News and Views
Visit this page for news, information, ideas, celebrations of success and opportunities to support our Christian community.
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PFC 18th Oct
Tue 04 Oct 2022Come to the PFC on 18th Oct …
Click HERE to see the full advert
- An evening for all parents and staff
- A time of fellowship, prayer, encouragement and building community
- Hear about latest developments with our school building & upcoming inspection
- And our school-wide Relationship and Sex Education curriculum.
Refreshments 7.00pm
for 7.30pm Start and Close at 9.15pm -
Autumn term 2022
Fri 02 Sep 2022We are writing before the start of the new academic year to highlight some information for new parents and some general information for everyone that will help with the smooth running of the year.
Firstly, a big welcome to new families. We have 23 new pupils starting mostly in Lower and Middle School and we trust that you will feel very welcome and settle quickly.
Beginning and end of the day
School starts at 8.45am when the whistle is blown on the school playground and the children line up in their classes. Children and parents may arrive on the playground from 8.30am, and parents are generally encouraged to stay and chat until the children line up. Staff children sometimes arrive a little earlier out of necessity, but from a security point of view we do ask that pupils not arrive early and wait at the locked side gates.
School finishes at 3.25pm for Reception class and 3.30pm for years 1 - 6, who must be collected from the teacher by parents or other named adults. Years 7 & 8 pupils can make their own way home, but parents do often collect. Years 9, 10 and 11 students finish at 3.45pm and can make their own way home, though often parents with younger children wait for them on the playground. It is important that you collect children promptly at the correct time, so that teachers are released for other meetings and duties at the end of the day.
Please be aware that once you collect your child(ren), they are your responsibility and we ask that families are respectful of school safety rules. For example the grass hill and the trim trail are out of bounds at the beginning and end of the day.
Points of contact with teachers
If you have questions or concerns about your child, you can have a word with the class or form teacher at the beginning or end of the day on the school playground. You may also email info@cfschool.org.uk with a subject of “For the attention of the Year …. Teacher”. We will pass this on and the teacher who will contact you as soon as it is practicable. In Middle and Upper School, you can also write messages to the form teacher in your child’s homework diary which they will receive during the first week of school.
If you are a new parent, or if you have not come across something before, other parents may be able to help, so do chat with others or use the class WhatsApp group. Each class has a parent rep, who is also a good person to go to with questions. It would be great for reps to introduce themselves to new families during the first couple of days.
School communications
We usually communicate with parents via email on Mailchimp, so please check your email every day. We also send reminders of events or emergencies on the School App. Instructions of how new parents can download the School App can be found HERE on the website.
The school website is regularly updated with dates for events and meetings and other important information. You can also access a number of key school policies from the website.
Sometimes we send home a printed letter with a reply slip in a ‘Brown Envelope’. Please complete any slips or forms and return to school via your oldest child as soon as possible - ideally on the next school day.
If your child is unwell
Parents can phone school between 8.30am and 9:30am to report an absence due to illness. You may also leave a voice message or send an email to info@cfschool.org.uk to report and explain an absence due to illness. Please be aware that it is school policy for children to stay home for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped if they have diarrhoea or vomiting. We also advise children to stay home if they have a temperature or have a new cough or cold and are under the weather. If children have any kind of diagnosed or suspected virus, please keep them off school and contact school. If your child has a medical appointment, please email or write to the school office with as much advance warning as possible so that we have time to inform the relevant teachers.
Holiday requests during term time should only be made in rare and exceptional circumstances. An authorised absence is only granted at the discretion of the head teacher. Please do not book any holidays in term time until you have written to school on ks@cfschool.org.uk explaining the circumstances and wait until you have received a response. If in doubt, please speak to me at the school gate.
Parking by School
Please be aware that parents should not park on Overbury Street by school or around the corner on Cardwell Street, as all this area is for resident parking only. You may drop off children on Overbury Street if they are old enough to come into school on their own and you are not planning to come on to the playground that day, but please do not leave your car unattended even for a short time. The best place to park is at the Tesco car park, which is about 3 minutes walk away. Parents are respectfully asked not to park in the staff car park unless they are volunteering on that day. Please do ensure that grandparents or anyone who collects your children are aware of these parking expectations.
Uniform and equipment
Lists are available on the school website, and we would be grateful if everyone arrives next week well presented and in the correct uniform. Please ensure that every item of uniform and equipment is labelled. We still have lots of unlabelled items from last year in lost property. Form teachers will check that pupils have the correct equipment during the first week of school.
Visiting the Office
You are welcome to pop in any day at drop-off or collection times or during the day, though you may be asked to wait in the lobby if the office is congested. Parents can purchase swimming costumes, hats and goggles from the school office, and pay for trips or leave messages for teachers. If you need to come into the school beyond the office or lobby, you need to sign in and collect a security badge. Please remember not to open the main door or hold the door open to anyone unless directed to do so by a member of office staff. You can also ask to speak to our bursar, Mr Mayowa Ilesanmi, if you have fee-related queries. You are also welcome to email him on bursar@cfschool.org.uk.
PE and swimming
Lower School children should keep their PE uniform in their PE pags on their pegs at school, though they can be taken home to be washed at the weekend or certainly each half term. Lower School swimming is on Thursdays and kits should be brought in on the day. Swimming lessons will start for Lower School on 8th September.
Middle School PE is on Tuesdays for years 6 - 8 and on Wednesdays for years 4 and 5. Pupils will not be changing in school so they should come into school in their PE uniform with jogging bottoms over their shorts/skorts, which should be worn whenever they are not actually doing PE. They should bring in an extra bottle of water on PE days.
Middle School swimming is on Mondays, and pupils must always have a waterproof coat and in cold weather a hat and scarf. If your child is not well enough to go swimming, they should probably not be in school. If they do come in, they will still be expected to walk to the University swimming pool and back with their class and watch from the side bench.
Upper School pupils do not swim and PE is on Fridays. Please ensure that boys wear jogging bottoms to and from school; girls can wear jogging bottoms or shorts/skorts with their normal uniform skirts worn on top for modesty. We would also like to let you know that Upper School will be playing hockey this term and it would be helpful if pupils have their own hockey sticks as well as shin pads and gums shields. We recommend Sports Direct for purchasing these items.
Assemblies
In addition to various class, department or house assemblies during the week, we warmly invite parents to join us each Tuesday either for a Worship assembly in the hall (years 3 - 1) or Stay and Praise in Lower School with years R, 1 and 2. These assemblies finish at approximately 9.20am. We really value these opportunities to worship God together as staff, parents and pupils. We also have more formal whole school assemblies at the beginning and end of each term or on special occasions to which parents are also invited. Our first whole school assembly will be on Wednesday, 7th September. -
End of year trophies
Fri 15 Jul 2022Congratulations to the winners of our end of year trophies!
Shiloh won the house points trophy with an average of 86 points per pupil, Bethel came second with 77 points, and Penuel were a close third with 74 points per pupil.
Bethel won the sports day trophy and the good sportsmanship trophy.
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Parents Evening
Mon 20 Jun 2022Lower and Middle School Parents Evening will take place next Wednesday 29th June from 4.00pm to 8.00pm in-person at school. Upper School Parents Evening will take place on Monday 11th July and more details will follow.
Please see specific details below for 29th June.
Lower School
15 minute slots are available. Please make arrangements with class teachers at the beginning or end of each day.
Parents are invited to come to the Lower School dining room first where they will be able to look at their child's books. The class teacher will come and call the parents when it is their slot and take them to the classroom. We ask any accompanying children to stay with their parents and we will provide quiet activities, eg. lego and colouring in the classroom for the children to do.
Middle School
Please follow the guidance below in booking specific timed slots in the booking form provided by email.
For Years 4 to 6
Parents evening will be a chance to speak to your child’s form teachers for 10 mins, who will feedback any key information from subject teachers. Please book two consecutive 5 minute slots to create a 10 minute appointment. The only exception is year 6 maths appointments which will take place with Miss Hammond and require a separate booking slot (5 mins), in addition to your 10 minute slot with Mrs Sharples.
For Year 7 & 8
Parents have the chance to meet with each of their child’s subject teachers as well as the form teacher for 5 minutes each. Please book only one slot per teacher, making sure you leave at least 5 minutes between each slot to allow yourself time to get from one teacher to another. You can book a slot with a teacher straight after another parent.
Please let us know if you have any difficulties booking in. If you would like help with this process please email Mrs Sharples (ss@cfschool.org.uk) or Mrs Virr (pv@cfschool.org.uk) to request a specific time and we will do our best to slot you into the spreadsheet as close to the requested time as possible.
If it is necessary to bring a child with you, it is important that they please stay with you at all times, including during the teacher interviews. If you are booking an early appointment straight after school, please arrive to collect your child(ren) at 3.30pm as usual as staff will not be able to offer supervision between 3.30pm and 4.00pm. You are welcome to remain on the yard during that time.
We look forward to seeing you on the 29th, reports will be coming home either this Friday or the following Monday, so you will have had a chance to read them before meeting with teachers. -
Sports Day - 13th July
Sun 19 Jun 2022We are very pleased to confirm that we are going ahead with Sports day again this year after a gap of several years. Once again the venue is the grounds of Liverpool College, North Mossley Hill Road, L18 8BG, races will be starting promptly at 1pm. A few throwing events will take place shortly before, but this is not part of the main programme and Parents are welcome to start arriving from 12.30pm.
Pupils will be taken to Liverpool College from school using coaches leaving late morning.
After all the Lower School races have been completed, Lower School pupils will be handed over to their parents and will be under the supervision and responsibility of their parents from this point. We trust that all families will stay on until the end of the afternoon as this is a whole school event. We will be writing with some more guidelines to help you with this a little nearer to the time.
ALL pupils must come to school on the day wearing the correct PE uniform, which is clean and well presented. This includes Upper School pupils some of whom are regularly wearing non-uniform jogging bottoms and hoodies to their lessons at the moment. Please could you ensure that the correct PE uniform is worn next Friday so we can be confident that all pupils have the appropriate uniform - click HERE for uniform details.
House ribbons can be purchased from the school office and need to be securely fastened onto shorts and skorts. Please remember that pupils should also have a hat/cap, sunscreen and an extra bottle of water to help them rehydrate after their races. Middle School and Upper School should also wear PE hoodies in case of cool weather. Lower School children should have their school jumpers and cardigans.
The refreshment stall will be open after the throwing events have been completed and throughout the afternoon. Please note that Middle and Upper School should only make purchases after their races have finished. We are very grateful to Parents and Friends (PFC) for providing refreshments for us which help make sports day feel like a wonderful community event.
Please do be aware that the marked cricket pitch for Liverpool College near our area of the field is completely out of bounds to all pupils, parents and visitors.
Toilets - you may remember from previous years that toilet facilities are near the refreshments, and are limited . There is a single toilet which can be used by girls and ladies, and a single lockable toilet and some urinals for boys and men. There is an additional toilet for ladies in the sports block which is a 3 minute walk from our area of the field, near the car park. This will be sign-posted for your convenience. Once Lower School children have been released to their parents for supervision, if they need to visit the toilets they must be accompanied by an adult.
Parking - there are three areas to park at Liverpool College after you enter the gates at the entrance.
- Behind the sports hall - this should be filled up first.
- By the sports hall - this should be filled up next.
- By the field as you enter Liverpool College - this area is limited and reserved for Liverpool College staff, helpers on the day with equipment, and anyone with mobility problems.
Please be considerate and follow parking stewards’ recommendations for where to park.
Seating - we are planning to have several gazebos to provide shade for pupils. The parents seating area will be marked out and will be situated near trees to offer some shade. Please bring rugs and/or seating for your comfort.
In case of bad weather, Sports Day will still go ahead but we will have an alternative programme in the sports hall at Liverpool College instead. It may not be possible to have parents watching in the sports hall, but we will let you know nearer the time.
Please note that all pupils need to be taken home by parents from Liverpool College at the end of the event and we will not be returning to school. We would also be grateful to receive as much help from parents as possible to clear up the field and hand it back to Liverpool College who have kindly made these facilities available to us free of charge.
We look forward to a very enjoyable time together. -
The Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
Fri 27 May 2022CFS had a special time celebrating The Queens Platinum Jubilee on Friday. Lower and Middle School pupils and staff joined together to plant a Birch tree and sing The National Anthem. This was followed by themed cakes , with table decorations beautifully created by The Tran Family and then Mrs Virr led the children in country dancing on the field. At the end of the day Upper School joined in the celebrations with ice creams. Throughout the week our pupils have been learning about the dedicated service that The Queen has given to our country for the last 70 years. Inspired by this pupils, have been encouraged to take part in a serving challenge at home over half term.
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Covid absence guidance
Sun 08 May 2022Please see the latest guidance that we are implementing at school with effect from April 2022.
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TrimTrail and Covid
Fri 06 May 2022We are writing to give you more information about events this term and changes to some of our protocols around managing Covid and other updates.
Playground Updates
Many parents will have noticed that our new playground equipment and outside classroom is now successfully installed and is looking rather wonderful. We are very pleased with the results and trust that our pupils will enjoy them for many years to come. In order to make sure that everything is used safely and that we look after the new items and spaces, we have put in some rules of use which parents need to know about and help us enforce especially at the beginning and end of the school day as follows:
- Trim Trail on the grass
We appreciate it is very tempting to start playing and climbing here, including toddlers and siblings, but we ask that you do not allow your children to play here at the beginning and end of the day. Pupils in Lower and Middle school will have lots of opportunity to play here at lunch times and break times. In time we hope to put bark down so that the trim trail can still be used even when the grass area is a bit wet.
- Outside Classroom/Octagon
Children and parents are welcome to use this seating area before and after school but please ensure that children and toddlers do not stand or walk on the seats or climb and hang on the struts at any time. This space will be used by various classes throughout the week and is a great addition to our learning facilities and break times.
Managing Covid in school
As you are aware, guidance has changed about testing and isolation across the UK. At CFS we will be largely following the Department for Education guidance which you can find HERE and on our school website. The following is a practical summary:
1. There is no routine LFT testing any longer and no test kits available from school.
2. If your child feels unwell with cold-like symptoms (a runny nose or a new cough or a temperature - for full list of symptoms see HERE), they should stay home until they are well enough to be in school. As always, children with a temperature should not be in school. Our general guidance is that the early stages of a respiratory infection is more infectious for others and also the child will feel the most unwell. It is good for children and especially younger children to stay home for a couple of days even if they just have a bad cold.
3. If your child does test positive for Covid either because the doctor has told you to do a test, or because you have bought one yourselves, then your child should stay home for 3 days and return to school when they feel well enough to be at school.You no longer need to wait for a negative test result-provided your child feels well, they can return to school.
4. If an adult (staff or volunteer) has symptoms and is not well enough to be at school including new symptoms of a respiratory infection, they should inform their line manager, the school office (email: info@cfschool.org.uk) and the headteacher and stay home until they feel better. If an adult tests positive for Covid, they should stay home for 5 days and take extra precautions for up to 5 days around known vulnerable people.
Dates for your diary (also see the diary page on the website)
Last week we sent out the term dates for next year and reminded parents about the upcoming RSE parent forums for all parents on 23rd May (2.00 - 3.30pm) and 24th May (7.30 - 9.15pm). Please do consider coming to either the afternoon or the evening as we trust they will be valuable in giving you specific insight about how Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is delivered at CFS from Reception to year 11.
Other dates for this term include- Monday 16th May: Reach a Hand of Friendship - bring an item of baby/child clothing to donate
- Friday 27th May: Ice Creams on the yard at 3.30 - 4.00pm in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A 50p donation per icecream will be gratefully received.
- Wednesday 15th June, 2.00 - 3.30pm: Year 3 to 4 transition Parent Forum for all parents in Year 3
- Monday 27th June, 9.00am: Leavers assembly for the whole school; parents welcome
- Wednesday 29th June: (Time to be confirmed) Lower School and Middle School parents evening
- Monday 4th July 7.30pm: Celebration evening for all parents and pupils in year 8
- Monday 11th July: (time to be confirmed) Upper School parents evening
- Wednesday 13th July: whole School Sports Day at Liverpool College, with the first races starting at approximately 1.00pm Exact timings will be confirmed nearer to the time
- Friday 15th July: Last day of term including final assembly at 9.00am (parents welcome). Please note that we will be having an early finish at approximately 12.00pm on that day.
- Class trips will take place throughout this term and teachers will communicate separately about those. We would also like to confirm that the residential trip to Min-Y-Don in September will take place from 26th to the 30th September 2023 - and will be for years 7 and 8 only.
Please remember our year 11 pupils in your prayers during the coming exam season. GCSE exams start on 16th May for year 11 and on 15th May for our year 10 pupils who are taking GCSE RS a year early.
Finally, a reminder that we have a number of vacancies for September, and a part-time Learning Support Assistant (LSA) post for immediate start. These can all be found HERE on the school website. -
New look playground
Tue 03 May 2022Our new playground equipment has been installed ... it all looks very exciting.
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Summer term
Thu 28 Apr 2022Welcome back, and we trust that families have had an enjoyable Easter break.
Next year’s term dates have now been agreed and been added to the website diary.
We would also like to draw your attention to the INSET days this term. These are staff training with focus time on our ongoing development of the school’s curriculum and related matters.
A reminder that for years 7 to 11 these days are ideally suited for exam revision but also for social and educational trips. These are a great opportunity for the community to organise family outings and meet ups. Families sometimes ask for extra days off school in the days before or after INSETs to extend a family holiday, but we would remind parents that having time off in term times should only be requested in exceptional circumstances.
INSET days this term are as follows:Tuesday 3rd May (following Monday 2nd May bank holiday)
Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th June (following half term).
One other date reminder for all parents is for the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) Parent Forum to which all parents are invited. You will hear more detail about our programme on this subject from Reception to year 11, see some of the materials we use, and have time to comment and ask questions. We have planned a daytime and an evening session so parents can choose which is most convenient. Please consider coming to these sessions as though coming to a PFC evening this term.
The RSE dates are as follows:Monday 23rd May 2.00 - 3.15pm
Tuesday 24th May 7.30 - 9.15pm.
We plan to let you know about more dates including Sports Day, parents’ evenings and some class trips by the end of next week.
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to a number of staff vacancies which we would like to let you know about and we would be grateful if you can pass these on to your friends and contacts in your Churches and Christian circles.
The adverts can be found HERE on the website.
Once again we thank you for your support and a special thanks to parents who have signed up for GCSE invigilation this term.