Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Thursday 1st April 2021
Date: 1st Apr 2021 @ 9:45am
On Monday morning we shared in a beautiful Easter service with George and Eddie. As we were not able to attend church, we welcomed George and Eddie virtually into our classrooms and the children shared readings, led prayers, listened to songs and heard all about the importance of Easter and the significance of Jesus dying and rising again. It was really lovely to be able to hold this event as we were unable to hold any Easter Service at all last year as the country was in the first National Lockdown. St. John’s church have very kindly sent some Easter gifts for all the children, which they will come home with today – many thanks to St. John’s church for this lovely gesture.
Free Edsential Spring Holiday Activities
Edsential, a community interest company, who work to improve lives of children within the community, have asked us to let you know about some of the FREE activities available to the children, young people and families in school throughout the holidays. Thanks to funding from the DfE, there are a number of activity clubs, food & activity parcels and more this spring, at locations across west Cheshire, which are completely free for eligible Free School Meals children.
For further information, either see the attached flyer below, visit edsential.com/holidayactivityfund2021 or email them directly via HAF@edsential.co.uk
#WakeUpWednesday
Before Zoom, before Teams, there was Chatroulette. However, users of that video calling software tended not to be offering anything as innocent as a quiz and there was usually only one item on the agenda. A runaway word-of-mouth success on its launch in 2009, Chatroulette since seemed to have melted away into internet obscurity. However, a surge of new users during lockdown appears to have brought it back from the brink.
So what happens on Chatroulette calls? Is there really as much inappropriate content as popular opinion would suggest? Who uses the service? Is any part of it safe … at all? This week’s free #WakeUpWednesday guide investigates – access the free guide below.
School Uniform – Reminder from 19th March
Now that we are all back in school, please may I take this opportunity to remind everyone of our school uniform, as per our School Uniform Policy, which can be accessed on our website via this link.
The key points that I would like to highlight are where our School Uniform Policy states:
- light blue polo shirt;
- blue school sweatshirt or cardigan;
- grey skirt or trousers;
- sensible black shoes (not trainers) which are flat and offer support, Velcro fastenings are ideal;
- grey or white socks, navy or grey tights.
The school does not permit children to have haircuts that could serve as a distraction to other children or hair accessories that could also do so, such as large bows or headbands. All children should have their hair tied up, where it is of a length to be able to do so.
On health and safety grounds, we do not allow children to wear jewellery in our school. The exceptions to this rule are earring studs in pierced ears and small objects of religious significance, such as a crucifix on a chain. We ask the children either to remove these during PE and games or to cover them with a plaster.
I appreciate that, with non-essential shops currently being closed, some things may be difficult to get hold of, but with them potentially re-opening during the Easter holiday, can I ask all parents and guardians to be mindful of the information above and be prepared for our return to school for the summer term. Many thanks.
Winsford Well-Being Walk
The Vale Royal Schools Sports Partnership are working with the Wellbeing Winsford group to deliver a Winsford Wellbeing Walk programme during the second week of the Easter holidays, 12th - 18th April 2021.
The campaign will invite Winsford residents to record their walks, runs, scooter or cycle rides and contribute the miles to a virtual walk to Winsford (Somerset), Deuil-la-Barre (Winsford’s twin-town in France) and possibly even Nieder-Eschbach (in Germany, where Winsford has a friendship link). The week will see VRSSP launch 3 new routes across the town adding to the 7 already available.
The campaign will be run through the Well-Being Winsford Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/WellbeingWinsford but will also feature on the VRSSP Family Photo Trail page https://valeroyalschoolsport.org/family-photo-trails/
It would be great to get behind this campaign aimed at staying motivated and active over the holidays.
Message from Gavin Williamson
Please follow this link to a message from Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, to all young people.
Easter Testing Arrangements
Anyone living in a household with someone who attends or works in a school and does not have symptoms can access LFD home testing kits. These testing kits are available from community collection points or by ordering for home delivery. CWAC encourage everyone without symptoms to test themselves twice a week.
All pupils who develop symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested as soon as possible with a PCR test, not an LFD test. Use this link to book a PCR test or call 119.
Notifying the school if your child develops COVID-19 symptoms after the school closes for Easter
Notify the school if:
- Your child develops symptoms and receives a positive PCR result up to and including the 3 April 2021 and;
- Your child was in school in the 2 days prior to the symptom on-set.
- Please use the positiveresult@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk e mail address for this purpose.
You do not need to notify the school if:
- Your child has not been in school in the 2 days prior to the symptom on-set.
- Your child develops symptoms from 4 April 2021.
- The national test and trace service will contact you to complete the contact tracing.
Returning to School after Easter
The school does not need to be notified if your child is required to self-isolate during the Easter holidays after the above dates. If your child is required to isolate after the 18 April 2021 and will not be in school on the 19 April 2021 please email admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk outlining the reason why they are isolating and the date they will return. We will then review these emails when we re-open on the 19 April 2021.
Test and Trace Arrangements when the School Re-opens after Easter
From the 19 April 2021 onwards, the normal test and trace procedures will apply, and parents should contact the school to notify us if their child develops symptoms of COVID-19 using the following during school hours: admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk or 01606 592608 or the following outside of school hours: positiveresult@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk
Summary of COVID Notification Deadlines
|
Dates |
Actions |
Contacts |
|
Up to the 3rd April 2021 |
Continue to notify the school if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 and receives a positive PCR result. |
|
|
From 4th April 2021 until 18th April 2021 |
Do not notify the school if your child starts with symptoms of COVID-19. |
No contact required |
|
18th April 2021 |
Notify the school if your child is self-isolating and will not be returning on the 19 April 2021 |
|
|
From 19th April 2021 |
Notify the school if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive after a PCR test. |
During school hours: 01606 592608 admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk Out of school hours: positiveresult@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk |
Confirmed Dates for the Summer Term 2021
Monday 19th April: School opens at usual bubble times
Monday 3rd May: School closed for May Day Bank Holiday
Friday 28th May: School closes for half term at usual bubble times
Monday 7th June: School opens at usual bubble times
Saturday 26th June: Delamere Street Festival involving Hatchmere – more details to follow and subject to current COVID roadmap restrictions
Friday 16th July: School closes for summer with bubble closure times as follows:
Blakemere at 1:45pm
Linmere at 1:45pm
Oakmere at 1:50pm
Delamere at 1.55pm
Sandymere at 2pm
Hatchmere at 2.05pm
I hope that you all have a lovely Easter and enjoy the well-earned rest.
Mrs E Snowdon