Weekly Bulletin 16th February 2024
Headteacher’s Message
Many thanks to all of you who attended our parents’ consultation evening appointments in order to meet with your child’s class teacher earlier this week. Regular contact between home and school is vital in ensuring that we are able to work in partnership to support the progress and development of your child. The staff look forward to working with you over the coming term and implementing the strategies and approaches discussed at parents’ evening.
This week, we have sent the ‘Poverty Proofing the School Day’ survey for parents and carers. Please do take the time to complete this and return it to school. Below is more information about this initiative, I thank you in anticipation for your support.
We have also completed our work with the ‘Eat Smart’ team in order to reduce food waste in school. Our School Council Waste Warriors have collected and weighed the food waste and as a school we have been able to reduce our school plate waste by 25%. Many children have tried new foods and been more aware of the importance of not wasting food. The School Council have a number of actions to help continue the good work and my thanks go to them, Mrs Claydon and the ‘Eat Smart’ team for all their endeavours.
Each week I want to include a ‘snapshot’ of some of the things going on in school. For example, news from our ECO team, Worship group, V.I.P. (Very International People) and SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group). This week our focus is on the work of our V.I.P. (Very International People) and some important visitors we’ve had in school and they have shared an update below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
V.I.P. (Very International People)
Last week’s Lunar New Year event in Durham was a great success and we would just like to say a big thank you and well done to the Year 5 and 6 children who came along to help on the day. We were really proud of you all and it was such a great performance.
On Tuesday, our guests from Teikyo University (Professors and University students) visited our school. They were very impressed by all our pupils and our children who gave them a tour around school and spoke so well about life here at Shincliffe Primary. We are looking forward to working with Teikyo University again in the future.
Poverty Proofing© the School Day
We all know that rising costs of living, job losses and stagnant wages are placing a lot of pressure on family finances and that the pandemic has exacerbated this for many. We are working with your school as it strives to remove any barriers to children’s learning, ensuring pressure on household income doesn’t have a negative impact on any child’s education.
We are currently working in Shincliffe CE Primary School to support the school to Poverty Proof© the School Day. This means your school is looking to ensure that every child has the same opportunities throughout the school day. We are speaking to all pupils, teachers and governors and would like to get your views as parents/carers too. We will be discussing things such as access to trips, after school clubs and music tuition, the costs of uniform, how free school meals are administered and how children access food during the school day. The team will be in school week commencing 26th February 2024 and it would be great to get the views of as many parents/carers as possible. You will be sent a link via email, please do take the time to share your views.
PE Days – Spring Term 2
The children are required to wear their PE kit on the day they have PE. Please note: there may be ad-hoc PE days for which you will be informed via letter or SMS text message. Please see class PE days for Spring term 2 below:
| Reception | Wednesday |
| Year 1 | Tuesday & Friday |
| Year 2 | Monday & Tuesday |
| Year 3 | Friday |
| Year 4 | Tuesday & Thursday |
| Year 5 | Monday & Thursday |
| Year 6 | Wednesday & Friday |
Year 3 will be going Swimming on a Friday this term.
WILD CHURCH SPRING PROGRAMME
9.30 am. Sun 10th March Mother’s Day Service at St. Mary’s. JG will be speaking and there will be children’s activities and distribution of flowers. Foodbank donations can be made at every 9.30 service.
4.00 pm Sat 23rd March: Wild Church CELIDH with Chris Wagstaffe and his band, Pizzas today. Bring :a cowboy hat if you wish. To pay for the band, its £5 per adult, children free. Tickets from Julie Goodhart 0191 3869047 or Lucy Roberts or Lizzie Pexton.
4.00 p.m. Sat 13th April: Candlelit/Flare Vigil for Climate Justice Meet outside church. Activities: fire pit, refreshments, (lent pancakes), Lollipop Cards, followed by a Short service. Bring:
a food donation for the foodbank.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Friday 16th February – School closes for half-term holiday
Monday 26th February – School re-opens
Wednesday 13th March – Y2 Durham Cathedral
Thursday 21st March – Y3 and Y4 Assembly
Thursday 21st March – FOSS Easter Fair
Monday 25th March – Reception Zoolab
Thursday 28th March – School closes for Easter holidays
Monday 15th April – School re-opens
Monday 6th May – School closed for May bank holiday
Wednesday 8th May – Y4 Durham Cathedral
WC Monday 13th May 2023 – Y6 SATS week
Christian Vision and Values
Our school vision is rooted in Jesus’ promise in John 10 v 10, that he has ‘come that you may have life – life in all its fullness.’ To help us understand and live out this vision we look at certain Christian values which, as a school community, we believe are important.
We are exploring the value of peace this half term. Worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Bill, Fr. Peter and the pupils.
Some further information about this half term’s value:
The biblical concept of peace is not just the absence of war. It includes peace with God, positive harmony and healthy relationships between people. It involves spiritual as well as material security. Peace, in the sense of total well-being for the whole of creation, is the ultimate goal. Matthew 5:9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God”.
In the school context, peace-making actions can include everything from conflict resolution to creating times and places for stillness and reflection.
We would like our children to continue their reflection and experience at home.
Some things to think about:
- How do you feel when you are peaceful?
- What sort of things make you feel peaceful?
- How important is peace in your life?
- Do you have a special place where you feel peaceful?
If you would like to receive a copy of the Weekly Bulletin by e-mail please e-mail the school. Shincliffece@durhamlearning.net The Weekly Bulletins from previous weeks can be found in the parents’ section of the website.
