End of Term Newsletter – Spring 2023-2024

Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

The daffodils are blooming, blossom is everywhere I look and the sunshine is trying its best to get out and give us some much needed vitamin D. We will keep our fingers crossed for a dry and sunny summer term so we can enjoy sports days and the many other opportunities we want to offer the children in the summer term. A term with visits to the waterpark for all of KS2, bikeability for y6 and many other exciting learning opportunities for the children in school. Not forgetting the school fair in July! We’ve a lot to look forward to. I have been so impressed with how our community is helping each other to improve our school. Recently, I have had the pleasure of showing 16 professionals around school. Teachers who are interested in joining our school. All of whom remarked on the amazing calm, purposeful atmosphere we have in school and on how our children are so polite, well-mannered and engaged in their learning. Our CORE values shine through in all we do to be the best that we can be!

In school, we will continue to strive for improvement every single day. You would not expect any less of us than that. In return, we know that you will give your all to your children to enable them to make the most of the wonderful opportunities that our children have. Completing home learning and reading every night are just some of the ways that you can help. But also having excellent attendance and punctuality are a must.

Staff in our school continue to amaze me everyday. I can’t thank them enough for the amazing work they do, day in and day out. They are a super bunch of people who are so dedicated to the Northstead Community to ensure the children enjoy and achieve as much as they can.

Mrs Clubley (Y6 Teacher and Assistant Headteacher) has now commenced her maternity leave.

Mrs Emma Swales (Y5 Teacher) is due to commence her maternity leave on Friday 19th April.

After an amazing career as a teacher, Mrs Gunstone will be retiring at the end of the academic year. She has been an amazing friend, colleague and teacher during the time I have known her and cannot thank her enough for always going above and beyond for the children and staff of Northstead. We wish her well in her future endeavours knowing that she will be enjoying the many holidays she already has planned. We hope she thoroughly enjoys her last term with us.

We wish to say a fond farewell to Mrs Hannah Robertson. Hannah has been an outstanding teacher at Northstead for nearly 14 years and will leave our school on Friday 24^th May to take up a position with Coventry University. We will all miss her greatly but know that she will continue to have an impact on the education of others in her role as a lecturer in primary education.

Mrs Sarah Davis (Teaching Assistant) will be leaving us on 11^th April. We thank Mrs Davis for her great work with us over the past two years and the impact she had on the children in her care.

Mrs Samantha Dawson (Teaching Assistant) will be leaving us on Friday 22nd March to take up a position within the nursery sector. We thank Sam for her adaptability and enthusiasm during this term and know she will continue to have an amazing impact in the early years sector.

We are delighted to let you know that Mrs Viney and Mrs Clark have recently returned to work following illness and Mrs Roberts will also be doing the same after Easter.

We wish to welcome Mr Josh Welburn to the staff team. Mr Welburn will work alongside Mrs Swales for two weeks in class 17 before becoming the substantive teacher. I am sure our community will welcome Mr Welburn and show him just how amazing, how friendly and how supportive we are as a community.

Mr Glenn Turner will also be joining the staff team as a part-time caretaker. Mr Turner will be working hard on improving the environment in school for children and staff. We look forward to him joining the team after Easter.

Miss Hannah Seeley will return from maternity leave on Wednesday 12th June. Miss Seeley will work in class 10 alongside Mrs Gunstone.

Miss Galinski is due to return from maternity leave in July.

Attendance stands at 92.88% for this academic year.

Autumn Term was 92.92%

Spring Term was 92.82%

Summer Term Target is 94.0%

Our Spring Term winners for attendance of over 95% are shown below.

Thanks to Everyone Active for continuing to support our push for excellent school attendance. Prizes this half term are family swim vouchers.

Winners (chosen at random) are:

Madison A (Class 3), Jasper S-R (Class 5), Franklin W (C7), Eliza M (C8), Summer S (C9), Hunter D, (C13), Tommy F (C20).

Please come to the school office to collect your prize.

After Easter, you will receive some raffle tickets from school (but on behalf of our school council). Our school council team are delighted to have received a voucher from Everyone Active for a children’s party. This has a value of around £110.

Every child will receive £5 worth of raffle tickets to return to school should they wish to. Money raised from this will go towards a Buddy Bench project that the school council have been working on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday 19^th of March, the staff turned out to play against the Year 6 netball teams. It was a glorious spring afternoon and spirits were high as we prepared for a ferocious battle between teachers and pupils.

Class 19 were first to take on the staff. Isla and Anna are a strong defensive team, but even they couldn’t stop the goal hungry trio of Mrs Pearson, Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Linsdell. Two early goals put the staff ahead, leaving Rhian , Evie and Beth with a difficult job of passing Mrs Crow and Northstead’s own defensive giant, Mr Armstrong. Despite Molly stepping in to give a fresh burst of energy at half time, the staff scored two more goals. In the dying moments of a well-fought match, Beth managed to pass the defence and score. The final score was 4:1 to the staff.

Then came class 20, eager to get revenge on the staff for beating their friends. Brodie and Annalise held a firm line of defence, keeping the ball away from Mrs Doolin and Mrs Mitchell. Charis, Freyja and Tyler kept the ball flying up to the D, but they struggled to score: Mrs Marsden just wouldn’t move out the way! In the end both teams managed to pass the strong defensive lines and score twice, with a goal each from Tyler and Freyja evening up the score board.

Class 21 were next to take on the staff, with Ava and Izzy having the difficult job of defending the goal from Mr Armstrong and Mrs Lindsell’s attacks. Maya and Leah were quick to pass the ball onto Cooper, who was desperate to score. Ava was so committed to preventing Mr Armstrong from getting the ball that she took a spectacular tumble, bruising her hip bone. Lexi was quick to sub in for her and with a final push, Class 21 managed to score, with the final score being 3:1 to the staff.

It was decided that the only way to beat the staff was to outnumber them, so the final few minutes saw all 7 of the staff team take on 17 students! It was a very loud and very chaotic few minutes. A riotous cheer broke out when the students scored and finally defeated the staff, and, as we’d already agreed that the winner takes all, the students clearly beat the staff!  Well-done Year 6 -You were brilliant! ( And well-done staff – you were pretty good too!)

West End Stars

A big congratulations to Charlie P and Persey S for making their debut in London’s West End last weekend! After weeks of rehearsals and preparations as part of The Pauline Quirk Academy, they performed the show ‘Across the Line’ on His Majesty’s Stage. What an experience for our budding actors!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates for the Summer Term 

Monday 8th April – All children return to school – Special Guest (Paul Sturgess) in school for the day.

Tuesday 9th April – Y6 Children to visit Eden Camp

Thursday 11th April – Class 1/2/3 and 17 Parent Consultation Meetings (1:10-6pm)

Monday 15th April – Class 1 Tea and Toast

Tuesday 16th April – Class 2 Tea and Toast

Wednesday 17th April – Class 3 Tea and Toast

Wednesday 17th April – Department for Education PEIA Board visiting school

Thursday 25th April – Y6 Photos / Sports photos

13th to 17th May – SATS assessment week for year 6 children

Tuesday 14th May – SEND Review Meeting Day

Wednesday 22nd May – Class 16 Trip to Stepney Hill Farm

Thursday 23rd May – Class 17 Trip to Stepney Hill Farm

Friday 24th May – Class 18 Trip to Stepney Hill Farm

Half Term begins at the end of the day on Friday 24th May – Children return to school on Monday 3rd June

Tuesday 4th June AM – EYFS Sports Day

Tuesday 4th June PM – Y1/2 Sports Day

Wednesday 5th June PM – Y3/4 Sports Day

Thursday 6th June PM – Y5/6 Sports Day

Week Commencing 10th June – Phonics Screening Check for pupils in Y1.

Tuesday 11th June – Y3 visit to North Yorkshire Water Park

Wednesday 12th June – Y4 Visit to North Yorkshire Water Park

Thursday 13th June – Y5 Visit to North Yorkshire Water Park

Friday 14th June – Y6 Visit to North Yorkshire Water Park

Thursday 4th July and Friday 5th July – Transition Days in School and for Y6 children to Secondary schools.

Thursday 11th July – FONS and School Summer Fair (3-5pm)

Friday 12th July – Reports to Parents/Carers (Inc any statutory assessment data e.g. SATS)

Thursday 18th July – Y6 Leavers Disco 5-6:30pm

Friday 19th July – Y6 Leavers Assembly (Time TBC)

Friday 19th July – End of the academic year 2023-2024