Weekly Bulletin 7th November 2025
Headteacher’s Message
Welcome back! We hope you all enjoyed a restful half term. From today, a home-school links sheet from your child’s class teacher is available via both DB Primary and the school website. This details the ways in which you can support your child with their studies as well as informing you of the curriculum content to be covered during this half term in each subject area. I encourage you to read it and to use it as a basis for discussing with your child what they are learning about in school.
On Tuesday 11th November you are invited to join us in marking Remembrance Day in school. Our service will begin at 9:05am with worship led by our Y6 children and Father Peter. Children have made poppies in school and there will be an opportunity for children to bring a donation (suggested £1) into school to purchase a poppy to support the work of the Royal British Legion.
Next week we are also marking both Inter-Faith and Anti-Bullying Weeks in school. Inter Faith Week promotes dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between people of different faiths and beliefs. It aims to build stronger relationships and increase awareness of diverse religious and non-religious communities. The theme for Anti-bullying week is ‘Power for Good,’ and the week aims to raise awareness about bullying and encourage people to use their power to stop it. Please do take the opportunity to talk to your children about what they have been doing.
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 governors and our Reception class and updates are shared below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
Parent Governor Vacancy
Governors are responsible for overseeing the management side of a school: strategy, policy, budgeting and staffing. They enable their school to run as effectively as possible, working alongside senior leaders in setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
There is a vacancy for a Parent Governor. All parents other than those employed at the school for more than 500 hours per year or who are elected members of the Local Authority (LA) are eligible to stand for election. This includes any person who is not the natural parent but has parental responsibility for or who has care of a pupil registered at the school (Education Act 1996, Section 576)
If you are interested in becoming a Governor, please contact school for a nomination form. The completed and duly signed nomination form should be returned to school by Monday 24th November. Where the number of nominations is equal to, or fewer than, the places available no ballot will be necessary. Should a ballot be required each parent will be sent a voting slip and all parents will have an opportunity to vote using the voting form. These can then be returned to school via your child or dropped off at the school office within a set timeframe.
When the process has been finalised school will inform the parent body via our weekly bulletin and website. School and Governor Support Service will write formally to all nominees confirming the outcome of the ballot.
Reception
On Wednesday the 5th of November 2025, we used all of the knowledge that we had been building up this week, about how and why people celebrate Bonfire Night, in order to help us to have our own little celebration. First thing on Wednesday afternoon, we watched a firework display in the classroom which was set to classical music – we absolutely loved the different shapes that the fireworks made! – before we all went outside into our Reception Outside Area and stood in a circle. Next, we used some planks of wood and some sticks to make our bonfire in the middle of our circle and then “lit” it by adding strips of orange, red and yellow material. Using our Bonfire, we “warmed” our hands, remembering not to get too close because it was “hot”. Finally, we “toasted” our (vegan) marshmallows and ate them…mmm! We used the straws that our marshmallows had been stuck on as pretend “sparklers” to let us write shapes in the air. We even sang some songs around our pretend bonfire – we had a fantastic time!
“Today is Fireworks Day” – Finya
“Because Guy Fawkes was stopped on this day” – Freddie
“The marshmallows were yummy!” – Joshua
Reception Café – Wednesday 19th November – 1pm-3pm
On Wednesday 19th November parents and carers of children in Reception are invited to come into school to explore a range of 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.
Staffing update
During Miss Newman’s continued absence, Miss Parker will remain teaching in Year 1 for Autumn Term 2.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Monday 10th November – Wednesday 13th November – SEND Parents’ Consultation Evening
Tuesday 11th November – Remembrance Service – 9.05am at School – all welcome
Wednesday 12th November – Y1 Trip to Beamish
Tuesday 18th November – Y3 Trip to Iskcon Temple
Wednesday 19th November – Y4 Trip to Durham University
Wednesday 19th November – Reception Café
Thursday 20th November – Y5 Class Assembly – 9.05am
Friday 28th November – Advent Eucharist – 9.05am – all welcome
Thursday 4th December – Reception Nativity – 9.10am
Wednesday 10th December – KS1 Christmas Performance – 9.05am
Wednesday 10th December – Christmas Lunch
Monday 15th December – KS2 Christmas Singalong – 2.45pm
Friday 19th December – Christmas Community Worship – 9.05am
Wednesday 7th January 2026 – Friday 9th January 2026 – Y6 Trip to Robinwood
Tuesday 10th March 2026 – Y5 Murton Park Trip
Thursday 12th March – Y2 Trip to Shildon Science Museum
Monday 30th March – Reception visit from Zoolab
Monday 11th May-Thursday 14th May 2026 – KS2 SATs
Monday 22nd June 2026 – Sports Day – 1.15pm onwards
Friday 3rd – Monday 6th July 2026 – France Residential for Y5/6
Wild Church
We are looking forward to the season of Advent which begins in November this year. Yes! The last weekend in November which is when we are going to have our Christmas Tree Festival. If you would like to display a tree contact juliannegoodhart@hotmail.co.uk and we will prepare a label.
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
5.00 pm FRIDAY 28th November ALL WELCOME, there will also be gifts to purchase from Knit and Natter and a Craft Table
And Saturday 29th November CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL OPEN 10-12.00 Noon
Children free: £2.50 per adult Doors Close 12.00
Arrangements: contact Julie@ juliannegoodhart@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to do a tree and we will prepare a label
SET UP YOUR TREE Friday 28th at 4.00 pm for 5.00 pm opening
RETRIEVE TREES Sat 29th November 12.00 Noon- 1.00pm or
RETRIEVE TREES. Sun 30th November 10.30- 11.00 pm
ADVENT SUNDAY COMMUNION
9.30 am Sunday 30th Nov. There will be a children’s activity table
Starting School – Will your child turn 5 between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027?
Applications open 1 September 2025 and close midnight 15 January 2026.
If so, you need to complete an application online to tell us which school you would like your child to attend from September 2026.
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
School Vision and Christian 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 compassion this half term and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Fr. Peter, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Bill and our Key Stage Two pupils.
More information on this half term’s value:
Compassion’ and ‘sympathy’ have much in common and both are stronger in meaning than simply ‘feeling sorry for’ someone. The words have their roots in the idea of ‘suffering with’ someone, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and experiencing what they experience. This leads to a desire to act, to do something. It is not about ‘doing good’ from a position of strength or ‘remembering those less fortunate than ourselves’. Compassion requires an act of imagination and humility to share in the lives of others.
In the Gospels we find many stories of Jesus showing compassion to the sick and the downtrodden of society. Christians believe that their attitudes and actions must reflect the kindness, mercy and compassion of Jesus and the love of God for everyone. In the school community this means showing kindness and respect to each other. It is related to the way in which new people are welcomed into the school family and nurtured and supported. It is reflected in the ways in which members of the community support each other through difficult times, such as bereavement. Christians would say that God Himself is the perfect example of community—the three persons of the Trinity are bound together in the ultimate closeness which makes them one. In a church school the idea of community will always be a strong one— schools share a common life and common goals—we aim to nurture and sustain all our members.
We would like our children to continue their reflection and experience at home.
Some things to think about:
- In what ways do we encourage members of the school community to show kindness and respect to one another?
- How do we foster links with charities for those in need?
- How are new members of the school community nurtured and supported?
- How does the school help, and encourage pupils to understand and empathise with members of their community who have suffered traumatic experiences, e.g. bereavement?
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.
