Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher's Blog: Friday 30th September 2022
Date: 30th Sep 2022 @ 1:52pm
Whilst the weather may be miserable (again!), seeing the children in school being so calm, working hard and enjoying their activities is enough to brighten anyone’s day! I have had the pleasure of showing quite a number of people around school recently, largely for those who are interested in places in Reception in September 2023 and they have always been so positive about or children and school when they were leaving.
Parent Governor Election
Information was sent home earlier this week with regards to a upcoming vacancy for a parent governor. Parent governors do not get involved in the day to day running of the school, nor do they act as a ‘go between’ for the parents and the school and they must be able to maintain strict confidentiality. If you think that you would be interested in helping to ensure that the school’s budget is well spent, working with other governors to plan the future direction of the school and holding myself to account for the educational performance of the school, then please do complete and return the nomination form. The closing date is Tuesday 11th October at 9am.
Attendance Policy
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that our latest Attendance Policy was due to go to governors to be agreed and that I would share with you at a future date. Please find it attached below. The Attendance Policy is not only an Over St. John’s Policy, but also a Winsford Education partnership Policy, meaning that it has also been adopted by the other schools in the town which all have the same approach to working on attendance. Attendance at school is so important to your enabling your children to be happy and making good progress. Working together in a partnership between school and home to raise levels of attendance can only have a positive impact on our children.
We are currently updating our Behaviour Policy in school and this will also be shared with you at a future date, but in the meantime, our most recent one is on our website for you to have a look at.
#WakeUpWednesday
Remember the heatwave back in July? Temperatures topping 40° in the UK, wildfires in mainland Europe and severe droughts across the continent. It’s clear evidence of how much global warming has started influencing the weather in this part of the world. Climate change has been described as ‘the fight of our lifetime,’ and it’s a battle we have to win.
The Great Big Green Week is an event designed to inspire people to stand up for nature and tackle climate change together. In support, National Online Safety’s #WakeUpWednesday guide this week is all about how we can each do our bit to help the planet by re-using or recycling unwanted digital devices such as old smartphones, computers and tablets.
Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2023
If you have a child in Year 6, the application round has now opened for you to apply for a secondary school place. It is very important that you do this before the deadline, which is 31st October 2022, otherwise your application will be classed as a late application and could have a severe impact on your preferred school choice. Results are available from 12.30am on 1st March 2023. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link. Before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Secondary School booklet to help you with your choices.
As a school, we are a partner primary with both The Winsford Academy and Hartford CE High School which means that applications for children from our school are considered above some other categories, should the school be oversubscribed, however, you have the option to apply for 3 secondary schools of your choice. Further details with regards to this can be found in the ‘Transferring to Secondary School’ information booklet in the link above.
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
Friday 14th October: Individual photographs
Friday 21st October: School closes for half term at 3pm
Tuesday 1st November: School opens at 8:45am
Thursday 3rd November: Work begins on the redevelopment of the field
Tuesday 8th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm
Thursday 10th November: Pupil Consultation Evening 3.15pm – 5.15pm
Thursday 15th December: Whole School Pantomime trip to Northwich Memorial Court
Friday 16th December: School closes at 2pm
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon