Dear Parents Thank you to those of you who responded to the Bikeability questionnaire. Of those who completed the form, we have around 20 pupils who are eligible to take part. Apologies for the short notice, however we have only just had confirmation of the session times, despite having tried to contact the trainers several times last week. Please could your child bring their bike to school tomorrow (Tuesday 14th January) Bikes should be parked up by the KS2 Hall, against the railings (raised area) Please ensure not to block any of the door leading into the hall. Your child will only be able to take part if you have responded to the previous form and they are able to ride a bike without stabilizers.   I have included a checklist for their bikes below - pupils should come so school in their PE kits (Joggers not shorts) You and your child will need to ensure that they are adequately prepared for their training. You should ensure that: ▪ Saddle and handlebars are adjusted to the correct height. ▪ Brakes are functioning. ▪ Tyres are pumped up with no punctures. It is also important that your child is dressed appropriately for the training: ▪ It is a requirement that your child wears a properly fitted, undamaged cycle helmet throughout the scheme. ▪ Think about the weather – if it’s raining you should ensure that your child has waterproof clothing with them. ▪ Ensure your child is wearing shoes with a closed heel and toe (trainers).

Every year in England, school children in Reception and Year 6 have their height and weight checked at school as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The School Health team will be attending school on Tuesday, 11th February 2025 to carry out these checks. Please refer to the attached information for further details and how to opt out.

Year 4 – Level 1 Bikeability Training (14th / 15th January)   Dear Parent/Carer I am pleased to share details of the above bikeability course and to ask you to complete the Microsoft Form to confirm if you wish your child to take part. We must provide numbers to Newcastle Council this week, so I ask that you complete the form no later than Wednesday 8th January. Bikeability National Standard cycle training, gives participants practical skills and understanding of safer cycling practices. Children in Year 4 are taught to ride with confidence and develop cycle skills within the school grounds. Pupils will be allocated a session (half day) on either 14th or 15th January once we have confirmed numbers. In order for pupils to participate, they must be able to ride their bike, without stabilizers and will need to bring their bike and helmet to school on their allocated day. Level 1 Bikeability takes place in a traffic free environment, usually the school playground. Instructors are provided by Newcastle City Council and are highly qualified. By completing Level 1, your child will be able to demonstrate the skills and understanding to be able to make a trip and undertake activities safely in a motor traffic free environment. To participate in Level 1 training, your child must be able to ride their bike without stabilisers, with basic control and balance whilst pedalling. They should be capable of changing direction and stopping. It is important to stress that this training is not suitable for children who cannot yet ride a bike. The bike must be in working order including inflated tyres, working brakes, chain and tight handle bars. How to check a cycle ( youtube.com )   Bikeability Level 1 - Maintain your cycle, Glide and Control your bike

Good afternoon Please find slides from tonight's information meeting. Kind Regards Mr Kennedy

We would like to draw your attention to a free SEND ice-skating session at Life Science Centre to schools. It will take place on Sunday 5th January, 10:30-11:30, and includes a free hot meal and drink. There are 100 tickets available for families in Newcastle who have a child with SEND. Families need to complete the following form if they’d like to attend: https://forms.office.com/e/Yyas1Zp72Z . Families can request up to 5 tickets per family so that carers/families can attend.

Dear Parent/Carer   As your child has attended Choir sessions, they have been invited to sing at Eldon Square, in Newcastle City Centre, on Wednesday 4th December.    The Choir will begin their rendition of some popular Charismas songs and traditional Carols, at around 1pm until around 2pm.   We will use our school minibuses to transport pupils to and from Eldon Square. They will return to school before the end of the usual school day.   Please ensure that your child has a warm coat. Christmas hats, hairbands and tinsel are optional but are very welcome!   If you are able to - you would be most welcome to come and see us sing. We will be based at the Community Quarter in upper Grey's Quarter (opposite Chatime)     Please contact the school office if you require any further information.   Many Thanks

Dear Parents/Carers We are excited to announce that the wonderful traveling theatre company, M&M Theatrical Productions are coming to English Martyrs' school, on Monday 9th December to perform their amazing pantomime, Aladdin These fun, colourful and dynamic productions actively encourage audience participation, expertly combining the tradition of theatre pantomime with up to date and age appropriate humour, music and themes. Wonderful costumes, superb scenery and magical special effects all combine to deliver an electric atmosphere and guarantee audiences a truly imaginative, enthralling journey into the enchanting world that is Pantomime. We are sure that our pupils will love this unique experience of having the magic of theatre brought into our very own school. In order to support school in being able to provide such memorable and unique experiences for our pupils, we are suggesting a £3 voluntary contribution towards the cost of this event.  Parents/carers will be able to make this contribution though iPayimpact accounts. Thank you for your continued support.

Dear Parents/Carers of Year 5 and 6 Pupils, We are excited to share the news that we have arranged for our Year 5 and 6 pupils to visit the Northern Stage Theatre, on Tuesday 10th December to watch a performance of Charles Dickens, 'A Christmas Carol'. Ding, dong, ding, dong, the bells are ringing because Scrooge is coming to Newcastle – and he’s meaner and greedier than ever. Bah Humbug! Is it too late for Scrooge to change his miserly ways? Can a magical midnight visit to Christmases past, present and future help him to discover the true meaning of Christmas? Charles Dickens’ classic story of ghosts, greed and goodwill will fill our stage with festive magic, music and merriment. Northern Stage’s A Christmas Carol is the story you know and love (complete with all the trimmings). In order to support school in being able to provide such memorable and unique experiences for our pupils, we are suggesting a £5 voluntary contribution towards the cost of the transport and ticket cost for this event. Parents/carers will be able to make this contribution though iPayimpact accounts. Thank you for your continued support.

With digital content ever more accessible to our pupils, school will sending regular online safety advice to parents to help them understand digital risks, guide children in responsible internet use, and address issues like cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and inappropriate content. We hope that this will ensure students are protected, foster open communication, and empower parents to support their child's online well-being. As well as sending out a link to our website's blog page, we will also post the information on our school Facebook site. This week, the focus is screen time addiction: I t can be challenging for parents and carers to know whether children are spending too much time on their digital devices. It’s even more of a conundrum to decide whether a child is just deeply engaged with the internet and social media, or genuinely addicted to it. As technology becomes more pervasive in all of our lives, many children and young people in particular are beginning to experience tech-related dependencies. As trusted adults, do we have the right knowledge to identify and support children and young people who might be developing an addiction to their devices? In this guide, you'll find tips on avoiding potential risks such as damage to health and wellbeing, app addiction and a lack of sleep.