Thank you so much to everyone who has donated cans and other items for the South Tyneside Food Bank. Every single item will really make such a difference to the lives of others in our local community.
Due to current restrictions, unfortunately we will not be able to accept Operation Christmas Child donations this year. We appreciate your previous generous donations to this charity and others, and if you’d like to participate in making up a Christmas Box for another child, please follow the link below.
There are a range of interesting ways in which our pupils can still participate and donate to this very worthy cause.
Thank you!
https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/important-covid-19-updates/
There are some great upcoming Live Forums on Khoot for young people and parents to access during October at http://kooth.com/
We will be celebrating both of these events in school very soon.
Kooth Live Forums: October 2020
Live forums can be found in the discussion boards and go online at 7.30pm on the evening they are planned. They are moderated in real time until 9.00pm.
Wednesday 7th October – Supporting World Mental Health Day
This year looking after our mental health is more important than ever. Join us for an evening of discussion on how we can support and celebrate World Mental Health Day. This will include lots of fun and creative ways of raising awareness despite difficult circumstances. We hope you can join us!
Wednesday 28th October – Let’s Talk About Black History
October is Black History Month, and to honour this occasion… Let’s Talk About Black History! Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and truly appreciate diversity in the UK, as well as learning more about the rich history, culture, struggle and achievements of the black community. In this live forum, we’ll be looking at famous black role models, the history of black communities in the UK, and why it’s so important for us to celebrate Black History Month. Come along and join the chat, everyone is welcome!
Some of our Year 2 pupils visited our allotment to see which fruit and vegetables were growing there. We found broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage, mint, thyme, courgette, blackberries and rosemary. Some of these are mentioned in our Oliver’s Vegetables story book. It helped us to write our descriptions of Grandpa’s garden.
The rain has been good for the plants, trees and animals in the allotment.
We harvested our first crop of spring green cabbages and lettuces and had a taste of the lettuce – some of our staff had it with their lunch. Back in class, we prepared the cabbage and mixed it with other vegetables to make soup. Yum!
It’s a great feeling knowing that we helped to grow our own food.
We are delighted to announce that one of our pupils has become the North East Regional Winner of the Premier League Writing Stars Poetry Competition 2020.
Sophie wrote a fabulous poem on this year’s theme of ambition, setting goals and achieving them. There were 7,000 entries in total, so it’s a fantastic achievement. Well done Sophie!
As you know, pets and other animals are so important to us and to our world. Here are some suggestions to help out our animal friends:
Being kind to animals
Have a kind play time with your pet. Even if it’s just 10 minutes to play, your pet should enjoy it.
Help to tidy up the area your pet sleeps in.
Create a corner for nature
A leaf pile – A leaf pile provides a place for worms, gives shelter to other creatures, and will also supply valuable compost that will naturally fertilise your garden’s soil.
Long grass and nettles – Long grassy areas will attract insects, provide shelter for animals, and give food for predators.
Logs – Logs provide an excellent hiding place for all sorts of amphibians, frogs and ground beetles.
Herbs and flowers – attracts pollinating minibeasts and birds.
A spoonful of water and sugar – a simple mixture of sugar and water will help revive an exhausted bee. Simply mix two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and leave some on a spoon.
Bird feeder – recycle a plastic bottle.
Good afternoon! Father Paul from St Lawrence’s Church has kindly created a virtual assembly to celebrate the Christian Feast of the Ascension.
Kindness is choosing to do something that helps others or yourself, motivated by genuine warm feelings. Kindness, or doing good, often means putting other people’s needs before our own. Another way of being kind is being kind to the world.
Here are some suggestions to be kind to the world.
Plant a tree or a plant.
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids
Take a look at the games and activities on the above website.
https://schools.fairtrade.org.uk/resource/a-fair-story/
Watch the video on the story of Fairtrade and then try out the activities.
Make a list of all the things you can do at home and at school to look after the environment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zdyycdm/resources/1
Check out the videos about the environment and how we can look after it.
This year’s theme is kindness.
As you may not have seen some of your friends or family members for a while, let’s try spreading a little joy and happiness to make them smile. Here are some suggestions:
Being kind to family and friends.
Ask your parent or carer if you can make a telephone call to your friend or family member, with a kind or uplifting message.
Make a Things to Look Forward To With You Jar. Recycle an old jam jar or similar. Decorate it with beads, stickers or pictures if you wish. Every day, write a note to put into the jar. The note will be about something you will try to do when you are able to see your family or friend again. For example, To have a picnic, or To play a game together.
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/wellbeing-craft-things-to-look-forward-to-jar-t-tp-2549511
Make a card or poster for your friend or family member. Take a photograph of it to send on to them, or put it somewhere that they can see it.
Take part in a video quiz with your parents or carer, to connect with friends or family.
Have fun!
