Author: Mary T McMillan (Head Teacher)

St Mary’s RC Primary School
Autumn Term 2014
Newsletter

Dates for your Diary
Mon 1st Sept	INSET Day for staff
Tues 2nd Sept	First day of term for all pupils Phased entry for Reception children
Friday 5th Sept	No swimming lessons today / Kenya Night at 6.30pm in school hall
Mon 8th Sept	Reception children in full time
Tues 9th Sept	CURRICULUM Information Key Stage 2 parents 6pm
Wed 10th Sept	CURRICULUM Information Key Stage 1 parents 6pm (Rec,Yr1, Yr 2)
Thurs 11th Sept	Whole school (excluding Reception) mass 9.30 all are welcome to join us
Tues 30th Sept	Tempest Photographer will be in school / Year 3 visit to Great North Museum
Mon 6th Oct	Judaism week
Wed 22nd Oct	3.15-5.15 Film night in school for Rec/Y1 and Y2 £2 entry
Thurs 23rd Oct	3.15-5-15 Film night in school for Years 3/4/5/6 £2 entry
Autumn HALF TERM school closed from Monday 27th to Friday 31st Oct
Mon 3rd Nov	Return to school
Tues 4th Nov	Year 3 visit to the Synagogue
Mon 10th Nov	Comenius Visit— 10 Year 6 pupils and staff
Tues 18th Nov	Parent Appointments for Reception, Yr2, Yr4, Yr6 pupils
Wed 19th Nov	Parent Appointments for Yr 1, Yr 3, Yr 5 pupils
Fri 14th Nov	Children in Need—Non Uniform Day £1 per child/Family
Sun 23rd Nov	The Feast of Christ the King
Wed 26th Nov	Whole School (excluding Reception) to Pantomime at Theatre Royal
Mon 8th Dec	Opportunity for all pupils to receive Flu Vaccine (Details later)
Tues 9th Dec	9.30 Year 1 and Year 2 Christmas production 1.30pm Year 3 and Year 4
Wed 10th Dec	9.30 Year 3 and Year 4 1.30 pm Year 1 and Year 2
Thurs 11th Dec	9.30 Year 5 and Year 6 6.00 p.m. Year 5 and Year 6 Evening Performance / Christmas Dinner Day
Fri 12th Dec	1.30 pm Reception Nativity with Year 5 Buddies
Mon 15th Dec	Key Stage 1 Party
Wed 17th	Key Stage 2 Party
Thurs 18th Dec	5.00 p.m. whole school carol service in church

Year 3 Practical Pedestrian Training
11th Sept	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week 1
18th Sept	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week
25th Sept	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week
2nd Oct	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week
9th Oct	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week

16th Oct	Year 3 Pedestrian Training Week

After School Clubs
Monday	KS1 and KS2 Tennis until October Half Term
Tuesday	Happy Feet—Key Stage 2 (There are spaces available for this session) £2.50 per week payable in advance.
Wednesday	Children’s Choir - Years 2 to 6 come and join
Thursday	Happy Feet—Key Stage 1
Friday	Gymnastics

Lunchtime Clubs
Monday	Sports—watch the sports noticeboard for changes
Tuesday	Not at the moment
Wednesday	Science Club—Year 1 and Year 2 (details to follow)
Thursday	Animation Club & Radio Club (details to follow)
Friday	Art Club (details to follow)

Friends of St. Mary’s
The Reception class has been refitted over the summer holidays: Mr Dixon painted the walls, fabulous storage furniture and new carpet have been fitted, funded by school but more exciting is the new classroom equipment and furniture for pupils, which has been funded by the Friends of St. Mary’s. A huge thank you to parents past and present who contributed to the fund which built up to allow us to provide such a wonderfully improved environment for our youngest pupils. / To build up the funds again we would like to reignite enthusiasm to organise events which will enable us to achieve this aim. / All parents are Friends of St. Mary’s, formerly meetings have been arranged as open meetings with very limited numbers attending. Could we have two parents from each year group to nominate themselves to help to organise and plan events and attend half termly meetings. “Many hands make light work.” Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Dinner Money
Key Stage 1 pupils are no longer required to pay for school meals. However, Key Stage 2 pupils’ meals at £2 per day £10 per week, should be paid in advance on a Monday morning in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name.

Music Tuition
For those pupils who are attending guitar or violin lessons this term, fees for the Autumn Term are £65.00. Cheques should be made payable to Gateshead Council and should be paid by Monday 8th September.

Happy Feet
Fees for this half term are £2.50 per session, £20.00 to October Half Term. Cheques payable to St. Mary’s R C Primary School.

School Uniform
All pupils look extremely smart in their school uniform. Thank you for your support. A reminder that as the term wears on black school shoes should be worn by all pupils and that the only jewellery permitted is a watch. Please ensure every item belonging to your child is clearly marked with their name so that if they leave anything lying around anywhere it can be returned easily to them!

School Photographs
The school photographer is coming on Tuesday 30th September. / For those families who would like to have a photograph with any younger children not already at school then can they please come to school at 8.30 a.m.? All other children will be photographed throughout the day both individually and with any siblings in other year groups. Also Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will have a whole class photograph taken. (Year 1 as they were missed last year!). You will receive the proofs on the same day giving you time to decide what to buy.

Oliver’s Army @ GNR 2014
135 children will be taking part in the Bupa Junior and Mini Great North Runs in support of friend and classmate Oliver Roberts, 9 who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumour.
The children have called themselves Oliver’s Army due to the impressive size of the group who will be running in aid of Clic Sargent, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people with cancer.
Oliver was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010, Although Oliver’s tumour was successfully treated, his cancer returned in January 2014 1nd he has since undergone further surgery and chemotherapy at the RVI in Newcastle. Oliver and his family have received emotional and practical support fro Clic Sargent.
His friends wanted to show their support in running the Junior Great North Run. The children and their families have been training for the last 12 weeks under the motivational training from Elliott’s mum. Adults are also taking part in The Great North Run on Sunday.

Thursday 11th September
As a school contribution towards this fundraising we intend to have a whole school community run on Thursday afternoon next week. Can you ensure that your child/ren have their PE Kit in school next Thursday afternoon. We ask for £1 minimum donation to add to the total being raised by Oliver’s Army.

This Terms Topics
Reception Ourselves
Year 1 All about ME / Castles
Year 2 Great Fire of London
Year 3 Stoneage / Ironage
have visits planned to: Great North Museum
Jewish Synagogue
Year 4 Romans
Year 5 Anglo Saxons
Year 6 Crime and Punishment