Book Fair

9th March 2017L Dickinson

Thanks to your tremendous support and generosity, our annual Book Fair was another record breaking success, exceeding last year’s total and raising a magnificent £1,362 in commission!

This will be spent on books to stimulate English lessons and promote a love of reading throughout all key stages.

Everyone is involved in making our Fairs a success: our customers (of course!) but also our student Fair Makers. A big thank you goes to three groups of students:

Iona Lane, Anna Jakubovics and Ellen Davison who, between them, gave up every lunchtime in February to staple together more than 500 letters and Fair fliers publicising our Fair; Eve Haines, Charlotte Rae, Iona Lane, Ellen Davison and Will Cottiss who provided lots of support at break times during Fair Week and Sophie Bell and Anna Jakubovics who helped to tidy up on the last day. We couldn’t have done this without you!

Masterclass Poetry Workshop

7th March 2017L Dickinson

Members of Newminster’s ‘Writer’s Club’ took part in a fabulous Masterclass Poetry Workshop on Monday 6th March. The writing session took place in the Northern Poetry Library, at The Chantry in Morpeth. Our budding writers worked with the poet, John Challis, who provided a themed writing morning, based on the concept of ‘Place.’

Mr Challis began with examples of work by Seamus Heaney, Philip Larkin and Katrina Porteous and led the pupils through a series of fascinating writing challenges; including ‘a braided poem.’ Students were encouraged to explore different writing techniques and consider poetry as a ‘way of talking to a past time and recreating things we have lost.’ The morning concluded with pupils selecting a book from the poetry collection, picking out words or lines which appealed to them and creating a poetry ‘collage.’

Grateful thanks to the staff of the ‘Northern Poetry Library’ and John Challis for providing a wonderfully creative experience for our students.

Trout Ticklers Workshops

6th March 2017Mrs K Shutler

trout ticklersThank you to those students and parents who attended the Trout Ticklers Workshop and learnt the skill of fly tying last week.

There will be further workshops on Tuesday 7th, Tuesday 14th and Tuesday 21st March from 6.30pm – 8.00pm with Sid, Lance, Barry and Bob. There is a some charge of £3 per session to cover the letting of the room and resources. Please report to Chantry Main Entrance at 6.30pm.

We are hoping to arrange some fishing events on Saturday 8th April and Saturday 6th May – watch this space for further details.

Ski Trip

3rd March 2017Mrs K Shutler

Follow the updates from Alpe d’Huez here:


Cashless catering issues

27th February 2017Mrs K Shutler

SchoolLunchPlease accept our apologies, but we are continuing to have problems with the Cashless Catering system balances that are showing on accounts. We are trying to resolve this issue as soon as possible but please be reassured that no child will be refused a lunch.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Book Fair 2017

24th February 2017Mrs K Shutler

Just a reminder that our annual Book Fair is on now and will remain in school all week!

For every £1 we spend, 60p comes back to school for spending directly on our children to help promote a lifelong love of reading!

Take a look at the books on sale by visi
ting the Fair after school on Tuesday or Thursday until 4:15pm and check out the new specialist teenage case for our oldest students. There is something for everyone!

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Can you help us with British Science Week?

16th February 2017Mrs K Shutler

BSW_Logo_2017Are there any parents or friends of the school would be willing to give up valuable time to work with our students in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).

On 17 March 2017 we will  be staging a range of events to raise the profile of STEM within the school community.

You could give a careers talk or simply talk about what your job entails or perhaps provide us with a link to an organisation. Thank-you in anticipation!

Please contact Mrs Razzaqi for further information.

The North East Teen Book Award

16th February 2017L Dickinson

IMG_0100 (1)‘Getting and keeping, young people reading’.

On Monday evening, 18 students from Chantry, Newminster and King Edwards attended the North East Teen Book Award ceremony at The Centre for Life in Newcastle. Since October, they’ve been sharing the reading of 20 contenders for the shortlist and helping to whittle this down to just six finalists.

The Teen Book Award is aimed at Year 10 students and challenges Key Stage 3 in terms of the numbers of books to be read and their themes and complexity. It’s greatly to the credit of our younger students that they’re so keen to have a go!

Not only do they have to read the books, they have to meet regularly to discuss them and then summarise their opinions for everyone – including the authors – to
read on the NETBA website: http://northeastteenagebookaward.wordpress.com

Before the winner is announced, each author is introduced by a group of students to talk about their books and answers questions. This year, students from Chantry and Newminster introduced debut author, Alwyn Hamilton and her novel, Rebel of the Sands.

Click ‘continue reading’ underneath the gallery for our parent’s thoughts.

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Enterprise day 2017

13th February 2017L Dickinson

IMG_4866Enterprise day took place on Friday 10th February and this year the theme was ‘The Wedding’. The event saw the entire school involved and working with students from all year groups in teams. The full day challenge was delivered by an expert team 26 Business Ambassadors from the HMRC, DWP, Barclays, Northumberland County Council as well as Carole Richards from Northumberland Education Business Partnership, who organised this event.

The aim of the day was for students to be part of the Leisure Sector and set up a hotel which would offer a wedding package to the Business Ambassador. The students had the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the Business Ambassadors in the afternoon session after being given a master class in presentation and communication skills.

Click continue reading for pictures from the day, a message from the assistant headteacher and student quotes.

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