St John’s Primary School

Wallingford

Newsletter

April 2017

Issue 14

3.4.17

Dear Parents,

Thank you to those of you who were able to make our post-Ofsted progress meeting last Tuesday.

I was pleased to be able to share with you the work we have done, progress we have made and to

tell you about the external consultants who have worked with us over the last year. For those who

were unable to make it, I am attaching a copy of the slides from the meeting with this newsletter.

You will be aware that we are sadly saying goodbye to Charlotte Miles, our SENCo, and Melanie

Gravett, our Forest School Leader, at the end of term. We have made temporary appointments for

both posts for the Summer Term. Rebecca Jones, who is a former headteacher of a special

school, joins us as our SENCo; and Jo Ord who has lots of outdoor education experience with chil-

dren and families, joins us as our Forest School Leader. We are looking forward to working with

them both. You will have a chance to say goodbye to Charlotte at a Farewell Coffee Morning on

Friday 7th April at 11am – do come along if you can.

Our hall is all set for the Year 3 and 4 Midsummer Night’s Dream performances this week and

looks fantastic. Many thanks to all of the parents who helped out on the making evening, painting

the back-drop and constructing the forest! The rehearsals have been in full swing and the dress

rehearsal on Thursday was quite stunning. The audiences have a real dancing, acting and singing

treat in store for them today and tomorrow. If you are coming along on Tuesday evening, the PTFA

will be selling refreshments too. The children have really embraced their Shakespeare topic this

term and have loved putting together this performance.

Year 5 and 6 went to the Science Museum in Leicester on Friday as part of their ‘I will survive’ top-

ic. They took part in Science workshops and had a chance to look at all of exhibits, learnt a lot and

really enjoyed the day.

We had fun dressing up in red last Friday and telling Mr Chandler jokes and splatting him, and

raised £203 for Comic Relief in the process. Thank you for supporting us with that.

You will have received a letter from Mrs Burgess detailing all of the exciting activities we have

planned for Book Week this week which will be a lovely way to end the term; this includes a visit

from the poet James Carter, our local bookshop owner, visits to the library and a book swap. We

are sure it will help to boost our children’s enthusiasm for reading and maybe introduce them to

some new books!

We have had a real focus this term on Growth Mindset and ‘Purple Learning’. Many of you will

have heard your children talking about being a ‘Purple Learner’ and wearing the hat or the cloak in

their class. This is having a really positive impact on children’s attitudes towards their learning and

levels of perseverance. See more information about this in this newsletter.

Term ends at 1.30pm onFriday and there will be an Easter Cake Sale run by Year 6 parents who

are raising money for the Year 6 yearbook. Do come along and support them if you can.

Nicky Hughes

Issue 14 Page 2

Important dates for your diaries…

Fri 31st March - Y5/6 Space Trip

Mon afternoon 3rd April - Year 3/4 Production 1:30pm

Tues evening 4th April - Year 3/4 Production 6pm

Mon 15th/16th May - Year 5 Residential

** Fri 7th April - End of Term **

Year 6 Easter cake sale at 1.30pm

Remaining Term Dates 2016-2017 Term 4 21/02/17 to 07/04/17, Term 5 24/04/17 to 26/05/17, Term 6 05/06/17 to 21/07/17

Term Dates 2017-2018 Term 1 06/09/17 to 20/10/17, Term 2 30/10/17 to 19/12/17, Term 3 04/01/18 to 09/02/18, Term 4 19/02/18 to 29/03/18, Term 5 16/04/18 to 25/05/18, Term 6 04/06/18 to 20/07/17

Inset Days 2017-2018

Monday 04/09/2017, Tuesday 05/09/17, Monday

06/11/17, Monday 23/07/18, Tuesday 24/07/18,

Purple Learning comes from the learning

zones idea (above) – we want to be out

of our ‘comfort zone’ where the learning is

too easy but not in the’ danger zone’

where the learning is too difficult.

We are talking to the children about chal-

lenging themselves by being in the

‘challenge’ or ‘purple zone’.

We have talked a lot about what ‘purple

learners’ do: take risks, make mistakes,

ask questions, talk about their learning

with their partners, listen, draw on previ-

ous learning, persevere, act on ‘green to

grow’ feedback.

Many of the classrooms have displays up

- do ask your children all about it!

We will be sending home some tips for

how to support your children in having a

growth mindset at home.

Purple Learning

The purple tie in Year 5!

Issue 14 Page 3

Maths in KS1

At Forest School

Issue 14 Page 4

Full Circle Sports Easter Holiday Sports & Activity Camps Come and join us to have fun, learn new skills and make new friends!

**NEW** FOCUS ON…Workshops

Spend the day taking part in your favourite activity or try something new!

Wallingford School (OX10 8HH)

£35

9.30am- 3.00pm

(extra time of 8.30am - 5.30pm available)

*NEW* FOREST SCHOOL

FS - Year 2 - Tuesday 11 April

Year 3 - Year 6 - Thursday 20 April

For children age 8-14 years

Focus On…Football - Tuesday 11 April

*NEW* Focus On…Lacrosse - Thursday 13 April

Focus On…Climbing - Wednesday 12 April & Wednesday 19 April

Focus On…Dance - Thursday 20 April

MultiSport Camp

Age 4 to 13 years

Activities include: Trampolining, Climbing Wall, MultiSports, Lacrosse, Hockey, Football, Basketball,

Cricket, Rounders, Tennis, Badminton, Tag Rugby, Dance, Arts & Crafts and much more!

Tuesday 11 April to Thursday 13 April

Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 April

Time: 9.30 to 4.30pm (extra time of 8.30am to 5.30pm available - charges apply)

Cost: £32 per day, book all 3 MultiSport Camp days in the same week for £90.

(sibling discounts available).

Venue: Wallingford School Leisure Centre (OX10 8HH)

We are OFSTED registered and accept Childcare Vouchers.

For more details or to reserve your places -

Email - sam@fullcirclesports.co.uk

Call - 07751 231 090

Details and booking form also available at: www.fullcirclesports.co.uk