St John Vianney School Newsletter 02.02.2024

Headteacher's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

The half term is running away with itself and January has flown by. We have seen a lot of work activity on the new build, as the area where the main new building is to be built is now cleared. The site looks massive and we have certainly witnessed more activity this week in the building zone. The pupils have not been fazed by the activity and are enjoying watching the bulldozers and diggers working to prepare for the building work to start. They are very excited!

The pupils have coped really well with the changes to transport transitions, which now take place at the front of school, on Rye Bank Rd. The road is very busy at the start and end of the day, but we have good systems in place to keep everyone safe. Can we please again ask parents who pick up children at the end of the day to not park on the front of school, (on the single yellow line which is needed for taxis), but to park away from the school, walking in to collect their son or daughter at the front gate? Thank you for your support in this.

Can I remind you please we close school for all our pupils for half term on Thursday 15th February. The following day is an INSET day for staff only (Friday 16th). School will reopen for the second half term of spring on Monday 26th February at 9am.

I hope you and your families have a restful weekend.

Best wishes

Mr A Moloney, Headteacher

Dates For Your Diary

• Fri 9th Feb @ 1:45pm - Valentines Afternoon Tea
• Fri 16th Feb all day - INSET Day- School closed for pupils
• Fri 16th - Sun 25th Feb - Spring Half Term Break
• Mon 26th Feb @ 9am - School re-opens for Spring Term 2
• Weds 28th March; Parents Evening 4.30pm-6.30pm

Stars of the Week

Congratulations to our Stars of the Week!

• Class 1 - Hassan - For excellent engagement during our Topic lesson.
• Class 2 - Matilda - For great engagement at Crucial Crew and answering lots of questions confidently.
• Class 3 - Zack - For coming into school and having a great week.
• Class 4 - Kayden - For great work with his mid-year assessments and making great choices.
• Class 5 - Lee - For great conduct at Crucial Crew.
• Class 6 - Aiden - For improved focus and using strategies to stay engaged.
• Class 7 - Miya - For handling her anxieties more effectively.
• Class 8 - Justin - For working really hard in all lessons, especially Horticulture!
• Class 9 - Dan - For excellent work and improved attitude in Art, Photography and Maths.
• Class 10 - Adam - For great problem solving and compromising.
• Class 11 - Harley - For being a supportive friend and a help in the classroom.
• Class 12 - Micah - For always being a good friend, kind, helpful and willing to always help others.
• Class 13 - Leon - For being an always pupil.

Employees of the Week

Congratulations to our employees of the week; Mr Goodwin and Mr Thomas.

Estates Team : Mr Goodwin and Mr Thomas for covering for absent colleagues, responding positively to requests from staff and not losing their sense of humour.

Introducing

Harley

• What have you been doing this week? This week I’ve been working hard on my phonics and reading with Mr Wood and I’ve been enjoying art club and helping.
• What is the best thing about being in SJV? I like my teachers they just let me be myself.
• How could SJV be even better? If we had a Paleoethology and Geology class, it’s what I want to do for my job and do more singing and acting.
• What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I want to be a Palaeontologist and study dinosaurs and fossils.

Highlights of the Week

On Tuesday morning St John Vianney held our second College Morning of this academic year. Parents, carers and students from KS4 and Post 16 had the opportunity to speak to representatives from several local colleges and to start thinking about their next steps in education. As well as the Colleges we had representatives from GM Higher, Connexions and the Department for Work and Pensions to answer any questions and to offer guidance. During the Morning, students were set a challenge to speak to at least five different providers and complete a Challenge Card activity. Over 30 students successfully completed the challenge and are now entered into a prize draw to win a £25 voucher. The winner will be announced in Celebration Assembly.

Gallery

Our Catholic School

'Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic Schools. Educating is an act of Love; it is like giving life’

- Pope Francis

Within our Catholic school we spent time talking to our Chaplaincy Leads this week. We wanted them to really step-up and be fully involved in events like Lent and Easter, helping to plan our activities and our charity work. We looked at our Code of Conduct and reflected on how to be good role models and set examples for the rest of the school.

We welcomed Father Nick back into school after his extended visit to see his family in Ghana. We have missed his smile! He was straight back into work on retreat with Class 9, which they all enjoyed.

In RE this week, Key Stage 3 have looked at Forgiveness and what worldwide religions have to say about it. Within Key Stage 4 we continued to look at the themes of Love and Charity and how we have a duty to remember all kinds of love, especially selfless love; the work we do for the poor and the vulnerable.

This week's Wednesday Word is 'Healing'.

Mrs Garfin

Autism Corner

Communication Quick Tips

Our quick tips may help you to communicate more effectively with an autistic person, whether it’s your child, pupil, colleague or friend.

Getting and keeping their attention:

• Always use their name at the beginning so that they know you are talking to them.​
• Make sure they are paying attention before you ask a question or give an instruction. The signs that someone is paying attention will be different for different people.​
• Use their hobbies and interests, or the activity they are currently doing, to engage them.

Mr Donovan, ASC Coordinator

Poetry Corner

This week at SJV we have been choosing some of our favourite poems from the 'Poetry By Heart' website to perform and enter in this year’s competition. It’s amazing to see our pupils grow in confidence through poetry recital, and we have been exploring all different kinds of techniques to help us remember our poems.

‘The Poems we learn when we’re young stay with us for the rest of our lives. They become embedded in our thinking, and when we bring them to mind or to our lips, they remind us who we are as people, and the things we believe in.’

– Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate

Here is one of our poetry stars Leah and our 'poet in residence' Mr Lomax, with some of the amazing Poetry By Heart resources.

Oliver Lomax

Useful Information

This week, Mr Cassidy delivered an assembly about 'Safer Internet Day' to the whole school. Every year over 170 countries around the world take part in Safer Internet Day, which aims to raise awareness about using technology safely and positively. For more information, click on the following link: SAFER INTERNET DAY

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