March 2022 Newsletter
Dear Parents, carers and children,
We hope that you are all looking forward to the half term and have exciting plans with friends and family. Thank you, as always, for your commitment to children’s attendance and work – we are lucky to have such supportive parents. We are also grateful to the many parents each week who contact the school to pass on their thanks to our staff for all they do – our staff love St Bernadette’s and give their all to ensure your children are the best they can be each day!
General updates
Reading
A lovely way to connect with children is by reading together. As such, we hope you enjoy engaging in reading the books we send home and the wider offer with Accelerated reading and our new online reading content. Reading opens the door to so many opportunities. For more information / support please click the following link. Home reading
EYFS Places
Reception: Our indications are that there are still places available for our Reception September 2022 class so please spread the word and encourage family members/friends to contact Middlesbrough LA or St Bernadette’s directly for visits/further information. (This applies to 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).
Nursery: If you have a child (or have friends or family with a child) who is due to start nursery either this year or next, and haven’t yet completed an application, please contact the school office asap to guarantee your place. Remember we also offer a limited number of 30 hour places, so please contact the school to add your child to this list from September 2022.
Staffing update
We are delighted to inform you of 3 new staffing recruits to school. Kate Williams, Jess Dossor and Faye Lyth (all parents in school) have now joined our wraparound team. We are sure you will make them welcome in their new roles as you see them.
School’s Out
Please be aware that we are totally flexible with our wraparound provision and we have availability for more children! If you are now being asked to work from the office again you are more than welcome to use our School’s In / Out provision (7.45am-8.30am or/and 3-5.30pm – £2 per half hour).
Social media
If you are not already a follower, please follow us via our Facebook page or for Twitter request to follow us @stbernadettesm We only accept names on Twitter we recognise so please inform your child’s class teacher/school office if you have requested to follow us but we have not accepted you.
Punctuality
Please be reminded that all children are expected in school by 8.40am – this is when the gates close. Please be reminded of the arrows on the paths to help manage social distancing. At the end of day, please can families with multiple sibling links collect oldest children first and proceed to younger children’s exit points.
Toilets
We have been successful in attaining Trust funding to update our KS2 toilets. The toilets will be renovated in the coming months.
February Events
CAFOD
Thank you so much for your kindness in relation to our 10p CAFOD appeal. Each week we ask children to bring 10p and all funds go directly to this wonderful cause. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity.
E-safety week
On the w/b 7th February all children across the school explored a variety of age appropriate e-safety themes. Mr Bourner led a whole school assembly and this was followed up by discussions and activities relating to our whole school theme: “All fun and games: exploring relationships online” addressing issues so that all young people understand what constitutes respectful behaviour online, and know what to do if they encounter hate or bullying directed at them or someone else. By opening up conversations around online identity, the aim was to help us work towards creating a safer and inclusive internet. If you would like further information regarding securing your children’s technical devices please contact Mr Bourner or the school office.
Year 2 assembly
It was wonderful to welcome Y2 parents for Year 2’s Valentine assembly today. They shared their love of God, school, their families and each other in a beautiful manner this morning. Well done Year 2!
Governor visits
Our Governors are booking visits to school this term to monitor and discuss school improvement priorities in line with their assigned responsibilities. Paul Benfied last week visited Mr Bourner (Maths); Miss Cuff (English) and Miss |Lumley (Science). More visits are planned next month.
Sport Updates
Basketball/Netball
We were delighted to send a group of Y5/6 children to both basketball and netball competitions in recent weeks following Friday night training. This was a first multi school experience for many participants and they displayed excellent attitudes and commitment to competitive action.
PE days remain unchanged following half term:
- Reception – Monday and Friday
- Year 1 – Thursday and Friday
- Year 2 – Tuesday and Thursday
- Year 3 – Thursday and Friday
- Year 4 – Monday and Tuesday
- Year 5 – Tuesday and Friday
- Year 6 – Monday and Friday
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. 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. 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
Extended school clubs
Mrs Smith has organised a raft of lunchtime and after school clubs across school after half term for children across the school to engage in. Please note Drama will be on as normal wb 28th February. All other after school clubs will start wb 7th March. Mrs Smith, our PE lead, will issue information regarding next half term’s new clubs via relevant year group emails wb 28th February. Next half term to cover the cost of additional school staff support cover for sports clubs we will issue a small charge.
Future events
Swimming
Year 4 have now completed their 2 week swimming lessons. Please note Y3 will be attending daily swimming lessons for 2 weeks following half term – wb 28th February and wb 7th March. Please can Y3 children bring a dry towel and swimming costume each day. Children can wear their PE kits each day for these 2 weeks.
World Book Day
As it is World Book Day’s 25th Anniversary, we are intending to dedicate the entire week to reading-related activities, which we would like all children (N-Y6) to participate fully in. Our week-long activities are intended to raise the profile and enjoyment of reading even further and to raise funds for further reading resources and ipads.
| Day | Activity | Equipment need/additional information |
| Monday 28th February | ‘Run for Reading’ fun run. | Children may wear their own sports clothing all day (this doesn’t need to be PE kits). |
| Tuesday 1st March | Whole School Book Swap | We would like to request that all children bring 1-3 old books (good condition only) to exchange for another.
Please donate books which are suitable to the current age your child is and have previously enjoyed. All children will get the opportunity to take a new book home to enjoy! |
| Wednesday 2nd March | Whole School Reading Video | A video will be created showcasing our whole school approach to the teaching of reading. This will be shared on social media and on our school website so you know how we will use the funds for our Reading week. |
| Thursday 3rd March | Favourite books! | Children will have the opportunity to discuss their favourite school texts and older children will challenge another class in a book debate. |
| Friday 4th March | World Book Day
Whole School Celebration Assembly (Dress Up Friday not Thursday!) |
All children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character.(PJs/dressing gowns can be worn if you cannot persuade your child to dress up!)
We will hold a whole school celebration assembly, giving children the opportunity to read aloud an extract from their favourite book, to celebrate reading for pleasure. |
Please please please could we kindly ask for a minimum donation of £3 per child / £5 per family for the week’s activities. A ‘Run for Reading’ link has been set up via Parentpay. We understand this is an additional request but every penny raised will be forwarded directly towards further reading resources / ipads.
PTA meeting
We will be holding a PTA meeting in school on Wednesday 2nd March, 7.30pm. We will discuss future fundraising in the coming terms – if you are free to join us your input would be most appreciated. We have been overwhelmed by the support of our PTA events since November – make an event of it…feel free to bring snacks and a drink (alcoholic or non alcoholic)!
Y5 class assembly
The Year 5 children will have their class assembly on Wednesday 9th March at 9am. The 9am performance will be for parents/carers only as the whole school (children) will see class assemblies at an alternative time. Whilst we appreciate COVID restrictions are lifting, it is essential we continue to keep our community as safe as possible. To safely distance visitors, we can welcome a maximum capacity of 60 adults into the hall this term and therefore we can invite two adults per Y5 family to the assembly (separated families may have 2 tickets per family). Please note, we will also film and place on Google Classroom for any family members who cannot attend.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is taking place on Friday 18th March. The theme will be ‘Superheroes’ Children can dress up as their favourite superhero, this could be Captain America, their Mum or someone who inspires them! Please make any donations directly into ParentPay, all contributions welcome (minimum of £1).
Parent Consultations
Our next Parental consultations will be Wednesday 16th March and Thursday 17th March, 3-6pm. We will facilitate the meetings face to face in school but have the option of a telephone call should anyone prefer. Both parents are welcome to attend this meeting. We will distribute letters/booking information following the half term break.
Tempest Photographs
Class and group photographs will be taken by Tempest Photography on Monday 21st March. Photographs will be taken in the School Hall. We will only be taking photos of school children. Children will be directed from their classrooms after registration for photographs starting with our Nursery and proceeding to Year 6.
Clitherow Day
On Friday 25th March we will celebrate the life of Margaret Clitherow in school. Children in Clitherow house may wear blue clothing on this day.
Lent
Lent begins on the first week back to school. Lent is an opportunity to renew and refresh ourselves as we await the celebration of the Risen Lord. We will be marking the start of Lent in school with an Ash Wednesday liturgy.
This year, as we can once again invite you into school, we will share with you our annual reflective, prayerful Lenten liturgies. We have mixed year group Liturgies so to limit numbers safely in the hall, we will permit one person per family to attend. Please note we will not issue tickets. The liturgies will also be available via Google Classroom.
- EYFS Liturgy, Wednesday 30th March, 9am in school hall
- Y1-2 Liturgy, Friday 1st April, 9am in school hall
- Y3-5 Liturgy, Wednesday 6th April, 9am in school hall
- Y6 Stations of the Cross, Friday 8th April, 9am in school hall
Easter
For information please note we break up on Friday 8th April for Easter and return Monday 25th April. All 21/22 & 22/23 term dates can be viewed via our website. https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/term-dates/
Robinwood
Please note that the Year 6 residential is taking place on 29th June – 1st July and next year’s residential for our current Year 5 is taking place 12th October – 14th October. If you are not already please pay in regular instalments to spread the cost of the trip. If anyone requires any support with payments please contact Mr Conway or Miss Brady.
And finally,
COVID updates
As things stand we are expecting Covid guidance to change when we return however there has been no further updates provided for schools. Once we have received full guidance we will inform you.
Should anyone need to contact the school in an emergency at any time please could we ask that you email Mr Conway using his school email address ([email protected] )
Have a wonderful half term break! Stay safe and see you Monday 28th February.
Mr.P.Conway Miss S Brady
Head Teacher Head of School
