7 October 2016

Bulletin Number 5

ST THOMAS MORE PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOLS (07900532)

When we welcome the child, we welcome the family

Tel: 01207 270396 / Email: sacredheartgateshead@stthomasmore.org.uk / Website: www.sacredheartgateshead.org

Congratulations to Rec and Y6 who had 100% attendance this week Well done to Rec, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 & Y6 who achieved our 95% target

This week our overall attendance was 97% Please ensure you make every effort to ensure your child gets to school every day to help us achieve our target

Class Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

Attendance 100% 94.4% 95.2% 98.8% 95% 97.2% 100%

Poor punctuality means your child misses valuable learning time and that lessons are disrupted for all other pupils. Please make sure that your children are in the yard by 8.45am every day.

Dear Parents, Grandparents & Parishioners I must start this newsletter by informing you that this will be the last one to be sent home as a printed copy. As a school we are making a big effort to be more environmentally friendly. We have already started making letters, homework and notes between home and school “paper-free”. As a school, printing costs can exceed £10,000 a year which I’m sure you would agree would be much better spent on our children, as well as caring for our environment. We have about 95% of parents currently signed up to our email and text service, so if you have not signed up please contact the school with your email address – please note we can only have one email address per child. We also upload the newsletter to our website (under ‘Parents’ and then ‘Newsletters’) and to our Facebook page, so there are a wide range of options to access it each week. Anyone that would like a printed copy of the newsletter will need to come along to the office on a Friday afternoon. There will be a charge of 10p per copy to cover the printing cost, this will go into our Sacred Heart Fund which is used for educational activities and resources for the children.

We warmly welcomed Bishop Seamus on Monday to officially open our new £1million extension for the Early Years. The extension has been named The Fr Mathews Early Years Hub after the late Fr. Mathews. Fr Mathews built the first school in Byermoor in 1869 which has thrived ever since. The school originally served the villages of Rowlands Gill, Lintz, Burnopfield, Tanfield and Sunniside. Staff, governors, parishioners and children celebrated the opening with a lovely liturgical celebration in the hall before Bishop Seamus officially opened the Hub. Our Head Girl and Head

Boy gave Bishop Seamus the full tour with Fr Kelly. The children really enjoyed having a Bishop in their classrooms with many interesting questions! If anyone would like to visit the school to see the new extension for themselves or just have a look around then please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

Finally, can I just thank everyone who has contributed to Macmillan Cancer Nurses via the JustGiving site for my September Swim-Run-Swim event. I felt it every day having to drag myself down to the Tyne in all weathers! Apologies to any parents that have seen a strange man in a wet suit enter school in the mornings over the last month. At least that won’t be happening anymore. The great news is that the Loch Lomond 25K run swim run challenge which also included 8k of swimming has been now been completed in Scotland and I have attached some pictures of the event. I managed 11 swims and 10 runs between 8 Islands on Loch Lomond which is a simply stunning place. I will update the page over the weekend. The JustGiving page will remain open over the next few months so please contribute if you can...every penny counts Thank you everyone.

NEWS Eco-Council: The Eco-Council have spotted a great opportunity to develop the path from the bottom car park at the trading estate up to school. This is going to be called the Sacred Heart Eden Project (SHEP) and will involve all the children in school, rejuvenating the area to make it almost like a nature walk. The first element of the project is going to take place this month and the aim will be to plant a number of bulbs on the left hand side of the path (if walking from the bottom). In order to do this, we welcome donations of spring bulbs such as daffodils. Following on from this, the other ideas we have for the development are bug hotels, bird boxes, a wild flower bed and some bird spotting- watch this space! We would like to thank Yvonne Robson for her contribution and dedication to SHEP, giving the children lots of great ideas!

School Uniform Policy: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School requires that children wear school uniform. Our uniform code has been devised by the governors of the school to be a smart, common sense choice which is good value for money for parents on tight budgets.

We worked tirelessly with our governors and parent focus group and undertook months of consultation exploring over eight companies. Logos Unlimited were chosen so we could support a local business, as well as give parents the opportunity to not only purchase uniform online but to be able to shop in store and try uniform on.

However, next week we will give all parents another chance to express views in our midterm uniform parental survey. Pleas complete if possible as all views will contribute to future decision making.

The uniform we chose is a nationally renowned brand, Rowlinson Courtelle, used by uniform companies and shops up and down the country. “Courtelle® is owned exclusively by Rowlinson, and this exceptional garment is bang up to date. It is made from 100% Courtelle® yarn, and this specially engineered product offers durability and easy care to the wearer. It is internationally recognised in the market for its ability to stand the rigours of day to day wear, Rowlinson Courtelle® is engineered for terrific performance particularly when washed and washed. The 100% Courtelle® yarn achieves everything you would expect of it. Colour and shape retention are excellent and we batch test for shade continuity, resistance to pilling and a whole host of other issues so when you buy it you can be confident that we have got it right”.

The uniform code has been designed to give pupils a sense of togetherness and team spirit so that they can feel proud to be part of the school. There are also health and safety requirements that mean our uniform represents a safe set of clothing and footwear for busy active learners whilst ensuring that our pupils are visible and identifiable in the community – this is especially important when we are out on school trips.

Girls:

Maroon Courtelle V-Neck Cardigan (must be logoed) White buttoned blouse

Clip on/normal tie

‘Banbury Grey Pleated Skirt’ (these can be purchased from Logos Unlimited, if bought from elsewhere it must be the same style)

Maroon tights or plain grey socks must be worn with skirts (no other colours allowed)

Low heeled plain black shoes (these must be shoes, not black trainers/boots/sandshoes with no logos or stripes) Boys:

Maroon Courtelle V-Neck Sweatshirt (must be logoed)

White buttoned shirt

Clip on/normal tie

‘Fulham Junior Flat Front Trouser’ (these can be purchased from Logos Unlimited, if bought from elsewhere it must be the same style)

Plain grey socks must be worn with trousers

Grey shorts (summer uniform)

Plain black shoes (these must be shoes, not black trainers or sandshoes) PE Kit:

Maroon school PE T-shirt (this must display the school logo)

Black Shorts

Plimsolls (indoor) and Trainers (outdoor)

Logoed Maroon Hoodie and plain black jogging bottoms (optional for winter)

Logoed Drawstring PE Bag Additional Items:

Logoed Maroon Bookbag/Backpack

Logoed Summer/Winter hats

Logoed reversible coat or Logoed parka coat (perfect for Byermoor winters!)

When the weather starts to get wetter and more wintery the school grounds can get very muddy very quickly. We would like all the children to use the field area all year so encourage children to bring Wellington boots into school for playtimes. Boots can be stored in a bag overnight safely. All children without outdoor footwear will not be allowed off the yard to protect our carpets. Also children will go outside in all weathers so please ensure that your child has a warm/waterproof coat, hat and scarf that are clearly labelled.

Jewellery Jewellery may not be worn, with the exception of a wristwatch for pupils in KS2. If you wish you child to have their ears pierced, we advise you do so at the beginning of the summer holidays to give the ears time to heal before returning to school. Staff are not able to remove or replace earrings, and we do not tape ears for PE. Nail varnish and other make up should not be worn in school please.

Haircuts Fashion haircuts are not allowed at Sacred Heart – particularly very short cuts or lines/patterns. We don’t encourage children to look different from their peers as this can lead to children’s comments that can be upsetting – please sensible haircuts only.

Labelling Uniform Please label all uniform. We cannot be held responsible for lost items of clothing etc. You can find some great items to label uniform on the following websites: www.easy2name.com www.mynametags.com and www.carehomelabelco.com

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF SMARTNESS, CORRECT FOOTWEAR AND WEARING OUR UNIFORM WITH PRIDE!

It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to provide and maintain a suitable uniform for your child. It is important that we work in partnership to maintain the highest standards for our children at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. If a child does not come to school in the correct school uniform, we will provide that child with a suitable item of uniform to change into.

Social Media Policy: Can I please remind parents of our policy surrounding the use of social media: Guidance for parents/guardians

- Please refrain from the use the school name, logo or images of any children/staff/parents on any social media platform without the expressed consent of the Head Teacher of Sacred Heart.

- Do not make any derogatory, defamatory, rude, threatening or inappropriate comments about the school, or anyone at/or connected with the school.

- Use existing channels for home-school communication and contact school if you feel ill-informed about school life, rather than using Social Media.

Our official school Facebook page is be a place where we can share things about our school, what we do and help update parents and carers of our children. We welcome positive and constructive interactions with our parents and carers and enjoy sharing lots more information about our trips, lessons, visitors and activities. Please note that any inappropriate comments that are left will be removed and may result in the user being blocked.

I am happy for parents to take photographs of their own children during certain school events like Sports Day and Class Assemblies. Please note however parents must not take photos or videos of other children and under no circumstances should photos and/or videos be uploaded to social networking sites.

Year of Mercy: The children continued their Year of Mercy by thinking about 'The Hungry' this October. We began by watching a video on the CAFOD website which followed a young boy named Ruben living in Bolivia. Ruben’s family own some land near their home, where they grow food to eat. They rely on this food, but unpredictable weather and poor soil makes growing food really difficult. The children thought about how they would feel if they had to rely on food they had grown themselves and didn't have food to eat every day. The children then made a poster of all their favourite foods and we discussed how lucky we are to have such a wide variety of lovely food so accessible. To finish, we said a prayer together for 'The Hungry' - asking God to look after them.

MEMOS AND REMINDERS Clowns: You may have seen a number of reports in the media relating to reports of people dressing up as clowns to frighten members of the public. Police received six separate incidents of this nature between Friday and Monday involving members of the public being chased by these clowns. Officers have been proactive in their enquiries and a 13-year-old was arrested and issued with a stern warning following his involvement in the incidents. That proactive action should show anyone else looking to get involved in these kind of incidents how seriously police will take this type of behaviour. Officers will continue on their regular patrols in the coming days which will include being visible around our region’s schools at pick-up and drop-off times. Northumbria Police have also received a number of reports from schools relating to threatening messages on social media about how these clowns will turn up at schools. Intelligence officers have looked into these reports and have found them to be American-based and not related to anything happening in our region. As always, we would encourage anyone with any information about the incidents to get in touch with police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Local Inspectors contact details: Inspector Cheryl Warcup 101 x 64369 or Michael Robson 101 x 64634. MyMaths: We are aware that some apple devices cannot run MyMaths due to not having the appropriate flash software (this can be downloaded for free and installed on android devices). Although there isn't a dedicated MyMaths app, there is a work around by installing another free app - Puffin Academy. Please see instructions below on how to use this: Step 1) Go to the Apple App Store on your device. Step 2) Search for ‘Puffin Academy’ and download it. Step 3) Once Puffin Academy has downloaded, open the App on your device. Step 4) Search for ‘mymaths’ in the search bar, this is located at the top right hand side of the main screen. Step 5) Select ‘MyMaths’. You should then see a screen that contains a description of MyMaths. Step 6) To the right of the MyMaths icon you should see the option: ‘go to www.mymaths.co.uk Tap this and MyMaths should open inside the Puffin Academy app. MyMaths should now work fine on your iphone or ipad. Infant/Primary/Junior School Admissions: If you live in Gateshead and your child was born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 or 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 you can apply online for admission to Infant/Primary/Junior school in September 2017 from Friday 9 September 2016 at www.gateshead.gov.uk/schooladmissions. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2017. Secondary School Admissions: If you live in Gateshead and your child was born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006 you can apply online for admission to secondary school in September 2016 from Friday 9 September 2016 at www.gateshead.gov.uk/schooladmissions. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2016. Little Hearts Pre-School: Admissions into preschool are from when children turn three years old. Please contact Little Hearts. The Challenge Update: It's been a really up and down week on my challenge front...thank goodness for reeds and bulrushes as the Tyne picked up pace this week on a number of occasions. Monday was particularly difficult due to the fog but I still managed in difficult conditions to make my way back and forth. The days and locations differ depending on traffic https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Naughton5 Catering Twitter: The fantastic Bistro@STM team have created their own twitter account to allow parents to see all the lovely meals they make across the partnership and keep up to date with any special events. You can follow them at @BISTRO_STM

In our Prayers - Prayer booklet: We pray for Claire Oliver and her family at this difficult time after the loss of her son. If there is anyone you would like us to pray for in our school community please drop comments into the prayer box or email the school office and we will remember those intentions in our prayers.

Happy Birthday: Many happy returns to Eve (7 October) Hayden (8 October) and Ella (9 October)

Weekly Assembly Awards:

Brilliant Manners – T-Jay (Y4) Little Hearts Star of the Week: Maia

Mathematician of the Week – Thomas (Y2) Writer of the Week – Riley (Y3)

Ms Richardson’s Award – Jamie-Leigh (Y4) Head Teacher’s Award – Grace (Y4) and Lilia (Y3)

Pupils of the Week – Izzy (Rec), Josh (Y1), Jessica (Y2), Luke (Y3), Lily (Y4), Jacob (Y5) and Jake (Y6)

FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Monday 3 October: Fr Matthews Early Years Hub Official Opening with Bishop Seamus @ 10am Tuesday 4 October: Open Morning for Little Hearts and Reception parents & toddlers. 9.15am -11.30am Wednesday 5 October: Maths Workshops @3.30pm Thursday 6 October: First Holy Communion Meeting @ 3.15pm Thursday 13 October: Friends Coffee & Cake Afternoon @ 2.30pm Friday 14 October: Wear it Pink non-uniform – DATE CHANGE Tuesday 18 October: Halloween Disco Thursday 20 October: Individual and Family Group Photographs Thursday 20 October: School closes for half term Friday 21 October: Teacher Training Day Monday 31 October: School re-opens

Wednesday 2 November: Y1 LITURGY @ 9am Tues 8 & Wed 9 November: Parent Consultations. 3.30-5.30pm. Wednesday 9 November: Y2 LITURGY @ 9am Wednesday 16 November: Y3 LITURGY @ 9am Friday 18 November: Children in Need. More information to follow Monday 21 November: All Saints Mass in Church @ 9.30am Wednesday 23 November: Y4 LITURGY @ 9am Tuesday 29 November: Advent Celebration Mass. Church @ 9.30am Wednesday 30 November: Y5 LITURGY @ 9am Monday 5 December: Enterprise Day. More info to follow soon Tuesday 6 December: Christmas Pantomime Wednesday 7 December: RECEPTION LITURGY @ 9am Wednesday 14 December: Y6 LITURGY @ 9am

On behalf of Fr Kelly, staff and governors may I wish you a happy weekend.

God Bless. Mr Naughton

The Friends of Sacred Heart and little hearts

Invite you all to a Coffee and Cake Afternoon

Thursday 13 October @ 2pm

CHILDREN CAN MAKE A VOLUNTARY DONATION OF £1 AND BRING A CAKE TO SELL

COME ALONG AND JOIN THE FUN!

WE WILL BE HAVING A SPOOKY RAFFLE AND ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO

TOWARDS BUYING FOOTBALL GOAL POSTS FOR KS1 CHILDREN AND CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES!