December 2021 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,
This Christmas, we are looking forward to welcoming you into school in a careful manner for our joyous and festive events.
General
Parents Consultations
We hope you found this month’s parent consultations useful and informative. We included a summary report on how the children have returned to school as well as specific targets to support your children with at home.
Last week we issued a parental questionnaire. Thank you for the 43 responses to date. We have been overwhelmed by your kindness – thank you! We usually receive approximately 80 responses so please respond if you have not had time yet. Please could all responses be received by Friday 10th December. All feedback will be shared in the new year.
Attendance
Thank you for your commitment to your children’s attendance and punctuality across the school. Unfortunately attendance is still lower than our expected 97% so please keep supporting us in ensuring children are with us each and every day #everydaycounts
Social networks
Please can we remind you, as we approach our Christmas performances not to upload in-school photos/videos to your own personal social networks. We share photos/videos, with your permission, via facebook/Twitter or Google classroom.
Homework
Please continue to support us with your children’s homework…it makes such a difference! It is essential all children can log on and access work via Google Classroom.
Jewellery
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. The only other accessory allowed in school is a sports watch but this must not cause the children to be distracted from the class work.
1st Holy Communion
Please be aware that we will be meeting with Monsignor Hogan to discuss the Y4/5 Parish Holy Communion after Christmas. We will inform you once Monsignor has decided on how we progress this.
Mrs Martin
Mrs Martin, our school chef of 15 years, is to retire on Friday 17th December, she will be a huge miss to St. Bernadette’s. Our school food has always had an excellent reputation. We thank Jan for her commitment and love to our children and wish her a happy and healthy retirement.
School’s Out vacancy
Please be aware that we have a vacancy in school. This is an internal and external advert for 12.5 hours a week – 3-5.30pm each evening to join our wraparound care team. Please see attached link. We would welcome interest from parents and interested parties. The closing date for applications is Monday 6th December, 12noon. https://online.fliphtml5.com/qsqrk/cxic/#p=1
November Events
Remembrance Liturgy
Y6 led a poignant whole school liturgy on Thursday 11th November in the school hall as we reflected on those who had died in service. Each class also had a special class liturgy around our fantastic display of poppies near the school entrance.
Children In Need
Thank you for supporting our ‘be yourself’ own clothes day on Friday 19th November which raised over £272. This money has been sent directly to Children in Need. Thank you also to everyone who donated online.
Anti-bullying week
The children received teacher and assembly inputs focusing on kindness w/c 15th November.
Letters to the SVP
EYFS are currently making Christmas cards for our elderly parishioners this month. These will be shared by parishioners at St Bernadette’s.
Governor visit
Nick Kane, parent of 2 children in school, joined our Governing body this term and he has enjoyed 2 visits to school to witness practice and meet with leaders. He conducted a visit for EYFS and the Wider Curriculum (History, Geography, DT and Art). Mary Bilous, our chair, visits school each week to support school events, meet with leaders and visit classes. We are grateful to all our Governing body for their commitment to school.
Please be aware that there is one Foundation Governor vacancy available at our school – if there are any practicing Catholics who would be interested in being a Governor please contact Mr Conway / Miss Brady for further information.
Safeguarding audit
Each term, NPCAT Safeguarding Leads audit our safeguarding practice and provision and they were once again complementary about our high standards and proactive response to safeguarding.
Sporting events
Football
It has been great to have our children partake in football competitions again this year. Schools across NPCAT have competed against each other in recent weeks. Our Y6 boys finished 2nd in their competition; our Y6 girls enjoyed the experience of competitive football; Y3/4 boys came 3rd overall and our Y3/4 girls finished 5th!
Extended sports clubs
We are delighted so many children across school are enjoying our lunch time and after school clubs provided by our school staff and external providers. Please keep a lookout for more clubs in the new year.
Upcoming events
Fayre
We are so grateful to our large PTA contingent who are volunteering their support and have been instrumental in organising our school fayre this year (Saturday 4th December). We are looking forward to welcoming you to school at either 10am or 11am as per your ticket to enjoy some Christmas festivities. Thank you to you all for your kind donations which will raise so much needed funds for school.
Following the Fayre our next meeting is Wednesday 12th January, 7.30pm in the school hall to discuss future fundraising events.
Immunisations
The flu vaccine is being offered to all children (Reception-Year 6). You must consent via: www.hdft.nhs.uk/electronic-consent School Code: 142369. If you do not have internet access please contact them on 0300 003 2554. Children will not be provided the immunisation without consent. Flu immunisations will take place at St.Bernadette’s on Friday 10th December..
Reception applications
Our indications based on current Nursery numbers would predict there are a limited number of places still available for next year’s Reception class so please spread the word and encourage family members/friends to apply.
You can apply for a primary school reception place online. (The website is now open for applications). Children who are due to start primary school reception class in September 2022 and who were born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 must apply now! Parents will be invited to submit their preferences for the primary school they’d like their child to attend.
Your child won’t automatically be given a school place; you have to apply. Please use the following link to make an online application: https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/primary-school-admissions-reception-intake
The main application is made through the council however for Catholic schools you will also need to complete a supplementary form and then return this directly to the school.
Please note we also have places in our current Nursery class so please contact school if you are interested or you have a child approaching 3.
And finally,
December Dates to Remember
- Wednesday 1st December Y3/Y4 Dress the tree (2pm)
- Friday 3rd December School’s Out Closed
- Saturday 4th December Christmas Fayre
- Wednesday 8th December Pantomime (please make £5 contribution via Parentpay asap please)
- Thursday 9th December Y1/Y2 Christmas production (10am / 2pm)
- Friday 10th December KS2 Christmas party (party clothes)
- Monday 13th December EYFS/KS1 Christmas party (party clothes)
- Wednesday 15th December EYFS/KS1 Nativity (10am / 2pm)
- Thursday 16th December Christmas Lunch / Rudolph Run (Christmas Jumper day- children may wear school uniform with their trainers)
- Friday 17th December Last day of term, 3pm
*as tickets are limited this year, please ensure you have purchased tickets in advance of attending school productions and fayre.
CAUSE
Thank you for your support with our annual CAUSE hamper appeal however we are still short of a number of CAUSE gifts. Please can all gifts be in school by 6th December. If you are able we will also be sending food hampers, so any extra food donations would also be gratefully received.
Pantomime
This year we decided to host a pantomime in school. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far but if you haven’t yet donated please can you do so via Parentpay. To cover part of the cost of the company please can we request you provide a £5 donation per child in advance of Wednesday’s performance.
Reindeer run reindeer run
This year on Thursday 16th December to work up an appetite or run off our Christmas lunches we will be running in aid of Teesside Hospice. We will distribute sponsorship forms next week. Please could the sponsor form and money (cash) be returned in a sealed / labelled envelope if possible to school on or before Friday 17th December. Children are encouraged to wear a Christmas jumper with trainers on Thursday 16th December. The children will receive a Reindeer antler and a red nose as a prize for their participation in the event.
Christmas Gifts
May we take this opportunity to thank you for your support and respectfully ask that you be mindful of our gifts policy in the lead up to the end of term. The Trust has a policy whereby gifts must be declared. As a staff, we feel very privileged to teach your children and your kind words and messages are more than enough thanks for the work we do.
Buddie Presents
For a number of years we have been discouraging children to purchase presents for their Y6-Reception buddies however it still happens – it is a lovely gesture but not all children receive gifts and particularly younger children can become upset if they do not receive a gift. Please can we encourage you to write cards to buddies rather than gifts this year.
Best wishes,
Mr. P. Conway / Miss. S. Brady
Head Teacher / Head of school
