1 December 2017
Dear Parents
School Admissions
The deadline for applications for Reception 2018 is 15th January 2018. Applications can be made online at or phone 0191 4332757 School Admissions.
School Lunch on Fair Day 8th December
As the school fair starts at 1pm we need school lunch to be a little different. Instead of Fishy Friday it will be Picnic in a Bag with a choice of ham, tuna or cheese sandwich, sausage or vegetarian rolls, crisps, biscuit or cake and a drink. If you don’t want your child to stay for school lunch that’s fine. We need to know on Monday what type of sandwich they would like if they are staying.The class teachers will ask the children.
Christmas Lunch Thursday 14th December
This year’s Christmas lunch is Thursday 14th December. Please ensure you have informed the office by Monday if your child would like a school meal and usually has a packed lunch.
Christmas Jumper Day AT FRONT STREET IS FRIDAY 22ND
I know the official day is Friday 15th December but we will have our Jumper Day on the last day of term. Please send in a donation on the day for Save the Children Fund.
Proud of Front Street
It’s always lovely to hear compliments from the public about our children. A member of the public congratulated 5H at the swimming baths this week for their great behaviour.
Whilst at Durham Cathedral a member of the public congratulated Year4 for showing respect and good manners in the cathedral.
Our choir have also done us proud at the Angels of the North and Lighting up Whickham.Well Done everyone.
Angels of the North
Well done to our choir and staff (Miss Walker, Miss Donkin and Miss Scott) who attended the Angels of the North concert on Monday evening. The children were an absolute delight and area credit toFront Street School. Well done!I was proud of all! Article 29.
Letter from Minister of State
We have received a letter congratulating us on our Year 1 phonics screening test which puts us in the top 6% of the country. Please see the letter below and celebrate this great achievement.
RRSA
We would like to take selection boxes to donate to children in hospital over Christmas. If you would like to donate a selection box to this cause please send them into the main office by Monday 11th December. Thank you.Article 24 and 27
Behaviour Protocol for Parents on School Premises
As a parent I know how frustrated you can become with issues within school, other children, other parents etc. Please, please can I ask that you come into school and see me or Mr Kelly rather than shout at each other or my staff.
Gateshead Council have issued guidelines to ban parents from school premises if they are aggressive, behave inappropriately etc. I know it can be exasperating but please follow Gateshead’s protocol. Thank you. (please see Warning or Banning Persons from School Premises policy from Gateshead Council below).School Car Park
Our car park is not big enough for parents to use at 8:45ish and 3:15ish. With 460 children it’s unfair to allow one parent to park and not another. Please can I ask parents, grandparents, carers etc. do not use our school car park to drop off or pick up. Thank you for your cooperation.
After School Sport Clubs
Creative KidsDance Club - This will finish at Christmas, so Wednesday 6thDecember will be the last session for this club.
Morning Breakfast Club Gymnastics Club - This will finish at Christmas, so Thursday 7thDecember will be the last session for this club.
Rugby Club - A reminder that there is NO rugby club next Friday 8th DECEMBERas the Christmas Fayre will be in the hall, it will start again in the New Year.
IMPORTANT:CurrentPlaces in Clubs - All parents/carers of children in clubs currently will be messaged over the next week to check if you want to keep your space in the club for the next term in January.You must pay on AGORA by Friday 8th December to secure your place.Spaces will then be offered to children on the waiting list.It will be £27 for the term (excluding tennis).
ALL CLUBS WILL START WEEK 2, and will last for 9 weeks upto Easter.
Girls Hockey will start the first day backMonday 8thJanuary.
Reception
Our igloo is almost complete! We need approximately another 100 bottles.
Thank you very much for all your support and milk bottle donations
Year One
Spellings - We won't be sending any spellings home until the New Year. We ask that you practise the Reception Key words and Year One AutumnTerm words as the children will be assessed on these words over the next couple of weeks. You can find these words in the pack you received at the start of the year.
Year 3
Just to remind you that 3P will be going to Nissan on Monday 4thand 3ON on Wednesday 6thDecember. Theywill require a packed lunch.
Please could you collect an empty pop bottle (300ml)with 4 bottle tops which match, for their science lessons next week?
Year 4
On Wednesday 6th December, Year 4 will be attending a fitness festival at Whickham comp in the afternoon. This is covered by your local walk consent letters. We will send home PE bags on Tuesday 5thso the children can come in their PE kits on Wednesday 6th Any parents who are available to helpwalk up with us to the Comp would be greatly appreciated as we can't attend without adequate supervision.
Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to help on our visit to Durham Cathedral. After a very damp start, we all enjoyed finding out about Northern Saints and the significance of the cathedral. Other visitors also commented on the children's good behaviour. Well done Year 4, you made Front Street proud.
Many of the children are making really good progress with their reading and are now on Free Readers rather than reading scheme books. It is really important that they record in their planner weekly, the title of their book and the pages they are reading. This will be checked weekly. We have discussed with the children how this is their responsibility not yours! (but they may just need a little reminder) Thank you for your support.
There will be no home spellings next week as the children will be assessed on all the statutory words they have had this term aswell as revising phonic patterns covered.
Year 5
Swimmer of the week – this week Emmie, Aleeza, Noel and Melissawere awarded swimmer of the week during the school swimming lessons. This is awarded by the swimming teachers at Dunston Leisure Centre. They receive 3 dojo points for this recognition. Well done. Article 28 – You have the right to a good quality education. Article 29 – Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities.
Year 6
Please ensure your second payment of £55 for Kingswood is paid if you have not already done so.
Reminders
Please can I ask that all payments for Pantodome - £5 is paid on Agora by the end of next weekat the latestas we have the invoices to pay. If you are having problems please contact the office. Thank you.
Please can you return your child’s Times Tables Rockstarsconsent forms asap.
Please do not leave voice messages on the text message service. Our landline number is 01914881941.
December dates below with Plays & parties.
Film Club – Tuesday 5th December the film will finish 5.10pm.
Final session for Choir is Thursday 14thDecember, it will continue week beginning 15th January.
Child Protection
Please check our website for our updated Child Protection Policy.
I hope you found the digital parent magazine helpful that was sent home last week.
Just to remind you this is a Safeguarding School and we have a duty to pass on any concerns to Children’s Services. We use a system in school called CPOMS to record information where it is stored for future reference. For more information see
Our staff are also trained in Team Teach techniques in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Yours sincerely
HJ Gladstone – Headteacher
December Dates
Tuesday 5thYear 1 & 2 Caedmon Hall
Friday 8thClubs End for Year
Friday 8thChristmas Fair
Wednesday 13th10:30am & 2:30pmNursery Nativity
Thursday 14th9AM Year 1 Christmas Production
Christmas Lunch
PM Nursery Party
Friday 15th9AMYear 2 Christmas Production
Reception to Northern Stage
Monday 18th9AMYear 3/4 Christmas Production
AM Nursery Party
PM Year 1/2 Christmas Party
Tuesday 19th9AMYear 5/6 Christmas Production
PMYear 3/4 Christmas Party
PM Nursery Northern Stage
Wednesday 20th9AMReception Christmas Production
PMYear 5/6 Christmas Party
Thursday 21stKS2 Pantodome
AM Nursery to Northern Stage
PM Reception Christmas Party
Friday 22ndChurch Carol Service for pupils only
Christmas jumper day
School Closes for Christmas Holidays
Friends of Front Street – 1st December 2017
Christmas Fair – Next Friday 8thDecember !!! – Thank you for all the donations so far!! We are still taking items and urgently require unwanted gift bags – please hand in to the school office asap. We welcome all donations for the tombola and suggestions for donations via your child’s class as follows;
Nursery and Reception – chocolate and sweets
Year 1 – items suitable for children, e.g. games, puzzle’s, small toys, soft toys
Year 2 – stationary items, e.g. note books, pens, pencils, crayons, stickers
Year 3 – toiletries, e.g. soaps, bubble baths, shower gel, hand cream
Year 4 – books, e.g. preloved reading books, fact books, annuals and note books
Year 5 - bottles, e.g. pop, juice, bubble bath, wine
Year 6 – sweets and chocolate
There will be lots of fabulous Christmas theme stalls, games and activities of our children to get involved with, have fun and help the school raise funds. Make sure they have pocket money with them for the day ?
From 9 am we will have hair pleating so please make sure girls hair is washed, brushed and they have a bobble or 2 – priced £1
We will also have temporary tattoos going on in the morning priced 30p and face painting at 50p. Children can do all 3!
Christmas Film Night – Tuesday 12th December -
Tickets are “all -inclusive” to include hot dog, cookie, drinks and the film, children are therefore not required to bring money to the film. All children are invited to dress up in dressing gowns, onesies or PJs but it is not essential. Cost of the tickets: £5 each (no further money needed).
Times of the event: Years 1 to 6 only - 3.20pm to 5.15 pm (they will come straight to the event from class) Please Note: this activity is not suitable for children in Nursery and Reception
To request tickets please complete the tear-off slip below and return it to school together with CORRECT PAYMENT IN AN ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO “FOFS – FILM NIGHT”, (either cash or cheque payable to Friends of Front Street) by Friday 8th December. Tickets will be sent home with your child and NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Unfortunately, tickets are unavailable after the 8th December.
------Film Night Ticket Application
Number of tickets required ______
Child’s Name ______Class ______
Please indicate if vegetarian hot dog option is required Yes/No **
Child’s Name ______Class ______
Please indicate if vegetarian hot dog option is required Yes/No**
Child’s Name ______Class ______
Please indicate if vegetarian hot dog option is required Yes/No **
**if no response given we will provide regular hot-dogs only
HELPER SUPPORT - WE NEED AT LEAST 12 HELPERS FOR THE FILM NIGHT - WITHOUT HELPERS EVENTS CANNOT BE ARRANGED OR GO AHEAD -. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS AND CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU CAN HELP.
Name:______Contact number:______
Email address: ______