July 2022 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,
As we approach our final few weeks of the academic year may we take this opportunity to thank you all for all your support and commitment this year. It is the greatest privilege to teach your children. To have such strong parent partnerships enables our children to grow into such mature young citizens who will make an impact in our world.
General
Y4-6 children have been rehearsing as part of Drama club for several weeks with Miss Cuff and Mrs Simpson.
If you haven’t already got your tickets to see Oliver, they are still on sale. Tickets are £5 per adult and £2.50 per child. Please see Mrs Simpson at the main Reception for more details. All children and parents are welcome to experience this amazing show – don’t miss it!
Uniform 2022-23
Please note that next year we will allow children to continue to wear PE kits on their PE days (usually 2 days per week).
To support with costings associated with school uniform, we will also permit plain black trainers for girls and boys on PE and non PE days. If you wish to purchase shoes for non PE days or additional trainers for PE days this is optional however no coloured trainers are permitted unless it is a PE day.
Please see in full our updated uniform policy via our website and uniform ordering link (Motif8) if desired: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/school-uniform/
Attendance
Attendance for June was 95.4%. A special well done to Year 3, who have had the highest level of attendance to date in this school year. They are currently at 97%.
It has been a challenging year for attendance and we appreciate your support in trying to meet our expectations. Everyday in school is precious and we would ask that parents/carers refrain from taking children out of school in term time. Absence in term time is only agreed in exceptional circumstances. A reminder of our term dates can be accessed via our website: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/term-dates/
School Meals
As we approach the end of the academic year please can we request all outstanding debts are reconciled such as school meals / School’s Out via ParentPay.
Birthday cakes
As a healthy school and because of food allergies we try to discourage too many sweet treats. Please could we ask you not to bring birthday cakes to share with other children.
June events
SEN audit
Mrs Pennick had a SEN audit this month conducted by Katie Haycock (NPCAT SEN lead). The audit celebrated Mrs Pennick’s strong leadership and excellent pastoral support to our SEN children and families.
First Holy Communion
A group of Year 4/5 children celebrated the Sacrament of their first Holy Communion throughout June. The whole class then enjoyed a beautiful breakfast provided in school on Monday 27th June. Thank you for your kind food donations; to the catechists for their support in preparing the children; the staff and parents for their commitment throughout the course and to Monsignor Hogan for leading us through the spiritual journey.
Holy Island – Year 6
Our Year 6 children enjoyed a wonderfully spiritual day on Holy Island as a final retreat before they leave us in July. We had a beautiful liturgy on St Cuthbert’s Island, toured the views of the island and visited the priory to learn more about St Aidan, St Bede and St Cuthbert.
Rockstars
Mr Bourner through a launch and summary assembly arranged a fun competition in conjunction with our home app Rockstars to raise the profile of Times tables and securing early number facts.
Musical showcase
Mrs Conway arranged a Musical Showcase whereby over 50 children across the school performed to their class to demonstrate their musical talents (singing, piano, keyboard, ukulele, drums). We are so proud of all the children who performed – well done, you are all so brave!
Sports day
Sports day returned on Tuesday 28th June and was hugely enjoyed by all children and parents. We were blessed with good weather and the children enjoyed an ice lolly for their endeavours!
Year 3 assembly
Thank you to those Year 3 parents who were able to join us for the Year 3 assembly on Wednesday 15th June. It is lovely to witness how confident the children are in displaying their knowledge through song and spoken word.
Trinity
Thank you to Mr Carey who visited our Year 5 parents who are considering Trinity for children in their next phase of education. Mr Carey asked us to share the following message:
Good afternoon Mr Conway and Miss Brady,
Please could you pass on my thanks to the parents who attended yesterday’s open forum. I really appreciated the questions and the feedback they gave. My email is [email protected] should Y5 parents wish to follow up with any further questions or arrange a look around our school.
Thanks again,
Simon Carey
Assistant Headteacher (Trinity Catholic College)
We continue to work closely as an NPCAT family – indeed our Year 4 children had a wonderful, practical Science experience at Trinity’s Science labs today!
Sporting events
This month we have had a range of sport competitions across a variety of years giving opportunity for a wide range of children to partake in competitive sport: Year 2 (football); Year 3 (Athletics); Year 5 (Athletics) and Year 6 (Football).
It has been so great to witness the variety of extended clubs on offer this year. We are so grateful to our staff who continue to give their time to provide clubs.
Mrs Smith has successfully applied for Games Mark Gold based on our commitment to PE and extended schools.
Y6 Residential visit
The Year 6 children are currently in Robinwood – their delayed trip as a result of COVID. They are enjoying a raft of outdoor and adventurous activities. Keep abreast of our social media for updates!
Next year, the current Year 5 will return to Robinwood at our traditional time in October and we will have a summer residential in Northumberland – learning more about our local heritage.
Additional educational experiences
This month, children have had some fantastic memorable experiences through curriculum linked visits: Y1/2 went to Danby Forest; Y3 went to Saltburn and Y5 went to Flamingo Land.
Forthcoming events
Transition week
Next week is transition week in school. Children across the whole school will spend the week with their new teachers and our Y6 children will be visiting their secondary schools.
In this first week of transition we would ask that you collect children transiting to Reception from the gate at 12.15pm each day (including 30 hour children). If you have problems with childcare for the afternoon please let us know. Traditionally, we have found this transition week really helps the children coming to school full time in September settle into school life and eases them into the new changes.
Please note all other children should be collected at 3pm from their new teacher/year group exit Monday to Thursday. They will return to their current class teachers on Friday afternoon.
Staffing for next year is as follows:
Nursery Miss V Simpson
Reception Mrs Pennick – 3 days / Mrs Andrews – 2 days
Year 1 Mrs Whitfield – 3 days / Mrs Conway – 2 days
Year 2 Mrs Smith
Year 3 Miss Lumley
Year 4 Miss Kennington
Year 5 Miss Cuff
Year 6 Mr Bourner
We are delighted to have the continued support of our skilled and dedicated group of Teaching Assistants who will be assigned to their classes and duties by the Leadership Team.
Ms Cole will unfortunately be leaving us in July. She has been working as a teacher assistant in Y2/3 this year. She is going to train to become a SEN teacher. We wish her every blessing and thank her for her dedication and support to the school.
American Day
On Monday 4th July we will be hosting an American Day themed menu. If your children normally has a packed lunch but you would like to book your child on a school meal for this day please inform the school office. Please See attached flyer for more information.
Summer Fayre
Thank you to all involved in planning our Summer Fayre which is on Monday 18th July. This year, each class have been provided with £20 as an enterprise project. Year groups will come up with a variety of stalls to help raise funds eg popcorn, ice-cream and photo booths.
Please contact the school if you are able to help set up for the Fayre or volunteer to help with a stall. Miss Brady is going to use an email group for the PTA to help with communications. If you would like to be part of this email group please let her know via [email protected] PTA communication email is: [email protected]
Schools Out
School’s out will not be running on Wednesday 13th July and Monday 18th July, due to a staff retreat and the Summer Fayre. We apologise for any convenience this may cause.
Reports
End of year reports will be sent home on Friday 15th. If anyone would like to see a teacher following your child’s report please make an appointment through the school office.
Other dates of interest:
- Transition week – (for all pupils) week beginning 4th July
- New Starter (Reception) parent meeting- Monday 4th July, 10.30am
- Postage House day – Friday 8th July – children in Postgate house may wear yellow
- Reception – Monk Farm – Wednesday 13th July
- Y3 trip to Saltburn – Friday 15th July
- Nursery – Newham Grange Farm – Monday 18th July
- Tuesday 19th July – Y6 Leavers Liturgy (9am)
Lost Property
We have in school a number of items of lost property. This includes clothing, shoes, adult glasses, hair accessories and jewellery. Clothing and shoes will be outside (weather permitting) at 3pm in the last week of term. Please look and check for any items you may be missing.
And finally,
Gift policy
As a staff, we all feel very privileged to teach your children and your kind words and messages are more than enough thanks for the work we do. The Trust has a policy whereby gifts must be declared so please refrain from purchasing large gifts.
Summer Break
Wednesday 20th July is the end of our school term, we will return on Monday 5th September (Year 1-6 and Nursery) Reception intake is Tuesday 6th September and Thursday 8th September – this will be clarified in the new starters meet.
We look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks at school. If we don’t see you personally, we would like to take this opportunity to send our best wishes for the summer break.
Mr. P Conway Miss S Brady
Headteacher Head of School
