Dear Parents/Carers, We are pleased to confirm that we will be hosting our popular ‘family breakfast’ this term on Friday 21st February The family breakfast mornings are very popular among our school community and we enjoy serving delicious hot breakfasts to children, parents, carers, grandparents, and other family members as well as some of our staff! The family breakfast event is open to all pupils and their families. No need to book, please just arrive within the times below. This will take place in the school dining hall and will run from 7.50am until around 8.45am (last orders taken at 8.30am) . Gates to the lower Netherby Drive (KS2) entrance will be opened at 7.50am. There will be no access via the school office. We take cash payment only and small change is much appreciated Children must have an adult with them to join the family breakfast, however pupils in Y6 who walk to school on their own may attend without an adult. Please note – if your child currently attends our own school-based breakfast provision, they can attend as normal on this day. A sample menu is provided below. We aim to keep costs as low as possible, ensuring our breakfasts are not only delicious but also affordable too. ·         Cooked Breakfasts ·         Breakfast Sandwiches: Bacon, Sausage, Egg (Vegetarian options available) ·         Scrambled egg on toast ·         Beans on toast ·         Cheese Toasties ·         Cereals ·         Toast / Bagels (With butter/Jam) ·         Tea/Coffee (adults) ·         Juice/Water/Milk ·         Selection of Fruit   All funds raised at family breakfast events, are used to fund school council projects, improving the school grounds and resources for our pupils.   The KS2 hall will again feature our £1 uniform shop where you can purchase items of pre-loved school uniform for just £1. We have a wide selection of uniform, including jumpers, cardigans, hoodies, trousers, skirts and PE kit. Each item of uniform is only £1 but please bring change along. We will also be accepting donations of any good quality uniform that you would like to pass on. If you have any further questions, please contact the school office. Regards, Senior Leadership Team

Dear Parents and Carers, To mark the end of Children’s Mental Health Awareness week, pupils are invited to come to school, tomorrow (Friday 7th February) in clothes that reflect their individuality and personal style. While we encourage creativity, we kindly ask that children dress in a way that is respectful and appropriate for a school setting. We believe that giving children the opportunity to express themselves through clothing is a fun and meaningful way to highlight the importance of mental health and well-being. We also remind you to ensure that any attire is comfortable for school activities and in line with the school’s expectations for dress code in terms of modesty and safety. We ask that no football strips are worn. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing how the children express themselves!

Children's Mental Health week takes place between 3rd and 9th February.   The theme for 2025 is  Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.  Through this theme we are aiming to equip and empower our children to become more self-aware and explore what it means to them. By getting to know who they are, we hope this will help our children to build resilience, grow and develop.   Children will take part in assemblies and lessons through the week focusing on this theme.   On Friday 7th February we would like to invite the children to come to school dressed in their own clothes, with the theme of ‘showing their unique personalities’ (No football tops please).    You can find out more about this year’s campaign here - About Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week

Dear Parents/Carers We have some exciting developments, taking place on our KS2 Yard as we continue to improve the outdoor environment for our pupils. This work will involve upgrading the artificial grass, around the outdoor gym area as well as improving drainage systems, and safety for all. Due to the location of the works, there will be restricted access to the KS1 yard, during pick up times. In order to avoid congestion and a 'bottle neck' at the bottom Netherby Drive gate, we have made changes to pick up arrangements until further notice. Please read carefully All KS2 (Y3, 4, 5, 6) pupils with siblings in KS1 (Y1, 2) will be picked up from the youngest siblings class. (Normal times for Nursery, Reception and KS1 pick up) Pupils in Year 3 and 4 without siblings can be picked up from 3.15pm from their usual pick up points. Pupils in Y5 and Y6 with no siblings pick up as normal. Pupils in Y6 who walk home - as normal We hope that this will cause minimum disruption and that the work in this part of the school will be complete before the end of the week. We thank you for your patience and understanding in ensuring we leave school, at the end of the day, as safely as possible. Please ensure pupils and young children do not stand or climb on the safety fencing.

Dear Parent Carer, This year, English Martyrs’ School are encouraging our pupils take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. Below, you will find a sheet which can be used to record the birds you have been able to spot. Pupils will take home a printed copy of this sheet, this week.   Simply count the birds for one hour in your garden balcony or local park, between 25th and 26th January (This weekend!).   Record the totals on your sheet and submit your data to the RSPB     How to participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch:   Choose an hour between January 24–26, 2025. Watch the birds in your garden, balcony, or local park. Record the birds that land . Don’t forget to send the information to the RSPB, even if you saw nothing (link below)   https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch       Kind Regards   English Martyrs’ School.

Among children – and especially teenagers – TikTok boasts approximately 220 million users, providing a near-endless reel of short clips intended to entertain, educate and more. However, along with its enormous userbase comes a significant number of possible risks: Ofcom have dubbed it the most likely app on which young users would potentially suffer harm. With the platform reaching astronomical levels of success among the younger generation, it’s vitally important for parents and educators to understand the risks it poses. This free guide lets you know about the most prominent potential dangers associated with TikTok and offers expert advice on how to safeguard youngsters who are navigating the site.

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.

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.