Latest News
Information about Back to School September 2022 is in News and Events, Newsletters.
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End of summer DISCO
Wed 29 Jun 2022DISCO time
Tuesday 19th July!
KS1
3pm-4pm
£2 for entry, a snack and drink
Year 3/4 and 5
4:15-5:30pm
£2 entry and bring change for the tuck shop
Year 6 only
4:45-6:45
Bbq first for an hour followed by the disco
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Heat Health Alert Thursday 16 June
Thu 16 Jun 2022Thursday 16 June 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had a 'Heat Health Alert' from Services for Children (SFC) .
Tomorrow is possibly going to be a very hot day. The information from SFC says:
' There is high confidence for temperatures to rise significantly ....
becoming hot or very hot in central and southern areas. The peak of the heat is expected on Friday, with
daytime maxima likely to reach into the low to mid-30s of Celsius across large parts of central and
southern England.'Please could we ask you to ensure that your child:
- is wearing a named hat to school (if possible, a wide brimmed hat)
- has sun-cream on before they come to school
- has their water bottle with them (this can be topped up throughout the day)
At school children will:
- Not be outside for prolonged periods of time, especially at lunchtime
- Be encouraged to remain in shaded areas when outside.
- Not participate in vigorous activities
- In ventilated rooms, as much as we are able to do this
- Be reminded to be drinking water throughout the day.
Kind regards
Carolyn Wilkinson
Headteacher
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Extra-Curricular Clubs
Fri 11 Mar 2022Dear Parents and Carers
Clubs running at St John’s this half term
Name of club
Teacher
When
KS2
Choir
Mrs Wilkinson/ Mrs Schneider
Friday 2.30 p.m.
Years 5 and 6
Chess/ Board Games
Mr Churchill
Thursday after school
Year 4
Art
Mr Moss
Wednesday after school
All children
Service Club
Mrs Roberts and Mrs Shaw
Monday lunchtime
Years 5 and 6
Football Club
Mrs L James and Mr P Dickin
Tuesday after school
Years 5 and 6
Netball Club
Mrs White
Monday after school
All children
Karate **
Outsider provide
Monday after school
Year R, 1 and 2
Multiskills Club **
(£4.50 per week)
Portsmouth in the Community
Wednesday after school
AFTER EASTER
Year R,1 and 2
Storytime Club
Mrs Schneider
Tuesday after school
All children
Makaton Choir
Portsmouth in the Community/ Mrs Schneider
Friday after school
AFTER EASTER
Year 1 and 2
Art
Mrs Bailey
Tuesday after school
Years 5 and 6
Be a news reporter
Mrs Wilkinson
Thursday lunchtime
Years 5 and 6
Pokemon Club
Mr Norris
Wednesday lunchtime
Year 6
Maths Booster Club
Miss Havey, Mr Dickin, Miss Howlett, Mrs Howarth, Ms Wakefield, Miss Hall, Mrs Matthews, Mrs Wilkinson
Wednesday before school
** There is a cost to these clubs
These clubs will continue after the Easter break. There will be other clubs joining the list and we will let you know about these in due course.
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New Headteacher at St John's
Fri 18 Feb 2022Friday 18th February 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
Appointment of new Headteacher at St John’s Gosport C of E Primary School
Of all the events that happen in a school, the leaving of a Headteacher and appointment of a new Headteacher ranks as of major importance.
As you know, Mr Lyndon Strong moved on to pastures new at the end of the last Autumn term, thereby leaving a vacancy for a Headteacher
After the regulatory interview period and due consideration, I am delighted to inform you that the Governors of St John’s School have appointed Mrs Carolyn Wilkinson as the new Headteacher. As a long-term member of staff and the present Acting Headteacher, Mrs Wilkinson is well known to all of you. We could not have found a better candidate to fill this role. Her dedication to the education and welfare of your children is outstanding and I know this will continue.
I would ask for your continuing support as we move into the next era of the school. A time to continue with the outstanding work of the dedicated staff in their task of preparing children to take their place in the world. The primary school years are vital in laying the foundations for our children and it is imperative that Parents, Headteacher, Staff and Governors work together to make this the very best educational establishment for our children.
I know that you want the very best for your children and this is the aim of St John’s School.
I personally offer my congratulations to Mrs Wilkinson and know that we have placed the school in safe hands.
Yours faithfully,
Jean Watson
Chair of Governors
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Return to school Wednesday 5th January 2022
Wed 05 Jan 2022Monday 3rd January 2022
Dear Parents and Carers
Return to school Wednesday 5th January 2022
Happy New Year! We hope that you all enjoyed the Christmas break and had a wonderful time with your families. You will have heard various reports in the media about children returning to school and we would like to give you some guidance about what is happening at St John’s.
The school will be re-open on Wednesday at the usual times, with children entering and leaving the school from their usual entry and exit points. We will be returning to year group bubbles and this arrangement will remain in place unless we have a significant rise in the number of Covid cases in any particular year group. During the Christmas holidays we have had just one reported case of Covid and at the moment all teaching staff are well. Enabling face to face education for your children is an absolute priority so please help our community to remain as healthy as possible by testing your children regularly for Covid-19 and by not sending them to school if they have any symptoms of Covid or other illnesses.
The government has published new guidance (Sunday 2nd January 2022) which states:
Changes to the self-isolation period for individuals who test positive for COVID-19
• The 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.
• Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 8.
• Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation. Further information is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection. Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19
• People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time. • Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing. If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19, and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result. If the test is positive, they should follow the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
There is no requirement for primary aged children to wear masks to school. It has been recommended that all adults at school wear masks in communal areas and staff will continue to wear masks when they greet you at the gates. When coming to the school office or visiting a member of staff please wear a mask.
We would like to request that:
• Your child takes a LFD test tomorrow before returning to school
• The number of adults bringing/collecting a child to and from school is limited to one person
• You keep to the USUAL staggered start and collection times and leave the school site/ gates as promptly as you can.
• Adults maintain 2 metre social distance from others when at the school gates
• Adults wear masks unless medically exempt
• Adults keep their children with them until it is time to line up or a member of staff has directed the children to line up
• All COVID absences are reported to the school office by phone or via the school office email address (adminoffice@st-johns-gosport.hants.sch.uk) All of these arrangements will be reviewed at the end of January when the government’s Plan B regulations are scheduled to expire.
We are looking forward to seeing you all and the children returning to school on Wednesday 5th January 2022.
Kind regards
Carolyn Wilkinson
Acting Headteacher
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Last letter from Mr Strong 17 December 2021
Fri 17 Dec 2021Friday 17th December 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
Final message from Mr. Strong
It is with deep sadness that today I write my last message as Headteacher of St. John’s Gosport, Church of England (VA) Primary School. I wish to thank you all personally for your support and understanding during my five years as leader of our wonderful school community. For those of you who have been part of the journey for the all of those years – what a journey it has been!
I leave our learning community feeling proud of all we have achieved and great excitement for the future. Looking back over the last five years to January 2017 there have been many changes, which have ensured that our school is now proudly a benchmark for other schools in Gosport to look towards for inspiration. Of all the changes, ranging from improved learning spaces for our children to engagement of parents and carers in their children’s learning, I am most proud of the consistently good and outstanding teaching and learning our children receive every day. This has been the foundation of the rapid improvement and continued success for our school. For me, having wonderful teaching and learning every day for our children, is the heart beat of a great school, which serves its local community, ensuring the children are ready for their next stage in learning.
When growing up as a young boy in inner city Melbourne Australia in the 1970’s I took for granted going to a good school where the leaders and teachers ensured I learned the three ‘Rs’ (reading, writing and arithmetic) as we used to say. I also took for granted that my school was firmly rooted in Christian values where I was taught how to be respectful to others, where I was taught to be courageous and take risks with my learning and play, and to love others by supporting those who were needier than myself. I am proud that St. John’s, has always been, and I hope will always continue to be, rooted in those same Christian values and good teaching and learning. I am proud that as a school and community, our highest priorities are good teaching, learning and values-based education where our children learn to be the best they can be and contribute to society in a meaningful way.
Each day of my Headship at St. John’s I have been inspired by my amazing, dedicated and understanding teaching and support staff. We have created a staff that is child centred and ensure all our children achieve from their starting points. I’m sure you all realise by now that being an inclusive local school for all children is vital to ensure we are a true reflection of our local area and as many children as possible have the opportunity to experience the ‘St. John’s way’ of learning and living. Building the St. John’s team of staff has been integral to the success of the school.
As you all know, I have been away from school for a few weeks spending time with my family and sister Maryanne, who has stage four cancer and I thank you all for the opportunity to be able to do that in my last weeks of being part of our wonderful community. In any wider community family is the most important ingredient.
Engagement in our school community, by parents, carers and the wider Gosport community, is always a part of the school I wanted to improve. Teaching and learning is the bedrock of a successful school but engagement from parents and the wider community is what sets it apart from other schools. At St. John’s this has taken a great deal of time to manifest and I thank the current and past PTA’s for their perseverance and resilience in continuing in times of adversity. We now have a PTA that is fully functioning and successful to build upon the great work school. Many thanks PTA for all your successes.
I know I say it all the time in my letters to you all – that community and thinking of others is what makes our school special – and I cannot say it any other way. Community is about all the people, those who are successful, those who are struggling and those that require additional needs.
Community is about pride in ourselves and the actions we take – that is: wearing the school uniform with pride, it is using your manners in the local corner shop, it is about helping the elderly lady or man cross San Diego Road, it is about speaking highly to your neighbours about our school, it is behaving yourself in the park and being that child or adult who sets the example to others.
As Headteacher if I leave any legacy, it is this – that you, children and parents, continue to be part of this wonderful community showing others in Gosport and further how others can come together, display love, courage and respect to ensure our future generations can do their very best.
It has been an honour and a privilege to be the Headteacher at St. John’s and the custodian over the last five years, ensuring the school continues to move forward and progress, so our children have the best opportunities available. The school will now embark on the recruitment process for the next Headteacher of our community. While that process is taking part, the school is in the capable and very experienced hands of Mrs Wilkinson and the rest of the Senior Leadership Team. Miss Havey, Mrs Schneider, Mrs Hooper and Mr. Norris will continue to support Mrs Wilkinson. The new Headteacher will be in post for September 2022.
As I have expressed before, at St. John’s, continuity and developing a strong team from within has been paramount and the biggest driver in school improvement. The St. John’s team is the envy of other schools in the area and our community is in great hands.
Last but not least, my thanks once again, for your support, kindness and support for our community.
Always,
Mr. L. Strong
Headteacher
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End of term arrangements
Thu 16 Dec 2021Tomorrow all children will finish school at 1315 and will need to be collected from the main playground.
There will be designated year group areas for parents to wait which will be clearly signposted. If you have more than one child in school, please go to the area for your youngest child. Staff will bring children to the waiting areas.
For more details, please see the email sent on 16.12.2021
Thank you
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CHOIR
Thu 02 Dec 2021CHOIR EVENTS
Tomorrow (Saturday 4th December)
Tomorrow we hope that the children in the choir will come to sing at the school fayre. Please can children come to the school hall at 12 o'clock. We will sing for about half an hour. We look forward to seeing you all.
Wrap up warm!
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Children in Need. Thank you for your donations. We had a great day in school and raised £339.40
Sat 20 Nov 2021 -
Children in Need
Thu 18 Nov 2021Children in Need
Tomorrow is 'Pudsey Day' and the children can dress up if they would like to. They can wear Pudsey t-shirts, headbands and ears, spotty clothes or pyjamas. They can have funky hair for the day or wear face paint. Please make sure they have their coats and jumpers to keep warm when they go outside to play. We would be grateful for a donation of £1 to send to 'Children in Need.' Thank you