2016 WINTER ISS UE St. John’s C of E Middle School The Red Sweater The termly Newsletter from St. John’s School Headteacher’s introduction I write to you as the distant chimes of Christmas approach and there is a growing anticipation and excitement amongst the children. This has been a busy term with many highlights. The Year 7 and 8 children who visited Ingestre Hall were full of their experience and it was wonderful to hear of so many moving beyond their comfort zone and trying new activities such as dance. A number of children found a talent for dancing and singing that they did not realise they had! The Newsletter again reflects the range and variety of learning experiences provided for our pupils and it is very pleasing to see them taking part in these challenges. As I have communicated separately, Mrs Ireland, Deputy Headteacher, leaves us after 13 years of service at St. John’s to take up a Headship at St. Mary’s in Studley and we thank her and wish her every success in the future. Finally, can I thank all staff, parents and pupils for their hard work and support this term and wish all a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas. We look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 3rd January 2017. Mr. G. L. Roberts Headteacher English Civil War day On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th we welcomed the Colonel back to the school to hold an English Civil War day for Year 8 students. The students had a great day and learnt lots about what life was like during the Civil War and how the conflict was fought getting to actually handle weapons from the time such as matchlock muskets, pikes and swords amongst other artefacts from the time. The highlight of the experience was the actual firing of a musket by the Colonel and the students themselves actually firing a cannon on the school playground, something which they enjoyed greatly. Update from the Year groups Year 5 new Twitter page by searching and following @HeadofYear6 to get Despite how quickly time has passed since the regular updates. beginning of the school year, and how unbelievable it sounds to say that Year 5 have Finally I would like to say a huge thank you to all the Year 6 staff for their nearly completed their first full term, they are continued hard work and dedication through the longest term of the year. now well and truly settled and integrated as I hope you all have a well-deserved rest over Christmas and that Santa St. John’s pupils. The transition process was brings you something good. very successful again this year and although there may have been some nerves early on in Mr. K. Hirst - Head of Year 6 September and some assessments to complete, pupils have now comfortably become part of their new classes and year group. Year 7 With the autumn term almost complete and This term has already been action-packed, with our Parents’ Expectations the Christmas season upon us I would like to evening, which hopefully many found useful to find out more about the congratulate the Year 7 pupils on completing way we record and monitor behaviour and achievements. We have also their first term in key stage 3. They have had our Harvest Festival service at the Church with a huge amount of shown maturity in their response to the new generous donations made by Year 5 and all pupils which was very behaviour policy and seem to be tackling the gratefully received. Parent’s Evening also took place in October, with the increased work load with diligence opportunity to meet class teachers, perhaps for the first time, and to responsibility. I would like to thank parents for discuss how Year 5 had settled in the first few weeks. More recently, this their continued support in regards to signing half term Key Stage 2 had another visit from M&M Theatre group with planners and helping to ensure pupils are supported with behaviour and their lively and fun production of Cinderella and in the same week, Fizz homework. I look forward to seeing many pupils on our upcoming ‘Give of Pop Science gave a brief show to Year 5 to launch their afterschool Your Best’ trip where they can celebrate their achievements and hard science club, including a plunger tug of war and a leaf-blower-powered work. hovercraft! Then in the following week Year 5 took part in our RE enrichment day, recording a song as a year group and creating multi- At the end of each half term in key stage 3 we celebrate our classes’ coloured flags. Not to forget the Year 5 Science trips to the Thinktank in successes in regards to attendance, house points and stamps through our Birmingham, kindly organised by Mr. Luijk and including exploding Year 7 class league tables which are displayed in the Year 7 corridor. I am balloons, bubbling potions and visiting the talking robots. pleased to announce that 7KRC won all three prizes, having the highest number of all three! Individual pupils were also awarded prizes for With Christmas rapidly approaching, excitement builds towards the end getting full stamps and getting their planners signed. Mrs Clarke assures of term and even more to look forward to, with the Key Stage 2 me that the challenge is now on, watch out 7KRC! fundraising disco, the first terms’ Give of Your Best trip, our Christingle service on Monday the 12th December and of course, Christmas Jumper Our pupils have taken on many opportunities this term to enjoy activities Day. outside the classroom including regular after school clubs and the recent Ingestre Hall trip. With the PGL trip just around the corner and many Year 5 have also made a great effort to make the most of out of school other fantastic opportunities, I hope our pupils will continue to develop activities already in this first term, with many attending our wide variety their interests with the wealth of opportunities they have available to of after school clubs but also lots of pupils in the year group returning them here at St John’s. their forms to attend our trip to Malvern next summer – Luckily we will Finally I would like to say thank you to all the Year 7 teachers for their again be able to take all those who returned their slip, totalling 105 pupils hard work and commitment this term and wish you all an enjoyable altogether. Christmas break! So finally, well done to Year 5 for making a great start to their time at St. Mrs C. Hirons - Head of Year 7 John’s and keep up the hard work and effort! Mr. D. Owen - Head of Year 5 Year 8 As well as recently visiting South Bromsgrove High to watch former pupils competing in their Year 6 annual Eisteddfod, Year 8 have had visits from As the nights draw in and the Christmas lights both North and South Bromsgrove High School start to twinkle it is an ideal time to reflect on this term. I will be working closely with the what has been a very good term for all Year 6 High Schools throughout the year to ensure pupils. They have really risen to the challenge smooth transition for all our pupils in set to them in terms of the new behaviour September. policy along with the impending SATs tests that loom large on the horizon but also with It is particularly important in the final year of St John's that we encourage the added responsibility that comes from not pupils to adopt a mature and responsible attitude to learning and being the youngest in school anymore. homework in preparation for their GCSE studies, which are fast approaching. We appreciate parental support is vital and our new system Thank you for all those parents that have given up their time to come into for monitoring homework is certainly helping us to spot those pupils who school to support your child this term, either attending the parents need more support with recording and remembering to complete the evenings or coming to the talk about the new behaviour policy and how tasks set. you can help your child towards their SATs. Year 6 have been exemplary in the way that have responded to the new behaviour policy that we have Following the success of our Class League Tables last year, we are once brought in as a school and together have amassed a staggering 4,101 again recording class scores for house points, attendance and stamps. achievement points so far at the time of writing, I wonder if we could Pupils can view where their class stands each week on the league table break 10,000 by the end of July? board in the Year 8 corridor and prizes will be won for the best class overall in each area at the end of this term. We also continue to put I would like to take the opportunity to remind you of some important names of pupils with full stamps each week into our tombola, with a dates for the next term. Our Mock SATs week will take place the week chance to win a £10 Amazon Voucher and runners up prizes of chocolates beginning of the 9th January, closely followed by two parents evenings on each half term. As we tell our pupils, 'You have to be in it to win it!' the 17th and 19th of January. More information will be given nearer the time but please feel free to follow what’s going on in Year 6 through our Ms R.