Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
The cherry blossom has carpeted the school yard, providing opportunities for impromptu showers of a more welcoming variety this week and classes have been enjoying our outside spaces, whether completing their Bikeability programme or searching for the sounds and signs of bird species with the RSPCA.
Derwent Hill
Mrs Smith will be leading the parents' meeting about our forthcoming Derwent Hill residential, week beginning June 10th. The meeting, on Tuesday, starts at 3.20pm prompt and is particularly useful at reassuring yourselves - rather than the children - about what this wonderful experience will exactly entail.
Talking of SATS...
Only 9 school days to go. Year 6 have been incredible-diligent and hard working as staff have prepared them for their tests. I know my maths group have worked extremely hard in preparing, yet we always need to recognise that these tests do not define our children and certainly not their future lives.
Election
The Nursery is being used as a polling station on Thursday, May 2, but we will remain open. Business as usual, with children relocating to Reception for the day.
Miss Bell
It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to Miss Bell in our office, after more than two years, who leaves to take up a position at Newcastle University on Friday. I'm sure I speak for the whole school community in wishing her every future success. She has been a huge asset to Seaburn Dene, invaluable in so many ways and her professional, friendly and courteous manner has obviously proved popular with all families and visitors alike. Good luck!
Day One of the Summer term and as one of the children gleefully pointed out, the cherry trees are in full bloom. We couldn't have wished for better weather to kick off the final term of the school year. With only 13 school days before the Year 6 SATS, our minds are already turning to Sports Day and the very many other summer events in school.
Summer clothing
Outdoor play is a core part of our curriculum. Your children’s safety and comfort is our priority and we kindly ask you to provide a sun hat for your child as we approach the summer months. With the weather due to fluctuate, please remember that we strongly advise that you apply sun cream each morning before school. Remember, even on cloudy days the weather can improve. Please ensure all items of clothing including hats are clearly labelled.
Just a reminder on uniform:
Girls have the option to wear a blue checked dress (Summer), white sandals or socks (Summer).
Clubs
Most clubs should be back up and running next week, once we have confirmed attendance numbers. Our breakfast and tea club are starting today. Our Green Start Course starts next Monday 1-3pm, with six sessions finishing on Monday, 17th or 24th June.
Spring Term Magazine
With the Spring term being so short yet crammed with exciting activities, I struggled to get the termly magazine out to you. However, it is almost ready and should be with you on Friday.
Dates for your diary
Half term
This half term will finish on Friday 24th May and will begin again on Monday 3rd June 2019.
As always, we are more than happy to help you, should you have any further queries at this stage in the term. Please do use the usual channels of communication to contact us, should you need to.
What an exciting week lies ahead of us.
Y3, 4, and 5 are really gearing up for our fantastic Pantastic musical - which the whole school will see this vibrant, spectacle this afternoon in its first, full run - before a double header of shows at 2pm and 6pm tomorrow. We welcome the first taster session for our Green Start course with Groundwork Trust, after starting some initial planting around school. Meanwhile, the Easter Chocolate Afternoon tea celebration is taking place on Thursday at 3.30pm.
Don't forget: We're back to school on Tuesday 23rd April. During the first week back we're all looking at what we would do in any emergency.
Throughout the week we will be celebrating the Easter story during assembly time. Today we will hear Palm Sunday, in assembly tomorrow learn about the Crucifixion and on Wednesday our assembly will tell the story of the Resurrection.
The Big Tidy
During the next week, we're having a big tidy up around school - both inside and out. Coming to the end of the Easter term and with so many children and adults working so closely together, it often becomes a challenge keeping all the different areas of school tidy: cloakrooms, resource cupboards, classrooms. You can help us at home by clearly marking your child's name on their uniform/PE kit - we have dozens of items in our lost property trays in the front reception area of school - all there due to a lack of identification.
Parking around school
We need to keep our grounds safe for all children and students so keeping traffic to a minimum is key to this. Our school council are already considering what they could suggest to reduce traffic to and from Torver Crescent. Parents from our school should not be dropping off or collecting children from the school car park unless there are exceptional circumstances and they have school permission.
Dismissal from school
We welcome parents/carers onto our school yard and value your interaction with staff. However, at the end of the school day, we are finding that dismissing children is becoming increasingly difficult, due to parents waiting both in front, behind and to the side of where classes line up. After Easter, we will ask parents to stand behind a designated point (in front of the bike sheds), so staff can see exactly where parents and carers are. It is a simple change, but - for safeguarding reasons - is important to prevent the possibility of children wandering off to a parent/carer waiting behind or to the side of where their class are and where teachers can't see them. I would also request that if you need to speak to a class teacher at the end of the day, please wait until their class is dismissed or request an appointment in the office. For the safeguarding of the children, our staff need to be fully focused when dismissing all their children.
Finally, I am very much a believer in: “Greet your child with a smile, not a mobile”. These years are so precious and short, those conversations at the end of the school day should be cherished, encouraged and listened to.