Dear parents and carers,
On Thursday of last week, we welcomed our local authority advisor, Mrs. Botarelli, to out school. Mrs. Botarelli visits the school to provide us feedback and help us to evaluate the progress that we are making. We spent the morning visiting lessons and listening to children talk about their work. I am pleased to inform you that Mrs. Botarelli was extremely impressed with the progress which the school has made. We have gained a reputation for high standards and we continue to set ambitious targets moving forward. Pupils produce high quality work and, as ever, pupil behaviour was impeccable. The number of parents who are choosing Johnston School from outside catchment is a testament to the hard work of staff and pupils.
Curriculum at Johnston!
Children in Years 1-6 are settling into their projects, and absorbing all the new and interesting knowledge that comes with our curriculum. We have designed our curriculum around projects for a reason – it allows children to build on prior learning and make links between subjects. This makes learning more meaningful for the children and helps it to stick in their long-term memory.
This term, all children in Y1-6 have projects which have a historical focus, supported with learning in geography, art and DT. All children are studying a different time period. At the end of the term, we are hoping to open a Johnston Museum and children will become the curators of this fantastic display of learning.
Christmas Pantomime
We have spent a great deal of time deliberating over the right approach to the Christmas Pantomime. Unfortunately, we are unable to cover the costs as a school, and it is likely that tickets and buses will cost around £15 per child. We understand that this is a lot of money to ask parents to cover during a cost of living crisis. However, we do not want to make it seem like we are spoiling a Christmas tradition. If we decide not to attend, we will plan for a fun event in school.
Please provide us with you opinion. We will listen to your ideas. Do you want us to book the pantomime, or would you prefer us to arrange for fun events in school?
Attendance
Now we have settled into school and routines are re-established, a few reminders about attendance and punctuality.
Our approach with attendance:
Our school target is for all pupils to have an attendance of 97% or above. Although illness does happen, wherever possible children should be in school if they are well enough to attend. Any non illness or medical absences will be unauthorised, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Days missed quickly build up and have a real impact on learning. What absence means in real terms:
- 90% attendance = 1 day missed a fortnight = almost 4 weeks missed in a year
- 80% attendance = 1 day missed a week = almost 8 weeks missed in a year
Interesting (and shocking facts):
- A child with 90% attendance throughout their school life will have missed the equivalent of more than a year's worth of school lessons.
- Only 35% pupils who have less than 90% attendance achieve five or more good GCSEs, but
- 73% of pupils who have an attendance of 95% or more will achieve this.
Over the coming weeks:
We will be writing to all parents to set out our approach to encouraging the best attendance possible.
We will also be contacting parents individually where we have cause for concern.
Special Dinner Option
Information from Welsh Water
Diolch Mrs. Glynn!
This week we give huge congratulations and an even bigger THANK YOU to one of our Johnston treasures, Mrs. Glynn. Mrs. Glynn has achieved the remarkable milestone of 25 years at Johnston School. During this time she has worked in every class in the school, taught hundreds of children and fixed a huge variety of cuts, bumps, bruises and worse! THANK YOU Mrs. Glynn for your help, patience, expertise and kindness. We all look forward to the next 25 years! x
Best Wishes Mrs. Sunderland
Today marks Mrs. Sunderland's last day at Johnston C.P. School. Mrs. Sunderland joined the school in 2017 and has worked with children from reception to year five. During her period of employment at Johnston C.P. School, Mrs. Sunderland has developed a passion for ELSA and the high quality support which she has provided to pupils has become a hallmark of her time at our school.
We wish Mrs. Sunderland all the best at Haverfordwest High School and we know that she will do an excellent job supporting pupils. I am sure that many pupils will look forward to seeing her again, later in their educational journey!
Keeping in Touch
Please use the playground in the mornings or after school to pass on quick messages to class teachers. Wherever possible, the teacher should always be the first port of call if you have any concerns or questions.
General enquiries, questions or concerns: Please speak to the class teacher in the first instance. If not, you can call the school office on 01437 890280 and we can then arrange for the relevant person to call you back. If you would like to contact me directly, my email address is: Williamsr1688hwbcymru.net
Inset Days
The Welsh Government has provided schools with six inset days this year:
- Monday, 5th September. Staff will be preparing for the new academic year.
- Monday, 17th October. Staff will be working on our curriculum.
- Monday, 28th November. All schools in the cluster will be working together.
- Monday, 17th April. All schools in the cluster will be working together.
- Days Five and Six will be taken on Friday, 23rd December and Monday, 24th July.
Bonjour!
- L’alphabet francais
Friday Afternoon Provision
Friday afternoon provision will be back up and running from the first week of term.
Please register so that we are able to provide appropriate staffing levels.
Every child registered has a place.
Attendance
The pandemic has had a significant impact on pupil attendance, but we feel that it is time for us to begin encouraging attendance as much as possible. Our target this year is 97%.
Our average is: 93%
A massive "Well Done" to Class Six, who were the highest attending this week with 100%. Da iawn pawb!
