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

• Winter Vomiting Bug Advice

  Wed 27 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  There has been a substantial increase in winter illnesses such as diarrhoea/vomiting and flu-like illness across Sunderland and in neighbouring schools.

  Both staff and pupils who are affected should not come to school, until at least 48 hours after they last had diarrhoea or vomiting. This is the advice from Public Health England and the protocol we follow in our school.

  If your child shows any symptoms of this illness, they will be sent home, not to return for at least 48 hours.

  In the meantime, we are reminding children of good hand hygiene, while ensuring our school environment is as clean as possible.

  Thank you for your continued support.

  Mr Howe.

  

• Well done girls!

  Mon 25 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  Our amazing Y5/6 girls' football team showed true resilience and grit in a series of fantastic performances at the Sunderland School's Football tournament at Farringdon last week.

   With only two girls who regularly play football for teams outside of school, they won 2-0 v Christ's College, Sunderland and 6-0 v  Rickleton Primary, before losing narrowly 1-0 to eventual winners Farringdon Academy.

   Mr Ashton has devoted lunch times to getting the girls to gel as a team - and they did just that, with a performance that has had everyone talking in school.

   We look forward to the cluster games with our neighbouring schools, coming up shortly. 

• Spine Tingling

  Mon 25 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  For those of us fortunate, or unfortunate, to follow Sunderland AFC, the Netflix documentary Sunderland 'til I die is the definitive post-mortem of a terrible season. The haunting introduction, Shipyards by the Lake Poets, sets the tone for a chilling documentary. It is the memorable soundtrack for a piece of television, that has come to define the football club. So we can count ourselves fortunate that Marti (aka The Lake Poets) and Rebecca (This Little Bird) have spent every Tuesday afternoon, this term, inspiring our Y5s in songwriting and music. Well, last week, the outcome of this inventive project received its first airing: our own school song. Of course, Y5 really did it justice, accompanied by Marti and it was one of those X factor, spine tingling moments.

   

  Here's the chorus...

   From the river to the sea,

  The mill down to the beach, 

  Our hope and our beliefs,

  (We are, We are)

  From the river to the sea,

  We are building hope and dreams,

  'cause we are Seaburn Dene,

  And we are, we are

   

  We are all (we are all)

  We are all (we are all)

  We are all (we are)

  Together!! (We are, we are)

   

  We hope to able to share this memorable piece of music with you shortly. As I told Y5, treasure this memory.

   

  Christmas Fayre

  It's that time of year again. On Thursday - from 3.30pm - 5pm - we will be throwing our doors open to parents, families and carers for our spectacular Christmas fayre. Every penny raised is ploughed back into school, into the children - so if you have any donations of cakes or (good condition) cuddly toys - please drop them off with Mrs Baker in our main entrance.

   

  Poetry Recital

  Due to the school's 50th birthday celebrations this year, I have had to rethink and replace our annual Poetry recital and writing competition in the school calendar. Tomorrow, I will be sending home some of the poems - selected by our school librarians - for children to learn, off-by-heart. Children will have a fortnight to commit these to memory and can choose to work with a partner. Please encourage them. The theme this year is "Winter".

   

  Reading Aloud

  Every word you listen to your child read at home makes a fundamental difference to their reading. Reading unlocks learning. Reading aloud makes sense of the images, words conjour. It's a shared, social experience. It's something your child remembers as they get older - the books you shared together. In school, it gives your child an advantage and will continue to do so - as long as you make the time to listen. Share a story. Send pictures of yourself sharing a story with your child into school caption #shareastory to admin@seaburndeneprimary.co.uk

  We will share these on our website and twitter feed...

   

   

• Very Proud

  Tue 19 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  Anti-Bullying Conference

  Our school councillors, together with Mrs Taylor, really did themselves proud while attending the recent Anti-Bullying Conference at the Hetton Centre. So confident, they projected a fantastic image of our school and the children they were representing. In particular, their mature and reasoned discussions around the themes shared in the conference. Comments from the event organisers,  ''They were a credit to the school, excellent behaviour, good role models, clarity of speech when communicating with other children, providing a balanced argument when debating, e.g. Is a bystander innocent?" 

  The councillors also provided positive feedback and thought the experience was enjoyable and worthwhile - presenting their feedback to whole school assembly on Friday. Well done Lucey, Jake, Gabriel and Daniel. Super work.

   

  Class/club photographs

  Save the date: this FRIDAY - class and club photographs. The format remains the same and the only piece of advice I would offer is: children have their photographs in their socks/stockings - so watch out for holes!

   

  Winter Poetry Recital

  The school librarians will chose three poems for each year group to learn, off by heart, and a theme for a winter poetry competition - with Thursday, 12th December - earmarked. Please see the details and encourage your child to have a go.

   

  Friends of Seaburn Dene

  We need you! In order to run events - such as discos, Easter Egg hunts and tuck shops for ALL children - we need parent volunteers to join the ranks of the Friends. There will be a coffee afternoon on Thursday, 12th December at 2pm in the staff room to have a natter over this. Please spread the word. Entry via main reception.

   

• A busy week - as every

  Sun 10 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  Well, what a busy week it has been at Seaburn Dene!

   

  As we build up to Anti-Bullying Week and Remembrance Day tomorrow, our school has been a hive of activity.  Along with Mrs Taylor, I met the School Council last week, to discuss their thoughts and idea around Anti-Bullying week and in particular - Odd Socks Day (Tuesday.) There were some very considered and thoughtful responses from our school councillors about bullying and each one of them will be giving their own presentation to their class mates tomorrow. Jake and Lucey in Y4 kicked off slightly earlier than others and impressed Mr Ashton with their confident and mature talk to their class mates.

   

  Yr 5 seized the mantle to sell poppies and showed great teamwork and self-organisation to ensure every class was able to buy their poppies - in good time. This work will continue tomorrow, so we can continue supporting the work of the British Legion.

   

  Elsewhere - The Lake Poets and This Little Bird continue their work on developing a school song with Yr 5, our England Masters hockey coach Robin was in school working with Yr 4, New Springs Church talked to the whole school about Respect (after singing assembly) - our core value of the week and Skinny Pigs launched their first fitness sessions on Friday morning. Staff were visiting other schools sharing children's writing and looking at school environment. It was certainly busy - as we also welcomed two new children into our school.

   

  This week Mrs Tough and myself will have the pleasure of looking through lots of the children's books and at the level of presentation and the quality of work the children are producing. 

   

  Don't forget: Poppies on Remembrance Day (Monday), Odd Socks Day (mentioned above) - Tuesday, Thursday (14th) - non-uniform day, bring a bottle in for our Christmas fayre tombola.

   

   

   

   

  

• Remember, remember

  Mon 04 Nov 2019 Mr J Howe

  The school grounds are carpeted in the most vibrant, Autumnal colours which reminds me - as if I needed none - that the season is in full swing and Christmas is on the horizon. It was lovely to welcome the children back into school today, particularly after a short break - in which, with the help of some volunteers, and Ian (our new site supervisor), we managed to redecorate our Y6 and 4 classrooms.

   

  PARENTS EVENING REMINDER

  For those of you who have not yet seen your child's class teacher, parents evening is on Tuesday, 19th November and Thursday, 21st November. Slips can be sent back into school to book appointment dates. Please ensure the slips are sent back and clearly marked. Thank you.

   

  REMEMBRANCE DAY

  The children will be selling poppies throughout this week to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. They will be going around classrooms before breaktime. All donations are gratefully received.

   

  ANTI BULLYING WEEK

  Next week is Anti Bullying Week, a week in which the School Council - and all children play a very important part. On Tuesday, 12th November we will be marking Anti-Bullying Week by holding an Odd Socks Day. This is designed to be fun and  an opportunity for children to express themselves and celebrate individuality. There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes. All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks to school. It couldn’t be simpler.

   

  DAILY MILE

  For the first half term, the Daily Mile - from Nursery to Year 6 - has proved a huge success. All our children take part in 15 minutes of either social running or walking, most of which happens at lunchtime. In order for them to do this, can you please ensure that they have the right footwear to change into for running/walking. We are passionate about our children being as active as possible and hope you support us in this aspiration.

   

  YEAR 3 ASSEMBLY

  Due to a potential clash with the flu immunisations, we have chosen to move the Y3 assembly until later in November/early December. Miss Bliss will be sending out a letter regarding the assembly in the next week and the diary will be updated accordingly.