Radio 2 have launched this year’s 500 Word competition for children. The competition encourages children aged from 5-13 to write a short story to be entered. This is an amazing opportunity for children to write for fun about any topic. We would like to encourage our Year 5 students to enter this competition.

What are the prizes?

As well attending a spectacular 500 Words Final from Windsor Castle, where superstar celebrities will read the winning stories live on the radio, this year we’re introducing an extra-special prize – Six well-known illustrators: Helen Oxenbury, Tony Ross, Susan Varley, Jarvis, David Roberts, and Briony May Smith – will each be set the task of illustrating one the winning stories.

The winners in each age category will also receive:

Gold Winners – Chris Evans’ height in books, 500 books for their school and an invitation to visit the set of a CBBC Production.

Silver Winners – HRH The Duchess of Cornwall’s height in books.

Bronze Winners – Their own height in books.

To find out more visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/28zgDX98FnDYbN9j1jbk4HS/500-words-2019

The students of Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools have been learning songs to sign and sing in their Music lessons for their Sign2Sing event which took place on Tuesday 5th February 2019. This was performed as a whole school which involved over 530 pupils for each school and took place in the Chantry School hall during the day. They performed Take That’s ‘Greatest Day’ and ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri.

Charlotte Jones, Curriculum Leader of Creative Arts at Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools said, “We think this is a terrific initiative which has taught the children a new and valuable skill as well as raising awareness of deaf issues. The students and staff performed brilliantly. The staff at the Three Rivers Learning Trust also produced a film of some of the signs they had learnt as a surprise for the students at the event.”

SignHealth, which is a national charity, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of deaf people, are behind the event.

Students at Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools raised money for SignHealth on the day by wearing non uniform day. All money raised will go towards helping SignHealth transform the lives of thousands of people living in the UK and Africa.

We thank everyone for their hard work and donations.

Tuesday 5th February – Sign2Sign.  Please remember it is a non-school uniform day for students, but also please don’t forget your donation for Sign Health!!!

Thank you.

Unfortunately, due to the adverse weather conditions, a decision has been made to cancel The Three Rivers Ceilidh on Saturday 2nd February.

Culture Bridge North East filmed at Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools earlier in the year.  Please click on the link below to view the Artsmark film.

Writing your Artsmark Statement of Commitment

The students of Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools have been learning to sign and sing songs ready to join the yearly Sign2Sing event on Tuesday 5th February. This will be done as a whole school and will take place in the Chantry School Hall during the school day.

We think this is a terrific initiative which has taught the children a new and valuable skill as well as raising awareness of Deaf issues.

SignHealth, which is a national charity, is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of deaf people, organise the event. Both schools would welcome a voluntary donation of £1 for wearing non school uniform on Tuesday 5th February. All money raised will go towards helping SignHealth transform the lives of thousands of people living in the UK.

For more information about Sign2Sing and the songs your child is learning, please visit www.sign2sing.org.uk

Thank you for supporting this exciting challenge and helping to “inspire a generation to sign”.

Chantry, Newminster, Dr Thomlinson and The King Edward VI School Ceilidh Bands.

Please click here to read the Morpeth and Ponteland SSP Autumn Newsletter