And that, ladies and gentlemen, is September done!  It has been quite an undertaking, yet thoroughly successful, so I am delighted to have the first month of the school year under our belt.  It is also great to report that whole school average attendance for the month of September was 98%, which compares incredibly well to other attendance figures for attendance (national 91%, Hampshire 94.4% and Havant & Waterlooville 95.1% in September 2020).

Over the course of this week, the Senior Leadership Team has met with every class teacher to discuss class and pupil priorities that have been identified over the first four weeks of term.  Each colleague has a clear action plan in place for the children they teach to support any catch-up needed as a result of school closure, and also strategies to embed and drive forward the learning for this school year.  During the Inset day on Friday 2^nd October, colleagues will be looking at whole school outcome targets, and developing lesson planning and resourcing to work towards the successful achievement of these for your children.

Thank you all for the support given as we have navigated our way through September.  We know that different ways of doing things still lie ahead of us in this term, and we will continue to look for ways to refine and improve our practice to make the school day ever more efficient for pupils and families alike.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

A busy week this week which saw the school operating at full capacity, with pupils in all years groups from Year R through to Year 6 attending full time.  We certainly do have a confident cohort of Early Years children this year, keen to dive right into everything on offer in the Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas.  Indeed, they fit the bill of being perfect newcomers to school life as they are only ever quiet on 2 occasions during the school day – story time and lunch time!

We have been able to make use of all our outdoor areas this week for break and lunch time play, giving pupils valuable opportunities in their year group bubbles to socialise and exercise in the fresh air.  It is something of a miracle that we were able to dodge the downpours that beset us in the middle of the week.

Average attendance over the first 3 weeks of term sits at just over 96%.  This is above the Government expectation of good attendance (measured at 95%) but short of our school minimum expectation of 97% over the course of the full school year.  Information from the NHS and Public Health England has been shared by the school to help families distinguish between common seasonal ailments and Covid-19 symptoms, and as we get used to learning together in a school community again I look forward to our attendance figures rising over the coming weeks.

Don’t forget that Friday 2^nd October is a staff Inset day and the school will be closed to pupils.  They will be able to enjoy a 4 day week and, I am sure, a much needed long weekend to get over the hectic start to a busy autumn term.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It’s great to be back at St Peter’s, and back with a full house across the age groups.  Children in Years 1 to 6 started this second week of term in fine fettle and raring to go.  From Monday, they were joined by our new entrants in the Reception Year, who were gradually building up their school days before going full time next week.  Staggered drop-off and collection times have been streamlined to benefit families and make the school learning day even more efficient, and we are in a position now to move to year group ‘bubbles’ to help with learning support and interventions.  Each year group bubble will continue with different break and lunch times, and designated outdoor spaces in which to play.  All of the pupils have been superb in seamlessly adapting to the new way of doing things in school – they are a credit to their families and the staff at St Peter’s.  And in a great sign of a return towards our usual customs and practices, pupils in Year 4 celebrated our first Liturgy of the academic year with Fr Jeremy and Miss Keogh, Oaklands’ lay chaplain, in attendance.  The beautiful display material used by the children is pictured below.  Sadly, for the moment, we cannot invite families into school to share in these year group worships, but they were remembered in our prayers.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It was just fantastic to open our doors and welcome back the children from Years 1 to 6 this week.  Attendance was excellent at 99%, and we are braced for more next week as the Year R pupils begin their half day taster sessions.

The pupils have settled into lessons and school life exceptionally well, all hungry to learn and work hard for their new teachers.

Perhaps the greatest excitement was in Year 1 with the opening of a new outdoor learning area for Mrs Layton’s Puffer Fish class to complement the Secret Garden outdoor learning area used by Mrs Jonas’ and Mrs Knight’s Turtle class.  Now each Year 1 class has their own area to continue with discovery led learning outdoors and make the transition from the Early Years to Key Stage 1 seamless and successful.  Enormous thanks go to the Friends of St Peter’s for their fundraising efforts which went a very long way to financing this project.  I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as the children are enjoying their outdoor learning.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

On behalf of all the staff at St Peter’s, thank you very much indeed for the kind words, appreciative cards and generous gifts that have been given to staff to mark the end of a school year like no other.

At the end of this term, we say farewell to just 3 colleagues from St Peter’s.

Mrs Halliday has worked in the school kitchen for 23 years, starting at the old St Peter’s site just 4 months after Tony Blair came to power in 1997!  Having prepared meals for countless children, and served plenty of lunches to staff as well along the way, Mrs Halliday is reading for a well-deserved retirement.  Such great service to one school is a rare thing nowadays and has been much valued.

Mrs Sumba has worked across Years 3 and 2 over the past two years in a capacity of covering maternity leave, and has also provided PPA lessons to pupils in several other year groups.  Mrs Sumba has led music, and been instrumental in arranging for the school choir to sing at local events and in our parish church.

Mrs Gissing has worked with us for a year as a Learning Support Assistant in Years 4 and 3, as well as providing valuable work in our breakfast and after-school clubs.  Mrs Gissing has been relentlessly enthusiastic over the school year, taking on many new tasks with initiative and good humour.

We wish Mrs Halliday, Mrs Sumba and Mrs Gissing well as they move on to pastures new.

We also welcome back from maternity leave Mrs Stewart, who will be teaching in Year 3 next year.

I hope that all families are able to have a restful summer break over the weeks ahead.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

CONGRATULATIONS to our annual award winners.

The awards were presented after the socially distanced Year 6 Leavers’ Mass by Liz Holford, Chair of Governors.

Key Stage 2 Governors’ Award – Hayden, class 6P

Key Stage 1 Governors’ Award – Adam, class 2OS

Olympic Values Award – Faith, class 6L (with 100% attendance since the start of Year R!)

Mrs Daley Reading Award – Tilly, class 6P

Sportswoman of the Year – Phoebe, class 6P

Sportsman of the Year – Leon, class 6L

Best wishes to all of our Year 6 pupils as they leave St Peter’s and prepare for secondary school in September.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

When we reach the end of this summer term, the impact of coronavirus and Covid-19 will have been felt for 18 school weeks.  It was upon returning to school after the February half-term, Monday 24^th February, that the first suspected cases of coronavirus were reported in schools elsewhere in the country where pupils had returned from February school ski trips.  For 7 of those 18 weeks we were only allowed to open our doors to the children of key workers and those children categorised as vulnerable, and we did this also over the Easter and summer half-term holidays.  Then, for another 7 of those weeks, in June and July, we have been permitted to (but restricted to in my opinion!) open more widely to pupils in Years R, 1 and 6.  Attendance averages across these year groups has climbed from 60% of eligible pupils in the first week to 84% of eligible pupils in this the sixth week of the wider re-opening phase.

During the past term and a half, I must bring to everyone’s attention the formidable and inspirational work done by the staff members at St Peter’s who work in a variety of logistical and practical roles to keep the school running smoothly.  Worthy of mention and merit are the office team of Mrs Phillips, Mrs Burrows, Mrs Pope, Mrs Brown and Mrs Woolston.  These ‘front line’ colleagues have been the face of the school for much of the communication that has come into the school, and arrange for the distribution of letters, messages and home learning documents.  Mr Chapman and Mr Mack, our caretakers, have done sterling work to maintain and then enhance the site standards, as well as directing traffic for our new drop-off and pick-up arrangements.  Mrs Gray leads the catering team of Mrs Crockford, Mrs Halliday and Mrs Carter-Hall.  They provided high quality midday meals throughout the closure period, as well as breakfast during the full closure and breakfast and lunch over the Easter break.  And finally, we have a team of midday supervisors who come in to supervise the dining hall and playground lunchtime play.  This team has responded wonderfully to new roles such as sanitising each seating place and table between every diner at lunch, and then covering the school site when the rooms are empty at lunchtime to do a round of sterilising wipes over handles, taps and light switches.  Thanks go to Mrs Stan, Mrs Kirby, Mrs McHugh, Mrs Merret, Mrs Underdown, Mrs Dicaprio and Miss Andrews for their contribution.

Believe me when I say that, as Headteacher at St Peter’s, the only person prouder than me of the team that they lead in 2020 is Jurgen Klopp and his victorious Liverpool side (sorry, I couldn’t resist!).

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

The Government guidance issued on 2^nd July relating to the full re-opening of schools for the autumn term in 2020 was an eagerly anticipated document.  Having read the material on the afternoon of its release, I was more reassured and optimistic about September opening to all pupils than the popular press and media may portray the education profession.  Yes, there will be a lot of work to do over July and into August to prepare for all the pupils to be in school, but for St Peter’s this work will be building upon the existing and effective structures that we have in place already.  Whilst I know that those year groups who have not been allowed back into school by the government have been left frustrated in June, we have with Years R, 1 and 6 plus key worker and vulnerable children operated 16 pods (or bubbles) of pupils in the school with staggered timings for all parts of the day.  Our challenge is to adapt this success to full classes, full year groups and so the full school, all the time operating within the guidance given by the Department for Education.  Over the coming weeks, when plans have been developed and put in place, I will send out fuller details to families about how St Peter’s will run from September onwards.  Below is a list of the term dates for 2020/2021, which remain unchanged, as a reminder for your family calendars.

It has been great to see pupils in Years 3 and 5 attend school this week for their “Keeping in Touch” meetings with teachers.  The children arrived taller, more tanned and with longer hair than I remember, and colleagues reported that after a while in the meeting they simply had to sit back whilst the children chattered eagerly amongst themselves.  Next week, it is the turn of children in Years 2 and 4 for their “Keeping in Touch” session with staff, and I am looking forward to welcoming them back to St Peter’s.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

St Peter’s Catholic Primary School  Term dates 2020 – 2021

Autumn Term

Thursday 3^rd September 2020 to Friday 18^th December 2020

NB: Pupils’ first day of the autumn term is Monday 7^th September 2020

Year R transition and induction dates are different and will be communicated separately.

Half term holiday Monday 26^th October to Friday 30^th October 2020

Inset days this term (school closed to pupils):

Thursday 3^rd September 2020
Friday 4^th September 2020
Friday 2^nd October 2020
Friday 18^th December 2020

Spring term

Monday 4^th January 2021 to Thursday 1^st April 2021

Half term holiday Monday 15^th February to Friday 19^th February 2021

Inset day this term (school closed to pupils):

Friday 12^th February 2021

Summer Term

Monday 19^th April 2021 to Friday 23^rd July 2021

NB: Pupils’ school day ends at 1:30pm on Friday 23^rd July 2021.
There will be no after school club provision on Friday 23^rd July 2021

Half term holiday Monday 31^st May to Friday 4^th June 2021

Bank Holiday school closure

Monday 3^rd May 2021 (Early May Bank Holiday)

NB: St Peter’s term dates are aligned to those set out by Hampshire Local Authority.
St Peter’s term dates and Inset days will not necessarily be the same as other local secondary or primary schools.

Full attendance to the final teaching day of each term is expected by every pupil at St Peter’s.

This Sunday is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  We were due to celebrate the feast day of our patron saint on Tuesday 30 June with a Mass for all the pupils in school, and ice lollies for all at lunch time.

Instead, I offer you below words and images from a liturgy prepared for us by Miss Keogh, the school chaplain at Oaklands, that you may wish to use at home on Sunday, or on Tuesday when we would have had our school Mass.  I also suggest that, if this weather holds, celebratory ice creams should be the order of the day at home to mark our school’s annual feast day.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

On our great patronal feast, we gather together, both near and far, to celebrate as a school community. May this day and the prayers of Saint Peter draw us closer together, even though we are apart. We pray that our school community will be greatly blessed on this day and we will all be filled with joy!

We bring all our prayers to our loving Father, who loves and cares for us.

We pray for the Pope, who follows in the footsteps of St Peter to share the Good News with the world. May Pope Francis always be filled with the Holy Spirit and lead us closer to Jesus.

Lord in Your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER. 

We pray for the whole Catholic Church across the world, which St Peter built through his mission from Jesus. We pray that the Catholic Church will always bring love and the joy of the Gospel to the world.

Lord in Your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER. 

We pray for our school community, that as we celebrate the feast of St Peter, we will be filled with joy. May we be brave to follow Jesus just like St Peter did.  May we be filled with hope for when we can all be together again.

Lord in Your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

We pray for all those who are sick and suffering, and for those who have died, especially those who have been affected by the coronavirus. We pray for those who are still alone and those who are afraid.

Lord in Your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Lord Jesus, You chose St Peter to take the Good News to the world and to build Your Church. May we, as members of Your Church and the great family of God, always share the Gospel, seek to do good and love everyone as You taught us to. Hear all our prayers, which we make through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

As usual, please see below the links to Ten:Ten for their Sunday Liturgy and daily prayers.  In school, we have no collective worship as year groups or the whole school for pupils who are in, but each day this week between 110 and 170 pupils have enjoyed ‘pod’ worship in their classrooms.

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/homeprayer-2020-06-22/

The national change from the start of this week, though, is that local churches have been able to reopen for private prayer.  The Catholic churches in our Pastoral Area are open as follows, but do check individual church websites and newsletters to be sure of daily details before setting out just in case.

Sacred Heart and St Peter the Apostle, Waterlooville: Every day from 9am – 12 noon and from 4 – 7pm

St Edmund’s, Horndean: Every day from 10.30am-12 noon and from 5pm-7pm

St Michael and All Angels, Leigh Park: Every day from 8.30am-4.30pm

St Joseph’s, Havant: Every day from 10.30am-6pm

St Patrick’s, Hayling Island: Mon, Tues, Fri from 11am-1pm; Thursday from 11am-1pm and 4pm-7pm

Please also contact individual parishes for details such as how the church building may be accessed, and any local health and hygiene requirements they may have in place.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher