Weekly Bulletin 17th January 2025
Headteacher’s Message
Our School Council have been very active as they prepare for ‘Fit for February’. This is a project that is hoped will encourage everyone in the School Community to stay active and make healthy choices. There will be a timetable of events that children and adults can take part in each day. Our School Chair and Secretary will provide more information in the coming weeks.
We are continuing to closely monitor punctuality each morning and I draw your attention to the information below. Please make every effort to ensure that your child is on time for school so that they are ready to begin learning promptly.
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 learning in Year 3 and Mrs Bewley has shared an update on this below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
Year 3
Year 3 had a fantastic time on Wednesday learning all about rocks and minerals with Professor Humphreys. Professor Humphreys is a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Durham. She brought in some samples of rocks and minerals for the children to investigate. We enjoyed working scientifically to classify the rocks and record our observations. Professor Humphreys talked to the children about her work as a geologist and shared photographs of some of the volcanoes that she has visited. We are very grateful to Professor Humphreys for giving up her time; many of us have been inspired to follow in her footsteps!
Punctuality
We continue to monitor punctuality daily. We request that all parents ensure that their children arrive promptly for the beginning of the school day where registration is open from 8.45am to 8.55am. This not only means that pupils are present and ready for teaching at the beginning of the morning session but also teaches pupils the importance of meeting deadlines and showing respect for others who may be impacted by poor time-keeping. In cases of persistent lateness, the services of the Education Welfare Officer will be enlisted to support families in meeting their obligation to ensure that their children attend school on time.
Driving and parking around school
As you know, it is very important to us to continually try to reduce congestion near school and to promote a safe and healthy environment for our pupils, staff, parents and local residents. Maintaining good relationships with our neighbours is vitally important for our school. I would, therefore, remind you to be considerate when parking and not to block our neighbours’ driveways/access at any time or to block pavements.
For safety reasons, do not use the staff car park for pick-up and drop-off. Please drive with extreme caution and care if you do need to access Beal Walk. Beal Walk and surrounding roads do not have pavements and are often used by our children, so it is dangerous to drive whilst people are walking to and from school.
We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
Wild Church – SPRING TERM 2025 (All welcome, All age, Ecumenical)
Supporting nature at home:
4.00 p.m. Fri 24- Sun 26 The Big Gardens Bird Watch – at home. Sign up on https://www.rspb.org.
Sat 25th January Wild Church 4.00 p.m. meet church hall: Epiphany. Activities: Refreshments – the Kings Meal, decorating Spanish style kings Bread, musical boxes of Epiphany – bring any of your own, making pine fire-lighters, crown prayer station, bring your weekend bird results,– short service with Music. Young arr. leaders 3.30 pm
Sun 2nd Feb, Sun Sun 2nd March, Sun 6th April Parish Communion with children’s activity.
Sat 15Th February: Wild Church Celidh: 4.00 p.m. Meet at St. Mary’s Church Hall: Refreshments, coffee/tea – pizza snack and fruit. £5 per adult to cover costs. Children Free.
Sat 8th March – Wild Church: International Seagrass Celebration: 4.00 p.m. Meet outside Church Activities: refreshments – the ecology of sea grass ,creating an undersea fishes display, undersea prayers, modelling sand seeding, engineering : safe sea-bed mooring , making codfish bottles,– short service with music and firepit and mallows. Young Leaders arr. 3.30 p.m.
Sun 30th March 9.30 am. Mothering Sunday Holy Communion with Children’s activity
Sat 5th April: Wild Church: SHINCLIFFE SPRING WATCH (NATURE in Lent) 4.00 p.m. Snowdrops, frogs, blackthorn, bees ….. Meet outside church. Activities: refreshments, (lent pancakes), making a toad house and bee bombs to take home, bulb and blossom identification, habitat prayer book, fire pit and mallows followed by a short service.
Sun 4th May 9.30 am Holy Communion with Children’s Activity
Young leaders arrive 3.30 p.m.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Friday 14th February – FOSS Disco
Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th February – In Person Parents’ Consultation Evenings
Wednesday 19th February – Online Parents’ Consultation Evenings
Monday 17th – Thursday 20th February Reception Parents’ Consultation Evenings
Friday 21st February – School closes for half-term holiday
Monday 3rd March – School re-opens
Tuesday 4th March – Y5 Murton Park Trip
Thursday 3rd April – Y3 and Y4 assembly – 9.05am
Thursday 3rd April – FOSS Easter Fair
Monday 7th April – Easter Eucharist – 9.05am – All welcome
Monday 7th April – Reception Zoolab Visit
Friday 11th April – School closes for Easter holidays
Monday 28th April – School re-opens
Thursday 1st May – School Closure – Polling Station
Monday 5th May – School closed for May bank holiday
WC Monday 12th May – Y6 SATS week
Monday 23rd June – Sports Day – 1.15pm onwards
Christian Values
We are exploring the value of hope this half term and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Fr. Bill, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Peter and our Key Stage Two pupils.
Some further information about this half term’s value:
This half term we are focussing on hope as our whole school Christian Value.
The Christian understanding of hope is much deeper than our everyday use of the word can be. We hope that it will not rain for the picnic, or that the car will start or that the plumber will come tomorrow.
Hope is a universal human phenomenon. People hope for peace in time of war; food in time of famine; justice in time of oppression. Where hope is lost there is despair and disintegration.
Hope generates energy and sustains people through difficult times.
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.
