Dear Families,

As we begin Term 4, it has been wonderful to see such a positive and purposeful start across the school. The children have returned with great enthusiasm for their learning and have been working hard in every classroom. We have been particularly proud of the determination and effort they have shown across the whole curriculum, embracing new challenges and striving to do their very best.

This week has also brought some very special news for our school community. Following our OPAL audit with Helen Easton, we are delighted to share that St John’s Catholic Primary School has achieved the Platinum Level Award. This is a significant recognition of our commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, explore and develop through high-quality outdoor provision each day. Play is such an important part of children’s wellbeing, creativity and social development, and we are incredibly proud of the opportunities available to our pupils. My sincere thanks go to our staff team, children and wider school community whose dedication and support have made this possible. In particular, I would like to thank the parents who were able to support the sand pit – including Mr & Mrs Davies who dedicated time, energy and muscle to the project. We are so grateful for the payment of the digger hire and your workforce! Stronger Together. In addition, Mr Butler, Mr Potem and Mr Zhuravel gave up their time and energy to support the importance of play for every child.

We must share our thanks for the donations from The Friends which have ensured we could purchase the incredible reading cabin on the school site. This will provide a beautiful space for all children to rest, relax and read during their lunch break. We are currently working on ensuring the space is safe and equipped to be used – photos to follow!

I am pleased to share a message we received from Michael Follett

‘I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on your recent achievement in gaining an OPAL award at St John's Catholic Trowbridge. Changing the culture of an organisation is not easy but you have done it, to become one of the best schools in the country for the quality of your playtime provision. Along the way I am sure you have had ups and downs dealing with the common issues of rain and mud, tidying-up and broken loose parts, but the fact that you have gained an award proves you have succeeded in transforming playtimes for all your children.

Best wishes Michael Follett OPAL Director.

In the coming weeks we will share a date in the summer term when we will invite parents and the wider community to celebrate the Platinum Play Award alongsravelide the children.

As we move quickly into the second week of the season of Lent, our children have been reflecting deeply on how they can live out their faith through action. This year we are working alongside the Little Vinnies charity with a Lenten focus of “Heart to Heart.” Through prayer, discussion and their learning in school, the children have been considering how they can respond to the call to care for others, particularly by thinking about what they can do to help stop the spread of loneliness in our society. It has been inspiring to hear their thoughtful ideas about small acts of kindness, reaching out to others, and showing compassion within our school and wider community. We are excited to see how the children will live out this message in the weeks ahead.

Within the parish of St John the Baptist, we will also be embarking on our Parish Mission Week beginning on 9th March. This will be a special time for our parish community to come together in prayer, reflection and renewal of faith. As part of this, children in UKS2 will have the opportunity to attend Mass during the week, which will be a wonderful experience for them to deepen their faith and feel part of the wider parish community. For further details about the Parish Mission Week and the events taking place, please refer to the parish website.

Finally, a future date for your diary is Wednesday 20th May, when we will be holding our Mission Review Evening from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Parents, governors and members of our wider community are warmly invited to join us for an evening of reflection and conversation, accompanied by wine and cheese. During this session we will come together to reflect on the mission of St John’s Catholic Primary School and consider how we continue to live out our values as a faith-filled community. This is an invaluable opportunity for you to have your voice heard and to help shape the future direction of our school. We look forward to welcoming you to this important event.

We look forward to all that this term will bring and thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Mrs O’Rourke