Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Official Opening of Our Prayer Garden

  Fri 28 Feb 2025

  Official Opening of Our Prayer Garden

  On Friday 14^th February we were delighted to welcome over 30 guests to celebrate the official opening of the school prayer garden which is located on the school field. Many thanks to Fr Richard for leading the service so beautifully and also to Mrs Sessions who joined us to   officially cut the ribbon! The prayer garden was one of her unfinished projects and it was a delight to welcome her back to St John's     Catholic Primary. The school choir led us in song and the Chapel Champions contributed prayers and reflections. All children across the school will now be able to access this quite reflective space during the school day and as part of our lunch time provision. 

   

  

• Letter From Mrs O'Rourke

  Fri 07 Feb 2025

  Dear Families,

  I hope this newsletter finds you well. We are continuing to have a fantastic term during this Jubilee year, and I would like to take this opportunity to share some highlights and upcoming events with you.

  We are incredibly proud of our pupils for their enthusiasm and dedication to learning. This term, our Year 5 and 6 have been taking part in challenging learning in RE focussed on the Transfiguration, exploring the wonders of scripture and linking to their lives today. The quality and their depth of knowledge is very impressive. Meanwhile, pupils in Lower Key Stage 2 have been getting creative with drama and art, producing some wonderful drama based on Luke's scripture and also making their very own stunning Class Rosary. Photo attached! EYFS and KS1 are working hard every day with a particular focus on their phonic skills, reading and handwriting - we are all so impressed with the effort and resilience they are showing. Please keep reading with your child every day - it really does unlock access to the whole curriculum!

  OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) during lunchtime continues to develop and I am           incredibly appreciative of the parents support and suggestions for future developments. The children are provided with rich daily opportunities to play outside but in addition to this offer the school lunchtime does include the children having access to the school chapel, school library and lunchtime club - which are all currently held inside the building. In addition we welcome children having the option to wear waterproof overalls or their own clothes during the lunch break - particularly if you believe this would support them in their play.    

  Upcoming Events

  Opening of Our School Prayer Garden: On Friday 14th February families who have        donated towards the creation of our school prayer garden are invited to attend an official opening of this beautiful space within our school site. The Chapel Champions along with the School Choir will lead the service and we are delighted to welcome Fr Richard and Mrs Tracey Sessions to join the school family during the afternoon. We look forward to every child being able to access this space from Term 4 onwards.

  Safer Internet Day: Tuesday 25th February will be celebrated during the school day with the theme “Too good to be true”?  How can we learn to protect ourselves and others from scams online.

  Year 4 SKERN Residential: Children in Year 4 will depart on the morning of Friday 28th   February and return to school on the afternoon of  Sunday 2nd March after a fun packed weekend.

  Parents’ Evening: Taking place on Tuesday March 11th and Thursday March 20th from 3.30pm - 6.00pm. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. Further information will provided with booking online at the beginning of Term 4.

  World Book Day: Thursday 6th March, this will be a fun packed day focussed on the love of reading and children are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. Please encourage your child to start thinking about their favourite characters from the books they love. More details to follow.

  Feast Day Mass: Friday 7^th March at 9.15am celebrated in the St John the Baptist Parish Church - all welcome! 

  Reminders

  Please ensure your child arrives at school on time every day - school gates open at 8.30am and close at 8.45am

  School uniform must be worn daily; if you need assistance, please contact the office.

  A huge thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support. Your involvement in our school community is invaluable, and we appreciate everything you do to support your child’s learning. Particular thank you to the Parent Representatives who dedicate their own time to work in partnership with the school and strengthen our wonderful community. 

  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

  Warm regards,

  Mrs K O'Rourke

   

   

  

• Jubilee Launch Day – A Celebration of Hope

  Fri 07 Feb 2025

  Jubilee Launch Day – A Celebration of Hope

  Last Friday, our school community came together to celebrate the launch of the Jubilee Year, focusing on the theme of hope. Each class explored the story of Noah’s Ark, reflecting on what they are hopeful for in their own lives. The children responded to the scripture with beautiful artwork and thoughtful poetry, showcasing their creativity and faith.

  Beyond the classroom, some of our Year 5 & 6 Chapel Champions led a special reflection in the school hall. Classes visited throughout the day, taking time to reflect and contribute to a collaborative whole-school art piece—a meaningful expression of our shared hopes.

  It was a truly inspiring start to what promises to be an exciting and enriching year.

  A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and family members who visited classrooms to engage with the children about their learning. Your support and involvement make these moments even more special.

   

  

• New House Saints

  Fri 07 Feb 2025

  New House Saints

  We are updating our house Saints to better reflect modern life and inspire our children in meaningful ways. While our traditional saints have guided us well, we want to choose Saints whose lives and missions connect more directly with today’s world—especially in areas like technology, social justice and caring for the environment.

  For example, alongside beloved Saints like St. Francis of Assisi, who teaches us about respect for nature, we will have Blessed Carlo Acutis, a role model for using technology for good. These changes will help our children see how faith can be lived out in today’s world. The      colours of the House groups your child is currently in will remain the same.

   

  Saint Rose (Red) = Blessed Carlo Acutis (To be canonized a Saint on 27th April 2025)

  Saint Dominic (Yellow) = Saint Don Bosco

  Saint Anthony ( Green) = Saint Francis of Assisi  

  Saint Teresa (Blue) = St Mother Teresa

  In our assembly today, the house captains encouraged the children to research their new house Saint at home and share with them anything they found out.  

  Thank you for your support as we continue to grow in faith together!

   

   

• Letter from Mrs O'Rourke

  Mon 27 Jan 2025

  Dear Families,

  I want to start with a huge 'Thank you' for your support and encouragement with our new approach to allowing children to have access to high quality daily play. I will revisit  my vision for our school to be the guardians of childhood.  All the staff team are fully committed to ensure child have access to a safe environment and choices as to how and where they play every day.  

   

  The OPAL (Outdoor Play And Learning) scheme has now been delivered for a full week and there has been much laughter, joy, learning mixed with rain and mud! Each Friday morning the school family join to celebrate our week and listen to the health and safety messages that are essential to making  our play offer successful. The children have been reminded to live out our Catholic Social Teaching themes of 'Stewardship' and 'Rights and Responsibilities' whilst playing. Knowing that we are the stewards of our common home and that we must be responsible for our choices. We will continue to support the children in an age appropriate way and are so impressed with how they are embracing our new approach to the school day.

   

  We have had the most wonderful couple of weeks of learning. I hope you enjoy reading about the high quality experiences the children have had the opportunity to engage with. The team at St John's are working incredibly hard to ensure the curriculum and wider school offer is challenging, fun and engaging. 

   

  Today schools in the Clifton Diocese have launched the 'Jubilee Year of Hope' and we are very excited to learn more about how we can live out our faith during this special jubilee year. We look forward to welcoming you into the classrooms so that the children can share their work marking the launch of the Jubilee Year.  

   

  Finally, a reminder we will be celebrating Children's Mass together on Sunday 26th January at 10.30am at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, everyone is very welcome.

  Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

   

  Mrs O'Rourke

   

• Letter from Mrs O'Rourke

  Fri 10 Jan 2025

  Dear Families,

  Happy New Year to all our children, families, governors and friends! This year we enter the Jubilee Year of Hope - which we will be launching on Friday 24th       January. 

  It is wonderful to welcome all the children back to school and they have looked   incredibly smart in their school uniform - a big thank you to the parents for their continued support. Please ensure all winter uniform is labelled which reduces the chances of coats/scarves/hats/gloves being lost. 

  We ended Term 2 with the most incredible Carol Service in St John the Baptist Catholic Church. It was a truly inspirational way to celebrate the joy of Christmas and unite together as a school family. The singing was simply beautiful - in particular a huge well done to Alex in Year 3 who opened the service with a stunning solo. Our readers again were reverent and allowed us to reflect on the important message that the season of Christmas brings. Our closing carol of the twelve days of Christmas sang by each class brought joy and the festivities alive! Huge thank you to all the adults that made this possible including Fr Richard, the families who attended, Catherine and Richard O'Mahony by supporting the fantastic music and the Friends of St John's who provided much welcomed coffee and mince pies after the service. We look forward to repeating again in 2025! 

  We are officially now an OPAL school and I am confident your child/children will be talking to you about the opportunity for quality play everyday - please do read and action the letter we have sent out today.

  On a safety note please can adults remember that when they are parked outside of the school building that they switch off their car engines. I appreciate the   weather is cold during January but we have many cars omitting dangerous fumes outside of the school gates on a daily basis. Please also remember that parking inside of the care home car park is not supported by the school. We are all responsible for our actions and please consider the needs of our community - in particular the frail and elderly who need medical support with limited mobility. 

  Wishing you all a relaxing weekend and look forward to the children returning to school on Monday for another challenging and exciting week of learning.

  Kind Regards

  Mrs O’Rourke

   

   

• Dorothy House—Reindeer Run

  Thu 19 Dec 2024

  Dorothy House—Reindeer Run

   

  Pupils took part in the Reindeer Run in support of Dorothy House. They were   sponsored to run around the running track four times, the equivalent to running one mile.

  The total raised by St. John’s School is £1,073.42.

  Thank you to everyone who sponsored your child.

   

• Parking

  Thu 19 Dec 2024

  Parking

   

  Our new friends were out on  Wingfield Road this week for school pick up today alongside  our lovely crossing patrol lady Lala.

  Thank you for helping to make it safer for our children.

   

  

• Letter from Mrs O'Rourke

  Fri 06 Dec 2024

  Dear Families

  I open this Newsletter giving thanks for all the love and support families have shared on the funeral of dear Mr Adrian Smith RIP on Saturday 23rd November. The funeral service,  although incredibly moving,  was a wonderful celebration of the legacy and impact Mr Smith had on us all. The community of St John's Catholic Primary School truly shone their light, with the incredible adult school choir singing, tributes to our friend and colleague and uplifting video created by the children. I think he would be very proud of everyone. After the service the school hosted the wake in the school hall and the family felt some comfort being surrounded by his loved ones and work colleagues. On the Monday after the funeral  every child was invited to plant a bulb on the school grounds - making sure we live out our mission of looking for beauty and joy wherever we are - living out being a steward of our world. In the summer term we are planning a day of remembrance for Mr Smith which may well include a tennis event and an orienteering competition! We look forward to welcoming families to join us in marking his life. 

  Over the past few weeks we have invited many new families who are having to choose a Primary school for their EYFS child on tours around the school. It has been a privilege to welcome the families to the school and many have been very complimentary about the learning behaviours and calm purposeful learning          environment. If you have friends or family who would like to visit please encourage them to contact the school office team who will be able to arrange a tour with me.

  To welcome the beginning of the season of Advent we gathered together as a school family to celebrate the Advent Penitential Service with Fr Richard and     supported by the Chapel Champions. It was a meaningful reflection to dedicate time on how we can open our hearts during this season of preparation. After the service children who had received the Sacrament of Reconciliation where invited to confession with Fr Richard and two other visiting priests from Bath. The children were prayerful, showed reverence and were well prepared for the Sacrament - well done to all those children in Year 4, 5 and 6.

  I must now mention of course the superb Christmas Fayre 2024! Without the    dedicated and committed Friends of St John's team this event would never had happened, we are truly grateful and blessed to have you.  The Fayre was a joyful occasion and the children were very excited about gathering together with their friends and families.

  It was simply beautiful to see so many people socialising together and building community. Reggie C was our 'Christmas Light Switch On' Winner 2024 - he did a terrific job! Father Christmas sent a message to say how impressed he was with the Fayre and that he looks forward to visiting again in 2025! Thank you again to Mole Valley Farmers for the generous donation of the  Christmas Tree - the        children play around the tree everyday!

  Over the coming few weeks we start our work with the Outdoor Play And Learning (OPAL) team - this will deepen opportunities for purposeful play for all children. I will keep parents updated with how you can get involved in this project and protect the gift of play and childhood.

  Two important dates before the end of Term include the EYFS Nativity which will be celebrated in the parish church on Tuesday 17^th December at 2pm. Families are invited into the parish centre after the service for refreshments and an opportunity to buy some last minute Christmas gifts! On the last day of term Thursday 19^th December the whole school is gathering in the Parish Church at 9.30am to    celebrate a Christmas Carol Service. This will be the first time we have celebrated together at this time of year in the Parish Church and all families are very welcome to join us. Once again the parish centre is open after the service for refreshments and a mince pie! 

  For families that wish to write a Christmas card to the staff team these are always received with gratitude. The children will be invited to post a Christmas card in the class postbox on the mornings of Monday 16th December and Tuesday 17th on the playground between 8.30am and 8.40am. The cards will then be sorted and delivered to the children by our Year 5 & 6 leaders. 

  It is a busy end to a successful term and the school team look forward to           supporting the children to focus on the meaning  of why we celebrate Christmas and the joy we need to share. 

  Best wishes

  Mrs O'Rourke         

   

   

   

   

   

• Carol Singing in the Playground

  Fri 06 Dec 2024

  Carol Singing in the Playground

  For the last  weeks of term we will be singing carols on the playground at home time. Below are the days that each class will be singing their carol. We hope you enjoy!

    

  Date	Class
  Monday 9th December	Class 1 and 2 (Foundation Stage Playground)
  Tuesday 10th December	Class 3, 4 and 5 (main playground)
  Wednesday 11th December	Class 6 (main playground)
  Thursday 12th December	Class 7 (main playground)
  Friday 13th December	Class 8 (main playground)
  Monday 16th December	Class 9 (main playground)
  Tuesday 17th December	Class 10 (main playground)
  Wednesday 18th December	Class 11 (main playground)