Weekly Bulletin 20th June 2025
Headteacher’s Message
We look forward to welcoming you all to Sports Day on Monday 23rd June, starting at 1.15pm. This year the children will be competing in team games in the first part of the afternoon. They have been organised so that children from the same family will move around and take part in the same activities together. Parents will be able to follow their children around for these events.
The children will be competing in the team games for the first part of the afternoon and after a short break all classes will compete in Sprint races on the track. The children will have competed in heats at an earlier point so that they can be organised into their Sprint finals on the day.
For the second part of the afternoon we will sit the children on the field side of the track in their classes and ask the parents to watch from the opposite side of the track.
On the day, if your child needs to visit the toilet they will be escorted by a member of staff.
At the end of Sports Day, the children will be taken back to their classrooms to collect their belongings and then they will be brought outside onto the playground for you to collect your child and attend the FOSS summer event if you wish to do so.
As some parents have requested that their children are not photographed within school, we would like to remind all parents not to photograph children during school events. Thank you!
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 our Y6 children and an update is shared below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
Y6 Update
We have been very busy in Y6 and wanted to update you all with everything we have been doing. We have had lots of PE opportunities, which has included: Basketball, Netball, Yoga and for some of us, taking part in Durham Dash.
Last week, Year 6 went to the Y6 Leavers’ Service at Durham Cathedral. We created key rings with a key on it to represent the key to the future of our lives, we also built a Lego tower to represent the whole community being together as one and what that means to us. We also took part in worship with the other schools, being led in prayers and singing songs.
Finally, we would like to say a big thank you to FOSS for providing our leavers hoodies, contributing to school trips (including Robinwood) and paying for visitors like Adam Bushnell to come to our school. Thank you, FOSS, for showing the value of Service in our school and making our time at school more memorable.
FOSS – Friends of Shincliffe School – Monday 23rd June 3.30pm-4.30pm
We are all looking forward to Sports Day and as previously mentioned we will be selling drinks and ice-creams/lollies on the day for £2 for children and adults and of course, there will also be the ever-popular raffle.
Hopefully, it will be a great afternoon for both children and parents. We look forward to seeing you there. All money raised will be used support and enrich school life.
Our current treasurer will be stepping down from the role at the end of the school year, if anyone is interested in taking up this position then contact the FOSS team or Mr Rumbles.
Friends of Shincliffe School
Maths Café
Over the coming weeks we will be hosting a Maths Café for Year groups 1-6, delivered by Durham’s Family Learning Champions for children and parents. The Café uses a range of fun Maths activities and games linked to the skills your child is learning in school, which will help you support with their development and homework. This will be a valuable session which everyone can enjoy, especially when preparing for transition to your child’s next year group.
The dates for each year group are as follows:
Tuesday 24th June – Y1 Maths Café – 1.15pm-3pm
*Y3 Maths Café Rearranged date to be confirmed
Parents’ Open evening
On Tuesday 1st July between 3.30pm and 4.30pm you are invited to look around school, talk with your child’s current class teacher and have the opportunity to meet with your child’s class teacher for September 2025. We look forward to seeing you then.
Year 6 Transition Dates
Belmont – 4th July
Framwellgate – 4th July
Durham Johnston – 4th July
Sedgefield – 3rd and 4th July
St Leonards – 5th June AM and 4th July
Water Safety information
Many parts of the UK and Ireland are experiencing hot weather now and into the weekend. As temperatures rise, more people head to the water to cool off — but higher heat means higher risk. Latest research tells us the risk of accidental drowning is five times higher when air temperature is 25 degrees or higher and every year, we see a tragic spike in drownings during hot weather. And most of them are preventable.
Heading to the coast this weekend? Have fun, make memories — but please stay safe.
- If you get into trouble in the water: Float to Live
* Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged
* Relax and try to breathe normally
* Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat
* It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently
- In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Please swim between the red and yellow flags at a Lifeguarded beach and leave inflatables at home—offshore winds can whisk them away before you know it!
#RespectTheWater
Find my nearest lifeguarded beach – https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Monday 23rd June – Sports Day – 1.15pm onwards – Ice Creams/Lollies/Drinks served after
Monday 23rd June – SEND Parents’ Evening – 3.40pm-5pm
Tuesday 24th June – Y1 Maths Café – 1.15pm-3pm – Parents welcome
Thursday 26th June – Y1 Hall Hill Farm Visit
Monday 30th June – St Mary’s Lighthouse Y2
Tuesday 1st July – Parents’ Open Evening – 3.30pm-4.30pm
Wednesday 2nd – Friday 4th July – Y6 Residential to Robin Wood Activity Centre
Wednesday 9th July – Oriental Museum Y3
Tuesday 15th July at 2.45pm – Y6 Leavers’ Assembly – Y6 Parents Welcome
Friday 18th July at 10am – Y6 Leavers’ Service at St Mary’s Y6 Parents Welcome – refreshments served afterwards by St Mary’s parishioners
Friday 18th July – School closes for Summer holiday
Sun Cream
As the weather is starting to warm up, please remember to apply a long-lasting sun cream before your child comes to school. Please also provide a named sun-hat.
Wild Church – Summer
SUNDAY 29TH JUNE 2.00pm-4.00 pm
St. Mary’s Church is having a fundraiser in the garden
Wild Church will be there doing a Drum Circle twice during the afternoon at 2.30 and 3.30 pm
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.
This half-term, we will explore the value of service and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Peter, Fr. Bill and our Key Stage Two pupils. We will be thinking about the ways in which we are able to serve one another.
Further information on this half term’s Christian value:
Properly understood, Christian Service is a revolutionary concept. The notion of service calls us to lay selfish things aside for the needs of others. It is also an important value in all relationships.
Jesus said that he ‘came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
The story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper is well known—this is where he takes on the role of the lowest servant rather than that of the master. Jesus tells us clearly the meaning of this action: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.’
Serving God, means serving others.
We would like our children to continue their reflection and experience at home.
Some things to think about:
- How are we encouraged to “find” our gifts and to use them for the good of the school and wider community?
- How do you show gratitude for those who serve / help you?
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.
