advocate for online safety for children and young people. Much like the digital landscape itself, they want to ensure that they're evolving and developing too, to guarantee that the content they share remains of the utmost relevance.
That's why they're delighted to share that 'Wake up Wednesday' is entering a new phase. Although there'll still be a focus on online safety, they're now introducing some wider topics and themes into their resources, such as mental health, wellbeing and climate change, to help keep you better informed. This week’s first wider topic is bullying.
Bullying has long been a pervasive issue in schools and being realistic, it’s regrettably a problem which is always likely to exist to a certain extent. There are still plenty of steps we can take as trusted adults, however, to lend support, comfort and reassurance to children who are going through this deeply upsetting experience. Such a highly emotive topic can be a difficult one to talk about with children but honest, open communication nevertheless remains vital to young victims’ wellbeing. It’s important to be aware, then, of effective ways to broach and explore the subject. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide has expert advice on effective ways to support children who are being bullied.
School Dinners
As of 1st April, the cost of school dinners will be rising and we will now be charging £3 per meal, £15 per week.
Edsential have shared: “Whilst we understand that price increases are never welcomed, as a non-profit community interest organisation our priority is simply to fill young people’s tummies, not shareholders’ wallets. This price increase reflects only the inflationary increases we have experienced across food and labour as outlined in our previous communication below. Where other providers are compromising on food quality, meal choice, mobile cover and the welfare and terms and conditions of their staff, Edsential catered schools will receive the same high quality school meals, service and ethics you are accustomed to.”
Between now and 1st April, school dinners will continue to 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.
Employment Directions
We have received some information that may be of interest with regards to support for employment. Please take a look at the leaflets and short animation below.
Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2024 – new dates highlighted
Dinner Week 3
Monday 11th March: Science Week
Tuesday 12th March: Some Y5s involved in Extra-ordinary Earth Project
Wednesday 13th March: Hatchmere visit to Winsford Library
Friday 22nd March: Some Y6s involved in Community Planting
Tuesday 26th March: Blakemere to Oak View Academy to join an online safety session called Snap Trap
Thursday 28th March: Easter Service in St. John’s Church at 9.15am. All welcome.
Thursday 28th March: School closes at 2pm
Monday 15th April: School opens at 8.35am
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon