The Link Newsletter #59

Thursday 18th July 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is the final newsletter for this academic year; a year filled with plenty of success and opportunities for our children.

This week marks the end for our current Year 6s and their seven year journey through their primary education. We are very much looking forward to watching the children perform in the Leavers' assembly on Friday. They will each receive a Bible and bookmark along with a yearbook containing photographs and memories from their classmates.

We will also be saying goodbye to some staff members too.

Miss Smullen and Miss O'Reilly have made the brave decision to leave their roles to travel to far off lands. They will both be travelling to different continents, Miss Smullen to Australia and Miss O'Reilly to South America. What a fantastic adventure that you have ahead of you. We look forward to hearing from you - please send us a postcard!

Miss Tallowin has secured another teaching job, still in primary education, but not in the UK. Instead, Miss Tallowin will travel to Montenegro and will be teaching abroad. A courageous but exciting decision and of course we wish you all the very best in your new school. Do keep in touch.

Our teachers have certainly left their mark at St John's as class teachers - giving the children they have taught the best experiences and opportunities in primary. The teachers have also led their curriculum subjects, Maths, Writing, Geography and PHSE - thank you for your work enabling these subjects to flourish at St John's.

After many years service at St John's, Mrs Noetzel will be taking up a new position at Forest School from September. We wish her the very best in her new role and new school. Thank you for your time working with children in nearly every year group at St John's.

Finally, we say a fond farewell to Mrs Hilton who has been at St John's for the last 16 years. Mrs Hilton has given commitment and dedication to various roles, predominantly supporting children in the classroom but also overseeing the lunchtime supervision. We know that you are soon to enjoy a well earned retirement. Go well, Mrs Hilton!

KITCHEN UPDATE

We have several projects taking place over the summer holiday period. The largest and most impactful will be the development of a new kitchen here at St John's. We have given notice to The Alderton Junior School and thank them for providing school meals over the last decade or so.

The kitchen development will commence on 22nd July and is scheduled to complete in the week before school resumes in September. Should there be any delays we will of course make you aware before school reopens after the Summer break.

We are delighted to welcome Mrs Cathy O'Neil as our new Catering Manager. I have worked with Cathy previously at Ivy Chimneys Primary School. I enjoyed her cooking then and look forward to deliciously home cooked meals for the first time at St John's. Mrs O'Neil officially starts on 27th August. A menu will be shared ahead of our return back to school.

I will stress that like any other catering business, such as a cafe or a restaurant, its financial success will wholly depend on the support from children and parents. We strongly encourage ALL families to take up the school meal option so that we can make this a viable offer to our children. We need a high take up to enable the kitchen to be self-sustaining. Let's come together and encourage your child to eat a school meal - maybe for the first time?

Over time, we will be arranging parent taster sessions, enabling you to join your child for lunch and sample some of our freshly cooked food.

I will be in touch again to give you an update on the kitchen development and fingers crossed, we will be serving meals on Wednesday 4th September!

BREAK THE RULES DAY

As a community we have raised £1789.26 for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. We are delighted with the fantastic amount of money raised. Thank you to everyone who dug deep and donated money in exchange for children wearing non uniform, colouring their hair and much more besides.

SUMMER MUSIC CONCERT

We enjoyed a delightful evening of music on Monday 15th July. Every child who plays a musical instrument were able to participate and perform to a large audience of parents, current and past students.

I was impressed by the quality and standard of individual and group performances. I particularly noted the progress that children in Year 6 had made over the last four years. I really do hope and encourage the children to continue to play when they move to their new schools in September.

Thank you to Mr Peck and the choir who sang so beautifully. A song which has been written to encompass all of our school values was a highlight!

Thank you to Mr Clay, Mrs Little, Mr Horn for the work they have done in teaching our children. Lastly, a HUGE thank you to Mrs Grimsell for her work in not only teaching the violin but bringing together all the musicians, practicing with them so that they performed so confidently in our summer concert.

MEET THE TEACHER

It has been wonderful to see parents support the next year's teachers by attending the Meet the Teacher events over the last two weeks.

If you were unable to attend, we have added the slides from each event to our website. You can view the slides here:

Meet the Teacher

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

3 TEES CRICKET COMPETITION

Children in Year 2 represented St John's in the 3 Tees Cricket competition on 28th June. The team played brilliantly and won the competition which meant they were selected to play at the County final on Friday 12th July. Unfortunately we weren't able to win against tough competition. However the staff and parents commented on how well the children played and worked together as a team. Congratulations to our Year 2 cricketers. Thank you Mr Edwards-Smith, Mrs Tay and Mrs Holland for accompanying the children.

HELP NEEDED TO DEVELOP SPORT AT ST JOHN'S

Thank you to parents who have completed the online form offering to volunteer and support the running of clubs and sporting fixtures in the new academic year. If you missed the form and are able to volunteer, here is a link for you to sign up.

SPORT IN THE AUTUMN TERM

We are putting together a list of fixtures for the Autumn Term. This year will aim to ensure that each competition is preceded by a club to help the children prepare for the competitions. This is why your support is needed (see above). More details on this in the Autumn term.

SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 2024

Active Essex

Whilst many of you may be very excited to have your children home for the next 6 weeks, I know through conversations at the school gate that this can seem like a long time! 

Essex County Council do provide clubs for children to get involved in. Most of the sessions require you to book and pay online. Some of the sessions are free if you are in receipt of Pupil Premium. Please follow the link to have a look at what is available this summer.

https://www.activeessex.org/children-young-people/essex-activate/holiday-club/

Here are a couple of information booklets to help with the booking system.

Parent Guide to Booking System - Wonde

Parent Guide to using vouchers

There are also Summer Camps that take place in Loughton throughout the holidays.

Please see the flyer below.

HAF Summer Activity 

The Essex Libraries Summer Reading Challenge 2024

We all know how enjoyable and important reading is but over the summer it can be hard to keep children motivated. The Essex Library Service provide children with a reading challenge every year. This year the title is Marvellous Makers. You can join up in your local Essex Library and enjoy books together throughout the summer.

Please see the attached flyer and information for parents.

Marvellous Makers Reading Challenge

Whatever you choose to do over the summer we hope that it is enjoyable and fun for you all. 

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY LEARNING

We all know that being a parent is amazing and ensures that life is never dull!  However there is no doubt that it can be hard at times and so it is helpful to know that there is support on offer for all residents in Essex. Free courses for adults are provided by Essex County Council and cover a wide variety of different topics, ranging from healthy eating and cooking, arts and crafts to understanding ADHD and other SEN needs. Some courses are face to face with many based in Harlow, others are online, often during the school day. 

Please see the leaflet below for information and for your ease follow the link to the website detailing online courses available this term.

Family Learning - available courses

GET INTO TEACHING WITH THE WEST ESSEX SCITT

Are you interested in training to become a Primary School Teacher?

We have Initial Teacher Training vacancies to begin training at the beginning of September 2024. We are looking for people who have a degree, a passion for education and teaching and want to inspire young people to fulfil their potential.

We would be very interested to hear from you if you are thinking of becoming a teacher, or know someone who is. 

This is not a drop in event so please book your place now by emailing vsmullen@efspt.org

We welcome the opportunity to meet and talk to you about the exciting teacher training opportunities available. Susan Marbe, the West Essex SCITT Director can be contacted at smarbe@efspt.org or please call one of our team on 02085042934 option 6. We can also provide you with support and guidance on your DfE APPLY application form

For any further information on what becoming a teacher might involve more generally, you can visit http://www.westessexscitt.co.uk/ or https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

You can find and apply for our Initial Teacher Training courses via DfE FIND

...AND FINALLY...

Miss Ruddock (soon to become Mrs Walker) will be getting married in the summer holidays. In true St John's style, we held a mini wedding ceremony ahead of the St John's Got Talent Show. Alexander performed the role of mini-Jake and Mr Peck and children from Falcon class  led the proceedings.

We wish Miss Ruddock and her soon-to-be-husband, Jake, all the very best for the big day!

On behalf of the whole team, I would like to finish by wishing everyone a happy and peaceful summer break. We look forward to seeing you back in school on 4th September.