Dear Parents and Carers

A mixed week weather wise, the children have been able to dodge most of the heavy rainfall and enjoy some fresh air each day.  Attendance continues to be generally good although there are a few non Covid related infections around at the moment.  All classes remain fully open and again we ask that you exercise caution and common sense if your child appears to be unwell.  The systems in place for testing for possible covid-19 are quick and straightforward and this continues to help us to keep the school functioning as normally as is possible at the moment.

Children in all year groups are enjoying a wide variety of after school activities and our arrangements that all children are collected at the front of the school is working well.  Congestion at the Round Meade gate is now much improved as a result of the slightly earlier opening time and I ask that you exercise caution and safety when approaching the school by car. 

The school flu immunization programme took place on Wednesday and those families who gave permission by the online portal will receive confirmation that their child has received a flu vaccination this year.

All classes are now fully engaged with their rich and exciting curriculum and Assemblies now take place on Fridays and we are able to return to celebrating Worker of the Week as well as the Times Tables and Spelling Winners. 

Our Year 5 children enjoyed a visit to Church on Thursday morning where they were met by Fr Grant who gave them a tour of the Church and delivered a most interesting delivery around the Eucharist.  The children clearly enjoyed this and as you know Fr Grant has a particularly unique way of engaging with our children so that the Spiritual Message really does get home and the children are able to make links from the Scriptures to their daily lives.  The teachers have chosen the hymns and the arrangements for the two masses and I do hope that you are looking forward to this special Sacrament which we are able to celebrate in a more normal fashion although there will still be some restrictions in place. 

Teachers have already arranged class trips and will continue to do this as part of supporting the children’s curriculum.  Extra sporting activities are also taking place and we are pleased with the way that the children have represented their school.   Further opportunities will take place throughout the year. 

Miss Briscoe, Miss Rogers and I have enjoyed school choir auditions and we were thrilled that there were so many children that wanted to have a go.  Clearly the school choir does have to meet a certain standard which is different from general class singing activities and also whole school singing in the hall.  We are looking forward to selecting the choir and have already some ideas to show off their skills particularly in the run up to Christmas. 

Our school is completely full and you will have noticed that I have sent the flyer from Sefton about Admission arrangements for September 2022.  Please make sure that you follow the instructions and if you know of any friends and families new to the area that would like a place in our new reception class please informed that as we were over subscribed last year with a number of families missing out.  Can you please send any Baptism Certificates to the school office where Mrs Greenwood will be happy to take a copy for our records.  You may email the document if that is more convenient on admin.stjohnbosco@schools.sefton.gov.uk.  Children hoping to join our school in September must be baptized in order for the governing board to be able to rank their Admission Criteria accurately and as a result maximize their opportunity for a place.

Before I close I would like to thank you all and your wider families for their generosity and participation in our MacMillan Coffee Morning and Cake Sale.  Many of our families have suffered due to cancer but have benefitted from the support that this wonderful group do each day.  I can announce that our final total was £926.  A number of people have said that it would be wonderful if we could round it up to £1000 so we are £74 short.  I am donating £10.00 this morning so we are now £64.00 short.  If you would like to help our school reach this unbelievable total that would be greatly appreciated.

What a wonderfully positive note to end on and it simply remains me to wish you a happy and peaceful weekend. 

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher