Contents
- What have we been learning this week?
- No Outsiders
- Maths Workshop
- Rule of Law
- WANTED
- PTFA Spring Events
- Achievements Out of School
- OPAL
- Important Reminders
- Dates
What have we been learning this week?
Year 3 Year 3 had a fantastic immersive morning learning about the Titanic. Captain Edward Smith collected first, second, and third-class passengers from their classrooms before they boarded the most luxurious liner in the world, departing from Southampton. They explored life on board and how experiences differed for passengers. Sadly, a few days into the journey, the “unsinkable” ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean…
Year 1 Year 1 have been learning about materials in science, investigating what objects in their classroom are made from. They also enjoyed a brilliant Tennis Taster Session with our coach on Monday – we may have some future Wimbledon stars in the making!
Reception Reception have been very busy learning about the work of a police officer, numbers 6, 7, and 8, visiting the school library to share books, completing a bird watch, and even making binoculars and bird feeders.
No Outsiders- Everyone Different, Everyone Welcome
Our pupils were born in over 25 different countries and collectively speak 23 languages. We have recently welcomed children from Russia, Afghanistan, and Greece into Grange. This diversity is something we are incredibly proud of, and it truly enriches our school community.
This term, we have signed up to two projects organised by Newcastle City Council to celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures across our city. Mrs Oglethorpe and Miss Macaulay are currently running lunchtime clubs as part of the Together We Fly project – a world friendship art initiative exploring what friendship means across cultures and communities.
Children are creating colourful origami butterflies, sharing messages of friendship and the languages they speak at home, are learning, or are interested in. These will be sent to the Civic Centre by the end of March to form part of a large art installation. We’ll share more details nearer the time.
Some of our Year 4 children will also take part in a Yoruba Cultural Workshop on 24th March, led by Victoria Eniola, who will share Nigerian and Yoruba culture and language in a fun and engaging session.
Maths Workshop
On Tuesday 3rd February at 4.30pm and Thursday 5th February at 8.55am, Mrs Dixon, our Maths Lead, will be holding a maths workshop in the hall for parents and carers of children in Reception and Years 1–4. She will demonstrate how maths is taught at Grange, the resources we use, and share fun and practical ways to support your child at home. There is still time to book your place using the Gateway App.
Rule of Law
In assemblies this week, we have been talking about rules and why they are important. The children decided that we need rules for everyone so that we are safe and things are fair. Without rules, they felt there would be “chaos,” “no one would know what to do,” and that “it could be dangerous.” We reminded ourselves of our school values of RESPECT and KINDNESS and talked about how, when we remember to be kind and respectful (and use our 'wonderful walking' around Grange) our school is a happy and safe place for everyone. We used the story What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick to explore what can happen when people choose not to follow the rules.
WANTED
Reception are looking for large cardboard shoe boxes and lengths of pipe for some exciting activities planned for next week. Please bring any donations directly to the Reception classrooms at the start or end of the school day, or hand them in at the school office. Thank you in advance for your support!
PTFA Spring Events
FRIDAY 6TH MARCH 2026 TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE CONCERT 5-7 PM £8.50 FUN FOR ADULTS & KIDS (WITH LICENSED BAR) https://www.pta-events.co.uk/grangefirstschool/
FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2026 BUNNY BOUNCE BOUNCY CASTLE CHALLENGE FOR THE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL HOURS BOUNCE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN IN 1 MINUTE! SPONSOR YOUR CHILD PER BOUNCE OR FOR THE EVENT
SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2026 SPRING SCAVENGER HUNT AND FUN DAY £2.50 HUNT ENTRY PER CHILD, ADULTS FREE. A PRIZE ON COMPLETION! GAMES STALLS, TOMBOLA, CAKES, HOT FOOD AND MORE! THIS CAN ONLY RUN IF WE GET ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU CAN HELP, CONTACT GRANGEFIRSTPARENTS@OUTLOOK.COM
Achievements Out of School
Climbers Against Cancer
One of our Year 4 pupils, his mum and dad, his sister and her friend raised an incredible £1,000 by climbing the height of Mont Blanc (4,806m) over seven hours at two climbing walls in Newcastle! Our determined Year 3 child completed an amazing 215 climbs. The money was raised for Climbers Against Cancer, making this a truly inspirational achievement. Well done to everyone involved- a fantastic effort!
This Week in OPAL
Congratulations to our Golden Welly Winner!
Important Reminders
Please remember that we only allow our children to wear a watch and a small pair of plain stud earrings to school. On PE days, earrings should be removed or covered with plasters if they have just been pierced. This helps us to keep everyone safe.
Wearing a small hairband to keep hair out of eyes is absolutely fine but please don't send your child to school with a huge hairband. Children fuss with them, they often fall off outside and get lost and they stop other children from seeing if they are sitting behind them!
Diary Dates
PL EASE NOTE: There has been a change to the dates I published in September for the year ahead. Our Year 4 performance of Shakespeare has been scheduled when parents' evening was meant to take place. Our Spring Term Parents' Evening will now take place on Monday 16th and Thursday 19th March.
January
Saturday 31st January Nursery Open Day (for prospective parents)
February
Tuesday 3rd February Maths Workshop at 4.30pm with our Maths Lead Mrs Dixon- all parents with children from Rec- Year 4 are very welcome to attend Thursday 5th February Maths Workshop at 8.55am with our Maths Lead Mrs Dixon- all parents with children from Rec- Year 4 are very welcome to attend Thursday 5th February Net Zero Event- Eco Warriors Tuesday 10th February Year 1 visit to Shildon Railway Tuesday 10th February Year 2 visit to Woodhorn Colliery Museum Wednesday 11th Year 4 workshop with Cora, Shakespeare Company in the afternoon Week beginning 9th February ‘What I want to be when I grow up’ week. Friday 13th February- Careers Fair 9am HALF TERM 16th – 20th February
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