Ms Fay Jones Deputy Headteacher, St Chrysostom’s School writes:
2014-2015 has been a truly incredible year for St. Chrysostom’s! Children, parents, and staff have all given so much to the school and continue to make me feel very proud to be Deputy Headteacher of such a special school. Our wonderful results reflect the success of our home-school partnership:
Year 1 Phonics screening check: 88% of our children passed the Year 1 phonics check (last year’s national average was 74%). Year 6 SATs results: 85% of children achieved a level 4 or above in Reading, Writing and Mathematics combined (the national average is 80%). Our Year 2 SATs and Reception children’s results also continue to be above national averages.
Preparing to open officially the new school extension
This year has very much been a year of growth. We have ‘grown’ into our lovely new building which was officially opened by Fr. Ian on 20th July. The children now have the bright new classrooms they so richly deserve. Our building is continuing to grow and develop over the summer holidays as our old Reception classroom gets refurbished.
We have also grown in terms of our partnership with parents and carers. We have two parental partnership groups: a Parent Governor group who meet regularly to discuss governance topics of particular interest to parents, and a Parent Forum who meet to talk about organisational ideas. Having a stronger relationship with our parents has enabled us to develop our school in new and exciting ways.
It’s lovely also to see the many smiling faces of our fantastic parent volunteers around St. Chrysostom’s. Volunteers make a highly valued contribution to our school – thank you for giving your time to our children.
A fantastic play by the children – Bombs and Blackberries
We have continued to grow in educational and cultural richness: the children have enjoyed many exciting visits to Chester Zoo, Portland Basin, the Armenian Church and Stockley Farm to name but a few places. We’ve hosted a mobile planetarium; welcomed student performers from the Royal National College of Music; and enjoyed working with our friends at St. John’s for collaborative singing performed as part of the Victoria Park Festival, and banner-making workshops at Church where we created two beautiful banners that future Year 6 will use as part of their Leavers’ Service at Manchester Cathedral.
Year 6 have grown, soon to be Year 7! I know they are looking forward to secondary school and are ready for new challenges. We say a heartfelt goodbye to them and best of luck for the future.
Similarly, some of our staff are leaving us to join other schools in September. We say thank you for all your hard work and the wonderful contributions you have made to the children, staff and community at St. Chrysostom’s – farewell to Miss Liz McCormack (Year 1 teacher), Mrs Karen Pilling (Nursery teacher and Early Years Leader), and Mr Tom Smart (Year 3 teacher). I know you will be missed by children and staff alike!
Stars of the week
I look forward to the many ways in which we will all grow together over the next academic year.
I’d like to finish by saying some thank-yous:
To our parents and carers for being so supportive of St. Chrysostom’s and for working in partnership with us to provide the very best education for your children.
To our staff for your endless enthusiasm, complete dedication, and for continuing to be sources of inspiration for our children.
And to the children for all your hard work, thirst for knowledge, and your curiosity in the world; for the smiles, warmth and kindness you give to each other; and for (as our school prayer celebrates) ‘growing together in love.’
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