Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 9th December 2022
Date: 9th Dec 2022 @ 1:51pm
Straw and Order
Linmere! What can I say? I spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with the children in Linmere on Monday at The Winsford Academy as they took part in this year’s Winsford Education Partnership concert called ‘Straw and Order’ along with 5 other Winsford primary schools. The children learnt a number of songs off by heart, lines and solos to perform in front of two packed audiences. They did an absolutely amazing job! Their behaviour was fabulous and they sang incredibly. I’m sure those lucky ones amongst you who were able to get tickets (which were like gold dust!) would agree with me. A very well done to those in Linmere who took part – you were a real credit to yourselves and to the school.
Field Update
Most of the work this week has taken place with the MUGA. All the hardcore went down, then the flooring was laid and in the photographs below from earlier this afternoon, the workmen are pouring sand all over the surface. This will eventually work it’s way down below the surface, helping to level it and make it fire resistant. You can also see the netball/ basketball hoops and padding have been installed around the goal areas. Another step closer!
Carol Service
The date and time of next week’s Carol Service have been on my weekly blog for a number of weeks. This is a very special occasion where the school come together to hear the Christmas story narrated by Year 6, acted out by Hatchmere and sung by all the classes. As per my previous blogs, the Carol Service takes place in St. John’s church at 1.30pm and should last approximately one hour. No tickets are needed. Children are to be collected from church between 2.30pm and 2.45pm.
Christmas Jumper Day
Next Friday 16th December will be our annual Christmas Jumper Day. This will be a non-uniform day and children may come to school wearing their Christmas jumpers and anything festive. Please do not feel that you need to go and buy a Christmas jumper if you do not have one – it is just a bit of fun and non-uniform in general will be just as good!
#WakeUpWednesday
A recent study by the Co-Op Foundation reported that 95% of children and young people admitted to occasionally feeling lonely. So it’s easy to understand how networking apps like HiPal, with the tempting lure of bucket loads of cool new people to befriend and interact with online, become hugely successful very quickly if they’re delivered well.
HiPal is indeed a competently assembled app in terms of usability and features but (with no age verification system and an ineffective reporting tool) it does also sport some glaring omissions from a safeguarding perspective. Trusted adults should check out this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide for a full profile of this up-and-coming chat app.
Holiday Activities
Community interest company, Edsential, is working with 24 organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations, to organise 32 holiday activity clubs throughout the borough this winter period. The holiday clubs will provide local children and families with the following:
- good quality healthy meals and snacks, with some family cooking sessions plus food and nutritional 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, carol singing, archery, street dance, mindfulness, forest school, trips to Chester Zoo and local Pantos.
These sessions can be booked via the Edsential website.
Cost of living support
It is currently a really challenging time for a number of families across west Cheshire. Families may be worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food and transport. The cost of living is rising and this could have an impact on all aspects of finances. Families may want 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 money worries people may be facing, the Council has put together some useful information to help.
The 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 for more information.
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
Monday 12th December: Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 3pm – 5pm (details previously sent home)
Monday 12th December: Santa’s Grotto 3.20pm – 5.30pm (slots have already been pre-booked as per previous communications)
Tuesday 13th December: Christmas Dinner Day
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 – school uniform
Friday 16th December: Christmas Jumper Day and school closes at 2pm
Tuesday 3rd January 2023: School reopens at the usual time.
This will be my last weekly blog before the Christmas holidays, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support, both for your children and the school and to wish you all a very merry Christmas with your families. We look forward to seeing you in 2023.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon