Welcome Reception class 2023-24! It has been lovely to welcome our new reception pupils and their families, into our English Martyrs' community. We have been so impressed with the way in which the children settled so quickly and are embracing school life. We look forward to working with the pupils and families in the coming years - it is a privilege to be shaping the lives of our children. We aim for all families to be involved in their children's learning journey and welcome any feedback or comments from parents. If we can help or support in any way please do not hesitate to contact us. Here are some highlights from our first few weeks in school.

It was lovely to share our celebration of the word, with all of our KS1 and KS2 pupils, this morning. We discussed the theme of being a bright light and a shining example to others. This year we will explore the theme of 'Being enough' and understanding who we really are and knowing our worth. Nobody is perfect but we all shine in our own special ways. We also spent time reflecting on our Golden Rule of treating others as we would like to be treated. We will revisit this throughout the year.

Dear Parent / Carer This week, your child will be participating in the multiplication tables check. The purpose of the check is to determine whether your child can fluently recall their times tables up to 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It is a statutory assessment that all Year 4 pupils will undertake this year. Children use an iPad to answer 25 times tables questions. This is something they are well-used to doing as they have practiced throughout the year. The results will help teachers to identify any gaps in tables knowledge and address these. There is no ‘pass mark’ for the check but we will share the results with parents when they are available. The checks are not something that your child should worry about and we hope that they see this as part of their normal tables practise. You can find out more information about the times tables checks here.

Create a Poppy To help us commemorate D-Day, in school,  we are inviting children to make a poppy to contribute to a whole school art installation. Children and families are free to choose how they make their poppies and can be made from any material. There are some examples below. Children can bring in any poppies they have made, on return from the half-term break. Many Thanks

Next week sees the start of the statutory tests (SAT's) set by the Government for our Year 6 pupils. The Year 6 tests begin on Monday 13th May and last until Thursday 16th May. The children will be tested in Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar, Reading and Maths. Our staff and children have worked very hard to prepare for these tests and we would like to ask our Year 6 parents to please ensure that your child is well rested, preferably with early nights, and are punctual for school each day. During SAT’s week Year 6 are invited into school from 8.15am each morning for breakfast. Children can enter school from the bottom gate on Netherby Drive. From this year, there is no requirements for how schools use the optional KS1 tests. The tests have been designed for pupils in Year 2 who have completed the relevant KS1 programme of study, are moving on to KS2 and will reach the age of 7 by the end of the academic year 2023 to 2024. At English Martyrs’ we will administer these tests during our whole school assessment week straight after half term; replacing the usual test the pupils undertake termly. However, these SAT’s only give us a snapshot of each child’s ability on that day, they do not recognise, nor celebrate, what makes each of our children special and unique. We know that our children will do their very best and no matter what the test outcomes are, we at English Martyrs school all know our children’s individual talents and gifts and rejoice in their awesomeness! Thank you to our parents and carers for supporting their children during this time. Prayer for our children during SAT's God our Father, as our pupils begin this time of tests, they may feel some anxiety and frustration. Help them to stay focused. Give them a clear mind to perform to the best of their ability. Grant them silence so that they may process the knowledge they have obtained. Let them sleep peacefully at night, so that they are refreshed and renewed. Be with them, Lord, during this time. Undoubtedly, there will be moments when they want to quit and give up. Please sustain them, Lord. Calm their nerves and anxiety, Guide them during times of trouble and self-doubt. Help them to realize that they have done my best possible work. Thank you for the many talents and gifts you have given them and for the opportunity of education. Help them to never doubt my own awesomeness. Amen.

Dear Parents/Carers Those of you who have been part of English Martyrs’ family for some time, may remember our ‘Family Breakfasts’ which were held in school on a Friday morning. The family breakfast mornings were very popular among our school community and we enjoyed serving delicious hot breakfasts to children, parents, carers, grandparents, and other family members as well as some of our staff! Unfortunately, due to COVID, we had to stop the breakfast events back in 2020. However, feedback from our parent survey, earlier in the year, showed that there would be an interest in re-introducing our breakfast sessions. We would therefore like to re-launch our breakfast mornings, hosting a family breakfast event on Friday 24th May (last day of half term). This would take place in the school dining hall and would run from 8am until around 8.45am (last orders taken at 8.30am). Gates to the lower Netherby Drive (KS2) entrance will be opened just before 8am. There will be no access via the school office. Children must have an adult with them to join the family breakfast Please note – if your child currently attends our 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. Breakfast Sandwiches: Bacon, Sausage, Egg (Vegetarian options available Scrambled egg on toast Beans on toast Cereals Toast / Bagels (With butter/Jam) Tea/Coffee (adults) Juice/Water/Milk Selection of Fruit In order to gauge numbers for ordering purposes, please could you complete the expression of interest form by clicking the link below. Following this event we would hope to be able to run more frequent family breakfasts over the school year. If you have any further questions, please contact the school office. Regards, Senior Leadership Team Please register interest HERE

Year 1 Visit to Alnwick Gardens | Friday 21st June 2024 Dear Parent/Carer All pupils in Year 1 will be going on an educational visit to Alnwick Gardens and Lilidorei on Friday 21st June 2024 and will be travelling by private coach. This trip will take place during normal school hours and a packed lunch will be provided by the school kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for the children to spend time exploring the outdoors in a safe and exciting environment. The children will be able to use their imagination in a fantasy world, listening to stories and taking part in a workshop. This is a whole day visit and the children will be outdoors at all times. Your child should come to school dressed in their school jumper/hoodie and appropriate clothes and footwear for outdoor activities. They will also need to bring a water bottle, coat and sunhat.  Please ensure they have had sunscreen applied if required before they come into school. This trip works out at £18 per pupil which includes transport to and from the venue, and has been heavily subsidised by school.  With this in mind we are kindly asking parents/carers for a voluntary donation of £5 towards the trip. All payments must be made online and you will receive a text from the school office once payments can be made.  If you do not have an online account setup please contact the school office for further information by emailing office@emcps.co.uk or by telephoning 0191 274 7463. If you have any queries or questions in relation to any of the above please do not hesitate to contact school. Kind regards Y1 Staff & SLT

Jesmond Church Parish Holiday Club Please see leaflets above in relation to a Church Holiday Club for the half term holidays. All enquires should be made direct to the Church.

Dear Parents, Have you ordered your school photos yet? A polite reminder that the closing date for free delivery back to school is 12th May 2024.  Order through the Tempest website using your unique link or visit www.tempest-orders.co.uk If you need any assistance in ordering your photos, feel free to contact Tempest on 01736 751555 (option 3). Many thanks. SMS TEXT For free delivery to school on your child’s photographs order online by 12th May 2024. Order via the Tempest website using your unique link or visit www.tempest-orders.co.uk. Call 01736 751555 for assistance.

PE Kit - Reminder June 2024 As we begin our new Summer term, I would like to remind all parents and carers of the expectation for school PE kits. Pupils are expected to wear the following PE kit on their allocated PE day White t-shirt/Light blue t-shirt  (with or without the school logo); Royal blue sweatshirt or Royal blue PE hoody  (with or without the school logo); Royal blue or black shorts, dark navy/black tracksuit trousers or dark navy blue, black sports leggings (without any "sports" branding or corporate logo); Trainers for outdoors; PLEASE NOTE No sportswear with any "sports" branding or corporate logo, including football strip, are to be worn as part of our school PE Uniform. *Reception pupils will begin whole class PE lessons from Summer term following September admission, please do not purchase PE kits until nearer the time PE Summer Half Term June Week Commencing 03/06/2024 Please see below your child's PE days for June half term RF - Friday RP - Friday 1DF - Tuesday 1D - Tuesday 2S - Thursday 2W - Tuesday 3T - Monday & Friday 3C - Monday & Friday 4SM - Thursday 4D - Thursday 5MC - Tuesday & Thursday 5M - Tuesday & Thursday 6BM - Monday & Friday (Swimming) PM 6W - Monday & Friday (Swimming) PM Children must come to school in their PE kits on their PE day Y6 will be taking swimming lesson's every Friday for this half term starting from Friday 14th June. Swimming is part of the school curriculum and all children are expected to take part and can only opt out with a note from the doctors. Please send your child to school every Friday in their PE clothes with a swimming kit in a bag. Swimming kit   A suitably sized towel, Girls – swimming costume (no bikinis) *Boys – swimming shorts (not below the knee)

GRASSROOTS Summer Sports After School Club VENUE: English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School DAY/TIME:  Every Thursday 15:20 – 16:20 Starting Thursday 18th April 2024 for 12 weeks (cost £33.00) COURSE DETAILS: The course will involve various sports such as basketball/cricket/rounders/hockey/ crashmat rounders/ tug o’ war competitions and in warmer weather may include water games such as drip drip splash and waterfights!! You will need: 1- to be collected from the bottom gates on Netherby Drive at 4.20pm 2- a PE kit, please ensure your child has footwear suitable for outdoor sessions. The after school club is open to children from Year 1 through to Year 6 To secure your place, please head over to our website; www.grassrootssports.co.uk and go to the ‘School Clubs’ section. First come, first served basis. The course will be listed and you can follow the online instructions to book and pay. Any queries call Rachel on 07846539221. PLEASE NOTE - THE SCHOOL OFFICE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE BOOKINGS AND ALL ENQUIRIES AND PAYMENT SHOULD GO DIRECTLY THROUGH  GRASS ROOTS

Themed Lunch Days: Following on from suggestions from some of our parents, we would like to invite children who normally have a packed lunch in school to join our special themed lunch days. Please see information below:- Red Nose Day                                    Friday, 15th March 2024 Easter Themed Lunch                        Thursday, 28th March 2024 Feast of English Martyrs' day              Friday, 3rd May 2024 D Day (80th Anniversary)                    Thursday, 6th June 2024 Beach Day Themed Lunch                 Friday, 5th July 2024 Please note: All children in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) will automatically receive a school meal on these days. Parents with children in Key Stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) will be sent a link to make a booking should your child wish to take part in these special events. The first link will include Red Nose Day and our Easter Themed Lunch; links to other dates will follow after the Easter holidays. Please note, as the kitchen needs to order the food in advance, we are unable to accept any late bookings once the form has been closed to parents. Payments: If your child is eligible for free school meals you will not need to make a payment for any meals. If you pay for school meals the cost should be paid online and is £2.20 per day, £11.00 per week. All meals must be paid for in advance, and any outstanding balances should be cleared before any new bookings can be made. If you do not have an online account please email the school office at office@emcps.co.uk who will provide further information on how to create your online account. Kind regards Miss Elliott (Headteacher)