Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Heads are Precious
It's been a wonderful 3 days planning children's learning for the next 2 years. Staff are really enthused and have lots of exciting ideas for lessons, trips and experiences to bring learning alive for our children.
However, when visiting classrooms at the front of the school, I cringe to see how many children from our school are cycling around the estate without wearing helmets. It only takes one small bump in the wrong place to have a life changing injury. Please, please encourage children to wear helmets when on bikes or skateboards.
Boots and Shoes
At Seaburn Dene we have a very strict uniform policy which states clearly the footwear children are allowed to wear. Only black flat shoes are allowed with no trainers or pixie boots. However, a harsh Winter is forecast so we completely understand if a child wears long boots or wellies when walking to school in snow or sleet. For the sake of their feet, and also the carpets around school, children are expected to have their usual school shoes in a carrier bag to swap with outdoor footwear.
Table Prize
The dining room is always a lively busy place with children eating and enjoying a social time. We are very keen on very good manners and eating sensibly using both a knife and fork. To reward our children there is a table points system which accumulates points towards an end of term prize. This term the prize is tickets for each child on the winning table for themselves and their chosen adult to go along to the Sunderland/Liverpool match on 28th December. It's a competition worth winning!
Last week our teams began their sporting campaigns with determination, using their very best Growth Mindset skills to overcome obstacles and challenges. The Year 6 athletics team became the Monkwearmouth cluster champions so will move forward to the next stage at Biddick school. Children were delighted with their success, proudly wearing their medals as they paraded down the corridor on their return.
In the league cup, our team recently had resounding victories, beating Plains Farm 5-1 and St. Patrick's 6-1. Their away matches at Sunderland High School placed them second in the league having lost to Sunderland High 1-0 and then a win against Benedict Biscop 2-1. Keep that determination flowing everyone.
Mr. Ashton has just informed me that a magnificent 25 children in Years 4, 5 and 6 have expressed an interest to take part in the junior Great North Run. Fitness training will begin in the New Year so it gives children plenty of time to think about eating and drinking more healthily. One change e.g cutting the number of bags of crisps per week down or cutting out fizzy drinks, makes a huge difference to fitness levels. Let's get fit everyone!
Jurassic Garden Party
Date: Friday 30th October
Time: 6-8pm
Place: Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Cost £7 per person
INSET Days
Unbelievably, this is our last full week in school before the October half term. Children break up from school on Tuesday 20th October as teachers have 3 days of training which will be centred around the curriculum and assessment. The next 7 school days are packed full of adventurous learning opportunities with visits out and visitors into school. Thank you for your continual support. It makes learning a real partnership.
Harvest Donations
Donations for the harvest collection are welcomed this week before Thursday. Anything you send in will be given to the local food bank so please ensure products are in date.
Poetry Recital Competition
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Poetry Recital Competition 2015. The standard was even better than in 2014, with most of the finalists sending emotional shudders down our backs. Both the runner up and winner had wonderful powerpoints to enhance their poems, so there was a tear in many eyes as Isobel (runner up) dramatically recited "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and Sarah (the winner) "Invictus" by W.E. Henley which, completely dressed in combats, she dedicated to our friend Simon Harmer. George Smith from Year 1 melted our hearts as he enthusiastically recited his poem about kites. We are proud of all the children who took part and thank you to the audience for supporting every child.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Now that our exciting and creative topics are well underway, teachers are organising visits to bring these topics to life. Years 3 and 4 will be exploring Roman and Egyptian buildings at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle on Tuesday 13th October. On Thursday Year 4 will also be walking along to Latimers to learn about the fishing industry and the range of fish they catch and prepare for sale. Year 6 are visiting St. Andrews Church to learn about Christian ceremonies and rituals having already questioned Revd Child about how Christianity impacts on his everyday life. Then just before the children break up for half term Year 5 are spending the day at Bede's World. In a lesson I wandered into yesterday they were exploring Mother Theresa as part of their saints theme, using Reciprocal Reading techniques to deepen their understanding of her life. We now know exactly where to find Albania too.
Poetry Recital Competition
Once again I have been invited to be a member of the judging panel for the Poetry Recital Competition on Thursday. Two children from each class have been nominated by their classteacher so, along with Mrs Wright our Literacy Governor and a member of the School Council, there's a difficult choice to be made. I wish every entrant the very best of luck.
Suitable Clothing
After the most glorious week, we are now on the receiving end of Hurricane Joaquin which means wet, windy weather once again. It arrived a couple of hours earlier than forecast. Quite a few children arrived in school without a sweatshirt or a coat today, so please remember that your warm homes and cars can lull you into thinking it's much warmer than it is. Children now need sweatshirts and coats until the end of Spring 2016.
Once Children are Through the Gate....
Please could you speak to your children about not exiting the school gate once they are within the school premises. Whilst we do everything we can to be at the entrance (and you frequently see me there) children need to be aware as to how to keep themselves safe too. If children are in the routine of saying goodbye to you then bringing bags into the playground there is no real need for them to head towards the exit when the bell goes. They should pick up their bags and head straight into school.
Seaburn Dene's Patron of Reading Karen Langtree will be in Waterstones in The Bridges, this Saturday(Oct 3)
She will be signing copies of her new books and would love to see our pupils. Just pop in and say hello!