A Snapshot of St John’s
Welcome from our Head Teacher The beginning of a School year is always a special time at St John’s. Corridors fill with excitement, classrooms buzz with curiosity, and friendships, both old and new, quickly begin to flourish. Over the first few weeks of the Michaelmas term, our children have embraced a wealth of new opportunities, settled into new routines and immersed themselves in the rich variety of experiences that make a childhood at St John’s so distinctive. Across the School, our children have been exploring new ideas, developing new skills and contributing to our vibrant community. In assemblies and classrooms, the children have reflected on acts of kindness and compassion through learning about St Francis of Assisi, considering how small actions can make a meaningful difference to others. We have also marked Dyslexia Awareness Week in The Hub, our wellbeing space at Senior House, where pupils have celebrated the strengths and talents associated with different ways of learning while developing a deeper understanding of neurodiversity. Beyond the classroom, pupils have enjoyed a wealth of enriching experiences. Year 3 travelled to Celtic Harmony to step back in time and experience life in the Stone Age, while Year 4 visited the Cambridge Museum of Technology to explore how innovation and engineering have shaped our local area. On the sports field, football, hockey and rugby fixtures have provided opportunities for pupils from Year 4 upwards to demonstrate teamwork, determination and sportsmanship, representing the school with enthusiasm and pride. Leadership and community have also been at the heart of the term. Our House Captains have already begun leading meetings and helping to shape house activities for the year ahead, while our Year 8 pupils have played an important role in supporting their Year 5 buddies as they make the transition to Senior House. Their kindness, encouragement and friendship have helped younger pupils feel welcomed, supported and confident as they settle into a new environment. From Reception children taking their first steps into St John’s life to our oldest pupils in Year 8 embracing fresh responsibilities and challenges, children have begun the year with enthusiasm, curiosity and a real sense of purpose. We are delighted to share some of the moments that have made the start of this term so memorable so far. We are looking forward to welcoming you and helping you discover more about life at St John’s when you visit us for our next Open Morning on Tuesday. If you have any questions ahead of your visit, please do not hesitate to contact our Registrar, Mrs Maria Mosher, at admissions@sjcs.co.uk or on 01223 353652.
Mrs Sarah Wright Head Teacher
The Start of a Wonderful Journey for Reception For our youngest pupils, the start of the school year has been filled with excitement, discovery and new beginnings. Much of each day is spent exploring our vibrant Reception environment, where children are encouraged to follow their curiosity through Discovery Time. From tending herbs, fruit and vegetables in their own dedicated Reception garden to creating imaginative worlds in the role-play area, experimenting at the water area, constructing with blocks and expressing themselves through a wide range of craft activities, every experience is designed to spark creativity, independence and a love of learning. Alongside this rich hands-on learning, our Reception children have enthusiastically begun their phonics journey through the Sounds-Write programme, developing the foundations of reading and writing through engaging, practical activities that build confidence and foster a love of language. In Music lessons, they have enjoyed learning to play the drums, exploring rhythm and beat through lively and interactive sessions, while in PE they have been developing fundamental ball skills, coordination and teamwork through a range of fun activities and games. French lessons have introduced children to colours and animal names, encouraging them to communicate in a new language through songs, stories and play.
Forest School has provided further opportunities for exploration and creativity, with each child enjoying a dedicated morning or afternoon session every week. Making the most of conker season, children have collected, investigated and transformed their discoveries into imaginative conker artwork, before putting their problem-solving skills to the test by designing and building their own conker slides. Through regular time spent outdoors, they develop confidence, collaboration, resilience and a sense of wonder about the natural world, whilst learning to observe, explore and create in an ever-changing environment. Excitement is also building as the children prepare for their forthcoming Wiggly Nativity. From learning songs and practising actions to becoming familiar with the story, they are enjoying the anticipation of working together towards their first St John’s performance. It has been wonderful to watch friendships flourish, confidence grow and curiosity thrive as our Reception children settle happily into life at St John’s and embrace all that school life has to offer.
A Celebration of Poetry Across the School This term, pupils across the school immersed themselves in the world of poetry as part of our celebrations for National Poetry Day. We were delighted to welcome poets Joshua Seigal and Kate Wakeling, whose inspiring workshops encouraged children to experiment with language, unlock their imaginations and discover the joy of writing and performing poetry. Through a variety of creative activities, pupils explored the power of words to tell stories, express ideas and spark emotion, whilst gaining confidence in their own creative voices. The workshops provided the perfect inspiration for our annual Poetry Assembly, a much-anticipated event that brings the school community together through a shared love of language and performance. Every class, from our youngest pupils to our oldest, took to the stage to perform a poem, delighting audiences with a wonderful range of styles, themes and interpretations. Whether humorous, thoughtful or dramatic, each performance reflected the enthusiasm, creativity and collaboration that had been fostered throughout the school’s poetry celebrations. The assembly was a joyful reminder of the power of poetry to inspire curiosity, confidence and connection, and a fitting culmination of a memorable wholeschool literary experience.
Year 3 Trip to Celtic Harmony Year 3 enjoyed their trip to Celtic Harmony, stepping back in time to experience life in the Stone Age. Exploring a prehistoric settlement, pupils brought their history learning to life through hands-on activities, learning ancient survival skills, baking traditional bread, trying wattle weaving and handling replica artefacts. Through these immersive experiences, they gained a greater understanding of how people lived, worked and thrived in prehistoric Britain. The visit deepened their understanding of prehistoric Britain and provided valuable context for their current study of the Romans. As they prepare for their Drama production, The Roman Rewrite, the children are already making connections between Britain’s earliest inhabitants and the changes brought by the Roman Empire. Packed with discovery, adventure and imagination, it was a memorable day that enriched both their learning and their enthusiasm for history.
Authentic Learning Through Design Technology This term, pupils have enjoyed applying their creativity and problem-solving skills through an authentic Design & Technology project, transforming recycled plastic into personalised pen tidies. Working through the design process from initial ideas to prototypes, children have gained first-hand experience of how sustainable materials can be repurposed into something both practical and purposeful. Along the way, pupils have developed a range of technical skills, learning how to use specialist tools safely and effectively to shape and refine their designs. They have carefully curved and smoothed edges to achieve a professional finish and discovered how a strip heater can be used to soften and bend plastic into new forms. By combining design thinking with hands-on making, the project has encouraged resilience, precision and attention to detail, while also prompting thoughtful discussions about sustainability and responsible use of materials. The project is still underway, and pupils are currently refining their final designs before presenting their completed pen tidies to our Bursar, who will judge the finished models. This real-world audience has added an extra layer of purpose and excitement, encouraging pupils to consider not only how their products function but also how effectively they meet the design brief.
Harvest at St John’s: Giving Thanks and Giving Back One of the highlights of the autumn term is our annual Harvest celebration, when pupils across the school come together to support the Cambridge Food Bank through a generous collection of food and essential household items. The Harvest season provides an opportunity for children to reflect on gratitude, community and the importance of helping others, and families once again responded with remarkable generosity. Alongside the charitable collection, pupils took part in a wide range of Harvest competitions that showcased creativity, imagination and a love of making. From photography, artwork and cookery to Lego creations, gardening and homegrown produce, children embraced the opportunity to share their talents and celebrate the abundance of the season. At Byron House, entries included displays of flowers and vegetables, pressed-flower artwork, miniature gardens and striking nature photography, while Senior House pupils explored the theme of Growth through art and photography, alongside competitions for baking, Lego building, vegetable growing and even scarecrow design. The day was a wonderful celebration of the many talents within our school community and a reminder that Harvest is about far more than the food we enjoy. Through creativity, collaboration and charitable giving, pupils experienced firsthand the importance of supporting others and contributing positively to the wider community. The enthusiasm shown by children across both Byron House and Senior House made this year’s Harvest celebration a memorable start to the autumn season.
Books at Breakfast ~ Parent Partnership Series Book at Breakfast has been a wonderful addition to our Parent Partnership series, welcoming families into School to share in our love of reading. Over breakfast, parents joined their children to enjoy books together, explore reading strategies used in the classroom and discover ways to support reading at home while fostering a lifelong love of books. The event celebrated the important role that reading plays in every child’s learning journey and provided a valuable opportunity for parents and staff to work together in fostering confident, enthusiastic readers. Filled with conversation, storytelling and shared enjoyment, it was a lovely morning that reflected the strong partnership between home and school at St John’s.
The Hockey & Rugby Seasons Get Underway The arrival of autumn has brought with it the start of the hockey and rugby seasons, with pupils across the school embracing the opportunity to develop new skills, challenge themselves and enjoy being part of a team. From training sessions and fixtures to house competitions and games lessons, the sports fields have been full of energy, determination and enthusiasm. For many children, this has meant taking their first steps into these sports. Even our Year 2 pupils have been busy learning the fundamentals of hockey and rugby, developing core skills such as passing, movement, teamwork and coordination through fun, age-appropriate activities. As confidence grows, so too does an understanding of the values that underpin sport at St John’s: respect, resilience, perseverance and supporting one another. Older pupils have already represented the school in a range of fixtures, demonstrating not only their developing sporting ability but also the excellent teamwork and sportsmanship that are hallmarks of St John’s teams. A particular highlight of the term was an exciting visit to the Olympic Park, where our U11 girls enjoyed a special hockey experience alongside pupils from Haileybury. The day provided a fantastic opportunity to develop skills, build confidence and experience hockey in an inspiring setting, whilst forging new friendships and sharing a love of the game. Whether taking to the pitch for the first time or building on existing experience, pupils have embraced every opportunity to participate, improve and enjoy being active together. The start of the season has set an exciting tone for the term ahead, and we look forward to many more matches, achievements and memorable moments on the sports field.
Finding Balance Through Tai Chi Year 4 pupils have enjoyed the start of their Tai Chi lessons with Cambridge Kung Fu, discovering how movement, focus and breathing work together to promote wellbeing. Through a series of carefully guided exercises, the children have explored the connection between mind and body, developing balance, coordination and concentration while learning techniques to help them feel calm and centred. The sessions have provided a valuable opportunity to build confidence, self-awareness and resilience in a fun and engaging way.
The Importance of Buddies At St John’s, relationships between children of different ages play an important role in creating the warm, supportive community for which the school is known. Our Buddy Programme helps younger pupils feel confident, secure and connected from their very first days at school. For Reception children, Year 4 buddies provide a friendly and reassuring presence throughout the week. Whether accompanying them to lunch, reading together or playing at break times, these relationships help our youngest pupils settle quickly into school life, while developing empathy, responsibility and leadership in older pupils. The buddy system continues in Senior House, where Year 5 pupils are paired with a Year 8 buddy to help them navigate their first year. A particular highlight is House Buddy Time each Wednesday morning, when pupils come together for games, activities and conversation, strengthening friendships and fostering a strong sense of belonging. Through these relationships, pupils learn the importance of kindness, responsibility and looking out for one another, making the Buddy Programme a wonderful reflection of the caring community at St John’s.
We can’t wait to welcome you to our Open Morning on 13 October and to share with you everything that makes St John’s such a special place to learn, grow and thrive.