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.
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Faithfulness Class Mass – Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Fri 10 Oct 2025Faithfulness Class Mass – Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
On Tuesday 7th October, we gathered together to celebrate the Faithfulness Class Mass, marking the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was a truly special occasion, filled with prayer, song and reflection. The children participated beautifully throughout the celebration - reading with confidence, singing joyfully, accompanying the music and responding reverently.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who joined us in prayer and supported the children on this important day. A special thank you also to Father Richard for celebrating the Mass and to Joel Almeda for leading the music so wonderfully.
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CAFOD Workshops
Fri 10 Oct 2025CAFOD Workshops
We were delighted to welcome David Brinn, the School Engagement Manager at CAFOD, to our school on Friday 26th September. David led engaging sessions with children across all year groups, helping them to deepen their understanding of the Jubilee Year of Hope and how we can live out our faith through action.
In the afternoon, he worked closely with our Chaplaincy Team, exploring ways to put Catholic Social Teaching into practice in our daily life. The Chaplaincy Team have made an action plan for the upcoming year using what they gained from this CAFOD day.
David spoke very warmly of his visit, commenting that our EYFS children were delightful and joined in well with the songs and stories, and that KS1 gave some very unique answers during the backpacking exercise! He also noted the confidence of the older children and said our school has a great atmosphere that feels genuine and faith-filled. David summed up his visit by saying, “What I saw is what I would expect in a Catholic school — Catholic Social Teaching in action. Faith being lived out.”
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Living Rosary
Fri 10 Oct 2025Living Rosary
On Thursday morning, the children in Years 5 and 6 took part in a beautiful Living Rosary in honour of Mary, as October is the month dedicated to her. Together, they prayed the Luminous Mysteries, showing deep reflection and respect throughout. Each child read clearly and confidently, helping to create a calm and prayerful atmosphere. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to come together in faith and devotion.
‘It made me feel peaceful’
‘I felt more connected to Mary’
‘I liked that everybody was able to participate’
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Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 26 Sep 2025A Fabulous Start to the Term!
Dear Families,
The past two weeks at St John’s Catholic Primary School have been fantastic! Children have settled into their learning with focus, creativity, and enthusiasm, and our playgrounds have been full of collaboration, laughter, and imaginative play.
Earlier this week, we held a practice fire drill, and the children were incredible. Special mention goes to our EYFS pupils, who showed remarkable calm, respect, and independence.
We were delighted to welcome Bev Ball (Wiltshire LA) and Helen Easton (OPAL) to school this week. Both consultants praised our children for their excellent learning behaviours and the warmth of welcome they experienced—testament to the strength of our Catholic school community.
We ensure that all children have access to high-quality texts, and we are ambitious for every child to thrive in their reading. We remind parents that reading every night is a vital way to support learning, and if you have any questions, please speak with your child’s class teacher. Please take note of the Reading Breakfast events being held across the academic year when families are invited to join their children to start the day with tea/coffee croissant’s and a good book!
Thank you also to all the families who attended our ‘Meet the Teacher’ workshops on Tuesday evening—the largest turnout we’ve had in some time. It was wonderful to welcome families into classrooms, share our learning environments, and discuss the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead.
We are so proud of our children’s curiosity, creativity, and compassion. Their dedication and joy in learning is a wonderful reminder of the strength and spirit of our school community.
With best wishes,
Mrs O’Rourke
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Parent/Teacher Meetings
Fri 26 Sep 2025Parent/Teacher Meetings
We will be holding our autumn parent teacher meetings on Tuesday 7th October and Thursday 16th October between 3.30pm and 6.00pm. Booking are made using the Parents Booking system and will open at 6.00pm on Friday 26th September and will close at 9.00am on 3rd October. Instructions on how to access the system can be found in the attached letter. Appointments are limited to one per child. Should you require an additional appointment, please telephone the school office and we will arrange a telephone appointment with the class teacher. There will also be the opportunity to arrange a meeting with Mrs O’Mahony our Inclusion Lead by contacting the school office.
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Mission Review Evening
Fri 26 Sep 2025Mission Review Evening
On Tuesday 18th November I would like to warmly invite all parents and grandparents to join school representatives and governors to a Mission Review Evening. The event will be held in the school hall with cheese and wine refreshments. The evening will allow all adult stakeholders to reflect and review our school mission statement and consider options for the school mission going forward into our centenary year in 2026-2027. The evening will commence at 6.15pm with a key note speech from Mrs O’Rourke at 6.30pm and then time for adults to discuss and review our school mission, the evening will close before 7.45pm.
We have gathered pupil voice regarding the mission statement, logo and ethos, please note this event is aimed at adults only. We look forwarding to welcoming you all in order that we can work together to make our Catholic school the finest place it can be.
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First Holy Communion Mass in school
Fri 26 Sep 2025First Holy Communion Mass in school
We were delighted to come together as a school community to celebrate Mass in thanksgiving for the children who made their First Holy Communion last academic year. We are very grateful to Father Richard for celebrating Mass with us and to Joel for leading the music so beautifully. The children were reverent, prayerful and looked wonderful in their special outfits. Our readers read with confidence and the singing was particularly special – it was a truly joyful occasion for all. We also thank the parents and families who joined us and helped make the celebration even more special.
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School Photos
Fri 26 Sep 2025School Photos
David Wiltshire Photography will be in school on Tuesday 30th September to take pupil’s individual photos. Pupils with siblings in our school will also have a photograph taken together during the school day. Unfortunately, we are not able to take photos with children who are not currently at St. John’s or any other family relationships other than siblings.
All pupils should come into school in their Winter uniform on this day.
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Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 12 Sep 2025Dear Families,
Welcome to the New School Year!
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families well and rested after the summer break. It is a pleasure to welcome you all back to St John’s Catholic Primary School for the start of a new academic year, and to extend a particularly warm welcome to the new families who are joining our school community for the first time.
As a Catholic school, we are proud to place Christ at the centre of all that we do. Our mission is to nurture the spiritual, academic, emotional, and social development of every child in our care. We are looking forward to another year of learning, growth, and faith, where together — school, home, and parish — we support one another in helping our children flourish.
Until we get to Advent of this year, our school theme continues to be celebrating the Year of Jubilee – challenging us to be pilgrims of hope. Through our collective efforts in prayer, service, and learning, we will help our children understand how they can live out Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching themes each day.
Our dedicated staff have worked hard over the summer to prepare a welcoming and stimulating environment, and we are excited to begin the year with enthusiasm and hope. We are committed to delivering a high-quality education rooted in faith, and to supporting every child in reaching their unique God-given potential.
There will be many opportunities for you to engage with the life of the school in the coming months — from curriculum evenings to school Masses, parent meetings, and celebrations of learning. We deeply value your partnership and support, and we look forward to walking alongside you this year in faith and friendship.
I encourage you to take note of the dates for the diary which are included on the school website and within this newsletter.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions as the year progresses. Let us keep each other in prayer as we begin this new chapter together.
With every blessing for the year ahead,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs O’Rourke
Headteacher
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Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 18 Jul 2025“We are many parts, we are all one body…” – 1 Corinthians 12:12
Dear Families,
As we come to the close of another academic year, I find myself filled with both gratitude and pride. This has been a year of many milestones — not least of all, it marks my first year in headship here at St John’s Catholic Primary School. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead such a vibrant, compassionate, and faith-filled school community.
I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of you — our families — for your support, encouragement, and prayers throughout this year. Your kindness and partnership have helped guide me through this first chapter of leadership, and I feel truly blessed to walk this journey alongside you.
One of the highlights of this term was undoubtedly our fantastic ‘Farm Fest’ school fayre. Organised by the tireless efforts of the Friends of St John’s, it was a beautiful celebration of everything we value — community, joy, and togetherness. The afternoon was filled with laughter, music, and children enjoying simple pleasures which will remain as precious memories. Thank you to every volunteer, every stallholder, and every family who attended — you made it a day to remember.
This year has also brought us moments of deep sadness. In November, we lost our dear colleague and friend, Mr Adrian Smith. His passing touched every corner of our school family. Adrian served St John’s with incredible dedication and care, and his absence is still keenly felt by us all. Yet, in our grief, I have witnessed the most powerful signs of love and resilience — in the quiet strength of our children, in the unwavering compassion of our staff, and in the prayers and support from you, our parents.
Together, we have carried one another through the hardest days. That, in itself, is the truest expression of our Catholic faith — to be community, even in sorrow. To lift each other up in love.
As we move into the summer break, I pray that you all find rest, renewal, and precious time with loved ones. Let us take forward the hope and unity we’ve built this jubilee year, and return ready to grow in faith, learning, and joy once more.
Thank you for making my first year as headteacher a truly memorable and meaningful one.
With every blessing,
Mrs O'Rourke
Headteacher
