Newsletters

St. John's Abram Newsletter 16th October 2026 

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October 16th Edition

"You are the light that gives light to the world." Matthew 5:14

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Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents, Carers and Children,

It has been a lovely couple of weeks in school. We have seen some excellent learning in classrooms and many examples of our children showing kindness to one another.

A special well done to our Year 3 pupils, who showed great perseverance during their Harvest Service. Despite some technical difficulties with the microphone, they carried on brilliantly and their singing was amazing, we were very proud of them.

Next week, we’re looking forward to Spooky Bingo. We’d love to see you there and really appreciate your support. There are some fantastic prizes to be won and every penny we raise will be spent on our children.

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in Harvest donations. We’ll continue accepting donations until Friday 23 October. We will then take them to St. Nathaniel’s Food Pantry to support our local community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Rachael Bear
Headteacher

Latest News

Year 1 Explore Plants in Science
Year 1 enjoyed a hands on science lesson last week, exploring real plants from Mr Baxter’s allotment. The children identified the different parts of a plant, including the roots, stem, leaves and flowers, while developing their understanding of how plants grow. A fantastic opportunity to bring their learning to life!

Year 5 Investigate Material Properties
Year 5 have been exploring the properties of materials in science. The children carried out an experiment to investigate which materials were soluble and insoluble, developing their scientific understanding through hands on learning and practical investigation.

Year 1 Develop Their Speaking Skills
Year 1 have been developing their speaking skills through Skills Builder, exploring how to find their voice and build confidence when speaking in front of others. They discovered how speaking links to careers such as news reporting and enjoyed watching Newsround at the end of the school day. The children even had a go at being news reporters themselves, sharing their own breaking news with the class!

Year 3 and 4 Master Their 3 Times Tables 
Year 3 and 4 have been strengthening their understanding of the 3 times tables through fun, practical activities. Working in teams, the children used cubes to make groups of three, calculate totals and solve multiplication questions. They also challenged themselves to identify the matching division facts, developing their understanding of the relationship between multiplication and division.

Year 6 Enjoy a Busy Week of Learning
Year 6 have had a busy week, solving maths problems using their calculation skills and improving their reaction times in PE. They also enjoyed a fantastic transition day at Byrchall High School, where they experienced a taste of secondary school learning. Well done, Year 6!


Attendance Week 1

Class Attendance %
Reception 93%
Year 1 96.7%
Year 1/2 99.2%
Year 2 96.3%
Year 3 98.3%
Year 3/4 93.1%
Year 4 97.5%
Year 5 95%
Year 5/6 95%
Year 6 96.1%

Attendance Week 2

Class Attendance %
Reception 91.9%
Year 1 96.8%
Year 1/2 96.9%
Year 2 96.8%
Year 3 98.6%
Year 3/4 94.9%
Year 4 92.8%
Year 5 98.7%
Year 5/6 98.4%
Year 6 93.7%
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Learning Legends Week 1

Name Class
Kaya Reception
Haya Year 1
Kalia Year 1/2
Nellie Year 2
Maja Year 3
Ellie Year 4
Charlie Year 4
Isaac Year 5
Georgia Year 5/6
Autumn Year 6

Phonics Star Week 1

Name Class
Arlo Year 1
Melody Year 1
Kenzo Year 2

Times Table Wizards Week 1

Name  Class 
Max Year 3/4
Eli  Year 4
Jediah Year 4

Learning Legends Week 2

Name Class
Scarlett Reception
Harper Year 1
Damon Year 1/2
Nora Year 2
Whole Class Year 3
Shivani Year 3/4
Logan Year 4
Belle Year 5
Joseph Year 5/6
Darci Year 6

Phonics Star Week 2

Name Class
Haya Year 1
Millie Year 1/2

Times Table Wizards Week 2 

Name Class 
Max Year 3/4
Eli  Year 4

Important Notices

Parents Evening 
Parents’ Evening will take place on 11th November. We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to discuss their children’s progress, celebrate achievements and work together to support every child’s learning and development.

No Vaping on School Premises 
Vaping is strictly prohibited on all school premises. We ask all parents, carers, visitors and members of the school community to respect this rule and help us maintain a safe, healthy and positive environment for our pupils and staff.

Dogs on School Premises
Dogs are not permitted on school premises unless they can be carried. We appreciate your cooperation in following this rule and helping us maintain a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for all pupils, families, staff and visitors.

Parking and Road Safety 
Please park responsibly and consider the safety of our pupils, families and neighbours. Do not drive or park on pavements, stop on yellow no-stopping lines, obstruct crossings or block residents’ driveways. Where possible, park a short distance away and walk the final part of your journey. 

Half Term Holidays 
Our half-term holiday will run from 26th October to 6th November. We wish all our pupils and families a relaxing and enjoyable break. Please ensure children return to school ready to learn on the first day back. Thank you for your continued support throughout the school term.

Remembrance Sunday
Our Remembrance Service will take place on 8th November. This will be an opportunity for our school community to come together to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed. We encourage everyone to reflect on the importance of remembrance, respect and gratitude.

Open Evening
St Johns Abram will host an Open Evening on 17th November, from 5pm to 7pm. We look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing our school, values and community. Thank you for your continued interest and support, and we look forward to seeing you there.


Extra-Curricular

Please check MyChildatSchool for full details of each club, including any costs, booking requirements and the number of available places. Places may be limited and booking may be required.

Activity Date Time
Year 5 and 6 Netball  Every Thursday After School
Drawing Club  Every Thursday  After School 

What's On In The Community?

Half Term Activity Camps 

 

Get active with October Half-Term Activity Camps at Leigh Leisure Centre and Leigh Sports Hub.

Dates: Monday 26 – Friday 30 October

Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Ages: 5–12 years

Cost: £18 per child, per day

Activities: Football, cricket, dodgeball, fun games and activities.

Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment

How to book: Use the Be Well app, visit reception, or call 01942 487800.

https://www.leighsportsvillage.co.uk/leigh-sports-hub/half-term-holiday-camps/

Free Lego Cub 

 

The Lego Club at Platt Bridge Library offers children a fun, creative activity every Friday, where they can build with Lego and use their imagination.

Term time: Fridays, 3:30 pm–4:30 pm.

School holidays: Fridays, 12:30 pm–2:30 pm.

Cost: Free.

Booking: No booking required; drop-ins welcome.

Location: Platt Bridge Library, Platt Bridge Community First site.

Contact: 01942 487997.

https://www.kidzdays.co.uk/whats-on/in/wigan

Pumpkin Pickin’ at Haigh Woodland Park

 

A lovely autumn family outing, perfect for pumpkin picking, seasonal photos and making special memories!

Dates: 24–29 October 2026

Location: Walled Gardens, Haigh Woodland Park, School Lane, Wigan, WN2 1PE

Times: Four one-hour sessions daily, starting at 10:15 am, with 15-minute breaks between sessions.

Activities: Pumpkin picking, autumn photo opportunities and family-friendly seasonal fun.

Tickets: Must be booked in advance via Eventbrite . Everyone attending, including adults, needs a ticket. Each paying guest receives one pumpkin.

Parking: Standard carpark charges apply, with additional parking behind the courtyard.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pumpkin-pickin-at-haigh-tickets-1999695889235?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

Free Family Art Workshops at the Turnpike Gallery

 

Enjoy a free, family-friendly creative workshop at The Turnpike Gallery, inspired by the current exhibitions programme. Suitable for children aged 5 and over, accompanied by an adult.

Dates: Tuesday 27th or Thursday 29th October

Time: 10:30am–12:30pm

Location: The Turnpike Gallery, Turnpike Centre, Leigh, WN7 1EB

Cost: Free

Booking: Essential via Eventbrite.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/october-half-term-at-the-turnpike-tickets-2001046598242?keep_tld=true

Free Pop-up Family Ride  

 

Pop-up Family Ride

Date: Wednesday, 28 October 

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Pennington Flash

Details: Traffic-free family cycling featuring games, challenges, and guided exploration around the park. 

Booking & Information

Cost: Free (spaces are limited).

How to book: Reserve your free spot online through the Be Well Wigan Booking Portal or via the official Be Well app

Spark in the Park

 

Date: Sunday, 1 November 2026

Time: Gates open at 4:30 PM; firework display at approximately 6:40 PM (event closes at 7:00 PM)

Location: Haigh Woodland Park, School Lane, Wigan, WN2 1PE

Details: A large family-friendly evening of entertainment and fireworks. Optional VIP marquee upgrades are available. Standard car parking rates apply on-site.

Cost: Tickets available via Eventbrite. 

Upcoming Events

Remembrance Service @ Church
All Day
08
November
Parents Evening
3:30pm – 7:00pm
11
November
KS1 Wigan Life Museum & Library Trip
All Day
12
November
Anti Bullying Week
All Day
from 16 Nov until 20 Nov
16
November
Open Evening
5:00pm – 7:00pm
17
November

Vacancies

Interested in joining our team? Explore the latest career opportunities across our schools and discover how you could become part of our dedicated staff community. Whether you are an experienced professional or looking to take your next step, we would love to hear from you.

Vacancies

QUESTCast

Tune in to QUESTCast, the podcast from QUEST Trust, where we explore the people, ideas and initiatives making a difference across our schools and settings. From early years education to secondary school and beyond, each episode features conversations with colleagues and experts from across our Trust. Listen to our latest episodes on Spotify and discover more about life at QUEST.

QUESTCast
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Contact Us:

Website - www.stjohns-abram.org.uk
Email - enquiries@stjohns-abram.org.uk
Phone - 01942 703 465