Year 4 enjoyed learning about aspects of Viking life this week. The children explored a range of artefacts which were borrowed from Sunderland Museum and began by considering their possible use in Viking times. After this, they worked hard to find out how they were actually used in reality. The children particularly enjoyed thinking about the clothes worn by Viking men and women.
Please note that it is parents’ responsibility to notify school if your child is going to be absent. If your child is not in school and we do not receive any communication from you, we will endeavour to make contact with you on the first day of absence. Your child will be marked as ‘N’ (not present) at this point. If we do not receive any reason for absence within 5 days, the code on the register will be changed to an O (unauthorised absence.) Please note that ten sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period can result in a referral to the Local Authority and the issuing of a Penalty Notice Warning, which can include a fine.
For more information, please refer to our Attendance Policy: https://hartonprimary.co.uk/new-policies/
Year 5 had a great time with La Petite Crêperie, where we practised our conversational French to politely order our crepes. They were delicious and we were very proud of the children for responding to a range of questions in French!
Our Mini Police officers were invited to the Northumbria Police Maritime Policing Unit in Jarrow to find out about policing our local water areas. We learned about the skills needed to police the river, lakes and sea. After looking at the specialist diving equipment, we saw their deep training pool and learned about what they use to rescue people.
Following on from our amazing performance yesterday, Year 1 had a fantastic time at our Christmas party. The children enjoyed lots of dancing, party games and showing off their lovely party clothes.
We would love to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2025.
On Monday 2nd December, we were so proud of our choir when they sang beautifully alongside a number of other schools at the Carol Concert held at Temple Park.
For obvious reasons, the performance is not filmed but Radio Shields do record the event and it’s due to be aired as follows:
“Tune In to the Sounds of Christmas!
Radio Shields is proud to showcase this year’s South Tyneside Civic Christmas Carol Concert – a festive celebration of music and community spirit!
Broadcast Times:
Monday 16th December at 2 PM
Wednesday 18th December at 2 PM
Friday 20th December at 2 PM”
Well done Harton Choir!
Today, eight Year 6 children took part in an MMA taster class at McNaldo’s Gym. The children loved learning MMA skills and the coaches were very impressed with how quickly they learnt the skills.
Our pupil of the month award was a special one this month. Linked to anti-bullying week, it was for pupils who have excelled in PSHE. These pupils have shown great understanding of how to be a good friend and citizen. Well done to all our stars!
As the Christmas season rolls around, many schools celebrate with festive Christmas productions. While these performances are a highlight for students and families, the prevalence of smartphones and cameras in the audience brings with it a number of potential risks—risks that both schools and parents should consider carefully.
One of the biggest risks is privacy. Schools often ask parents to sign consent forms allowing their child’s image to be used in certain ways, but filming by other audience members can create complications. If videos of children are shared online without consent, it can violate privacy agreements and potentially expose students to unwanted attention or online risks.
There are also safety concerns. When filming takes place in public settings, there’s always the risk that footage could be misused. Without proper safeguards, unauthorized recordings could end up being shared or even manipulated in harmful ways. Parents should be aware of how their child’s image might be used and take precautions accordingly.
Filming during a live performance can also be disruptive. Parents focused on getting the perfect shot may block others’ views, create distractions, or even cause physical accidents by walking around or bumping into people. For young performers, knowing they’re being filmed can be intimidating or distracting, detracting from their enjoyment of the experience.
Lastly, many school performances feature copyrighted material—whether it’s songs or scripts. Recording and sharing these performances without permission can inadvertently violate copyright laws, leading to potential legal issues for both the school and those sharing the footage.
To address these concerns, schools can set clear filming policies, request consent from all parents, and offer professional video recordings for sale. Encouraging attendees to focus on enjoying the performance—rather than filming—can help ensure that the event remains a positive experience for everyone involved.
While filming school Christmas productions can capture wonderful memories, it’s important to balance the desire for personal footage with the responsibility of safeguarding privacy, safety, and legal rights.
