Contents...

Welcome from the Headteacher

Nursery and Primary news:

Bookbug Gifting

Pumpkins

Tinker Table

Outdoor Education

Secondary News:

Parents’ Questionnaire Feedback

Advent

English Department news

Careers Fair

Work Experience

Social Subjects News

Remembrance

Winter Ball

Modern Language News

Anthony Nolan Champions

UHI Creativity Workshop

St John’s RC Academy- Newsletter

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Notes from the Headteacher...

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St John’s RC Academy,

Welcome to our final newsletter of 2018 where we look back at the last term andshare our successes as a learning community with you.

Currently we are in the midst of Advent, with the undoubted highlight being ourbrilliant P2’s afternoon performance of their Nativity, ‘Shine Star Shine!’ They werewonderfully supported by children from P1-7 singing Christmas songs. Thanks to allthe teachers and staff within the primary for making this such a success. The bestyet! On 19 December we held our Carol Service in St John’s Church with primary andsecondary pupils and staff. This time for reflection before the Christmas seasonwas a perfect way to end our term.

Once again, our main international charity for this session is SCIAF, and thesecondary has held a whole range of events to fundraise! P7 took part in the annualSCIAF ‘talented fundraiser’ initiative – creating unique gifts for sale at our ChristmasFayre.  On 14 December we celebrated ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ in aid of SCIAF andalso enjoyed our annual Christmas lunch and quiz.  A large number of pupils andstaff also took part in Perth’s Santa Run and they had a great (if exhausting) time!We have also been collecting food for our local foodback and we have been acollection centre for Cash for Kids Christmas Mission! Thank you for giving what youcan and for your generosity.

Recently our nursery received an unannounced visit from the Care Inspectorate.This visit was very positive and they recognised the care, support and managementof the nursery. Thanks to all our staff and to the children and parents who took thetime to speak with the inspectors. I will let nursery parents know when the reportis published and available on our website.

I’ve recently spoken with all the secondary pupils regarding uniform.  If Santa can begenerous enough to provide suitable uniform clothing, that would be fantastic!  Thechildren and young people look great in their uniform and this is a really importantway for parents to help and support your school.  Information can be found at:

http://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/welcome/uniform-at-st-johns

http://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/welcome/uniform-at-st-johnshttp://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/pupil-opportunity-fund

SP HagneyHeadteacher and Campus Leader

Please don’t forget about our pupil opportunity fund.  There’s a limited fund availableto support parents/carers who need financial aid to meet the costs of the school day.More information is on our website at:

http://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/pupil-opportunity-fund

On behalf of the staff, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and all ourfamilies the joys and blessings of the Christmas season, and offer you our very bestwishes for 2019.

Nursery and Primary News...

This term the ante pre-school childrenand their parents joined staff in thenursery for a Bookbug rhyme time sessionand Bookbug gifting. The children sangrhymes, listened to stories and took awaya selection of books to read at home intheir Bookbug bag. We also learned somePolish rhymes from Dorota. Thank you toall parents who attended.

Bookbug Gifting

Every now and again head lice become an issue in school. In the past aletter was issued to all the parents of the children in the class alertingthem to this. Guidance is such that we cannot issue letters directly toclasses where this may be a problem. NHS advice is simply to checkhair regularly. Further information on this can be obtained from yourlocal Health Centre or pharmacy. They will provide you with detailed, accurateand up to date information. If you check your family’s hair regularly you will find head licesooner if infection is there, then you will be able to treat the infection more quickly. Thiswill reduce the risk of passing it to others.

Head Lice - check hair regularly

http://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/welcome/uniform-at-st-johnshttp://www.st-johnsacademy.org.uk/pupil-opportunity-fund

This term we have been invaded by pumpkins innursery!!!! We have explored the differenttypes, cut them open, made soup, usedthem in our mud kitchen, hammered nailsinto them and decorated them with loombands. We have even left them outside to

see how they rot.

Pumpkins

On Wednesday 14th November, Primary 7 pupils were confirmed byBishop Stephen in St John the Baptist RC Church. Thank you to BishopStephen, Canon Steven and Father Bogdan for leading the rite ofConfirmation. Thank you to Miss Cassidy and Mrs Jarvie for the music. And thank youto the parents and sponsors who celebrated this special sacrament with us.

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Confirmation

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Tinker Table

This term we have set a Tinker Tableup in nursery to develop ourScience,Technology, Engineering andMaths skills (STEM). The childrenhave spent lots of time dismantlingold equipment to see what is insideusing tools and learning about safety.Safe Snail has ensured the childrenhave learned about using hammersand screw drivers safely and theimportance of goggles in certainsituations. They have developed theirhand eye co-ordination and learned alot of new vocabulary as well. If youhave any old small electrical itemsyou no longer want, or which nolonger work, please send themnurseries way.

Christmas Cake

The S6 Practical Cake craft class designedand made Christmas cakes as part of theirpreparation for their final assessmentactivity. It was a great opportunity forthem  to show off their developing skills.Well done and enjoy!

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Primary 7M have been going to Battleby for Outdoor Learning this term. We havebeen going by bus and minibus with Callum, John, our teacher Miss Monaghan and MrsCarlon. Here are some of our opinions about Battleby:

Sathu - “We had fun at Battleby and we improved in our

teamwork skills. We learned to listen to each other and

compromise. My favourite bit was the cone game when

we had to go in one by one and touch up to 3 cones.

The first team to touch all 30 cones won.”

Ashtyn - “At Battleby we got to play a game where we hadto work together to get through a hula hoop; if you failedyou would be out. I have developed my teamwork skills.”

Outdoor Learning

Lukas - “At Battleby we played games and learne

d

new skills like den building. Den building was fun

because we had to work in teams and the den had

to

fit the whole team. We played a game called

sparrows and sparrowhawks. The sparrows had to

stay in a hedge and they could run out to get food

and bring it back to the base. The sparrowhawks h

ad

to tag the sparrows and they had to join the other

team if they got caught. Brodie - “I enjoyed playing camouflageat Battleby because it was like hide andseek with a twist.”

http://@St_JohnsEnglishhttps://twitter.com/SJA_PE

Primary 2 have been learning aboutcollage and made pictures linked totheir topic this term - In To The Woods.

Collage

Ollie - “At Battleby I enjoyed playing outdoorgames and learning new skills like buildingdens out of materials in the woods and playingfun listening games like 'Catch/Header'.Catch/Header was a game when Callum wouldsay catch and you would header the footballand if he said header you would catch.”

We couldn’t thank John and Callum enough for taking us to Battleby. From everybodyin P7M thank you John and Callum.

After few training sessions, the boys wereinvited to the Perth and Kinross indoorcricket tournament to play againstother schools in the county.Drawn in group 3, we were upagainst Pitlochry High School andPerth Academy, who both gaveus a good game. Sadly, in the lastinning of both games one wicketcost us the match; however, in thenext round versus Blairgowrie HighSchool and Auchterarder, we managedto grab the win with a total of 70 runs!The boys showed great sportsmanshipand will be attending training sessions ona Monday lunch for the next upcomingtournament, in January.

Anyone for cricket?

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Parents’ Questionnaire Feedback...

Comments taken from the S1 Parents' Questionnaire:

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“Really pleased withhow it has all gone.”“Very well organised transition into

secondary.  We were happy with the2 Induction Days but our son thinks a

week would be better!” “My daughter seems to be settlingin well to secondary. Thanks!”

“We’re happy and satisfied with thetransition arrangements that wereput in place for our child.  Thanksso much.  Keep up the good work!”

“Just thank you forall the support.”

“I think it’s great!”

“I am very pleased with the way ourdaughter has settled in.  It seems like theschool has done all they can to make her

feel welcome and like she belongs.Thanks to everyone, we are grateful.” “Very happy with how much my

daughter is enjoying St John’s.”

“The whole transitionprocess was well thought

out and smooth.  A credit tothe school, well done.”

“My son has settled in very well andhas had a great start to secondaryschool.  We feel the transition was

very well co-ordinated.”

“I am very happywith my daughter’stransition into S1.”

“I am very positiveabout my daughter’s

transition to secondaryand how well sheappears to have

settled in.”

“It is a great transition programmethat is in place.”

During Advent, pupils across St John'sAcademy prepare for Christmas.  In ourprimary school the highlight is ourannual P2 Nativity and ChristmasShow.  This year the nativity was'Shine, Star, Shine!', the story of thestar of Bethlehem who had lost itsshine until it saw a very special baby ina manger.  In both the afternoon andevening performances, the childrennarrated the story and sangbeautifully.  In addition, stage groupstook to the stage and gave theiraudiences a medley of Christmas hitsand hymns.  The performances werepacked out with family and friends andreally enjoyed the talent on show!

Before the evening performance, wehad our Christmas Fayre.  P7 have beenbusy learning enterprise skills, comingup with ideas and making attractiveChristmas products to sell in aid ofSCIAF.  This year, P7 made a record-breaking sum of over £600.  Well doneto every one of them.  The Nativityand Christmas Shows also support ourschool fund, with over £2000 raised -so thank you for your generosity.

Advent

On 19 December, P1-4 enjoyed a panto inour hall and had a great time.  Thanks toM&M productions for a fun show.

Advent in the primary school is alsomarked by Christmas parties in the lastweek of term, with a special visit fromSanta for our younger year groups.These parties were a great success!

Finally, the primary choir joined our CarolService with Readings at St John'sChurch.  This service is a time for reflec-tion and an opportunity to sing some ofour favourite carols.  The talent of ourpupils in our music department from thesecondary supported a lovely service.

Thanks to all the staff who commit somuch of their time and energies tomaking Advent a very special time forour community.