Weekly Bulletin 11th October 2024
Headteacher’s Message
My thanks go to all those who contributed to our Harvest collection this year. We received notification from Durham Foodbank that the total weight of the donation was enough food to provide over 230 meals which is great news for families in our community. It also helps to raise children’s awareness to the needs of our community and how they can play a part in helping others.
In response to feedback from last year’s Parents’ evenings and parental survey earlier in the year, we will be offering both face to face appointments and a night set aside for online video-call appointments for pupils in Y1 to Y6 (See below for information for Reception children). It is hoped this will allow greater flexibility for parents/carers and the opportunity for as many as possible to attend and learn about their child’s progress so far this term. Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd (3:40-5:40pm) will be held in school with the class teacher and Wednesday 23rd (3:40-5:30pm) will be held online. There will be an online booking form for you to choose either an in-person appointment or a video-call. The link for this will be sent out on Monday so please ensure your contact details are up-to-date with the School office. If you have any problems securing an appointment please contact the School office. Progress reports will be sent home on Friday 18th October.
Each week I want to include a ‘snapshot’ of some of the things that the children are doing 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 new School Librarians and an update is shared below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
School Librarians
Hello we are the Y5 school librarians!
This year, nearly all of the children in Year 5 have volunteered to be a librarian because we really want to help our school. We are encouraging you to come to the library. It’s fun, tidy, well stocked and a great place if you want to come to a quiet place to do word searches, to colour or just to read. We will do some competitions and you will get a prize if you win. Reading is amazing because it helps you with everything. We would like you to come to the library as much as you can but please remember to return the books that you get and try to read with parents/carers or even your siblings.
Thank you
Reception Class Parents Evening
The Reception Class Parents Evening will be on a drop-in basis, between 3.00 – 4.30pm on each evening from Monday 21st October to Thursday 24th October. Mrs Short will be available for all of the sessions, allowing Reception parents/carers to speak to her alongside looking through their children’s work. The drop-in sessions will be allocated to a house/colour group for each night in half hourly slots. If you are unable to make your allocated evening (i.e. due to work commitments) please contact Mrs Short or the School Office to discuss an alternative time.
Wrap Around Provision
We are extending our pilot Wrap Around Provision on Mondays and Wednesdays into Autumn Term 2 until Christmas. If you would like your child/ren to continue to attend, or join the sessions, please inform the School Office.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Friday 18th October – FOSS Infants Disco 5:15pm – 6:30pm and Junior Disco 6:45pm – 8:00pm
Monday 21st October – Wednesday 23rd October – Y1 to Y6 Parents’ Consultation Evening
Monday 21st October to Thursday 24th October – Reception Parents’ Consultation Evening
Friday 25th October – School closes for Autumn half term holiday
Monday 4th November – School re-opens after half term holiday
Wednesday 6th November – Y1 Beamish Trip
Monday 11th November – Remembrance Service – 9.05am at School
Tuesday 12th November – Y4 Great North Museum Trip
Wednesday 27th November – Y4 Durham University Trip
Thursday 5th December – Nativity – Reception 9.15am
Tuesday 10th December – Y3 Great North Museum Trip
Wednesday 11th December – Christmas with KS1 – 9.05am
Thursday 12th December – Christmas Jumper Day
Thursday 12th December – Christmas Lunch
Monday 16th December – KS2 Christmas Singalong – 2.45pm
Friday 20th December – Christmas Community Worship – 10am
Friday 20th December – School closes for Christmas holiday
Tuesday 7th January – School re-opens
Wednesday 8th January 2025 – Friday 10th January 2025 – Y6 Trip to Robinwood
Tuesday 4th March 2025 – Y5 Murton Park Trip
Monday 7th April 2025 – Reception Zoolab Visit
Noticeboard
- Packed Lunch– If your child is wishing to change to Packed Lunches please inform the school office with one week’s notice.
- A reminder to all parents/carers – No smoking or vaping on the school premises
WILD CHURCH: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – ST MARY’S CHURCH
Wild Church APPLE DAY
Saturday 5th October: 4.00 pm outside St. Marys or Hall if wet. Activities: Apple bobbing, corn toss, repair of the insect house, harvest prayers, sketching, making a model allotment and apple identification. Fire pit and mallows if fine. There will be a harvest tea sitting down at 4.45 pm with songs and prayers. All welcome. Parents: if you have a small hammer to bring and hold on to, that would be helpful.
Sunday 6th October 3.00 – 5.00 p.m. COMMUNITY BULB PLANTING
Meet opposite the Church drive, on the green. Refreshments to follow in the Church Hall. All welcome. Please bring trowels and a bulb planter if you have one.
The Pilgrimage to Durham Cathedral
We had a very good afternoon, we started off with twelve, a bit like the disciples but by the time we got to the Shincliffe Traffic Lights we were seventeen, then twenty-two by the time we got to the cathedral! On the way we had music, two prayer reflections using a scallop shell and then a painted stone with symbols of our journey: obstacles, nature, walking and the cross. We heard the St. Cuthbert story at the brass Dun Cow. One of the highlights was finding a violet alder leaf beetle! Perhaps the most enjoyed though, were the refreshments and worship, circled in the sunshine of the Dean’s Garden, which has magnificent trees and a backdrop of the Cathedral tower.
Starting School – Will your child turn 5 between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026?
Applications open 1 September 2024 and close midnight 15 January 2025.
If so, you need to complete an application online to tell us which school you would like your child to attend from September 2025.
Visit www.durham.gov.uk/primaryschoolplaces where you can access a useful guide to help with your application. The easiest way to apply is online, if you are unable to apply online, paper application forms are available on request.
You still need to apply even if your child attends the nursery unit attached to the school, or already has a sibling at the school. You will also need to apply for a place in Year 3 in a junior school for an older child.
For more information please contact School Places and Admissions Team www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Tel: 03000 265896
YEAR 6 PARENTS – Application for a Secondary School Place – September 2025
As you will be aware, your child is due to transfer to secondary school in September next year. The application process will be open on 1 September 2024. You will need to read the School Admissions online guidance for parents which is located on the School Admissions web page. This contains essential information that will help you in making your child’s application. The guidance is available on our website www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions You must only complete one application and this must be to the Local Authority to which you pay your council tax (i.e. Home Local Authority).
If you live in County Durham, you need to complete an application to tell us which school you want your child to attend. You should list up to 3 school preferences and applying for just 1 school Does Not improve your chances of gaining a place at that school. You can apply for any school/academy in County Durham or in another Local Authority area.
Please apply on-line at www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions When you apply on-line you will receive an acknowledgement and you will receive an email on 3 March 2025 containing a link to obtain your offer of a school place from the Document Download Portal. Please save your log-in details.
Please note that school places are allocated according to specific criteria which are different depending upon which school you apply for your child to attend. One criterion is “nearest school”. If you wish to know your nearest school, please contact us.
If your child’s offer of a school place is for an oversubscribed school (i.e. where there are more applications for a school than places available) we will offer your child a school place based on the child’s/parent’s address. We may request information on the child’s/parent’s address when we offer a school place and the onus will be on you to prove your address if asked.
If you do not wish to apply on-line, you can contact the School Admissions Team by email or telephone to request a form. Email: schooladmissions@durham.gov.uk or telephone
03000 265 896. Your application must be received by us at the address below by the closing date. We strongly advise you to return the application form to us by “Royal Mail Signed for™” or “Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed”. If you complete a paper application form you will receive a letter to inform you of the school place offered to your child on the 3 March 2025.
Please note for both on-line applications and paper application forms, you will be required to read the disclaimer and sign/tick the box to agree that the information you provide on the application form is complete and correct otherwise the offer of a school place will be withdrawn.
The closing date for receipt for on-line/paper application forms is 31 October 2024.
Yours sincerely DCC School Places and Admissions Team.
DURHAM MUSIC SERVICE – #JoinIn with a DMS Musical Band or Group
Did you know Durham Music Service offers lots of opportunities to make music in a band or group? Durham Music Service has over 40 years of experience providing amazing experiences for our young people in orchestras, bands, choirs and rock bands.
Playing or singing in a group is a brilliant experience for young musicians. There’s the chance to make new friends during rehearsals and share music making at special performances with friends and family. We regularly perform at venues such as Gala Durham, Durham Cathedral, Sage Gateshead (now Glasshouse) and our home at Ushaw Historic House. What’s more, all Durham Music Service groups are fully subsidised, so there is no cost to join in the fun.
There are so many groups to choose from meeting at various venues across Durham and Darlington. Why not check out our website for full details of all our groups and how to register. Current members of our groups do need to register annually, so existing members will need to register again this year.
Thank you for all your continued support and we look forward to you welcoming your young musicians.
Christian Values
We are exploring the value of Creativity this half term and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Fr. Peter, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Bill and our Key Stage Two pupils.
Further information on the values of Creativity:
Seen from a Christian perspective all of life is a ‘gift’, entrusted by God to humankind for a purpose. This purpose is glimpsed as the creative spirit within each person learns to value and explore, celebrate and enjoy this world in all its mystery and diversity. With this gift comes a mutual responsibility to ensure the creation is not spoiled, but rather sustained and shared by all.
Jesus told his followers that
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
We would like our children to continue their reflection and experience at home.
Some things to think about:
- How do we use the earth’s resources to meet our needs whilst still carrying out our duty of stewardship?
- What opportunities are there to meet creative people in various walks of life?
- Who might inspire and channel their own creativity?
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.
