Christmas Concerts
Thank you to everyone who came to our concerts this week. It has been wonderful to see all year groups performing for their visitors and we know that we have warmed your hearts with Christmas joy! Thanks also to staff for their hard work in preparing and practising to get the children to performance standard!
Of course, the biggest thanks go to the children who have entertained us with their singing, dancing, story telling and team work. We are all very proud!
Carol Singing and Christmas Songs
You are all welcome to join us next Friday at 1.30pm for some Christmas songs in the courtyard. Each Year Group will come out and sing a well-known carol or Christmas song to finish the term and start the holidays with some cheer! Children can go home with you after the last class has performed their song. If you can't attend or you need to get back to work, children can of course stay until 3.20pm.
This event is weather dependent - if it is too wet, windy or icy, we will message you to let you know that it is cancelled. Fingers crossed for good singing weather!
Attendance
Our current attendance data shows good attendance in most year groups and we know that children are usually only absent due to illness. However, we would like to remind everyone that good attendance is essential for learning and progress and children need to be in the habit of good attendance right from the start. It is a myth that Reception is mostly play and therefore children can miss out. Every day in Reception, there are lessons such as phonics and maths as well as targeted teaching in other key areas of the curriculum. All of the play and learning opportunities in Reception are part of the planned continuous provision which lead to the best learning and development. If children miss out on these foundations in learning, there are very limited opportunities to catch up and progress is negatively impacted. Children who do not have good attendance also find it challenging to form and maintain strong friendships.
Out attendance Policy is on the school website for more information.
Please click on the link below for up to date NHS information about when to keep your child off school due to illness:
School Health Update
Headlice
We have been informed of several infections and reinfections in school over the past few weeks. Headlice are always present in our communities and therefore there are likely to be a small number of cases at any time in school. However, it is very frustrating when your child has an infection and you follow the right treatment only to find that the infection is still present of has returned. For information on how to effectively treat headlice, visit the NHS Website (link below) for more information. There is nothing you can do to prevent headlice but we recommend regular wet-combing to spot infections early and keeping long hair tied up. Children do not need to kept off school.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
It's the season for Norovirus and other winter vomiting bugs. These infections spread very easily in school and therefore the NHS guidance is that children should stay away from school for 48 hours after their last episode of either vomiting or diarrhoea. This helps us to reduce the number of cases in school and in our school families. There is more information via the link below:
Thread Worms
We have also had some cases of threadworms and these are also spread very easily in school adn at home. Children do not need to be absent from school, but you do need to treat them and follow other actions at home. More information can be found here:
Chicken Pox
Chicken Pox is very common and very contagious and we usually have one or two outbreaks each year in school. If your child has Chicken Pox, they will need to be absent from school until all the spots are dry and have formed a scab. This is usually 5 days after the spots appeared.
For information about other common childhood illnesses and when you should keep children from school, click on the link below:
Festive Fun Days
Next week, everyone will have a Festive Fun Day in school. This will be slightly different for each Year Group but will typically be a day of party games, Christmas challenges, Christmas quizzes, festive snacks (with awareness of allergies and dietary requirements), party games, dancing, singing... On these days, children can wear party clothes, Christmas jumpers or whatever they choose! Please make sure that they have coats and sensible shoes as they will still be playing outside.
The allocated days are:
- Monday 16th December - Reception
- Tuesday 17th December - Year 1
- Wednesday 18th December - Year 2 and Year 3
- Thursday 19th December - Year 4
Thanks to the PTFA who are providing everyone with a drink and a snack!
Grace and Frankie
We now have two Guinea Pigs in school, Grace and Frankie. They are already well loved and some children are playing a role in looking after them and helping the younger children to learn how to care for them.
Thanks to the family who donated them to us - they have been great additions to the school family!
Mission Christmas Cash for Kids
We have a huge collection of toys and gifts to donate to Cash for Kids. But it's not too late if you'd like to bring something in. We will be taking the gifts to the drop off point on Tuesday next week. The gifts need to be new, unwrapped and suitable for a child.
Your generosity has been incredible and the donations are going to make a difference to so many children this Christmas.
This all came about because Myer in year 4 heard the appeal on the radio and asked if we could get involved. Well done, Myer and the Kindness Ambassadors who helped to get this started. We are so proud of your care, thoughtfulness and teamwork.
Message from Northumbria Police
The Neighbourhood Policing Team from Northumbria Police has asked us to share the following information with you:
- We have received a number of reports of burglary in the Gosforth area, including the Great Park and Kingston Park areas in recent weeks.
- We are carrying out a full investigation into the reports and have an increased our presence in the areas to carry out enquiries and reassure the public.
- Ten people have been arrested in relation to the investigation, with four people now charged with a range of offences, one is currently in Police Custody.
- Those four people have been charged with a total of 17 offences so far, three of those have been remanded in prison.
- Four people have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
- Our advice is that residents ensure their vehicles and property are always left securely locked when leaving them and any valuables kept out of sight. Your local team will be in the area, please stop them for a chat or to pass on any information you might have.
- Our investigations continue, and we are hopeful that more charges will be brought. Whilst we cannot discuss individual cases with anyone other than the person involved, we are working hard to ensure your communities remain safe.
- If you see something suspicious in your area, send us a direct message on social media or use the live chat function or report forms which are on our website.
- In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always call 999.
Happy Christmas, Everyone!
It's been a very long term and everyone is definitely ready for a rest! When the holiday arrives, I hope that you all manage to find some time to celebrate and to relax with family and friends.
Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!