Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God. 1 Peter 2:17
A message from the Head
We have had a fantastic autumn half term with children gradually returning to their schooling routines.
We have had many children in school with unpleasant coughs and cold as well as a number of cases of COVID; it is important that children showing symptoms are tested – and if a child is unwell they should not be in school. This will protect all in school and give your child the opportunity to recover. If your child is unwell with symptoms like a fever, headache, cough or a change to their sense of taste or smell, they should not be in school and you should arrange a PCR test. We have been informed that 40-70% of children have no symptoms, so the twice weekly rapid flow tests are so vital for your family. Test kits are available from the school office.
We have been lucky to have a number of educational experiences including visits and visitors into school this half term: Students from Kingston University's MA Museum and Gallery Studies course came to visit KS2 with their 'Museum in a Box'. They brought artefacts for the children to see and ask questions about. This experience gave the children an opportunity to further understand how secondary resources can be used to find out about the past in History. Feedback from the children was very positive, and they thoroughly enjoyed handling the artefacts shared with them. The founders of National Youth Music Theatre also visited school for a drama and music workshop.
October is the month set aside nationally to celebrate Black History. Over the past terms we have embedded more Black History into our curriculum. This year we have looked at artists and the children have tried to imitate their amazing style of work. We intend to continue to look at how we can make our curriculum inclusive. These are photos of our Black History Month display.
OWL & Forest School News
It’s Half Term and that means marshmallows in Forest School. We had great fun lighting the fire safely and cooking our treats! We‘ve also had lot‘s of fun decorating our pumpkins that we grew for October in the allotment, which we are getting ready for our winter veg, and we’ve even been planning for next Spring already.
Online safety - Netfix TV series 'Squid Game'
You may well be aware of a Netflix TV series called ‘Squid Game’. This was released in mid-September, it is now the most popular series on Netflix. However, it has a certificate rating of 15 years old due to its extreme violence, and so it is not suitable for primary aged children. The popular TV series has led to Squid Game-style contests and online challenges which are going viral on social media and are easily accessible to children. Please follow the below link to understand the basis of Squid Game and the potential risks to young people who might be exposed to it.
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/wakeupwednesday/squid-game-trending-across-platforms-what-parents-need-to-know Profiles on Netflix can be set to age-restrict content. Parental guide to Netflix here: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/2064
'Relativity' Technology Grant
Lily, Louis and Grace's father works for a technology company 'Relativity' and has kindly helped secure a technology grant for the school, enabling us to purchase android tablets and additional Bee Bot robots to enhance the IT curriculum for all our KS1 students.
At Relativity, our vision is to power the pursuit of justice. We make software to help users organise data, discover the truth and act on it; our SaaS product, RelativityOne, manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. relativity.com
Flu immunisation
We have just been informed of a new date for the Flu immunisations - Wednesday 3rd November. The deadline for providing your consent is midnight tonight. Please follow the link to complete an online consent form (one for each child) to ensure your child receives their vaccination. https://sav.hrch.nhs.uk/flu/2021/kingston
St John's Church
Thank you to everyone for your shoeboxes - the Church really appreciates your generosity.
Please note that the next family service is on Sunday 7th November at 10.30am where they will be decorating gingerbread saints for All Saints Day.
School photos
The photographic proof of your child's individual and sibling photos has been sent home with them this week. Please order online by 2nd November 2021 www.braiswick.co.uk/orders
PSA Quiz night - Saturday 6th November
The PSA Quiz Night is back - it is a fun night that won’t be too challenging! Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The evening will be lots of fun with games, drinks and delicious food! Tickets are only £15 per person and includes a delicious meal of either Jerk Chicken, rice and peas or Vegetable curry catered by JerkNBitz. All tickets must be purchased in advance of the event. To reserve your tickets now, please go to: bit.ly/3p2M1N2. Please reserve your ticket by Monday 25th October. There is also an option to pre-order drinks on the booking form so a cold bottle of fizz can be ready waiting for your arrival. Covid precautions will be taken.
School Clubs
We have introduced a number of new afterschool clubs which commence the week of Monday 8th November until Monday 13th December (Inset Mon 22nd November). They include Yoga, Drama, Sewing and Craft, Science, Acrobatic Gymnastics and Hair Braiding. Numbers are however limited.
Please see our clubs page on the school website, under 'Our School' which will gives more details and how to book www.stjohns.kingston.sch.uk/clubs
Donations for school - help us save £££
If you can donate a box of tissues to your child's class at school this would help us save our budget for other things - and it will also help stop the spread of germs!
We could also use spare socks for all age groups. If you are having a sort out, please donate them to school. Thank you.
School lunches
Caterlink have advised that you will be unable to order your child a lunch after half term, until 1/11/21. We will ensure there are meals for all that would normally take one.
Shoebox Appeal
FINAL CHANCE: Please help support the Family & Elderly Shoebox Appeal 2021. Please return your donations to School or St John's Church by TODAY 22nd October. Thank you. https://linktohope.co.uk/
Secondary School Admissions - DEADLINE 31ST OCTOBER
Y6 Parents: Please see the Admissions guide to Kingston's Secondary Schools for 2022 entry on the Year 6 page on our website. Please continue to check our website for further information and updates. It is important that you also continue to check the secondary schools’ website for their Open Days (please note Hollyfield have just moved their open evening online). https://www.stjohns.kingston.sch.uk/year6
Please find attached the AfC Transfer to secondary school presentation.
The Admission to Kingston's Secondary Schools guide and the Kingston schools brochure are available on the Kingston Council website. These have been revised, and provide detailed information on the application process and the borough schools.
If you have questions or concerns, please to email kingston.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk for support. We are currently operating a callback only service and cannot be reached by telephone by members of the public.
Head of School Admissions, Achieving for Children - providing children’s services for Kingston and Richmond, Phone: 020 8547 5284 / 07849 309059
The deadline for applications is Sunday 31 October 2021.
School Tours
Mrs Hutchinson will be giving school tours for prospective parents. Please book via the school website home page https://www.stjohns.kingston.sch.uk/
3rd November 3.30pm
7th December 3.30pm
Applying for a School Reception place
You can now apply for a School Reception place for September 2022. For more information please see
The deadline for applying for a Primary School place is 15 January 2022.
https://www.stjohns.kingston.sch.uk/apply-now
New COVID rules
There is no need to self-isolate as a close contact if you have been double vaccinated. Children also do not need to isolate due to contact. Those who test positive with COVID themselves will still need to isolate but this will not affect the rest of the pupils. This means we no longer need to keep the children in consistent groups, known as ‘bubbles’.
The government has removed the requirement to wear face coverings in law but expects and recommends that they are worn in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.
For this reason we will ask parents/carers to continue to wear a face mask/covering when on school site. This is especially important when picking children up from the playground at the end of the school day.
REMINDERS:
Parents evening
- Please confirm you can attend your parents evening session which takes place after half term on 1st, 2nd and 4th November.
Safety
- Please may we remind you that we are a ‘Nut Free School’ as we do have children with severe allergies to this. Please see our policy on Allergies (including Nut & Food) on the school website.
- If you do send grapes for your child's lunch, please can we ask them to cut in half to avoid the risk of choking.
- Please ensure children wear helmets if riding scooters and bikes.
- Please ensure long hair is tied back for school in order to prevent the spread of nits.
Class pages on the website
- Please keep an eye on your child's class page on our website for regular photos and updates.
Dates for your Diary
Fri 22nd Oct: 6pm PSA School Disco in St John's Church
Mon 24-Fri 28th Oct: Half term
1st, 2nd, 4th Nov: Online parents evening
Sat 6th Nov: 11am-1pm St John's Church Community Café
Sun 7th Nov: 10.30am St John's All Age family service
Thursday 11th Nov: 2pm Remembrance Day Church Service
Mon 22nd Nov: INSET day
Sat 4th Dec: 11am-1pm St John's Church Community Café
Sat 4th Dec: 9am-12noon Christmas tree sale at St John's Church
Fri 10th Dec: Afternoon Christmas Fair at St John's Church
Weds 15th Dec: 10am Christmas service in school
Thursday 16th Dec: 2pm Last day of autumn term
Friday 17th Dec: INSET day
Term dates have been updated and more diary dates can be found on our website here
Links to more information
House Points (found on the front page)