St. John’s RC Primary

St John’s RC Primary School

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration where people can enjoy food that is not allowed during Lent. Traditionally, food that contains fat, butter and eggs, such as pancakes, are forbidden during Lent but in more modern times, people abstain from food/drink that they enjoy, i.e. chocolate, cakes, pop, etc. Our children made and enjoyed pancakes on Tuesday.

Ash Wednesday and Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of six and a half weeks of repentance, fasting and abstinence (Lent) in preparation for the most important Christian festival of Easter.

A special assembly was held on Wednesday morning in the school hall where Father Michael marked a cross on foreheads with ash to mark the repentance of our sins. The moment when the forehead is marked initiates the beginning of Lent for each individual person. Those who did not wish to participate were invited to receive a blessing from Father Michael.

Our Pupil chaplains will be presenting an assembly at 9am on Tuesday 11 March about Lent. Parents and Carers are very welcome to attend but please be on time.

Mrs Sivills from CAFOD will be working with the chaplains during Lent and also providing information about the work of CAFOD for the whole school.

Easter holidays
Easter is quite late this year and our school will be on holiday for the two weeks after Easter. Please remember this if you are booking holidays and do not book time off before or after our Easter break.

The holiday dates are Thursday 17 April and return on Tuesday 6 May.

Sports
Tuesday 4 March – Football at Sacred Heart: year 3 and 4
Thursday 6 March – Football at Saint Vincent’s: year 5 and 6
Friday 7 March – Aqua splash Tournament: year 4 and 5

Please make sure your child returns the consent form otherwise they will not be allowed to participate.

Media studies at St. Cuthbert’s
Year 5 will be visiting St. Cuthbert’s school for a media lesson on Wednesday 2 April. Transport is arranged and children will be collected from St. John’s at 9am and return in time for lunch at 12.30pm. Please ensure your child is in school on time.

Books for birthday treats
We have been making ‘pop-up’ books in our 3D work here at school. Children have been donating a book to the class or library when it is their birthday.

Thank you for your co-operation and support in helping the school to maintain its healthy eating policy.

Appointments
Please note that pupils will not be allowed to leave school for appointments unless prior notice is given and proof of appointment is shown.

Emergency contact
It is essential that we have correct contact details for cases of emergency so please ensure that you let the office know if you change your telephone number or address.

Please ensure that you are contactable at all times during school time and keep your phones switched on.

Lost property
Children being children sometimes put things down and forget about them. Unfortunately, it can be a coat, a jumper or another item of value. Please teach your children to be responsible for their own personal items, and should your child arrive home with a coat/jumper that is not theirs, please return it to the school the day after so that it can be returned to its rightful owner.

Golden book awards

King: Azinwi and Leon
Einstein: Klaudia and Laraie
Teresa: Lena and Caitlin
Tutu: Megan and Siyam
Da Vinci: Haris and Michal
Pankhurst: Melissa and Caleb
Wilberforce: Harris and Georgina
Crown: Taylor and Maria

Clubs
Afterschool and breakfast clubs
The charge for afterschool club and breakfast club is 25p per session. Please ensure that you pay for your sessions at the school office every week.

Homework club
Children must be collected at 4pm promptly.

Attendance and punctuality
Punctuality
Please ensure your child is in school for 8.50am each day. Lateness is very disruptive for the school and you should make every effort to be on time.

Attendance
If your child is absent from school, you must ring the school office on 01706 647195 before 9am to provide a valid reason.

Medicines can be administered in school by our qualified first aid staff and if your child is otherwise well but needs medication, please send them to school with their medicine and complete a consent form at the school office.

Holiday leave
Please do not ask for leave out of normal term time, this will not be granted and will be marked as unauthorised on your child’s register. Please be aware that penalty charges can and will be issued for continued absenteeism and you may lose your place at the school.

School meals
Please keep to your choice of meal (i.e. school meal or packed lunch) for your child and do not keep changing. This causes great disruption to the planning of meals and keeping individual accounts up to date.