Newsletters

Newsletter 23rd February 2024

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Message from the Headteacher 

 Dear Parents/Carers, 

Welcome back to a brand new half term!

Ms Appleton has been working hard to ensure there is a robust and consistent approach to phonics in our school. Your child should come home on a Wednesday with the RWI book that they are reading in their group. This will be in a plastic folder with their name on it. Please take some time to read this book with your child, including the red and green words at the start of the book. Then please ensure you return the book on Monday, as another class will need the books to read. Thank you for your co-operation. Don't forget there is lots of information regarding our phonics scheme on the internet. 

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/

Next Friday we will be marking 'Safer Internet day'. Mrs Maisey will lead this as IT lead. I am getting increasingly worried about how much screentime some of our children seem to be having and also that the content of the games and websites that are visiting. Just like movie ratings games have ratings for a reason. They are not suitable for children under the age rating due to the content of the game. Mrs Maisey will be posting further information next week. In the meantime please take a look a these sites. While technology can be a useful tool, it can also be damaging to a child's childhood including sleep, social skills and attention. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/a-parents-guide-to-screen-time

https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/games-and-play/screen-time-for-babies-and-toddlers-evidence

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/app-age-rating/

Thank you for your support, 

Kerry Devane 

Dates for your Diary  

Friday 23rd Feb - PTA Meeting @3.10pm in the staffroom. 

Thursday 29th Feb - Reception heights and weights measuring

Thursday 7th March - World Book Day - Wear a hat to school!

Thursday 28th March - Easter Bonnet Parade and church service 

Thursday 28th March - Last day of term

Friday 29th March - Friday 12th April - Easter Break

Monday 15th April - First day of the summer term

 

 

 

PTA News 

Please come along to our meeting this afternoon. We have some exciting plans to share which need some serious fundraising! 

If you would like to email the PTA with any ideas or enquiries, please do so on: stjohnsinfantspta@gmail.com

Thank you for your support.

Next Meeting Friday 23rd February @3.10pm

Easter Holiday Club

Our Easter Holiday club will run for the two weeks of the Easter break, and will be based in our Nursery.

Please read all the information on the link and return your completed booking form by Monday 4th March 2024.

Paper copies of the form are available at the school or nursery offices.
 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X0dQv3TiTnNUDCmNCuINes1tFtaWFAmLDYHGWBUsNSE/edit?usp=sharing

Attendance

"Moments matter, Attendance counts"

Our target for attendance is 95%

This week it was  92.1%

Year to Date we are currently at 93.4%

18% of our children are classed as 'persistently absent' which is defined by attendance of less than 90%. 

Top class this week is WOODPECKERS with 96.2%  - Brilliant, Woodpeckers! 

Top year group this week is Year 1 with 95.9% - Well done, Year 1.

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Celebration Assembly

We would like to invite the parents of the following children to join us for celebration assembly on Monday 26th February at 8:50am, in the hall, just after drop-off.

This week's shining stars are:

Hedgehogs - Rowan & Robyn

Rabbits - Oscar S & Saeed

Woodpeckers - Oliver & Honey

Otters -  Jasmine & Teddie

Foxes - Karla & Verity

Owls - Florence & Tristan

We look forward to seeing you then!

Tips for Parents

Doing the Noodle!

This is a script to give you some ideas about helping children relax when they are stressed, anxious or worried. The main idea is to help children be like a soft, cooked noodle and relax! 

Here are the steps:

1) Start by explaining that a worried stressed body is usually stiff like an uncooked noodle that could easily be broken.

2) To relax, children want to look and feel like a cooked noodle - soft, floppy and warm

3) To do this, children loosen up their body parts by wiggling them, shaking them, and telling them to relax.

4) Children start by telling their toes to 'wiggle', then they tell their toes to 'stop' and feel warm and soft.

5) Then they do the same with the other body parts, starting with their feet, legs, bottom, tummy, hands, arms, shoulders, face and head, until their whole body feels like a soft cooked noodle lying on a plate! 

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(Source 'Tuning into Kids') 

 

Parent Family Support Advisor 

 

In the community

Orchard Vets are holding an open day next month. See the flier for more information

School Prayer 

Dear God,

Thank you for loving us and teaching us how to love, persevere and respect each other in everything we do. 

Amen

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