Author: Mary T McMillan (Head Teacher)

St Mary’s RC Primary School
Spring Term 2015
Newsletter

Dates for your Diary
Mon 5th January	New Term Begins
Thurs 8th January	Whole School Mass to start 2015—All are welcome to join us
Tues 13th January	Friends of St Mary’s meeting at 7pm Gibside Hotel
Wed 14th January	Yr 1 & Yr 2 Striking and Fielding St T More
Sunday 18th January	Yr 3 First Communion Preparation Liturgy 4 at St Mary’s RC Church 9.30 mass
Mon 19th January	Read for My School—further details coming soon.
Wed 21st January	Yr 5 & 6 Girls 5 a side St T More Adult Choir Tonight 6pm
Thurs 22nd January	Non Uniform Day £1 per child or family “Winter Blues Day”
Wed 28th January	Yr 5 & 6 Basketball St T More
Thurs 29th January	Dad’s or Granddad's and Grand Designs 3.30—5.30pm in school this is a Friends of St Mary’s Special event to create something special with your child.
Mon 2nd February	Bike it Ben playground skills-details to follow
Wed 4th February	Yr 5 & 6 High 5 Netball Tournament St T More Adult Choir Tonight 6pm
Sunday 8th February	Yr 3 First Communion Preparation Liturgy 5 at St Mary’s RC Church 9.30 mass
Wed 11th February	Key Stage 1 Film Night 3.15—5.30pm
Thurs 12th February	Key Stage 2 Film Night 3.15—5.30pm
Spring HALF TERM school closed from Monday 16th to Friday 20th Feb
Mon 23rd February	INSET DAY for staff school is closed to pupils
Wed 25th February	Adult Choir Tonight 6pm
Fri 27th February	Pamper Night 6pm Friends of St Mary’s
Thurs 5th March	Yr 5 & 6 Hockey Whickham Comprehensive
Sat 7th March	French Day at St Thomas More for selected pupils
Sunday 8th March	Yr 3 First Communion Preparation Liturgy 6 at St Mary’s RC Church 9.30 mass
Mon 9th March	Bike it Ben Puncture Repair Session—details to follow
Tues 10th March	Year 4 pm visit to Mosque at Newcastle University
Wed 11th March	KS 1 Indoor Athletics at Gateshead Leisure Centre—selected pupils Adult Choir Tonight 6pm
Tues 17th March	Pupil Progress meetings with parents of Year 1, Year 3, Year 5 children,
Wed 18th March	Pupil Progress meetings with parents of Rec, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6
Mon 23rd March	Bike it Ben—helping children ride without stabilisers—details to follow Comenius visitors from Belgium and Martinique—details to follow
Tues 31st March	Whole school Mass at 9.30am all are welcome
Wed 1st April	Yr 3 & Yr 4 Multi-skills St T More
Thurs 2nd April	Holy Thursday break up for Easter holidays tonight
Easter Holiday - Return to school on Monday 20th April

Apologies and best wishes
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Wishing you and your families, a Happy New Year.
Sorry you did not receive this Newsletter last week Mrs Noble was absent leaving us short staffed !
The pupils are settling in well and ready to work as this is such an important term, a time to really build on prior learning and achieve their best.
Thank You to the generosity of Mr Greenwood who recorded and produced the DVD free of charge, this enabled the sales of the DVD to raise £644.
Please note: The date for non uniform scheduled for this week has been moved on a week to Thurs 22nd January. “Winter Blues” in mid January so dress in something to cheer us up! £1 per child/family.

Friends of St. Mary’s—Spring Term Activities
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who contributed towards the fundraising events leading up to Christmas the raffle raised £768.36, the Friday sale of Hot Chocolate/cakes raised £112.61, Photographs of children in costume £390, and Baubles £49.20 making a total of £1.320.17. A FANTASTIC start to building up the account to support all of the pupils in school. / Dress down day Thursday 22nd January 2015, Theme is “Winter Blues”. Moved to a week later than original plan. / Dads, Child & Grand Designs 29th January 2015 3.30pm – 5.30pm. A construction themed activity for the children with their Dads or Granddads. (more information to follow) / Ladies Pamper night Friday 27th February 2015. To be held in school. Activities to include quiz, nibbles, gel nails and perhaps a cookery demonstration. Bring your own wine! / Family Ceilidh with Pie & Pea Supper 24th April 2015. Ceilidh Band and venue currently being sourced. / Next meeting 7pm Tuesday 13th January 2015 at Gibside Hotel. All are welcome / Please see attached flyer about the Friends of St Mary’s 200 Club

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 19th January at the latest.

Happy Feet
Fees for this half term are £2.50 per session, £15.00 to February 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 on a cold day when children wear boots to come to school they should bring black school shoes to change into. 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. Especially hats, scarves and gloves as we have a growing collection!

After School Clubs
Monday	KS1 Tennis
Tuesday	Happy Feet—Key Stage 2
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 for Yr 6 (details to follow)
Friday	Art Club (details to follow)

This Terms Topics
Reception Space
Year 1 Space
Year 2 Grace Darling
Year 3 Weather around the World
Year 4 Natural Disasters
have a visit planned to: Newcastle University Mosque
Year 5 Features of the UK
Year 6 Investigating South America

Adult Choir / We hope you enjoyed the contribution of the Adult Choir at the Carols by Candlelight? If you would like to join us the please come along this term, dads, granddads would be as welcome as mams grandmas or parishioners.
The choir usually meet once a fortnight, at 6pm in the school hall. Any changes to the following dates will be sent by email or text.
Wed 21st Jan, Wed 4th Feb, Wed 25th Feb , Wed 11th March, Wed 25th March

Film Nights for Spring Term
Wednesday 11th February Film night for pupils in Key Stage 1.
Thursday 12th February Film night for pupils in Key Stage 2.
Children will have a hot dog, drink and popcorn while watching a film. Children will be taken out by their teachers to school yard at 5.30pm to be collected.
The cost is £3 which should be brought into school on Monday in an envelope marked with ‘Film Night’, your child’s name and class.