Author: Mary T McMillan (Head Teacher)

St Mary’s RC Primary School
Summer Term 2015
Newsletter

Dates for your Diary
Mon 20th April	Summer Term Begins
Tues 21st April	Year 5 Cycling Proficiency for the next 6 weeks
Sun 26th April	Mass 9.30 for Year 3 “Do this in Memory of Me”
Mon 27th April	Bike it Ben Playground Skills Tennis starts for KS1 and KS 2
Tues 28th April	Football semi finals at St Aloysius—school team
Wed 29th April	ADULT CHOIR resumes tonight at 6pm in school hall, new members welcome.
Mon 4th May	BANK HOLIDAY—school closed
Wed 6th May	Yr 1 & Yr 2 Multi skills at St Thomas More
Thurs 7th May	GENERAL ELECTION school closed
Mon 11th May	Key Stage 2 SAT’s WEER for Year 6 pupils
Wed 13th May	Yr 3 and Yr 4 Striking and Fielding at St Thomas More First Holy Communion Meeting for Year 3 Parents 6pm
Mon 18th May	Bike it Ben—Sponsored Cycle ride through Watergate Park for YEAR 4 pupils / Year 6 Residential to Knock
Wed 20th May	Key Stage 1 Film Night
Thurs 21st May	Key Stage 2 Film Night
Spring HALF TERM school closed from Monday 30th May to Friday 29th May
Mon 1st June	School Nurse to visit Yr 5 and Yr 6
Tues 2nd June	Year 5 Parents to school hall at 5pm for presentation from Mr Parkinson
Sat 6th June	Opportunity for Year 5 pupils to attend Art Enrichment Session at St T More
Mon 8th June	More than Dance group to work with Year 3
Tues 9th June	Year 4 visit to Egyptian Experience Educational Visit
Thurs 11th June	NON –Uniform Day “Summer Time Theme” £1 per child/family Parents of new Reception Class 2015—Meeting at 6pm
Mon 15th June	Bike it Ben—Sponsored Cycle ride through Watergate Park for YEAR 6 pupils Year 1 Phonic Screening Week
Tues 16th June	Parents and Parish Meeting FORWARD TOGETHER in HOPE 6pm school hall
Thurs 18th June	Year 5 visit to Whickham Thorns Centre
Fri 19th June	Year 6 day visit to Gibside with St Thomas More Cluster
Saturday 20th June	Year 3 Celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion 10am St Mary’s RC Church
Wed 24th June	Year 5 & Year 6 Mixed High 5 Netball
Fri 26th June	Gateshead Athletics Festival selected pupils to represent the school
Sunday 28th June	Year 3 Celebrate at 11am Immaculate Heart Lobley Hill, along with First Communicants from St Philip’s, Dunston
Mon 29th June	More than Dance group to work with Year 6

Tues 30th June	Music Showcase 2pm Parents/family of pupils learning to play violin and those learning guitar— are invited to se their progress at a concert in the school hall.
Fri 3rd July	School Sports Day Key Stage 2 (Yr 1,Yr 2, Yr 3, Yr 4, Yr 5, Yr 6) am Key Stage 1 (Rec, Yr 1, Yr 2) pm Picnic lunch for everyone on school field (subject to weather)
Mon 6th July	Bike it Ben—Sponsored Cycle ride through Watergate Park for YEAR 5 pupils / Year 1 Phonic Screening Week FINAL Tennis Session tonight
Tues 7th July	Summer Showcase—”Through the Decades” 2pm in school hall details later
Wed 8th July	Summer Showcase—”Through the Decades” 4.30pm in school hall details later
Thurs 9th July	Yr 6 Transition Day at St T More All classes move on to meet new teacher
Fri 10th July	9.30 Retirement Mass for Mrs McMillan all are welcome to attend / 6pm Family Ceilidh at Burnopfield Cricket Ground— part of Mrs McMillan’s retirement celebrations.
Tues 14th July	Whole school trip to the beach ( please pray for dry weather! )
Thurs 16th July	Year 6 Leavers Mass at 9.30, all are welcome to join us, Yr 6 parents are invited to school afterwards for refreshments and to view class memories.
Fri 17th July	Last day of the school year
Summer Holidays Monday 20th July to Tuesday 8th September 2015

“The sun has got his hat on!”
The recent lovely weather means that the children can wear their summer uniform and enjoy being able to play on the field. Long hair should be tied up and off the face. Can I remind you : Children should have sun cream applied at home before they come to school
Children can wear sun hats for protection (marked with their name)
Water bottle filled fresh from home each morning and taken home each night for cleaning also marked with child’s name
Full PE kit with trainers suitable for outdoor wear
“Let us hope the forecast remains as good!”

Bishop Seamus invites us to join in with: “Diocesan Prayer “Forward Together in Hope”
Glory be to the Father—in whom we live and move and have our being. Glory be to the Son—whose name we bear and who calls each of us to be his disciples; to build his Kingdom and to go out into the world and bear its fruit. Glory be to the Holy Spirit—pouring out grace and guidance, forming us and renewing us. Inspire us all in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to live the Gospel, be open to change and move forward together in hope. Amen.

Music Tuition
For those pupils who are attending guitar or violin lessons this term, fees for the Summer Term are £65.00. Cheques should be made payable to Gateshead Council and should be paid by Friday 1st May at the latest.

As a lasting tribute to Oliver Roberts we intend to develop a garden area, where present pupils and those who will join our school community in the future will be able to be peaceful and enjoy some quality quiet time.
We have in mind the grassed area at the side of the school outside of Year 4 and Year 5 classroom. We have discussed the intention with the Mr and Mrs Roberts and they are very happy to support us and to become involved in some way.
We will start a fund this term through holding the following events:
Monday 18th May Year 4 Bike Ride with Ben will be Sponsored
Monday 15th June Year 6 Bike Ride with Ben will be Sponsored
Monday 6th July Year 5 Bike Ride with Ben will be Sponsored
Wednesday 20th May Film night for pupils in Key Stage 1.
Thursday 21st May Film night for pupils in Key Stage 2.
Non uniform Day on Thursday 11th June Summer Time Theme
The income form the ticket sales at the Summer Showcase “Through the Decades”
If anyone has any particular skill eg. design, construction, sourcing supplies, equipment or physical energy and would like to support this initiative in any way then please let us know as your help will be greatly appreciated.

This Terms Topics
Reception Traditional Tales
Year 1 Florence Nightingale and Famous People
Year 2 Explorers
Year 3 World War 2
Year 4 Ancient Egyptians
Year 5 Ancient Greece
Year 6 Transition Projects

Adult Choir
Each term the Adult Choir perform at a school event and are well received with many complimentary comments. They meet once a fortnight on Wednesday evenings starting this term on Wednesday 29th April in the school hall at 6pm. So parents, grandparents or carers if you wold like to exercise your vocal cords come along and join us.

Film Nights for Spring Term
Wednesday 20th May Film night for pupils in Key Stage 1.
Thursday 21st May 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.

Before and After School
Could I remind you that parents/carers should stand well back from the pupils when they are line up after the bell rings, in the area in front of the trees or the court and not in front of Yr 5 Yr 6 or at the side of Year 1.
When collecting children at the end of the day the same applies so that the children can come out and line up without having to weave through adults. This helps to ensure a safe hand over.
If you are late for any reason, then your child will be brought back into school to wait in the library area for you.