Christmas Stars
Some classes have been busy making Christmas friendship stars and these are on display in Gosforth Shopping Centre. Pop in over Christmas if you get the chance and see if you can spot them. As the theme was friendship, the children worked together to design and make their stars. We think that they look fabulous!
More brilliant stars!
Online Safety at Christmas - and Beyond!
Lots of children might be lucky enough to get new devices this Christmas time and everyone will have more time to spend on their devices. With this in mind, our partners at GEM Education have made a short film to show parents where they can find support to set up parental controls on new devices (set time limits, block spending, inappropriate content and contact - among other features). The film can be viewed via the link below.
Building of Great Park Academy Begins!
The building of GPA is due to begin in January 2024. While this is very exciting, it is also going to bring some challenges for us at Havannah First.
As soon as the work starts, access to the car park is going to be controlled. This is to ensure safety on our site through management of the GPA site traffic. Please be extra cautious and patient when using the car park.
Please also be aware that there will be an increase in the number of vehicles on Primrose Lane and it is therefore vital that the school safety zone is respected so that everyone has safe vision of vehicles on the street. Drivers should not be parking on double yellow lines or the school zigzags.
The turning point/bus park at the top of the car park will not be accessible from the start of the build.
We are installing a fence between the main walkway and the car park. This will be a permanent fence which is due to be installed in the spring. In the first instance this will be temporary fencing to keep the children safe. Please do not move it or tamper with it. There will be gates/access points at the crossings.
When walking onto our site and when parking, it is safer to follow the path all of the way around the car park so that you cross using the crossing furthest away from the entrance. This might add 60 seconds onto your journey, but it is worth it if it keeps you and your children safe.
If you see unsafe driving/behaviour from any of the traffic involved in the building of GPA, please let us know so that we can report this to the contractor.
Thank you for your support.
The School Field
There has been a lot of work ongoing in school and with our building contractor to establish the cause of the flooding of the field (other than the typical North East autumn and winter weather!) We are hopeful that the cause has now been agreed and the problem can be rectified. This is going to involve significant work to the area in order to fix the drainage system. This is due to start in the Christmas Holiday. It is absolutely essential that there is no access to this area while work is ongoing. Please supervise your children very closely at drop off and pick up times. The internal gates to the drop off points will not open until 8.40am during these works.
We are optimistic about the work and fingers crossed - we will have access to the field later in the year...
Christmas Concerts and Festive Fun
We have had a wonderful festive fortnight in school and we are very lucky to have such talented children and staff and such supportive parents and carers. If you came to a show, we are confident that it will be the best thing you see this year. There were tears and laughter and a huge amount of pride in seeing the children confidently present different shows. We've also had festive crafts, quizzes, party games, singing, films and lots of learning about Christmas in different curriculum areas.
Christmas Sing-a-Long
On Friday we will have our annual Christmas Sing-a-long in the courtyard. Everyone is welcome to join us at 1.30pm. We will start with reception and work our way up to year 4. This is always a lovely end to the term and is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas mood. There aren't any seats, so please let us know in advance if you want us to bring a chair outside for you.
Once the sing-a-long is finished, you can take children home and start the long anticipated Christmas holiday! Collection will be from the usual pick up points. Please be patient as it can take a bit of time for us to manage this and please wait until all Year groups have sung their song before you try to collect your child/ren.
This event is weather permitting. If it is wet and/or windy, the event for parents and carers will not go ahead, but the children will have a whole school sing-a-long in the hall. School will finish at the usual time of 3.20pm if this is the case.
Competition Winner
We were so delighted and proud to find out that Bea in year 3 is this year's winner of the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner's annual Christmas card competition. Kim McGuinness will be using Bea's design for her card this year and it will be travelling far and wide, spreading joy and showing off St Mary's Lighthouse!
Not only that, Bea won some goodies for herself and £100 for the school. What an achievement, well done, Bea!
NGP News
Please click on the link below to read the latest NGP Newsletter.
And Finally...
As 2023 draws to a close, I would like to wish everyone in our school family a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I hope that you all have some magical time with your families and friends over the next two weeks and we look forward to starting the New Year on Monday 8th January with renewed energy and lots of fun ahead!
Best Wishes
Helen McKenna, Headteacher