St John Vianney School Newsletter 23.01.2026

Contents

• Headteacher's Message
• Key information and Dates for your Diary
• Key Info
• Lunches
• Highlights of the Week
• Careers Morning
• Our Catholic School
• Poetry Corner
• The Power of Poetry to Enrich Wellbeing at School
• Useful Information
• Links to Our Website and Social Media

Headteacher's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,   I hope you have had another good week? We are almost at the end of January and are now half way through this half term; the month has really flown away from us quickly.   We remain really busy in school and pupils are now really well adjusted to the routines of the curriculum and learning. Many continue to benefit from the extensive enrichment opportunities we build into our curriculum and it is lovely to see the joy these opportunities bring to our CYP.  This week alone we have pupils at CAFT for Forest School and Work Related Learning, 2 groups at Greater Manchester Outdoor Learning undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, classes at Cronkshaw Farm, cycling in Longford Park, bowling in Parrswood for PE lessons and pupils even skiing with Ski Rossendale at The Hill for PE. The pupils are really blessed to be able to access the breadth of opportunity the curriculum at SJV provides. It is also pleasing to see so many of our pupils staying later each Wednesday for extracurricular activities that our staff provide.

We are busy preparing for the forthcoming residentials and parents and carers should shortly receive communication from Mr Dumville (KS3), Mr Donovan (KS4) and Mr Kanakides (KS5) about the arrangements for what is, for many pupils, the best week of the year. Many schools have stopped providing these experiences for CYP because of spiralling costs, lack of staff support and associated risks. We believe strongly that these experiences foster so many personal development opportunities for all our CYP that they remain essential parts of our offer. However, can I remind parents and carers please that participation on these experiences is not guaranteed and that pupils need to show us that they can behave appropriately in the lead up to the residentials and that they can always respond appropriately to adult instruction, which is vital in keeping all our pupils safe.  Please return the consent forms as soon as possible and ensure the medical information we require is promptly provided also.   Very best wishes for the weekend ahead. Mr A Moloney  Headteacher 

Key information and Dates for your Diary

Dates for Your Diary

• Thu 12th Feb 2026 @ 3:15pm - School closes for Half Term Break
• Friday 13th Feb 2026 @ All Day - INSET Day - school closed to pupils
• Wed 11th Mar - Fri 13th Mar 2026 - KS3 Ghyll Head residential
• Mon 30th Mar - Wed 1st Apr 2026 - KS5 PGL at Winmarleigh Hall residential
• Wed 22nd Apr 2026 - Class 6, overnight CAFT residential
• Mon 27th Apr - Fri 1st May 2026 - KS4 Calvert Trust residential

Key Info

Allergies

Please be aware that we have a number of pupils in school with severe nut allergies. To reduce the risk of exposure for these young people, we aim to keep the school nut free. In order to support us with this we kindly ask that you:

• Do not give children nuts or nut products in their packed lunches.
• Do not give nuts, nut products or snacks/bars containing nuts for break time snacks.
• Do not send cakes or food items, containing nuts, in to school for birthday celebrations, cake sales or events.

Thank you for your support.

Lunches

Week commencing 26th January 2026:

Stars of the Week

• Class 1 Mrs Jordan - Hunter - For using his visuals and timer with independence to help him focus on work.
• Class 2 Miss Walsh - Meera - For being more independent in class and having wonderful manners.
• Class 3 Mr Healey - Kymarni - For having a positive attitude around school and showing maturity.
• Class 4 Mrs Garfin - George - For mature behaviour and giving good advice to his friends.
• Class 5 Mr Whelan - Tyler - For showing an improvement in attitude and maturity this week.
• Class 6 Miss Shaw - Hassan - For a great rebound therapy session.
• Class 7 Miss Graham - Charlie - For mature behaviour and great effort this week.
• Class 8 Mrs Wood - Danyaal - For being kind, polite, respectful and showing good listening skills.
• Class 9 Mr Donovan - Will - For his fantastic support for his friends.
• Class 10 Mr Wood - Kayden - For great work in English.
• Class 11 Miss Sherwin - Arshvin - For having a really good week!
• Class 12 Ms Lord - Harley - For developing his social skills by spending more time with his friends.
• Class 13 Mr Kanakides - Charlie - For always answering questions and joining in with activities.
• Class 14 Miss Wilkinson - Nesrine - For her positive work experience and being a great role model in Post 16.

Employee of The Week

Highlights of the Week

Careers Morning

Our Catholic School

Our prayer focus in SJV this week:

"Example makes a much greater impression on the heart and mind than words alone".

-St John Baptist de La Salle

Life in school remains busy, with Staff Mass and reflection, Chaplaincy activities and voluntary student Masses taking place regularly. Members of the GIFT team joined Mr Harris and myself on learning walks to observe the prayer life of the school during form time. It was wonderful to visit different classes and witness how central prayer is within form groups.   There have also been exciting developments in Chaplaincy, as we discussed the return of Father Nick following his visit to family in Ghana, along with plans for a celebratory event. In RE lessons this week, pupils have been exploring beliefs and the differences between faith, fact and knowledge. Meanwhile, in Nature classes, pupils have been learning about the wonders of God’s Creation and our responsibility to care for the Earth.

Mrs Garfin

Poetry Corner

The Power of Poetry to Enrich Wellbeing at School

Here at Saint John Vianney, we believe that poetry is much more than lines upon a page, it is a gateway to expression and personal growth. We always try to shine a spotlight on the profound benefits of writing poetry for our pupils’ wellbeing. Poetry offers young people a safe and creative way to explore their emotions, build resilience, and find beauty in the everyday. Research and classroom experience alike highlight that pupils who engage in creative writing are better equipped to process feelings, manage their emotions, and foster empathy for themselves and others. Poetry encourages mindfulness, it slows us down and helps us observe the world with curiosity and wonder. By playing with words and rhythm, young people discover their unique voice and learn the value of self-reflection. Whether it’s sharing a joyful moment or expressing a worry, poetry helps pupils feel heard and connected, both to themselves and their peers. One beautiful poem we can all take inspiration and wellbeing from is Wild Geese by Mary Oliver. 

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver is a poem that encourages readers to embrace their true selves and find solace in the natural world. The poem opens with a gentle yet powerful reminder that we don’t have to be perfect and that life is a journey. Oliver's lyrical language leads the reader through vivid images of the wild geese flying home, which serve as a metaphor for belonging and the innate connection between humans and nature. The poem is a message of hope, acceptance, and the healing power found in nature's rhythms.

Oliver Lomax

Useful Information

Have You Accessed Your Free Qustodio Account Yet? As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students’ wellbeing and promoting safe digital habits, our school provides all families with free access to Qustodio, a trusted online safety and parental‑control tool. Qustodio allows parents and carers to:

• View screen‑time activity in a clear, easy‑to‑use dashboard
• Set healthy limits and routines for device use
• Block inappropriate or distracting content
• Receive alerts about concerning online behaviour
• Encourage balanced, responsible digital habits at home

If you haven’t activated your free account yet, now is a great time to get started. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and it offers valuable insight and support for your child’s online safety. Contact the school if you need further information. Here is a recommendation from one of our parents:  "Thanks so much to Mrs Griffin for telling me about Qustodio! Really easy to use and set up with step by step instructions and guides, shows you all your child's internet searches, incoming and outgoing messages, and their location. And it appears with the free trial you get the premium version which you can use on up to 5 devices - although the standard is 1 device if you choose not to upgrade. If you haven't tried it yet I really recommend giving it a go!"

- Mrs J Griffin, Family Liaison Officer, Deputy Safeguarding Lead.

Developed by a team of world-renowned Online Safety Experts, the Hub is designed to engage and align the community on online safety and wellness by providing up-to-date and evidence-based information to all key stakeholders of a child’s life. Parents will find a rich library of helpful resources, including app reviews, how-to guides and advice on an array of online safety topics.

Click here to visit our Online Safety Hub for more useful tips and advice.

Click on the following link to open a directory of useful links and information about facilities, activities and support available to you and your young person: INFORMATION DIRECTORY