16/12/2022
End of Year 2022 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,

As we approach the end of school term, may we thank you all for your support and encouragement this term.

Christmas Eve

St Bernadette’s parish has a children’s Mass at 5pm on Christmas Eve. Please be aware it will be very busy in church. We look forward to seeing you there.

Christmas performances
It has been a pleasure to witness how the children have embraced the Christmas spirit in recent weeks. We hope you have enjoyed sharing the experiences with us this year and it has brought extra joy at this time for you.

Please can we respectfully remind you, following our Christmas performances, not to upload in-school photos to your own personal social networks.

Parties/donation to Church
As a result of funds raised from the children’s Christmas performances, our children across school have really enjoyed our Christmas parties over the last week – we provided snacks and selection boxes as well as party games and a disco! It was such fun! We have also made a significant donation to the Church for their Christmas charity. Thank you!

P.E – Please be aware of our new PE days from January (Rec-Y6)

Reception – Monday and Tuesday
Year 1 – Monday and Wednesday
Year 2 – Wednesday and Thursday
Year 3 – Thursday and Friday
Year 4 – Tuesday and Thursday
Year 5 – Tuesday and Thursday
Year 5 – Tuesday and Wednesday
Year 6 – Tuesday and Thursday

Please ensure all children wear PE kits (Rec-Y6). PE kit consists of: a t-shirt in your child’s house colour, a purple hoodie and plain blue shorts/navy joggers. We do not permit branded tops/t-shirts/football tops etc so please ensure children come to school in the correct attire on their set days. If you require any PE kit please place your order asap via our school website or order directly from Motiv8 https://www.motif8.co.uk/schoolwear/primary-schools/st-bernadette-s-primary.html
Please can we remind you of our Uniform policy in relation to jewellery. Small studs are permitted in school however they should be taped or removed on PE days.
E-safety
Some of your children may be receiving new electronic devices over Christmas. If anyone requires support restricting the content your children can access on their personal devices (like our school networks) please contact Mr Bourner or the school office and we will add parental locks to children’s home personal devices if requested.
Recent events

Poppy Appeal
We have just received notification that you raised £432.54 from purchasing the poppy merchandise. Well done and thank you! Without your help The British Royal legion would be unable to continue their vital welfare and benevolent work.

PTA
Thank you for supporting our Christmas Fayre last week. Particular thanks to our many volunteers at the Fayre. What a lovely afternoon it was! Your contributions of bottles, toys, chocolate and the raffle prizes helped raise an amazing £2,795 Wow! Thank you so much everyone! Profits raised will be directed towards PTA funds to pay for additional school resources e.g. reading books; ipads and children’s trips/experiences.

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 were delivered to the families on Wednesday 7th December.

Panto
All children enjoyed a great in-school panto -Cinderella. It was such a success; we plan to do the same again next year and will look to use some of our fundraising to offset the cost of the performance.

Reindeer Run
The children had an amazing time yesterday completing the ‘Reindeer Run’. Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful parents, families and friends, so far we have raised £1358,60 which will go directly to Teesside Hospice. Wow! You are sooo generous! Thank you!

Governor visits
We have been grateful of 5 Governor visits this month:
Mrs Cutler has met with Miss Brady, to review our safeguarding recruitment process .
Mrs McGowran has met with Miss Brady and a selection of Reception-Y6 children to discuss and review Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal development.
Mr Kane met with Mrs Pennick to discuss EYFS.
Mr Benfield met with Mr Bourner, Miss Cuff and Miss Lumley to discuss teaching and learning.
Mr Willett met with Mrs Smith and Miss Brady regarding PE and Pupil Premium spend.

Please be aware that Mrs Bilous was elected to continue as Chair of Governors in our recent Local Management Board and Mr Kane was voted in as Vice Chair. We are so fortunate to have such caring, committed and passionate Governors who care deeply for your children. https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/governors-responsibilities/

Mr Wren and Mrs Cutler, our Foundation Governors, stepped down in July and December after many years supporting the school. We are so grateful for their support, friendship and guidance.

This means that we are also now looking for 2 new Foundation Governors in the new year. – if there are any practising Catholics who would be interested in being a Governor please contact Mr Conway / Miss Brady for further information. We would be grateful if you could also share this vacancy with parishioners at St Bernadette’s.

Future notices

Calendar events
We have a number of events in the Spring term e.g. assemblies, Lenten liturgies, Sports days etc for the Spring and Summer term. These events are regularly refreshed on our school website calendar.
Please also be aware that we have now finalised our 2023-24 Term dates – these can be accessed via the following link and are on our website for future reference: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/term-dates/

Extended school clubs
Mrs Smith, our PE lead, has reviewed our extended school timetable for the Spring term. We are so grateful to all teachers for offering clubs in their own time.

Day
Before School
Lunch
Year group
After-school
Year group

Monday

Crafts JW

Y1

Ball skills Y1/2 Josh Mitchell
Drama LC

Y1/2

Y5/6

Tuesday

Recorder LK

Y4
Netball/
Basketball MFC

Y5/6

Thursday

Robot Lego JB

Y6

Tag Rugby MFC

Y3/4

Friday

Table tennis EL
Choir
TT Rock Stars RK
Y2/3
Y5/6
Y4

Spring term routines
Thank you for dropping and collecting children so punctually this term – it makes a huge difference. Please be reminded that all children are expected in school by 8.40am – this is when the gates close. All children are working in class from 8.30am each day!

And finally,

Emergency contact
Should anyone need to contact the school in an emergency over the holiday period please could we ask that you email Mr Conway using his school email address ([email protected] )

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a holy and peaceful Christmas. Please find the link for the Christmas holidays ‘Wednesday Word’ to share with your family. https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/christmas-holiday-special?pid=MTA101634&v=79.2

As we move into a new year may we continue to treat each other with love and kindness. On behalf of the whole staff team, we extend our very best wishes for 2023.

A reminder that school staff have a training day on Tuesday 3rd January. We look forward to seeing you and your children back at school on Wednesday 4th January 2023.

Best wishes,

Mr P Conway Miss S Brady
Head Teacher Head of School