Weekly Update 14

UPDATE 14

FEBRUARY 2018

St. John’s RC Primary School SCHOOL UPDATE

@st_johns_rc

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

FEBRUARY 15th - Year 5 Spanish meeting for parents (3.30pm) 16th - Thumbs-up Friday (8.45-9.15am)

SURROUNDED BY OPPORTUNITIES ROBINWOOD

The Year 6 children had a tremendous time at Robinwood. They went caving, on a giant swing, canoeing, problem solving and managed to avoid the perils of the piranha pool. The group challenged themselves and thoroughly enjoyed all of the experiences and adventures on offer. They did us proud and created some wonderful life-long memories. I enjoyed getting to know them better and watching their confidence grow. Well done Year 6!

16th - PTA coffee morning 16th Platinum Celebration Day children may wear sports kit 16th - Half term holiday begins (3.30pm)

MARCH 1st - World Book Day children may come dressed as their favourite book character.

YOUNG VOICES

We took 60 children to the Manchester Arena for the Young Voices Concert last week. The children had prepared by learning lots of fantastic songs including a Stevie Wonder medley. On the night, they sang with 5,000 other children along with a band and a team of dancers. It was a superb, fun event and we are very proud of the children’s participation and behaviour throughout.

7th - Reading meetings for parents 13th-20th Spanish Exchange to Nigran (Year 5)

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WEEKLY UPDATE 14

FEBRUARY 2018

READING

Reading is a big focus for us this year. We want our children to enjoy reading for lots of different purposes and have access to a rich variety of texts. We have changed the way we teach the reading curriculum and have introduced guided reading every morning from 9-9.30am. New books have been bought for the purpose and the children really are enjoying reading them. If you would like to find out more about the reading experiences our children have as well as a bit more about how we are teaching reading, we are holding a parent/carers meeting on the 7th March 2018 at 8am, 3.30pm and 5.45pm.

Each of these meetings will be the same and will cover the KS1 and KS2 curriculum.

NEW LIBRARY

We are excited to announce that we will be creating a new library at St. John’s. It is one of the things that lots of children suggested to the school council and they are very keen to get the project going and develop a space where children can enjoy books. They have written their own letter to you and you will find it at the end of this newsletter.

RECEPTION MAKE-OVER

Over the half-term the Reception class is getting a complete make over with new furniture and updated learning resources. It’s going to look fantastic and the organisation will allow for much more creative and independent learning. Reception stay and play this coming Friday is postponed until Spring 2 when parents can come and see the new classrooms!

WRITING COMPETITION

We have some superb, creative writers at St. John’s and the annual Radio 2 writing competition for children (aged 5-13) is now open for entries. It’s very simple to apply entrants need to write an original story on any subject or theme in 500 words or fewer and submit it online. If they win, their story will be read live on the radio as well as being in with a chance of winning an amazing ‘money can’t buy prize.’ Please go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/ programmes/p00rfvk1 for more information. It could be a great thing to do during half term. The closing date is 7pm on the 22nd February 2018.

PTA

The children really enjoyed movie night and we raised £200 for Learning Land. Thanks to all the staff who helped out on the night. This Friday (8.45-9.15am) is ‘Thumbs-Up Friday’ when parents will have a chance to go into their child’s classroom, look at their books and talk to their child about the work they’ve been doing. During this time the teacher will be in the classroom but there wont be 2

time for any individual meetings. When you’ve finished looking at your child’s progress the PTA are running a coffee morning in the Junior Hall. There will be entertainment in the form of cheerleading, gymnasts and the Irish dancers as a celebration of our Sports Platinum award.

ENRICHMENT AND AFTERCARE

The enrichment and aftercare bookings have now closed. All of our enrichment clubs are run by outside individuals and companies but school do have the overview of which children are in which club each evening. If your child is not going to be going to a club or aftercare, please let the office know. We are aware that this is the time of year when year 6 children are beginning to walk home on their own and become more independent. If your child is allowed to walk home please fill in the form at the office (we’ve sent one home today with all of the year 6 children.) Once we have this form for your child we don’t need letters each time they are walking home with friends etc. Again, if they are booked into a club or aftercare they will need to come to that club or let the office know in advance.

EMAILS

Some parents email teachers directly to their official school email address. If you are sending a message please only do so during work hours (Monday-Friday before 5.30pm) Teachers will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours so if your message is urgent please phone the main school office and they will get the message to them quickly.

Thank you for your continuing support, Mrs B. O’Donoghue

REFLECTION

As a community we are thinking about the Guest family this week. David’s funeral is being held at Gorton Monastery on Monday 12th February at 12pm.

After the service there, everyone is welcome to make their way to the wake at Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9DJ.

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love

that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given.

May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled 3

LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL COUNCIL Dear all, We wonder if you know that we don’t have a library here at St. John’s?! Our pupils have requested a library and it was the most common idea in the school council suggestion boxes.

We would love to have a library because we love books and would like to be reading exciting books even more! It would be a great place to read and share different type of books. We want it to be a really comfortable place where everyone is welcome. It will have comfy cushions, bean bags and some desks. The school council have come up with some themes for the library and we are also going to get it painted by an artist. We will be making sure that all of the children in school get a say in how it should look!

School are going to buy a good selection of books and we are going to get a library system so that we don’t lose any of them. We are hoping to get it all set up by Summer so that the current Year 6 can use it before they leave!

How can you help?

We would really appreciate it if you could donate any good quality books that you have at home. We would like them to have no missing pages and to be nearly new. If you want to, you can also donate using parent pay and we promise that we will choose books that are perfect for all the different interests and ages across school.

We hope you are as excited about our new library as we are!

Kindest regards, The School Council

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