13 October 2017

Dear ParentsParents Evening

You should all have your appointments for Parents Evening. Teachers will be giving you a Privacy Notice form. This advises you how we use the information you provide us with on yourself and your children and what our requirements are. We have an obligation to send this out every year. You will also be asked to sign a declaration form either agreeing or disagreeing to your consent for a number of items. Under new data guidance we need to do this regularly so parents have the right to withdraw consent at any point.

Harvest FestivalThank you for all your kind donations for Harvest Festival last week. Please see attached letter from Gateshead Foodbank.

Art CompletionThe Thought Foundation in Birtley is running an Art competition.  They want school children to explore what drawing is and what you can draw with through the theme of 'The World around Us'.  To enter all you need to do is explore the world around you, whether that is your bedroom, playground, the outdoors and create a drawing on A4 paper / card coloured or white. You can do this using pens, pencils, a stick or digitally on the computer. We will enter our top 5 school entries. Other schools may enter and the overall winning entry will have their work framed and exhibited at thought Foundation and will receive an art workshop for their class. So let’s get creative and produce some wonderful work! Entries to be given to Mrs Robson no later than Monday 30th Oct. Good luck!

StudentsOver the next few weeks there will be two occupational therapists students in school who will be working with individual and groups of children.  Occupational therapy helps people take part in daily life to improve their health and well-being. 

Data Collection formsYou will recently have received a Data Collection form showing the information we hold on you and your child. Could you please return this as soon as possible even if there are no changes.

Menu Changes

Gateshead new school menu was implemented in September. We have tweaked it slightly to meet the needs of our children. We will continue to review it. Attached please find the revised menu.

Halloween Fun RunSaturday 21st October at Watergate Park – 2.5k walk or run as part of Whickham School’s Charity Week in aid of Macmillan Nurses. More information is available at the school office or to register go to the Whickham School website www.whickhamschool.org

NurseryWe are still in need of various different types of leaves. We are hoping to make leaf crowns next week and a variety of shapes, colours and sizes would be fantastic. Conkers and pine cones would also be great.  Also if you have any items we could have for our junk modelling area they would be appreciated as our stock is running low.  Thank you. On the day of our Nativity performance on Wednesday 13th the children who stay for 30hrs will be taking part in both performances so parents of these children can choose which they attend. Those same 30 hr children will be going to the Northern Stage on the Tuesday 19th with the afternoon group and will not be going on the 21st. On this day they will stay in school and have the opportunity to mix with the Reception class.

Year 1Family Learning Workshop for Year 1 ParentsIf you would like to join your child for an hour of practical 'Under the Sea' activities on Thursday 19th October. Please ring the school office to book a place. Your child will also bring home a letter with this information. 

Year 5Swimmer of the week – this week Bradley, Charlie and Gabrielle were awarded swimmer of the week during the school swimming lessons. This is awarded by the swimming teachers at Dunston Leisure Centre. They receive 3 dojo points for this recognition. Well done. Article 28 – You have the right to a good quality education. Article 29 – Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities.

Year 6Reminder: The deadline for applying for your child’s place at secondary school is 31st October 2017 – you can apply online at www.gateshead.gov.uk

Flu Vaccination The Immunisation Team are in school Thursday 19th October to administer the flu nasal spray vaccination to those who we have received completed consent forms. The deadline for returning these forms was today.

Job VacancyWhickham School are looking to recruit a number of Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants.

Post/vacancies: Lunchtime supervisory assistantsHours of work: 1.5 hours per day term time

Grade of Post:  £8.55 per hour (fixed point)Role:  to cover lunchtime supervision and litter pick duties before and after lunchtime service times.

Any interested parties will be able to find the details of the vacancy on the school website, or they can contact Nicola Graham HR & Admin Manager direct.Email: ngraham@whickhamschool.org Telephone: 4960026

RemindersJust to let you know a few children have chickenpox or scarlet fever.

We are now operating a cashless system in school so please make all payments online through our Agora system. Please ensure you activate your account even if you don’t need to make payment at this time, as the password expires. If your password has expired or you are experiencing problems please let the office know.

Just to remind you this is a Safeguarding School and we have a duty to pass on any concerns to Children’s Services.

Our staff are also trained in Team Teach techniques in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Yours sincerely

HJ GladstoneHeadteacher

Dear Staff, Pupils, & Parents

On behalf of the foodbank may I say a huge Thank You for donating 340kg of your Harvest Festival items to the foodbank. This is the biggest Harvest donation we have had so far this year, and the generosity of people in Whickham is fantastic. Our stocks are quite low at present and your Harvest gifts are really needed to help us meet the needs of many people in Gateshead.

Gateshead Foodbank

E info@gateshead.foodbank.org.uk

www.gateshead.foodbank.org.uk

Many thanks again

Matty & Liz

Warehouse Managers

Gateshead Foodbank Reg. Charity No 1161395 Reg. in England & Wales

Friends of Front Street Newsletter - 13th October 2017

Tuck shop – children will need money to purchase tuck on Friday 20th October in school.

Spooky Disco – Wednesday 1st November - Tickets go on sale from Monday 16th October.

Children will require pocket money on the evening too as we will be selling hot dogs and tuck. All children can dress up in Halloween themed costumes but not essential.

Cost of the tickets: £2 each (includes unlimited drinks).

Times of the Disco: Nursery, Reception * and Years 1 & 2 5.00 – 6.00pm

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 6.15 – 7.15pm

Please Note: *Due to Ofsted regulations, children in Nursery and Reception must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult who is at least 16 years of age.

To request tickets please complete the tear-off slip below and return it to school together with correct payment (either cash or cheque) in an envelope addressed to “FOFS – School Disco”, by 31st October. Cheques to be made payable to Friends of Front Street please. Tickets will be sent home with your child.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spooky Disco Ticket Application – 1st November

Number of tickets required _________

Child’s Name ____________________________ Class _________

Time: 5.00– 6.00 or 6.15 – 7.15pm (please circle)

Child’s Name ____________________________ Class _________

Time: 5.00 – 6.00 or 6.15 – 7.15pm (please circle)

Helper Support

We need at least 16 helpers for the disco to go ahead. Please provide your name, email address and contact telephone number below if you can help at either one or more of the discos (tick as appropriate):

First Disco Second Disco Both

Name:__________________________ Contact number:____________________

Email address: ________________________________________________________

I am a nursery /reception parent/guardian, and will be accompanying (mandatory) _____________________________________________________ (Child’s name)

Signed:_____________________________ Date:__________________

Week 1 :Week 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday1st ChoiceMAIN DISH

Cumberland sausages served with steamed

new potatoes, seasonal vegetables & gravy

Turkey Lasagne with garlic dough balls, salad or steamed

vegetables

Warm Beef in gravy with optional

homemade Bap with potato wedges, baked

beans & broccoli

Roasted chicken Breast with Yorkshire

pudding, mixed vegetables, gravy &

potatoes

Harry Ramsdens Crispy Salmon fillets with chips, peas &

lemon

2nd ChoiceVEGETARIAN DISH

Cheese & tomato toasties with warm

pasta salad

Free Range Egg & cheese omelettes with

vegetables & new potatoes

Quorn Korma with steamed vegetables,

Rice & mini naans

Cheese pasta bake with garlic bread &

seasonal vegetables

Warm Tomato, basil & mozzarella soft wraps

with chips & salad

3rd ChoiceJACKET POTATO OR DELI OPTION

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

DELI CHOICE: selection of either

bread or wraps with choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Two of the following are available interchangeably for jackets: baked beans, cheese, tuna, hamTwo of the following are available interchangeably for sandwiches & wraps: ham, cheese, egg mayo, tuna & sweetcorn, chicken mayo.

Dessert Pineapple, coconut & lime flapjacks

Carrot & mango muffins

Fruit Salad in Strawberry Jelly

Yoghurt & home-made granola pots

Toffee Cake served with custard

ADDITIONAL DESSERTS options available daily to choose from: raisins, fruit salads, fresh fruits, yoghurts, cheese & crackersSALAD BAR (Your child’s 5 a day top up station) – Freshly prepared salad bar items such as cucumber sticks, mixed peppers sticks, tomatoes, sweetcorn, lettuce, beetroot, potato or pasta salads, hummus, cous cous, etc. (minimum 5 items available daily)Week Commencing ; 4/9/17, 25/9/17, 16/10/17, 13/11/17, 4/12/17, 8/1/18, 29/1/18, 26/2/18, 19/3/18, 23/4/18, 14/5/18, 11/6/18, 2/7/18Week 2: Week 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday1st ChoiceMAIN DISH

Pizza slices with potato wedges, roasted

carrots & sweetcorn

Roasted Pork with apple sauce, roasted

potatoes, gravy, Yorkshire pudding & seasonal vegetables

Beef meatballs in tomato sauce with wholegrain penne

pasta, sweet corn & green beans

Yoghurt marinated chicken breast pieces

with mild curry sauce & vegetable rice

Battered Cod Fillets with chips & choice of peas or mushy peas &

lemon wedge

2nd ChoiceVEGETARIAN DISH

Tomato pasta bake served with mixed

vegetables and garlic bread

Quorn Biryani served with naan bread

Cheese & potato parcels with seasonal

vegetables

Quorn Sausage roll with steamed

vegetables & new potatoes

Cheese & Broccoli Quiche with peas &

chips

3rd ChoiceJACKET POTATO OR DELI OPTION

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO

with choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO

with choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO

with choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO

with choice of fillings

DELI CHOICE: selection of either bread or wraps with choice of

fillingsTwo of the following are available interchangeably for jackets: baked beans, cheese, tuna, hamTwo of the following are available interchangeably for sandwiches & wraps: ham, cheese, egg mayo, tuna & sweetcorn, chicken mayo.

Dessert Lemon drizzle cake Jammy biscuit with oats

Coco brownie Ice cream & Fruit Fruity Tray Bake with custard

ADDITIONAL DESSERTS options available daily to choose from: raisins, fruit salads, fresh fruits, yoghurts, cheese & crackersSALAD BAR (Your child’s 5 a day top up station) – Freshly prepared salad bar items such as cucumber sticks, mixed peppers sticks, tomatoes, sweetcorn, lettuce, beetroot, potato or pasta salads, hummus, cous cous, etc. (minimum 5 items available daily)Week Commencing ; 11/9/17, 2/10/17, 30/10/17, 20/11/17, 11/12/17, 15/1/18, 5/2/18, 5/3/18, 26/3/18, 30/4/18, 21/5/18, 18/6/18, 9/7/18Week 3:Week 3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday1st ChoiceMAIN DISH

Cheese & Ham Pizza with mixed vegetables and warm pasta salad

Chicken & sweetcorn pie with steamed new potatoes, cabbage,

roasted carrots& gravy

Minced Beef Cobbler with cheddar & herb dumplings, mashed potatoes, crushed swede & carrots &

steamed cauliflower

Sweet chilli chicken fillets with steamed rice, sweetcorn & tomato salsa with

broccoli

Omega 3 Birds Eye Fish Fingers, chips,

minted peas & lemon mayo

2nd ChoiceVEGETARIAN DISH

Quorn Shepherd's pie with lentils, served with mixed vegetables and

gravy

Cheesy pasta with side salad & dough balls

Vegetarian bolognaise served with pasta &

garlic bread

Vegetable fajitas with potato wedges & salsa

Cheese & tomato quiche served with

chips and peas

3rd ChoiceJACKET POTATO OR DELI OPTION

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

Freshly baked Golden JACKET POTATO with

choice of fillings

DELI CHOICE: selection of either

bread or wraps with choice of fillings

Two of the following are available interchangeably for jackets: baked beans, cheese, tuna, hamTwo of the following are available interchangeably for sandwiches & wraps: ham, cheese, egg mayo, tuna & sweetcorn, chicken mayo.

Dessert Banana & date muffin Coconut & lime rice pudding with peaches

Ice cream & Fruit Apple & Pear crumble with custard

Peach & jam puff pastry swirl with fruit

saladADDITIONAL DESSERTS options available daily to choose from: raisins, fruit salads, fresh fruits, yoghurts, cheese & crackersSALAD BAR (Your child’s 5 a day top up station) – Freshly prepared salad bar items such as cucumber sticks, mixed peppers sticks, tomatoes, sweetcorn, lettuce, beetroot, potato or pasta salads, hummus, cous cous, etc. (minimum 5 items available daily)Week Commencing ; 18/9/17, 9/10/17, 6/11/17, 27/11/17, 18/12/17, 22/1/18, 19/2/18, 12/3/18, 16/4/18, 7/5/18, 4/6/18, 25/6/18, 16/7/18

Family Learning @ Whickham Library

Maths Matters

Would you like some tips on how your child will learn the

4 basic maths methods - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division - as used in primary schools?

Make fun games and resources to use at home with your family – all free!

The course lasts for 4 weeks.(Unfortunately we cannot accommodate pre-school

children in the sessions)

Course start date – Tuesday 7th November 2017

Session times – 9.30-11.00amTo book your place on the course please email:

barbaraclark@gateshead.gov.uk