HALF TERM HOLIDAY

• St John's, Gateshead Fell - Christmas Events

  Fri 30 Nov 2018

  Christmas at St Johns - An invitation for all

  Join us this Christmas at St John’s, Gateshead Fell
  
  Sunday 16th December
  Carols by Candlelight - 6pm
  (followed by mince pies and mulled wine)
  
  Sunday 23rd December
  Scratch Nativity - a part to play for all - 10am
  
  Monday 24th December
  Christingle - 6pm
  
  Tuesday 25th December
  Christmas Day service - 9am

   

  Thank you

• Help our school - Funding Crisis

  Thu 29 Nov 2018

  Dear Parent/ Carer,

  RE: SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS

   

  As Head Teachers, we feel that it is our duty to provide parents with a fair and accurate view of the real state of school funding in our area rather than the misleading, over optimistic and inaccurate picture described by the Government. All state schools in England are funded by a central Government grant that is administered by the Department for Education. This grant has not had an increase on a per pupil basis from 2010 to 2017.

   

  Schools are having to make difficult choices on how to spend their limited funding as their income has not kept pace with the rise in costs since 2010. All schools are working very hard to “make ends meet” but this is becoming increasingly difficult and verging on almost impossible. Bank of England information shows that £100 of goods in 2010 cost £121.90 in 2017 (which is approximately a 20% increase), and schools funding has not kept up with the increase in costs.

   

  If schools funding increased by only 15% compared to 2010 this would provide:-  £135,000 additional funding for an average primary school with 200 pupils 

  £680,000 additional funding for an average secondary school with 1000 pre-16 pupils  £330 additional funding for each nursery child attending 5 mornings a week 

  £2,300,000 for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) including children in special schools, special units or children that need additional help to access education.

   

  As funding has become tighter, schools have had to cut back on: 

  Teaching and non-teaching staff 

  Support for more vulnerable pupils 

  Small group work for children who are not thriving in school 

  Teaching resources (parents being asked to pay for books and materials) 

  Subject choices in secondary schools 

  The range of activities for primary pupils Extra curricula activities provided free or subsidised 

  Repairs to buildings 

  Renewal of equipment

   

  From March 2018 there has been a very small increase in funding for schools. However, this increase has not closed the gap between the funding your school receives and the funding your school needs to provide the number of teachers and resources required to provide the education all our children deserve.

   

  If you think Government should fund schools sufficiently and fairly, please show your support by adding your name to the petition ‘Increase Funding for Schools’, as well as encouraging family and friends to do so, via the link below:

  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/232220

   

  You will be asked to add some minimal information (name, email address, postcode) and then you will be required to confirm your email address by responding to the automated response sent to you.

   

  yours sincerely,

  Mr M. Malik

  Mr S. Haigh

  Mrs M. Richards

  Mrs M Liddle

• Christmas Fayre

  Wed 28 Nov 2018

  The Christmas Fayre is fast approaching and we are

  now working to confirm our stalls. We hope to have a wide variety on offer this year to hopefully get you into the spirit of Christmas!

   

  If you or any friends or family, would like to hold a stall at our Christmas Fayre please get in touch. All that we ask is for a small donation of your profit to be donated to our school.

   

  We require as much help as possible to raise some much needed funds for our school. We are looking for some donations towards the various stalls and we would greatly appreciate your help and generosity.

   

   

  Listed below are some of the items that would be greatly appreciated!

  • Any teddy bears that are in good condition (or even new!) which require a new home

  • Bottles of wine for the ever popular Christmas bag game

  • Nearly new stall – books, games, toys etc. (please check they are in good working order and not missing any parts)

  • Donations for the tombola – chocolate, toiletries, hampers etc.

  • Raffle donations – All donations welcome including those from local businesses.

     

     

    Cake stall

    We would greatly welcome any donations. Please can we ask that any home- made or bought cakes are brought to school no later than 9.00am on the day of the Christmas Fayre (Friday 7^th December) .

     

    If you feel you can help in any way with our Christmas Fayre then please get in touch. Any help is appreciated.

     

    Thank you for your continued support

    Larkspur Primary School

• Early Years Christmas Crafts - Monday 3rd December

  Tue 27 Nov 2018

  27^th November 2018

   

  Dear Parents/Carers

   

  We would like to invite you to a Christmas crafts session with your child on Monday 3rd December at 9.10am until approximately 10.00am. Here you can work with your child to make some festive crafts to take home. The cost of the session will be £2 to pay for the resources used.

   

  We hope to see everyone there, joining in the festivities.

   

  If you have any further questions please speak to a member of staff.

   

   

  Miss Graham

  (Early Years Teacher)

• Christmas Choir

  Tue 27 Nov 2018

  Christmas Carol Singing

  The choir will be singing Christmas carols at the following venues this year.

  •St Johns Church, Low Fell. 4th December at 10am. Parents are welcome to come along. We would also appreciate it if any parents could accompany us on the walk down (leaving school about 9.30am).

  •Phillips Court Residential Home. 5th December.

  •Tesco, Trinity Square. 14th December at 9.45am -11.45am. Please come along and support us! Children to wear Christmas jumpers please.

   

  Please confirm you are happy for your child to attend these events by signing and returning the slip below.

  Thanks, Mrs Hadley

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  I give permission for my child ____________________ to attend the choir events.

   

  Signed:_______________________

  Date: ________________________

   

• Early Years - Magical Christmas Visit

  Wed 21 Nov 2018

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We would like to thank you all for your fantastic fundraising contributions. Our Christmas visit is now pretty much covered with school subsiding the rest of the cost.

   

  All children in Early Years are invited to visit Whitehouse Farm for a Magical Santa Experience. The visit includes meeting Father Christmas in his grotto, festive craft activities and meeting one of Santa’s Elves.

   

  We will travel by coach leaving school at 9.15am and we hope to return to school before 3.15pm.

   

  Please ensure your child is wrapped up in suitable winter clothing. We recommend wellies, a thick waterproof coat, hat, scarf and gloves. If your child may require medication during the trip, such as an inhaler, we ask that you let a member of staff know beforehand. You should ensure that you hand the medication to a member of staff on the day in its packaging with your child’s name clearly labelled on it.

   

  Children in Reception may request a free school packed lunch on the attached form; however children in Nursery must bring a packed lunch in from home. All children need to bring in their own drink.

   

  Please complete and return the reply slip as soon as possible.

   

  We are now required by Health and Safety to inform parents of the risks that your child may face during the Educational Visit. These may include slips, trips and falls.

   

  Yours Sincerely,

   

  Miss Graham

   

   

  REPLY SLIP

   

  I give permission for my child …………………………………………………… to attend the visit to Whitehouse Farm – A Magical Christmas on Friday 30^th November.

   

  (RECEPTION CHILDREN ONLY)My child requires a school packed lunch.

  (Tick your requirement) £ Yes £ No

   

  Signed …………………………………………………….. Parent/Carer ……………………………Date

• Years 4 & 5 - Educational visit to Jarrow Hall

  Wed 14 Nov 2018

  14^th November 2018

   

  Dear Parents,

  EDUCATIONAL VISIT TO JARROW HALL

   

  As part of our Creative Curriculum work, we propose taking the children in Year Four and Year Five to Jarrow Hall in Jarrow on Thursday 22^nd November 2018. Jarrow Hall is the name that Bede’s World is now known as.

   

  The bus will leave at 10.00am and return before the end of the school day.

   

  Sensible clothing and footwear will need to be worn and children should take a waterproof jacket in case of poor weather.

   

  The children will require a packed lunch. Children entitled to free school meals can be supplied with a packed lunch from school by completing the attached reply slip and returning it as soon as possible. All children need to take their own drink.

   

  We are asking parents to support us by making a contribution of £5.00p towards the cost of the visit.

   

  Please complete and return the attached reply slip as soon as possible.

   

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

   

   

  Mrs M R Liddle

  Head Teacher

  REPLY SLIP

   

  I give my permission for my child ................................................... to visit Jarrow Hall on Thursday 22^nd November 2018. I enclose a contribution of £5.00 towards the cost of the visit.

   

   

  Signed .............................................…………….............. Parent/Guardian

• Diary Dates

  Tue 13 Nov 2018

  13th^tNovember 2018

   

  Diary Dates

   

  As the Christmas period is fast approaching please see below important dates for your diary:-

   

  • Friday 30^th November - Early Years visit to Whitehouse Farm

  • Monday 3^rd December at 9.00am– Early Years Christmas Crafts (Parents are invited to attend)

  • Tuesday 4^th December – Choir singing at St Johns Church – Gateshead Fell

  • Wednesday 5^th December – Choir singing at Philips Court Care Home

  • Friday 7^th December at 1.30pm - School Christmas Fayre (All friends and Family welcome)

  • Monday 10^th December at 1.30pm – KS1 Christmas Nativity

  • Tuesday 11^th December at 9.30am – Early Years Nativity

  • Wednesday 12^th December at 1.30pm - KS2 Christmas Nativity

  • Friday 14^th December – School Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumper Day

  • Friday 14^th December at 9.30am – Choir singing at Gateshead Tesco’s (Parents are welcome to watch)

  • Monday 17^th December at 1.00pm – Years 1 & 2 Christmas Party

  • Tuesday 18^th December – Whole school flu vaccinations

  • Tuesday 18^th December at 1.00pm – Years 1- 6 Christmas Pantomime at Gateshead Stadium

  • Wednesday 19^th December at 1.00pm – Years 5 & 6 Christmas Party

  • Thursday 20^th December at 9.00am – Early Years Christmas Party

  • Thursday 20^th December at 1.00pm – Years 3 & 4 Christmas Party

  • Friday 21^st December at 9.30am – Carols by Candlelight (parents are invited to attend)

   

  We hope you can join in with the festivities and look forward to seeing you all. Further information regarding each event will be sent in due course.

   

  Thank you.

• Friendship Friday - 9th November

  Thu 08 Nov 2018

  Reminder - Friendship Friday tomorrow (9th November). Children are invited to attend school in non-uniform to celebrate the importance of friendship.

   

  Thank you.

• Christman Pantomime - Tuesday 18th December

  Fri 02 Nov 2018

  Dear Parent / Carer

   

  Aladdin – Gateshead Stadium

   

   

  In line with usual Christmas tradition, children in Years One to Six are invited to see the Christmas Pantomime “Aladdin” at Gateshead Stadium on Tuesday 18^th December 2018.

   

  We will be travelling by coach leaving school at 1.00pm for a performance starting at 1.30pm. The show is expected to finish at 3.50pm, which means we would arrive back at school at approximately 4.20pm.

   

  The visit is substantially funded by the school so there is a cost of only £7.50p per child.

   

  If you would like your child to be included in this visit, please return the attached reply slip with payment by Friday 23^rd November 2018.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Mrs M Liddle

  Head Teacher

   

   

  Reply Slip

   

  Aladdin – Gateshead Stadium

   

  I would like my child ……………………………………..Class …….. to be included in the visit to see Aladdin on Tuesday 18^th December and enclose £7.50 payment.

   

  Signed………………………………………………………………….Parent / Carer