Contents
- Grange North Run
- Democracy
- OPAL
- Safer Streets
- A Few Reminders
- PTFA- spooky sparkly disco and pre loved uniform
- Dates- update
Grange North Run
On Tuesday, we held our Grange North Run! It was a brilliant event and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to everyone who came along to cheer their children on and to those of you who were brave enough to run with them! Thank you also to Mrs Kidd-Scannell who organised the afternoon and made sure all the children and parents ran at the correct time (even if some year 4 children were a bit too eager and did an extra lap right at the start!). Our runners (children and adults) all demonstrated great determination and resilience to complete one or two laps of the field. It was a long way!
This was a sponsored event; we are sharing the money raised between Grange PTFA and St Oswalds. If you would like to donate, please use the link below
https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QQXA4K1Y
Democracy
In assembly this week, we have been talking about DEMOCRACY and what it means. In KS2 we found out a bit about Emmeline Pankhurst and how she fought for women to have the right to vote. We all agreed that it is important to feel confident to share our own point of view and that we should listen to each other and respect different opinions. In KS1 we all took part in a democratic vote to decide which story we should share in assembly. The Queen’s Knickers received the most votes!
I
OPAL Play
🌟 Welly Winners Award 🌟
At Opal, we love to celebrate play and the wonderful contributions our children make every day. Each week, staff and our Opal Cadets nominate children they notice being kind, helping others, tidying up, showing initiative, being imaginative – and so much more!
All nominations go into our Golden Box, and during our Opal Assemblies for KS1 & KS2, one lucky child is chosen as our Golden Welly Winner.
✨ Every nominee receives a certificate and sticker.
✨ The weekly winner earns their class an extra 15 minutes of playtime.
✨ Their photo is proudly displayed on our Opal board in the hall.
✨ We also celebrate their achievement in our school newsletter.
It’s a wonderful way to shine a spotlight on the creativity, kindness, and playfulness of our children! 💛👢
This week we had a winner from KS2
Safer Streets
A number of parents contacted me again this week about Norham Road and the back lane. They have witnessed numerous cars, vans and taxis ignoring our safer street signs. I managed to go out on Wednesday to patrol the street and to remind drivers about Safer Streets. However, I am unable to do this on a daily basis. Mr Oldham is going to organise a campaign to highlight the issues we are having- none of us want our children to be danger as they walk, scoot or cycle to school. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE OR PARK ON NORHAM ROAD OR THE BACK LANE AT DROP OFF AND PICK UP. If you do witness a car ignoring Safer Streets and they don’t have a resident pass or a pass from school displayed in their windscreen, I would encourage you to log your concern/complaint with Newcastle Council.
Call Newcastle City Council’s Customer Response Team 0191 278 7799 or email them at parking.cs@newcastle.gov.uk or you can email the supervisor directly at parkingenforcementsupervisors@newcastle.gov.uk If you are able to send photographs, they informed me that this can be useful.
We have collected all our permissions from parents and carers regarding the sharing of images on our school Facebook page and on our school website. This means that we are now ready to start posting on Facebook again. Please search and follow our school page so you can enjoy finding out what your children have been doing in school. Nursery and Reception will post several times a week and years 1-4 will post once a week.
If your child is in Year 4 and is going to Robinwood, watch out for regular updates of their exciting adventures on Facebook next week!
A few reminders
Please send your child to school with a coat every day even if the sun is shining! The day often starts of with beautiful sunshine, then we have downpours throughout the day. We go out to play on most days- it has to be very windy or torrential rain to keep us indoors. We all love OPAL play so much!
The office have asked me to remind you that school lunches should be paid for via the School Gateway App. Children must have a full week of dinners or packed lunch and are not allowed to do a few days of each. We also request that you give us a weeks notice if your child wishes to change from either packed lunch or dinners. This supports our school kitchen to order food correctly and avoids unnecessary food waste.
PTFA
The PTFA have set up Whats App groups for every class in school to aid communication and so that you don’t miss out on any of the exciting events they organise throughout the year. Here are the links for Nursery and Reception families.
Beech class https://chat.whatsapp.com/IYzNVua5YR7GTFyQ79ASqp
Oak class https://chat.whatsapp.com/JOhGDfFPlf76lkbJZWe9yq
Nursery https://chat.whatsapp.com/JKacyQHJ0oJB4zjc86iyOV?mode=ems_copy_t
The PTFA are hosting a Spooks & Sparkles Disco on Wednesday 22nd October after school. There will be two sessions. The session for year 3&4 is 3.15pm - 4.15pm and then Reception, year1&2 will be 4.30pm - 5.30pm. Nursery will celebrate separately that week during school time.
Tickets are on sale from now until 8pm on Friday 17th October. If your child receives Pupil Premium Funding in school, there is a discounted ticket price. An email will be sent to you today with the discount code.
Here is the link to book your tickets and find out more details. https://www.pta-events.co.uk/grangefirstschool/index.cfm
The PTFA pre loved uniform stall will be on 30th September at drop off and collection and we will leave it out near Treetops in the afternoon too. Any spare uniform that is in good, wearable condition should be donated to the office by Monday 29th September so we can sort through it. Families can take what they need and donations are welcome in return but not necessary. We are also keen to accept donations of winter coats that no longer fit your child, Christmas jumpers or any spooky costumes.
Last year, this artist (Sophie McCartney) donated 2 raffle tickets to our Christmas raffle.
After last year’s phenomenal 70 date international tour, award-winning comedian and number one bestselling author Sophie McCartney is back with a brand-new stand-up show ‘One Foot in the Rave' and it’s coming to Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on 25th September!
Now in her 40s, a new decade now beckons for Sophie and she DOES NOT BELIEVE IT. Tackling her perimenopausal panic with denial, delirium, and a shot of tequila – what does life look like when you’re too old to be young, but too young to be old?
Desperate for a mad night out (as long as she’s home by 9pm), this mum of three, and optimistic raver, is by no means down and out – she’s up and in…watching Netflix.
Grab your glow sticks and join Sophie as she embarks on life’s next big chapter with sequins, snorty laughs, and a pair of killer orthopaedic heels.
https://www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/whatson/sophie-mccartney-one-foot-in-the-rave/
Dates
We have worked hard to produce a calendar of dates for the entire 25/26 academic year for our Grange families. This has been emailed to you all and had dates for sports events, Christmas shows, Welcome meetings, parent workshops, PTFA events.... If you would like a paper copy of this, please call into the school office and they will give you one. It might be a useful thing to stick on your fridge! UPDATE: There has been some confusion over dates- I'm sorry about this. Attached with this newsletter is Version 2 of the dates. The only dates there have been any confusion over are handwriting and spelling workshops, OPAL play and Stay and Reception Speed Curriculum. Also double check Christmas performance dates.
Owl Tree Cafe
September
Mon22nd- Wed 24th Yr 4 Robinwood
Friday 26th Yr 3 Adventure Day
Monday 29th Rec-Yr 4 OPAL Play & Stay for parents and carers
Tuesday 30th Reception Curriculum Session for parents and carers 9am
October
Wed 1st school photos
Mon 13th & Thurs 16th Parents' Evening
Wed 22nd PTFA Spooky Disco
Friday 24th School closed to all pupils- teacher training day
Half Term 27th - 31st
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© Grange First School