30th September 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for ensuring that the first few weeks back at school have gone so smoothly. The children have settled well and are working hard and it has been lovely to see their enthusiasm for learning. As you know, we are once again able to worship together and so celebrated the start of the school year with a whole school Mass. This was a great way for us to remember that we live and grow in God’s care and by sharing his love with others, we can continue to build and strengthen our school community.
Welcome
Over the last few weeks, we have welcomed our new Nursery children and our new Reception children. It has been lovely to see their joy and excitement at every new opportunity. We wish them every blessing at the start of the school journey and hope that they very quickly feel part of our community.
Thank you
Thank you to our Year 6 children who have enthusiastically stepped forward to take on volunteering roles across the school, from hall monitors and bell monitors to wet playtime monitors and lunchtime monitors. They are already showing what a sensible and responsible group of young people they are. Thank you.
End of the Day
Now that the children in reception have settled in, there will be a slight adjustment to the timing at the end of the day. After half term, Reception children should be collected at 3.20pm, the same time as children in Years 1 and 2.
Please be reminded that children in KS 1 should be collected at 3.20pm and children in KS 2 at 3.30pm.
School Dinners
In common with supermarkets and other food providers, Caterlink have warned us that they may experience supply issues. They are working hard to resolve any problems, but there may be times when the advertised menu may need to change at short notice due to a lack of particular items or delivery issues.
School Improvement
At this time of year, the staff and governors review our long-term school improvement plan and identify the key objectives for moving the school forward. The objectives below will be used to drive the action plans of subject leaders, governors and senior leaders so that the whole school has a clear focus for continuous school improvement.
Objectives for 2019-2024 | |
Objective 1
| Develop resilient, independent learners who know how to look after their health, safety and well-being |
Objective 2
| Ensure all groups of learners are effectively supported and challenged to reach their full potential |
Objective 3 | Offer a curriculum that is well sequenced and progressive to support, challenge and engage all pupils. |
School Values
Each week, we are taking one of our school values to explore with the children. This week our focus is on generosity. Please support your child by talking to them about how they can be generous with their time and talents and help them to recognise and thank the generosity of others.
Values
Love
Respect
Honesty
Generosity
Creativity
Responsibility
Justice
Meet the Teacher/Class Information Meetings
Thank you to the Nursery, Reception and Year 1 parents who were able to attend their class information meetings. Year 2-6 will be holding meetings for their parents over the next few weeks and will send out details in due course.
School Office
Please note that the school office will be closed for training to all but essential/emergency contact on the following dates:
Friday 1st October
Friday 8th October
Friday 15th October
School Council
You will have received a letter this week explaining how children in Years 1-6 are able to stand for election to our School Council. Manifestos must be returned to school by Tuesday 5th October and elections will take place during the week of 11th October. I am delighted that Stephen Morgan MP for Portsmouth South will be announcing the election results in assembly on18th October as well as offering a Q&A session on his role as MP and the value of democracy.
E-Scooters
Please be aware that privately owned E-SCOOTERS are illegal and the expectation is that they should not be used to travel to or from schools.
E-scooters are classed as a motor vehicle and so the use of them falls under the Road Traffic Act 1988. As private e-scooters cannot be insured, taxed or registered, as motor vehicles need to be, they can only be used on private land, with the permission of the landowner.
Rental e-scooters as part of the government trials can be used on public roads but not on pavements and are available to those over 18 only.
INSET Days
Please note the following INSET days when school will be closed for staff training:
Monday 4th October 2021
Monday 15th November 2021
Monday 4th July 2022
Thursday 22nd July 2022
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
October
Monday 4th INSET Day
Wednesday 6th Fire Service in For Yr 2 and 6
Year 3 Liturgy
Monday 11th Flu Immunisations
Monday 13th Year 6 school nurse health screening
Friday 22nd Break Up
Friday 31st October Closing Date for Secondary School Applications
November
Monday 1st Back to School
Pupil individual photographs
Monday 8th- Wednesday 10th Parents Evenings
Wednesday 10th Year 2 Liturgy
Monday 15th INSET Day
Wednesday 17th Year 1 Liturgy
Wednesday 24th Year R Liturgy
December
Wednesday 15th School Nativity – 2pm Cathedral
Friday 17th Break Up
January
Tuesday 4th Back to School
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2nd September 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope that you had a lovely summer and are excited to begin the new academic year as part of our St John’s school family. As you may be aware, many of the restrictions related to Covid-19 that were previously in place in school, are now able to be lifted. I have issued an opening plan to outline the changes as well as the contingency plans for any future outbreaks. This has been emailed to you and can also be found on the website. I very much hope and pray that the difficulties of the last two academic years are behind us and that we can once again enjoy working, playing and praying together.
Vision, Mission and Values
At the beginning of a new academic year, it is always helpful to revisit our school vision, mission and values. We do this as a staff on our INSET day, as governors at our full governing body meeting and with children in the first two weeks of term. I have copied them below and invite you to reflect on them too as a parent.
We believe that a bright future starts with an excellent education.
Our vision is to ignite a love of learning that enables every child to achieve their very best. We aim to provide the excellent teaching and genuine nurture that will enable all of our children to be happy, resilient, creative citizens who have the skills, knowledge and passion to change the world.
Our mission at St John’s Cathedral Catholic Primary School is to educate the whole child through the Gospel values of Christ and provide academic excellence within a Catholic community, where all are loving to learn and learning to love.
Values
Love
Respect
Honesty
Generosity
Creativity
Responsibility
Justice
Reminder of Routines
8.45-8.55: Children arrive and go straight to classrooms
8.55: Registration
9.05: Assembly/Hymn Practice/Class collective worship
9.15: Lessons
10.15: Playtime
10.30 Lessons
12.00 Lunchtime
1.00 Lessons (with 10 min playtime)
3.20 KS 1 Home time
3.30 KS 2 Home time
Relaxing of Covid Restrictions
As outlined in the opening plan, we will continue to encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene and continue to ensure that the school is well ventilated. We will also continue to ask staff to take twice weekly lateral flow tests. However, we will no longer be operating a bubble system and so classes and the school as a whole are able to meet together and staff and visitors will no longer be asked to wear face coverings. The contingency plan outlines how there may be occasions when some of these restrictions would have to be reviewed and could be reintroduced.
Uniform
Please ensure that your child comes to school in full and correct school uniform every day. The slightly relaxed approach that we took to uniform during the Covid restrictions no longer apply and we expect all children to wear correct uniform, plain black shoes/trainers or white or black sandals and have the correct PE kit to change in to on PE days.
Year 3 children
Please remember that once children move to Year 3, they are no longer entitled to universal free school meals. School meals will need to be paid for online unless your child is entitled to benefits-related free school meals.
Medicines
Please do not send in any unprescribed medicines with children. All prescribed medicines that need to administered at school need to be handed in to the office and a permission slip completed.
Staffing
Year Group | Teacher | LSAs |
Nursery | Mrs Brown | Miss Adamson, Miss Carter |
Reception | Miss Phillips | Mrs Gardner, Mrs Heller |
Year 1 | Miss Brien | Miss Todd |
Year 2 | Mrs Bailey M-W, Mrs Coyle Th, Mrs Beaton F | Mrs Dunford, Mrs Smith |
Year 3 | Mrs Leaman M,T, Mrs White W-F | Mrs Jamil, Mrs Freeman |
Year 4 | Miss Minall | Mrs Tolfree, Mrs Pazdro |
Year 5 | Mrs Warren M, Mrs Munns T-F | Miss Blendulf, Mrs Tracey |
Year 6 | Mrs Kahraman | Mrs Vaughan, Miss Wyles |
Since the retirement of Mrs Wilson at the end of term, I am delighted to let you know that Mrs De Filippo has been appointed as Bursar/Data Manager and Miss Borowiecka as Administrative Assistant.
Safeguarding
Please be reminded that I am the designated safeguarding lead for St John’s. Keeping the children at St John’s safe is our highest priority and you can find our policy and the government guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021’ on the website. If you have any concerns about safeguarding, please speak to me or in my absence one of the deputy designated safeguarding leads, Mrs Warren or Mrs Beaton.
St John’s Cathedral and First Holy Communion
Nurturing your child’s faith is a partnership between parents, school and parish. Please continue to support the work of the school by sharing the gift of faith with your child by taking them to Mass regularly and teaching them the traditional prayers of the Church. The Cathedral Mass times are below:
Saturday 6pm
Sunday 10am
Sunday 12pm
Sunday 6pm
If your child is in Year 3,4,5 or 6 and wishes to make their first holy communion at the Cathedral this year, please see the parish newsletter for registration details.
Healthy Eating
As part of our work to educate, and care for, the whole child, we are keen for parents/carers to ensure that packed lunches are healthy and nutritious. Please read the Packed Lunch – The Healthy Eating Guide on our website for further information.
INSET Days
Please note the following INSET days when school will be closed for staff training:
Thursday 2nd September 2021
Monday 4th October 2021
Monday 15th November 2021
Monday 4th July 2022
Thursday 22nd July 2022
I look forward to working with you all to make this another happy, safe and successful year ahead.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
September
Thursday 2nd INSET Day
Friday 3rd Children return to school
WB 13th After School Clubs Start
Wednesday 22nd Year 6 Swimming Lessons Start
October
Monday 4th INSET Day
Wednesday 6th Fire Service in For Yr 2 and 6
Monday 11th Flu Immunisations
Friday 22nd Break Up
November
Monday 1st Back to School
Monday 15th INSET Day
December
Friday 17th Break Up
January
Tuesday 4th Back to School
12th July 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
I can’t believe that we are in our last full week of this academic year. It has been another strange year with many challenges and obstacles to overcome but it has also been a year when we have really seen our community grow in terms of resilience, friendship and love. I am always so proud to be the head teacher of such an amazing school but this year I am even more proud of the way we have come together, supported each other and kept on smiling. The pandemic never stopped us from ‘loving to learn’ or ‘learning to love.’
Booking summer holidays
Anyone planning to travel abroad this summer should check the details of the green, amber and red lists of countries and make sure that you are aware of any restrictions and or guidelines for testing and/or quarantine on return.
If a holiday or quarantine period coincides with term time, this absence may be unauthorised and could lead to a penalty notice. Schools are not required to provide remote learning for students who are quarantining following travel abroad. Please consider this information when arranging holidays over the summer break.
Please advise the school if your child is returning from travelling abroad so that they can make sure the correct guidance is followed.
Communication
As a school we communicate with parents in a number of different ways. Please ensure that you regularly check your emails as we often send letters using this method and would not want you to miss anything important.
Uniform
Please be aware that we will be unable to sell uniform on the first day of term. As we are expecting to sell a large amount of uniform over the next few weeks, we have designed an order form to make the process smoother. Please complete the attached order form as soon as possible and either email it, or send it in with the money. Payment can be made by cash/cheque on collection of the uniform.
Summer reading challenge
You should have received a letter about the summer reading challenge. It is a great way to encourage your child to continue reading over the summer and help build on the love of reading that will benefit them throughout their lives. The challenge starts on 10th July. Visit your local library to sign up or register online www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
I can’t believe that we are in our last full week of this academic year. It has been another strange year with many challenges and obstacles to overcome but it has also been a year when we have really seen our community grow in terms of resilience, friendship and love. I am always so proud to be the head teacher of such an amazing school but this year I am even more proud of the way we have come together, supported each other and kept on smiling. The pandemic never stopped us from ‘loving to learn’ or ‘learning to love.’
Booking summer holidays
Anyone planning to travel abroad this summer should check the details of the green, amber and red lists of countries and make sure that you are aware of any restrictions and or guidelines for testing and/or quarantine on return.
If a holiday or quarantine period coincides with term time, this absence may be unauthorised and could lead to a penalty notice. Schools are not required to provide remote learning for students who are quarantining following travel abroad. Please consider this information when arranging holidays over the summer break.
Please advise the school if your child is returning from travelling abroad so that they can make sure the correct guidance is followed.
Communication
As a school we communicate with parents in a number of different ways. Please ensure that you regularly check your emails as we often send letters using this method and would not want you to miss anything important.
Uniform
Please be aware that we will be unable to sell uniform on the first day of term. As we are expecting to sell a large amount of uniform over the next few weeks, we have designed an order form to make the process smoother. Please complete the attached order form as soon as possible and either email it, or send it in with the money. Payment can be made by cash/cheque on collection of the uniform.
Summer reading challenge
You should have received a letter about the summer reading challenge. It is a great way to encourage your child to continue reading over the summer and help build on the love of reading that will benefit them throughout their lives. The challenge starts on 10th July. Visit your local library to sign up or register online www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
Children Moving to Year 3
If your child is going in to Year 3 in September, please be aware that they will no longer be entitled to universal free school meals. School meals will need to be paid for online unless they are entitled to benefits related free school meals.
Medicines
Please do not send in any unprescribed medicines with children. All prescribed medicines that need to administered at school need to be handed in to the office and a permission slip completed.
New Classes
Children will meet their new teacher on the morning of Thursday 15th July. So that you are able to speak with your child about the move to a new class, I have listed the teachers below.
Nursery – Mrs Brown
Reception – Miss Phillips
Year 1 – Miss Brien
Year 2 – Mrs Bailey (M-W), Mrs Coyle (Th) and Mrs Beaton (F)
Year 3 – Mrs Leaman (M&T) and Mrs White (W,Th,F)
Year 4 – Miss Minall
Year 5 – Mrs Warren (M) and Mrs Munns (T-F)
Year 6 – Mrs Kahraman
September
Children return to school on Friday 3rd September. Once we have a better idea of how the pandemic guidelines are changing and what the covid rates are in the city, I will send an opening plan – hopefully much shorter than previous versions. For the autumn term at least, we will keep drift in but shorten it to between 8.45 and 8.55am move collection forward for KS 1 to 3.20pm and keep it unchanged for KS 2 at 3.30pm.
Mrs Wilson
After 27 years of service to St John’s Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Mrs Wilson will be leaving us at the end of this term. She is off to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, in which I am sure that she will enjoy travelling, spending time with her grandchildren and trying out a few more local walks and restaurants.
Mrs Wilson has worked in our school office for 27 years and been invaluable in keeping the school running smoothly. Many, if not all of you will have experienced Mrs Wilson’s help when contacting the office or like me, her calm and efficient sorting of any situation. I can’t thank her enough for her hard work and dedication to the school and I wish her well for the future.
Have a safe, happy and holy holiday.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
July
Thursday 15th Meet Your Teacher Morning
Friday 16th Reports Out
Monday 19th Year 6 Celebrations
Tuesday 20th Year 6 Reward Afternoon
Wednesday 21st Sports Days
Thursday 22nd 1.30pm Summer Holiday Begins
Friday 23rd INSET Day
September
Thursday 2nd INSET Day
Friday 3rd Children return to school
WB 13th After School Clubs Start
Wednesday 22nd Year 6 Swimming Lessons Start
October
Monday 4th INSET Day
Wednesday 6th Fire Service in For Yr 2 and 6
Monday 11th Flu Immunisations
Friday 22nd Break Up
November
Monday 1st Back to School
Monday 15th INSET Day
December
Friday 17th Break Up
January
Tuesday 4th Back to School
DIARY DATES
July
Thursday 15th Meet Your Teacher Morning
Friday 16th Reports Out
Monday 19th Year 6 Celebrations
Tuesday 20th Year 6 Reward Afternoon
Wednesday 21st Sports Days
Thursday 22nd 1.30pm Summer Holiday Begins
Friday 23rd INSET Day
September
Thursday 2nd INSET Day
Friday 3rd Children return to school
WB 13th After School Clubs Start
Wednesday 22nd Year 6 Swimming Lessons Start
October
Monday 4th INSET Day
Wednesday 6th Fire Service in For Yr 2 and 6
Monday 11th Flu Immunisations
Friday 22nd Break Up
November
Monday 1st Back to School
Monday 15th INSET Day
December
Friday 17th Break Up
January
Tuesday 4th Back to School