KS3 On-site Covid 19 Testing Arrangements – Wednesday 5th January 2022

7th December 2021Sarah Hall

Following the government’s announcement last week that all students of Secondary school age (Years 7 and 8 in Newminster) should be tested on-site before returning to school after the Christmas holidays, please see below arrangements for testing at our school. Testing will help reduce transmission after a period of social mixing over the school holidays. 

Please click here to read the letter sent to parents

Children in Need 2021 – ‘ART ATTACK’ style Pudsey and Blush

19th November 2021Sarah Hall

This year we attempted to do a particularly complex challenge to raise money for Children in Need. We made a Pudsey and Blush face on a huge scale from coloured items pupils brought into school. This was in the style of the TV show ‘Art Attack’.

We asked each pupil (560 in school)to bring into school a certain coloured everyday item from home such as clothing, teddy, pillow case, bowl, ball, etc (around 20cm square in size) today. So the pupils could creare bear faces and take a picture of the Art from the air using a drone.

Year 5 Art Bytes Project

15th November 2021Sarah Hall

We are so excited to announce that we are participating in a brilliant new venture at Newminster Middle School. We would like to champion creativity and are inviting all Year 5 students to create pieces of art to be part of an exhibition in a national virtual online gallery run by Art Bytes. Further details of their work can be found here.

Being able to see their own art like this builds confidence and nurtures talent. The Arts are a fabulous way for young people to express their thoughts and feelings and have a positive impact on mental health.

Thirty pieces of artwork from pupils in year 5 will be chosen by staff to be exhibited in the online gallery where there will be an online vote for the public’s favourite piece in April 2022. It may be a painting, sculpture, collage, print, photograph or drawing. The

winning piece of art for the school will be displayed online and the winning pupils will be given the opportunity to attend a celebration event at The Baltic Art Gallery in Gateshead in June 2022.

There is no theme or limit to the number of art pieces each pupil can submit to school. All we ask is that the artwork is given to either Mrs Woolley or Ms Jones by Friday 7th January 2022. Some artwork which has been done through the curriculum in school may be submitted with guidance from art teachers also.

Please encourage your child to take part in this amazing project! Everyone is creative – the challenge is to develop this.

 

PSHE Programme

15th November 2021Sarah Hall

As part of our PSHE programme this half term, students will be focusing on health and wellbeing. During form time, students will be looking at different types of self-care and reflecting on what works for them. Activities include finding things you have in common with others, stretching and breathing exercises, learning something new and carrying out acts of kindness. We’re encouraging students to continue to try different activities at home – why not try some as a family?

For more tips and information about looking after your child’s mental health go to www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/supporting-others/childrens-mental-health/

As a parent or carer, looking after your own wellbeing is also important and Every Mind Matters enables you to get tailored wellbeing support. Use the Mind Plan to see what works for you: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/your-mind-plan-quiz

Children in Need 2021

5th November 2021Sarah Hall
This year we are attempting to do a particularly complex challenge to raise money for
Children in Need. We would like to make a Pudsey and Blush face on a huge scale
from coloured items pupils bring into school. This will be in the style of the TV show
‘Art Attack’.
We are asking each pupil to bring in a certain colour of everyday item from home such
as clothing, teddy, pillow case, bowl (preferably plastic!), ball, etc (around 20cm
square in size) on Friday 19th November 2021. Each item will need to be named and
the colour specified for the class your child is in.
Year 5 – Yellow items
Year 6 – Brown items
Year 7
7G and 7B – White items
7S and 7U – Black items
Year 8
8C – Pink items
8B – Blue items
8W – Green items
8Q – Red items
The pupils will be given a certain area on Friday 19th November 2021 to lay their
items out and we are going to attempt to make an image of Blush and Pudsey from
these items and take an aerial art photo for the world to see! We will also have a non-uniform day with a Pudsey theme to raise money for the
charity with an optional £1 donation.
Pupils will also be encouraged, through their music lessons, to write a song about
Children in Need. Here is the link to the Google slides.

Teatime Tunes – MPN

5th November 2021Sarah Hall

Dear Parent/Carer

Music Partnership North have 2 exciting opportunities for your child/ren to join County music groups (see attachments):

TEATIME TUNES – Ceilidh Band workshops (online and in person) 

– for students with 1 yrs experience up to grade 4 level – starts next Monday 8th November (6 -6:45pm):

We’re very excited to be running Teatime Tunes again this year and we’d love you to be part of it: 

  •  It’s FREE 
  •  it’s mostly online Monday’s 6 – 6.45pm (8th Nov, 22nd Nov & 6th Dec) 
  •  with an additional ‘in person’ session on Saturday 11th December. 
  • aimed at beginners/intermediate instrumentalists (1 yr of playing up to Grade 4 level)
  • short series of 4 sessions running November/December only
  • open to under 18’s

To apply to join the group: 

  1. Please complete the attached parental consent form with a handwritten signature. Sorry, we cannot accept a digital signature. Please then scan and return to [email protected] (if no scanner is available then please photo the completed form and attach it to an email to me)  If you’re an existing member of an MPN ensemble and have already completed a consent form, you don’t need to complete another. Simply reply to this email saying that your child would like to be part of the Teatime Tunes. If your child took part in Teatime Tunes last year, then a new consent form is required for this academic year please
  2. Please confirm your child’s instrument and grade (if any, but no grade required). 

 To take part in all of the sessions you will need to apply by this Friday 5th November 2021 

 We will then be in touch, to send you a Microsoft Teams invitation, so that you can join the rehearsals. Please remember that a parent or carer must be present in the room throughout each session.  

 ALSO we’re welcoming new students to join our other ‘in person’ MPN Ensembles:

There is a range of groups available, see attached flyer:

  • Northumbrian Ranters – Traditional Music Ensemble – Fiddle – approx. grade 3 or equivalent, Flute – grade 5 or equivalent. (for all other instruments please email me)
  • Northumberland Youth Ensemble – open to any instrument, play a range of popular and classical pieces 
  • The Hoolies – Youth Choir – fun and friendly group
  • Bedlington Community and Youth Brass Band – no grade required
  • MPN Ensembles run for the whole of the academic year 
  • Full details of all groups, rehearsal dates and how to join can be found by clicking on MPN Ensemble web page

Students really benefit from playing with others, so please talk to your child about joining one or more of these groups. It’s a fun way to learn new music and meet new friends!

Teatime Tunes Autumn Poster

Teatime Tunes Consent Form

MPN Ensembles