Weekly Bulletin 17th May 2024
Headteacher’s Message
Firstly, we would like to congratulate our Year 6 children for the excellent effort and dedication they have shown during SATs assessments this week. We are delighted with their approach to their studies and they can be justly proud of their efforts.
I also thank all who have returned the recent parental survey. We are currently analysing the responses and I will share with you the school’s response next week.
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 supporting mental health in school and the work of THRIVE and Mrs Caygill has shared an update below.
Best wishes,
Mr Rumbles
THRIVE
This week has been Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is ‘Movement: moving more for our mental health.’ Movement and exercise can protect and build our mental wellbeing, boost our mood, and help us look after our health.
What we do at Shincliffe to promote your child’s Mental Wellbeing.
We actively promote our school vision and Christian values through regular whole school and class worships where children are also given an opportunity to reflect. Children are encouraged to use their pupil voice through regular School Council meetings. Two children from every class are elected by their peers to represent their class at regular meetings. Opportunities are given to promote their self-esteem at Friday’s Celebration Assembly, where we celebrate academic and non-academic achievements. Children can talk to their class teacher or teaching assistant, lunch time assistants or our designated Mental Health First Aiders – Mrs Caygill or Mrs Marsden. Mrs Caygill is also our school Thrive Practitioner and Mental Health Lead. They are supported to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks by teaching children about their emotions and feelings through PSHE lessons. Pupils take responsibility for themselves and others to develop a sense of worth and are given access to appropriate support that meets their needs. By following a Thrive Approach, children feel able to share concerns or worries they may have. Class teachers and teaching assistants assess children at the start and end of every year using Thrive Online to address any unmet emotional development needs.
At Shincliffe school we offer a range of support to help your child with their emotional well-being:
Universal Support – To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum.
Additional support – For those who may have short-term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.
Targeted support – For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups.
Staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: Mr Rumbles (Headteacher), Mrs Richardson (Deputy Head Teacher), Mrs Caygill (Thrive Practitioner & Mental Health First Aider), Mrs Marsden (Mental Health First Aider)
Mrs Caygill
Friends of Shincliffe School (FOSS) update
Summer Fair Update – FOSS have decided this year to sell drinks and ice-creams/lollies after Sports Day, on Monday 1st July, as opposed to running the Summer Fair later that same week. We’ll run the ever-popular raffle as well, so look out for tickets which will be sent out a few weeks in advance of Sports Day. As always donations to the raffle are very welcome so please email foss.shincliffe@gmail.com if you can contribute. Please also get in touch if you are able to help with drinks and ice creams on the day.
Orienteering Event – Summer Term 2 – details to follow.
ECO Club – Recycle to Read Batteries Collection
Our school is recycling batteries to protect the planet (and for a chance to win book vouchers for the school).
How can you help?
- Hunt out used batteries at home. We are collecting AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button batteries.
- Tape over the contacts of lithium (Li) and button batteries (see below).
- Put them in a tied plastic bag (preferably reused)
- Take them to the school’s collection point.
- Enter the prize draw at org/win
Safety first:
Not only is storing and recycling batteries safely great for the environment, it can also help reduce risks associated with batteries:
- Batteries can cause serious injury or death if swallowed, please keep batteries out of reach of small children and pets.
- Lithium and button batteries need to be taped so their contacts don’t touch, as they could short circuit if they do.
Use sticky tape over the contacts (top and bottom of batteries). Button batteries can be placed in a line between two sections of sticky tape. Lithium batteries can look like any battery, but they will have lithium (Li) written on them.
Many thanks for your support and happy battery hunting! To find out more, head to: jointhepod.org/batteries
Mrs Claydon
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Tuesday 21st May – Reception Hardwick Park
Thursday 23rd May – Y4 Quadkids Competition
Thursday 23rd May – Pentecost Eucharist – 9:05am All Welcome
Thursday 23rd May – France Trip information update – 4pm
Friday 24th May – School closes for Spring half term holiday
Tuesday 4th June – School re-opens after Summer half term holiday
Tuesday 4th June – Y4 Vindolanda
Wednesday 12th June – Y2 St Mary’s Lighthouse
Wednesday 12th June – KS2 Durham Dash (Team selection TBC)
Tuesday 18th June – Y5 Beamish Trip
Wednesday 19th June – Y2 Class assembly – 9:05am
Wednesday 19th June – Y3 Oriental Museum
Tuesday 25th June – Y1 Hall Hill Farm
Monday 1st July – Sports Day and FOSS Summer Fair – 1.15pm (Reserve date – Tuesday 9th July)
Friday 5th July – Monday 8th July – French Trip – Y5 and Y6
Monday 15th July at 2.45pm – Y6 Leavers’ Assembly – Y6 Parents Welcome
Friday 19th July at 10am – Y6 Leavers’ Service at St Mary’s Y6 Parents Welcome – refreshments served afterwards by St Mary’s parishioners
Friday 19th July – School closes for Summer holiday
Wednesday 4th September – School Re-opens for Autumn Term 2024/25
Wednesday 8th January 2025 – Friday 10th January 2025 – Y6 Trip to Robinwood
Year 6 Transition Dates
Belmont – 10th & 11th July
Framwellgate – 28th June
Durham Johnston – 28th June
Sedgefield – 4th and 5th July
St Leonards – 11th and 12th July plus a half day (am) visit for children from non-feeder schools on 6th June.
Christian Values
We are exploring the value of thankfulness and 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:
This half term we are focussing on Thankfulness as our whole school Christian Value. We will be looking at why being thankful is important and discussing what the children are thankful for in their lives.
Some things to think about:
- How can we express our appreciation and thankfulness in the life of the school?
- How can we demonstrate that we see the good things of life as a blessing and a gift rather than a right?
- How can we be thankful for more than just material possessions?
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.