Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Stay Safe

  Mon 31 Oct 2016 M. Purdy

  Dark Nights

  Have you noticed how much darker it is both before school and in the evenings? Although we are having mild days, Winter is definitely creeping up on us.  Many of our children are involved in after school activities so this is a good time to buy reflective strips for coats and bags so that children are visible to motorists. Quite a number of children at the top end of the school walk home alone after school activities but, if you wish to change that arrangement during the Winter, please let the office know.

   

  This evening it is Trick or Treat time, fabulous fun for children. After the much publicised incident with Claudia Winkler's daughter when her Halloween costume went up in flames, please could everyone be extra vigilant when it come to naked flames and children. 

   

  And next weekend we have the  excitement of Bonfire Night. I know that most of you go along to organised events, which is a great way to see the best displays. We will be sharing the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service film with our children during an assembly this week. Stay safe everyone.

   

  In the week ahead...

  Even as I write this Monday morning, Year 4 are on their way to Beamish Museum. Life is never dull here at SDPS. Tomorrow Years 1 and 2 will be enjoying visitors from Durham as they learn all about why we wear poppies and the First World War. Wednesday is our first Parents' Evening of the year, to be held in the school hall. On Thursday we have our first Christmas Fair non uniform day when you are invited to send in bottles for our very popular bottle stall. 

   

  Happy Halloween everyone!

• Christmas Fayre!

  Fri 21 Oct 2016 S Baker

  The Friends Group are busy organising our Christmas Fayre which will be held on Thursday 24th November 3.30pm to 5pm. There will be a Non Uniform Day on Thursday 3rd November to collect bottle donations and another on Thursday 17th November for chocolate donations. They are also collecting good condition soft toys and any unwanted gift. A Flyer has been placed in the Downloads and Documents section giving more details.

• Design Technology Week

  Mon 17 Oct 2016 M. Purdy

  This week is a 3 day week for all our pupils, although teachers will be busy improving their own skills on Thursday and Friday. Our training day themes are science and children writing. Throughout the school, classes will be busy designing and making as it is this term's first Design and  Technology week. Thank you to everyone who responded to teachers' requests for items from home such as bottles and boxes.

   

  Several children will be representing the school on Wednesday at the Schools' Engineering Challenge. This group of Year 5 "engineers" has worked with two volunteers after school for several weeks to create complex Meccano models so we wish them good luck and a happy day at Shildon NRM. You can view some of the models in the photographs below.

   

  And a hint for Father Christmas-I hear that our "engineers" have been totally engrossed in the challenge so, a Meccano kit may be an ideal Christmas present.

   

  PARENTS' EVENINGS

  Almost as soon as we return to school, we have our first of this term's two parents' evenings. If you haven't received the form, they were sent out last week. You can access them on this website by clicking the link here. Please return your appointment preference asap.

  

• October Days

  Mon 10 Oct 2016 M. Purdy

  It feels just yesterday when we returned to school after the long six weeks'  holiday yet, already, half term is within touching distance. The October half term is the ideal time for families to take a walk to discover the wonderful changes happening in the natural world. As children as young as 5 years old are now expected to identify, flowers, trees, birds and insects, why not wrap up and spend an afternoon out in the "wild". Look for berries, the biggest leaf, conkers, acorns, how seeds travel and all those amazing things we take for granted.

   

  The Evening Chronicle has an article about 17 things for children to do at Half term. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/17-things-kids-around-newcastle-11954880 and Durham University are running free children's events, activities and workshops celebrating science. The main hub will be the "Celebrate Science" marquee on Palace Green which is right in front of the cathedral.

   

  POETRY COMPETITIONS

  Congratulations to all the entrants-it was a fabulous National Poetry Day at Seaburn Dene Primary School. If you would like to read about the day and see photographs please click here.

   

  BRILLIANTLY BRITISH INSTALLATION

  During the transition month, prior to the Summer holidays, we all had a Brilliantly British time with Morris dancing and  learning about aspects British society. Inspired by Pascale Martine Tayou, an artist from the Cameroon, every child contributed to a class panel  created out of red, white and blue chalk which, as a whole, is now a living history timeline. The artefacts represent events and people from a given period of history and can be added to. We sent a couple of photos to Pascale Mathine Tayou and received an immediate reply from his office. Here it is:

   

  Pascale Marthine Tayou thanks you very much for your message and your work!  It’s wonderful and touching.

   He wishes you a good continuation!

   

   

   

  

• Reminder - Flu Form Deadline

  Mon 03 Oct 2016 S Baker
  Reminder for all Year 1 to 6 parents - deadline for handing in  the Flu Nasal Spray Vaccination Consent Form is TUESDAY 4TH OCTOBER. The school nurse will be calling in to collect the forms tomorrow and once they have been collected no extra names can be added to the programme. No exceptions. 

• A Reading School

  Mon 03 Oct 2016 M. Purdy

  Masters of Reading

  Did you know that we are the only school in the North East working on the trailblazing  pilot of the Mastery in Reading programme? Tomorrow (Tuesday), Mr. Howe will be travelling to Sheffield to meet once again with the Yorkshire pioneer primary schools and feed back on how well we are doing and how the project can move forward. We decided to become part of the scheme as reading is definitely an area we need to improve. Whilst we had wonderful phonics results in Year 1 in 2016, there is scope for much development at Key Stages 1 and 2. Our results may be in-line or slightly better than reading results nationally but we want to be the best and to do so needs a rigorous approach. Years 4, 5 and 6 are all spending at least an hour a day exploring their books, the language within those books and what the author is trying to imply rather than say outright. Through the book ,grammar and writing skills are being taught and when I spent an hour in the Year 4 class last week observing the lesson, I was very impressed with the amount of  high quality work in the children's exercise books.

   

  Meanwhile, all our parents can help us by listening to children every single day, exploring new words, collecting words for children to use in writing and introducing children to new authors.

   

  We are also redesigning the library so that children have more guidance when choosing fiction books to take home and there are some gorgeous, fascinating and challenging books to devour. Let's all be advocates of reading!

   

  Groundforce Day

  It's that time of year when our vegetable beds and flower pots need a good clean out so Friday this week is the nominated day. Garden gloves at the ready-there's nothing more satisfying than working with earth.

   

  National Poetry Day

  On Thursday we host our exciting and highly competitive 3rd poetry recital competition. From Reception to Year 6, the entrants are always very brave and determined to stand up before a critical audience and judges to do their very best. Also on Thursday we will be presenting the cup for the Ivan Jones Amazing Poem Award. Ivan and Mal have looked at the poems in depth and given some fabulous feedback for 10 of the poets. And just to sign off today here's one of Ivan's poems for you all:

   

  HIGH RISE LIVING

   

  I live in a block of flats

  You can see for miles

  The motorway smiles

  And stretches like a cat

   

  Our flat is at the top

  The lift sighs as it rises -

  It's full of surprises -

  'Till it reaches our stop

   

  We have window boxes

  With ivies and flowers -

  Flowers in the towers

  Birds and no foxes

   

  When we go out to play

  We have to descend

  Drives you round the bend

  All that way every day

   

  But at night what a sight!

  Pink and red and orange light

  Then whiteness of moonlight

  Sleep tight at this height.
  
  by Ivan Jones (c)