St John's
Catholic Primary School
At St John's we grow and learn in the footsteps of Jesus.
Curious
Thoughtful
Prayerful
Respectful
Creative
Independent
Caring
Responsible
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
-
Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 05 Jun 2026Welcome Back to Term 6
Dear Families,
It has been a wonderful start to Term 6, and we have been delighted to welcome the children back to school. They have returned with beaming smiles, full of enthusiasm for the weeks ahead, and looking incredibly smart in their summer uniforms. Their pride in wearing the school uniform reflects our shared value of the dignity of work and the importance of always striving to do our best. Thank you for your continued support.
We hope that all our families enjoyed the recent half-term break and were able to make the most of the beautiful weather. As we move into the final term of the academic year, we will be revisiting and reinforcing important learning around water safety with the children. With warmer weather and increased opportunities to spend time near water, this remains a vital area of learning to help keep our children safe.
The past few days have also been marked by the sudden and deeply sad passing of Mike Simmons, RIP, our Chair of Governors. Mike was a passionate advocate for our school family and gave generously of his time, wisdom, and support. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.
Mike's family have shared that his funeral will be held on Wednesday 17th June at 10:00am at St John the Baptist Catholic Church. All are welcome to attend. A book of condolences will be available on the playground from Monday for adults who wish to leave a message or share their memories. We know that many members of our community will appreciate the opportunity to express their condolences and celebrate Mike's life and contribution to the school.
We also keep in our prayers all the children who will be celebrating the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in the coming weeks. This is a very special milestone in their faith journey, and we look forward to hearing all about their celebrations. We keep the children and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare for and receive this wonderful sacrament.
We wish everyone a happy and successful Term 6 and look forward to all that we will achieve together in the weeks ahead.
Mrs O’Rourke
A Prayer for Our School Family
Loving God,
As we begin this new term, we thank You for the gift of our school family. Bless our children as they learn and grow, our staff and governors as they guide and nurture, and our families as they support one another.
We pray especially for the repose of the soul of Mike Simmons. May he rest in Your peace and may his family find comfort in Your love at this difficult time.
We pray for all the children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. May they grow ever closer to You and experience the joy of Your presence in their lives.
Help us to live each day with kindness, courage, and faith, following the example of Jesus in all that we do.
Amen.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you."
— Numbers 6:24–25
-
The Friends Colour Run on Friday 22nd May 2026
Fri 05 Jun 2026The Friends Colour Run on Friday 22nd May 2026
Thank you to all the families who took part in our first ever Colour Run!
It was such a wonderful occasion organised and supported by the Friends of St. John’s. We are blessed to be able to offer such rich and varied opportunities to the children and families.
If you are interested in offering support to the Friends please contact Friendsofstjohnstrowbridge@gmail.com If everyone does a little, it makes a huge difference.
A GoFundMe page has been set up if anyone would like to contribute to raising money for Dorothy House in memory of Mr Smith.
-
OPAL News – Come and Play!
Fri 05 Jun 2026OPAL News – Come and Play!
On Thursday 11th June, from 2:15pm–3:15pm, we will be celebrating the International Day of Play and our recent achievement of OPAL Platinum Accreditation (the highest level of recognition for schools committed to providing outstanding play opportunities).
Families are warmly invited to join us outside to experience OPAL in action and spend time playing alongside their children. We are also delighted to be welcoming a number of special guests, including our local MP and representatives from the Friends of St John's, who will be helping us celebrate this fantastic achievement.
This accreditation reflects the hard work, creativity and enthusiasm of our whole school community, and we look forward to sharing the afternoon with you. We are incredibly proud to have achieved OPAL Platinum. It has been wonderful to see children embracing imaginative, creative and active play across the school. Thank you to our families for their continued support of the programme.
As the event will take place outdoors, please come dressed appropriately for the weather. See the attached poster for further details. We can't wait to play with you!
-
Living Rosary
Fri 05 Jun 2026Living Rosary
During the Month of Mary, our school community has been focusing on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, which invite us to reflect on key moments in the public life and ministry of Jesus: His Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. These mysteries help us to see more clearly how Christ is the light of the world, guiding us in faith, service, and love.
The Year 5 and Year 6 children, including a group of selected pupils who helped to lead the prayer, have approached these reflections with great reverence and maturity. Each mystery has provided a meaningful opportunity for quiet meditation, prayerful listening, and thoughtful discussion.
We have also been weaving the spirit of the Luminous Mysteries into daily school life—encouraging pupils to recognise God’s presence in their learning, their relationships, and their actions. Whether through classroom prayer, collective worship, or moments of reflection, the children are learning to carry the light of Christ into their everyday choices and interactions.
-
Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 15 May 2026Dear Families,
Over the last two weeks, it has been wonderful to see so much success in teaching and learning across the school. The children continue to demonstrate enthusiasm, resilience and pride in their learning, and we are incredibly proud of all they are achieving.
In particular, we would like to celebrate the fantastic efforts of our children with phonics and the Multiplication Tables Check. The dedication shown by both pupils and staff is having a very positive impact, and it is wonderful to see the growing confidence and progress being made. Thank you to all families for the continued support you provide at home — working together truly makes a difference to children’s success.
As part of our Year of Reading, we continue to celebrate and encourage the joy of books throughout the school. On this note, we are delighted to share the exciting news that our new Mr Smith Reading Cabin officially opened today. This wonderful space has been funded through the incredible charity work and support of Friends of St John’s, and we are extremely grateful for their dedication and generosity. In addition, parents and children have given up their time to support the gardening and wild flowers surrounding the cabin which will look beautiful – we are so grateful. We are excited to broaden opportunities for children to read in a comfortable, welcoming environment and know this space will inspire many happy reading experiences for years to come. Thank you once again for helping to make this opportunity possible.
Many of the children over the past two weeks have also engaged in a wide range of cultural capital opportunities. These experiences provide valuable learning opportunities and help children develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the world around them. These enriching experiences simply could not happen without the commitment and dedication of our school team, who continually give their time, effort and energy — often going far beyond their job roles — to ensure success for every child. We are also incredibly appreciative of the volunteers who support our school and help make these opportunities possible.
Our Year 6 children completed their SATs statutory assessments this week, and we could not be prouder of the way they approached this important milestone. Throughout the week, they demonstrated resilience, determination, maturity and positivity, showing just how ready they are for the next stage of their education.
The children have worked incredibly hard over many years, supported by our dedicated staff and families, and they should all feel very proud of their efforts and achievements. SATs are an important part of school life, but as a Catholic school, we recognise that they are only one measure of a child’s journey and success.
We firmly believe that every child is uniquely created by God, with their own individual gifts, talents and strengths. Whether through kindness, creativity, leadership, faith, sport, music, friendship or academic achievement, each child brings something special to our school community, and this is something we celebrate every day. Well done, Year 6 — you have represented yourselves and our school beautifully this week. Thank you also to the Governors of the school who supported the smooth invigilation throughout the week – you have been so supportive.
Finally, we are very much looking forward to celebrating Sports Day next week and hope that many families will be able to join us for what promises to be a fantastic occasion.
With every blessing,
Mrs O’Rourke
Headteacher
-
Year 5 Enjoy PhunkyFoods Workshop
Fri 15 May 2026Year 5 Enjoy PhunkyFoods Workshop
Year 5 took part in an engaging workshop with PhunkyFoods learning about healthy lifestyles, nutrition and wellbeing through interactive activities.
The session supported pupils in developing teamwork, confidence and valuable life skills, while also enhancing their cultural capital through practical, real-world experiences. Links were also made to our Catholic values of stewardship, dignity and caring for God’s gifts.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained important knowledge to support healthy choices in everyday life.
-
Year 5 Train Trip to Salisbury
Fri 15 May 2026Year 5 Train Trip to Salisbury
On Thursday 7th May, Year 5 went on the train to Sailsbury and visited the Cathedral, had lunch and played in the park! They learnt how to be safe on the train, platforms and what to do if they need any help. Thank you to the adult volunteers who supported us on the trip and to Platform for teaching the children train safety and providing such a valuable experience.
-
New Absence Reporting Email Address
Fri 15 May 2026New Absence Reporting Email Address
There is a new email address for reporting your child absent from school. This email address is:
absence@st-johns-trowbridge.wilts.sch.uk
When leaving a message, please include the following information:
Child’s Name
Class
Reason for Absence
If you are unable to email, you can still leave a message on the school answerphone.
A reminder that you need to report your child’s absence every day.
-
Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 01 May 2026Dear Families,
Over the past two weeks, our school community has had much to celebrate.
We were delighted to welcome a visit from Wiltshire Local Authority School Effectiveness Team to monitor the quality of teaching and learning in mathematics across the school. The feedback was extremely positive, highlighting not only the high quality of teaching but also the excellent learning behaviours demonstrated by our children. It was particularly pleasing to hear how confidently pupils could articulate their knowledge and understanding, reflecting the strong foundations being built in every classroom. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both staff and pupils.
We have also enjoyed opening our doors to families of our new Early Years Foundation Stage cohort, who will be joining us in September. It was a real pleasure to meet so many parents and carers and to begin building the strong partnerships that are so important in supporting children as they start their school journey. We look forward to welcoming our new pupils and helping them settle into school life.
Please do take the time to read the full newsletter—there is so much going on within our school and wider community, and we would love for you to stay informed and involved.
We would also like to highlight a couple of important upcoming events. Please add to your diaries the Colour Run organised by the Friends of the School. This promises to be a fantastic, fun-filled event and raises much-needed funds to support every child in our school.
In addition, we are looking forward to celebrating 150 years of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Trowbridge. A special Mass led by Bishop Bosco will be held on Wednesday 24th June at 7pm in the parish church, followed by a community celebration on Saturday 27th June. We hope many of you will be able to join us for these meaningful occasions.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Mrs O’Rourke
-
Sports Day
Fri 01 May 2026Sports Day
Sports Day this year will take place on Friday 22nd May. Children are to arrive at school in their PE Kits wearing a T-Shirt representing the colour of their house:
Blue - St. Mother Teresa
Yellow - St. Don Bosco
Green - St. Francis of Assisi
Red - St. Carlo Acutis
If your child is unsure of their house, they should ask their teacher.
The timings will be as follows:
AM – KS2 (after registration – 12pm)
PM – EYFS and KS1 (1.15pm – 3pm)
Parents are warmly invited to stay for a picnic on the field. Of course, this is all weather dependent.
If you are talking any close-up photos, please ensure that they are of your own child only.
Policy on photography: you will understand the need to safeguard children by refraining from posting photographs/videos of other children on social media sites without the permission of their parents/guardians.
Page 1 of 36
Next »