Update - Thank you for such a positive response to the Knit and Natter, family craft club. We would like to welcome you into school for the first session, which will begin on Tuesday 5th November. The session will take place in the KS2 dining hall. If family members could wait on the KS2 Yard, a member of staff will come and collect you at 3.30pm. Your child will remain in school and you will meet them in the hall. If you have any questions, please contact the school office and ask to speak to Mrs Dowling. Many Thanks Dear Parents/Carers We would like to introduce a new after school club for pupils and their family members. The knit and natter club will take place on a Tuesday, after school, 3.30 - 4.30pm in the KS2 dining hall. The club will provide and opportunity for adults and pupils to work alongside each other to craft, knit or crochet together, share skills, and meet new people. You can bring a project you're already working on or start something new. See images below for further information. If you would like to register your interest in the club, please complete the short form by clicking this link https://forms.office.com/e/vceaeCqvpb We think this will be a fantastic opportunities for families to work together on some lovely projects. Refreshments will be provided as well as all of the resources and equipment needed for the project work. If you have any further questions, please contact Mrs Dowling, via the school office.

*UPDATE * Due to the high levels of demand for this club, unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a place to all pupils. We will choose pupils names from a hat. If your child has a place you will receive a text message - please look out for this message. The Drama club will begin on Tuesday 5th November. It will finish at 4.30pm with pick up from the KS2 Yard Any children who were not able to secure a place, will go on a waiting list and we will let you know if a space becomes available. We will hopefully run another Drama club in the summer term and will keep all names on our list so that children who did not get a place on this occasion will be offered places first. If you no longer require a space, please let the office know as soon as possible so we can offer this place to another pupil. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. __________________________________________________________________________________ We are excited to start a new Drama club, after half term. This will run on a Tuesday after school (3.20pm - 4.30pm) for pupils in Year 2 - Year 6. Children will take part in fun activities which will focus on some of the basic techniques of drama and help them to make the best use of an actor's three main tools: the voice, the face and the body. Pupils will take part in drama games, improvisation and performance. Pupils will work towards a performance which will be shared with parents and the wider school. Please click the link below to register interest as numbers are limited. If we are over-subscribed we will need to draw names from a hat and add your child's name to the waiting list if they do not get a place. Pupils will be informed if they have a place by the end of the week. https://forms.office.com/e/3ehVt3G2h6 If you have any further questions about this club, please contact Miss Dowdney via the school office.

We are very pleased to be working with Children North East to host the Ways to Wellbeing programme. Children North East recognise that everyone may struggle with their mental wellbeing at some point in their lives. Young people naturally go through a huge brain development in their adolescence and this can make distinguishing normal changes from a developing mental health diagnosis difficult. The Ways to Wellbeing programme has been developed to support you to better understand children and young people’s emotional development and to explore subjects related to mental health and wellbeing such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and eating disorders. They will offer tools and information for parents to understand and support their children’s emotional health. In these sessions, they will offer resources and guidance to support specific emotional wellbeing concerns. We will also go through a wide range of information for those wishing to understand more about emotional wellbeing and how that relates to their children. Who is Ways to Wellbeing for? Parents and carers of children and young people who have concerns about the mental health and wellbeing. We also welcome adults who have concerns about a young person in their life, such as extended family and community leaders. When and Where does Ways to Wellbeing take place? The programme will be delivered at English Martyrs' Primary school (in the KS1 Hall) 2pm Tuesday 22nd October Please contact Laura Moran for further information 0191 2747463 Laura.Moran@emcps.co.uk

An overview of what your child will be studying in RE this term, key dates and home learning suggestions.

Links Pray as you Go  https://pray-as-you-go.org/ Ways into Silence and Stillness— Ways into Silence and Stillness ( diocesehn.org.uk )   Our Father in different languages —     The Lord’s Prayer in the World's Languages - Catholic Bishops' Conference ( cbcew.org.uk )

Dear Parents and Carers We would be grateful if you could donate any non-perishable food this week to donate to Joe’s place and people in our parish. Any tins, packets of pasta rice etc would be wonderful. Donations can be handed in to the class teachers. We are always so amazed by the generosity of the English Martyrs' community and appreciate your support with this appeal. On Friday 11th October (this Friday) we invite children to come to school dressed in bright clothes as part of the 'Brighten up this Harvest' campaign.

Dear Parent/Carer A reminder for those parents/carers who have expressed an interest in the Y5 trip to Gelsenkirchen, that there will be a short meeting at 3.30pm this afternoon, after school. The meeting will take place in the Y5 classrooms – Y5 pupils are welcome to attend and there will also be provision for additional pupils and siblings to be supervised in another classroom. I strongly advise that parents/carers attend, if possible, but I appreciate that some of you may not be able to make the meeting. I will send out slides with the information shared to those who have expressed an interest. However, I will need to have numbers confirmed by Monday 30th September in order to meet funding deadlines. I will contact those who cannot attend today's meeting, on Monday. This will be to seek confirmation of a place on the trip and to share information regarding overall costs, payment plans and a non-refundable deposit, which will need to be paid. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, this afternoon. Mr Kennedy

An exciting morning for our Year 6 pupils, as they were given their extra responsibilities, for the year and presented with their special badges. During a special celebration of the Word – pupils were invited to come and receive their badges. Our Year 6 pupils will act as ambassadors for the school in many areas; supporting the staff, leadership team, pupils and the wider English Martyrs’ community. In addition, roles were also allocated to our House group captains, chairs of the school council our Head and Deputy boy/girl. We know that they will all be fantastic role models this year and will do their very best in their roles to offer support and guidance to the English Martyrs’ School family. We pray that they develop patience and understanding as they share their gifts with others, wisdom to make good choices and to embrace their roles with confidence and kindness. May our Year 6 pupils shine brightly as leaders and friends in our school community.

School has been contacted by a member of the public in relation to an incident of dangerous driving which took place on Thursday 19 September; following collection of pupils at the end of day at approximately 3.35pm. We were informed that an uber registered vehicle did a U-turn on Netherby Drive, and then proceeded to mount the pavement where children and parents were walking home. Furthermore another vehicle followed the same manoeuvre and did the exact same thing, mounting the pavement on turning the vehicle. We were also particularly saddened to hear that the children who had entered the vehicle were also shouting out of the window in a rude and arrogant manner when the driver was confronted about this. Whilst car parking and how members of the public drive is outside of school's jurisdiction, the safety of our pupils and parents is of paramount importance to us and should feel safe approaching and leaving the school building. I can assure you that the police have been notified of this incident and have details of the car/s involved and any further incidents will be reported to the policy and local authority. There will also be patrol cars in the area at the start and end of day collections. Thank you to those of you who continue to park in a respectful and considerate manner, and we would ask that if you do witness any dangerous driving and/or parking this is reported directly to the police and local authority.

Dear Parents/Carers of Year 5 pupils Thank you for all of the responses so far to the information request, regarding the Germany trip. I am pleased to have had a positive response. Please can I ask that any parents/carers who have not responded, please do so by the end of today – even if you do not wish for your child to take part . This will really help with planning and administration. Here is the link https://forms.office.com/e/uY1M1YkUhA I invite those interested in their children taking part in the trip to a short meeting on Thursday 26th September, at 3.30pm. This will take place in one of the Y5 classrooms. Please wait at the upper KS2 end of the yard and a member of staff will direct you to the classroom. I appreciate many of you will have your children, siblings etc with you. There will be provision made for them to stay with a member of staff in another classroom, or they can come into the meeting as long as they can sit sensibly. The meeting should last no longer than 20-25 minutes. I would strongly encourage attendance. I will provide further information about the trip, including travel information, staffing, accommodation and a draft itinerary. I will also be able to answer any questions, which I am sure you may have. As we are still in the planning stages, some information will still be unknown or unconfirmed. Once we have final numbers we will of course hold further meetings to discuss the finer details, closer to the dates of the trip. If you are unable to make the meeting but would like your child to take part, it is important to let the school office know as I will need accurate numbers submitted no later than Monday, 30th September, in order to meet Government deadlines. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.   Mr Kennedy

Update: Thank you to all parents/carers who have responded so quickly with the information requested. A reminder that I require all responses by Monday 23rd September at the latest. I invite all interested parents / carers to a short meeting, in school on Thursday 26th September at 3.30pm where I will be able to share some further details. In order to meet funding deadlines, I must submit pupil numbers before the 1st October. Visit to Germany, June 2025 Dear Parents/Carers of Year 5 pupils I would lkike to share some exciting news with you... As some of you may know, since 2023, we have been working closely with a primary school in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Last September staff from English Martyrs’ were able to visit ‘Rainbow School’ and work with the teachers and staff, in Gelsenkirchen as part of an ongoing project. We have since worked together on several projects, including; art, writing and PSHE. We have more plans to work with the children in Gelsenkirchen, this year through online, virtual communication. The link is even more special as Newcastle is officially twinned with the city of Gelsenkirchen, and the 75th anniversary of this relationship has recently been celebrated. In recent weeks, we have been able to secure some funding through the Government Turing programme which may enable our Year 5 pupils to visit Rainbow School, with staff from English Martyrs’ as well as explore the City of Gelsenkirchen and experience German culture first hand. The proposed dates would be from 2nd June – 6th June, 2025. Flights are direct from Newcastle Airport to Dusseldorf with options to travel by rail or coach to the City of Gelsenkirchen, direct from the airport. It is hoped that the funding will significantly subsidise the costs of this trip, which I am sure you will agree would be a fantastic opportunity. Currently, I am not able to say how much parental contribution we will require as this depends on a number of factors, still yet unknown. As well as subsidising travel and accommodation costs, there is also some funding available for ‘readiness to travel’, which would include things such as passports, visas and insurance. In addition, should we go ahead with this trip, we could also explore further fundraising opportunities to further subsidise the visit. In order for me to be able to access the funding and plan the details of the trip, I will require some further information from parents/carers. I would ask that you complete the short questionnaire at the bottom of this page, by clicking on the link, even if you do not wish for your child to take part in the potential visit . All answers will remain strictly confidential and will only be used for planning and funding purposes. Once I have gathered the required information, I will arrange a meeting with you all to share our plans going forward to take part in this exciting opportunity. I must stress that at this moment, the trip is not confirmed and will be dependent on costs. I will endeavor to ensure that costs to parents remain as low as possible and look forward to working with you to do this. Kind Regards Mr Kennedy https://forms.office.com/e/uY1M1YkUhA

The vision screeners will be in school on Tuesday, 15th October 2024 and we are inviting your child to receive vision screening.   The UK National Screening Committee recommends vision screening for 4 to 5-year-old children and this forms part of the healthy child programme. We enclose an information leaflet to explain what vision screening is and what happens if your child is found to have reduced vision. You should take time to read this information.   If your child does not pass the screening test, school will be asked to provide the health team with your home address, contact telephone number and GP practice. Everyone will receive an outcome of the school vision result.   If you DO NOT  want your child to have vision screening, or if they already attend the hospital eye department, then please collect a consent form from the school office which must be completed and returned before the date of the screening Otherwise we will assume you are happy for your child to be screened.