20/12/2019
End of Year 2019 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,
As we approach the end of our first school term of 2019-20, may we thank you all for your support and encouragement this term.
It has been a busy and joyous few weeks in school as we have been preparing for Christmas. Thank you for sharing the Christmas spirit with us in recent weeks at your children’s performances and your support in providing the wonderful costumes. The money raised from the performances is shared between the Church’s charity, Children of the Home of Peace, the children’s Christmas parties and the CAUSE hamper appeal.
Social networks
Please can we remind you, following our Christmas performances, not to upload in-school photos to your own personal social networks. We place photos, with your permission, on our private Twitter feed of your children so you can share in our school experiences however this permission does not extend to you uploading pictures of children in school, other than your own, to your own social networks.
Staffing update
Following Mrs Slaven’s decision to relocate to Scotland, I would like to inform you that Mrs Walpole and Mrs McAvoy will provide teaching assistant support in Year 1 and Mrs Maguire will assume a full time Reception responsibility for the rest of the academic year. Can I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Braithwaite for their reliable and dedicated cover in Year 1 this term – both will continue to support in school in their various roles. We are lucky to have such a talented, enthusiastic and committed group of support staff and volunteers who make such a positive difference!
Diary dates January
- Monday 6th January 2020 PD Day (no children in school)
- Tuesday 7th January School reopens for children
- Tuesday 7th January (all week) Year 3 Swimming Sessions
- Thursday 9th January Year 2 Hockey
- Thursday 9th January Year 3 Skipping Festival
- W/C Monday 13th January Year 3 Swimming Sessions
- Tuesday 14th January Y6 Parents Information Meeting 2.30pm
- Wednesday 15th January Y4 Assembly School Hall 9am
- Thursday 16th January Y2 Parents Information Meeting 2.30pm
- W/C Monday 20th January Y2 Swimming Sessions
- W/C Monday 27th January Reception – Stay and Play
- W/C Monday 27th January Y2 Swimming Sessions
- W/C Monday 27th January Nursery – Stay and Play
Sports Activities (Selected Pupils)
- Tuesday 14th January Cross Country – Trinity Catholic College
- Friday 17th January Y3 Gymnastics
Recent events
Christmas fayre
Our annual Christmas Fayre raised over £2500! Amazing – thank you for your support!
PTA
Thank you to the PTA for providing the refreshments for the Pantomimes. Our EYFS and Year 1 children enjoyed a lively in school performance of Aladdin and our Y2-Y6 children went to Billingham Forum to see an entertaining version of Snow White!
Choir
On Friday 13th December, Mrs Beaumont, Mr Bourner and Mrs Lumley took our Y5/6 Choir to sing at Nunthorpe Care Home. The residents listened to a selection of Christmas songs and carols led by Mrs Beaumont.
Craft visits
Mrs Kemp, Mrs Wildbure and Mrs Askins accompanied a number of Year 2 children to engage in craft activities with residents at Nunthorpe Care Home. Following the visit we received the following email: ‘I would like to say how much my friend appreciated the visit you make to Nunthorpe Hall Care Home. She came there a week ago to recuperate from a major operation, and when we visited her yesterday she was very keen to tell us that some of your pupils were there yesterday morning to share craft-making with the residents. She really enjoyed her morning, and said your pupils were so well-behaved, she was amazed! We think it’s a lovely idea, and wanted to let you know.’
How lovely! What a worthwhile experience.
Mini Vinnies
Our Y5/6 Mini Vinnies, with Mrs Pennick, organised a wonderful afternoon of refreshments and songs on Friday 13th December. Invites were sent to local friends, parishioners and residents known to the St Bernadette’s SVP; retired staff and Governors. Our guests, including the Trust CEO Hugh Hegarty, were served refreshments by the Mini Vinnies, listened to a selection of festive songs from the Y5/6 Choir and they loved watching our Y1-2 Nativity.
CAUSE hampers
We would like to say a huge thank you for the gifts and provisions you kindly donated for the CAUSE hampers. The hampers looked wonderful and have been delivered to the families on Tuesday 17th December.
Sporting Events
Gym (KS1 / KS2)
Our Y5/6 Gym team competed in the Tees valley Finals and in the individual events on Wednesday 4th December after finishing 3rd last month in the Middlesbrough Schools Gym Festival. They performance with agility, skill and confidence. We are very proud of how well they did!
Year 3 Swimming
Year 3 will commence swimming sessions when we return to school on Tuesday 7th January 2019. The sessions will continue daily, until the last session on Friday 17th January.
The sessions will take place on the afternoon and the children will return to school for 3pm. Please can you ensure that your child has their swimming kit, towel etc. with them each day.
Future notices
All significant dates for the Spring and Summer term, events and holidays are regularly refreshed on our school website calendar.
Reception admissions
If you have any friends/family who have Reception age in September 2020 children living locally please encourage them to visit our school next month or write us as a first choice option. With the application window for new entrants to primary schools closing in January, it’s vital for our future school finance we fill our 30 places.
Assembly Swap
Please be aware that we have decided to swap the Year 1 and Year 3 Assembly. The Year 3 Assembly will now be Wednesday 12th February and the Year 1 Assembly will be Wednesday 4th March.
Extended school clubs
Mrs Smith, our new PE lead, is currently reviewing our extended school timetable for the Spring term. Information will be filtered through newsletters, weekly reminders and directly through class letter correspondence.
SATs meetings
To provide parents with further information on statutory tests, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 teachers will have a meeting so you are fully informed on how the children are preparing for the tests. It will also provide an opportunity to answer any queries you may have.
The dates are as follows:
Year 1: Phonics – Monday 2nd March 2020 2.30-3pm
Year 2: KS1 SATs – Thursday 16th January 2020 2.30-3pm
Year 6: KS2 SATs – Tuesday 14th January 2020 2.30-3pm
St Bernadette’s Christmas services
Monsignor Hogan extends a warm welcome to you all this Christmas time. St Bernadette’s Christmas services are as follows:
Christmas Eve 7pm
Christmas Day 9.30am
Spring term routines
When the children’s return to school on Tuesday 7th January 2020, the school gates will open at 8.30am as normal. As the weather is expected to be cold, the children will go directly into their classrooms where their teachers and support staff will be there to meet them.
To encourage the children’s independence and for safeguarding reasons can we please ask parents not to accompany their children into their cloakrooms or classrooms as this can cause other children to get upset. Members of staff will be available on the KS1 and KS2 doors should you wish to pass on any messages. Alternatively, messages may be taken at the office. Also, teachers are all available on the playground at the end of the school day should you wish to speak to them directly. Thank you in advance for your support.
And finally,
May we take this opportunity to wish you all a holy and peaceful Christmas. On behalf of the whole staff team, we also extend our very best wishes for 2020.
See you and your children back at school on Tuesday 7th January 2020, 8.40am.
Best wishes,
Mr P Conway
Head Teacher
