7 September 2018

Dear Parents Welcome back to a brand new school year everyone. I hope you have all had a lovely summer break and have enjoyed lots of ice creams and sunshine! Looking out of the window today I’m not quite sure where the summer has gone.It’s been lovely to see the children come back in their smart uniforms and big smiles. (please put names in uniform this weekend). They’ve all settled really quickly in their new classes and the work they have produced in their new books looks like they have been in for weeks. Well done everyone!

Here we go………Dairy Dates

Please see attached below pages for up and coming events. Please keep these safe for future reference.

Congratulations!Over the summer Miss Donkin was married. Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Wilkinson.

WelcomeWelcome to all our new reception children who have all enjoyed their first week. Remember it is tea and tissues in the school hall on Monday morning after you have dropped your child off (or tea and celebrations depending how you are feeling)!Welcome to Amira, Lucy, Evan, Theo, Nahla, Massimo, Miller, Laylah, Lilyann, Martha, James, Anderson, Mia, Neve, Loralai, Raya, Yusra, Sam, Dylan, Lira, Emily, Alfie, Nancy, Amina, Louis, Ronnie, Georgia, Lola, Maisey, Kian, Annabel, Felicity, Izabel, Gracie, Nancy, Austin, Lola, Matthew, Joshua, Kayli, Penelope, James, Sophie, George, Esther, Jacob, Jayden, Holly, Charlie, Heidi, Heidi, Amber, Ava, Evan, Lily, Amelia, Isla, Roman, Jessica, Cameron!We also welcome Mrs McCormack who will be working in 2M each Friday and welcome Mr Weelands who is our School Direct student and will be working across school.

Inhalers and EpipensJust to remind you that if your child has asthma or allergies we need an up to date inhaler and epipen. You will need to complete the school asthma card or an Allergy Action Plan.

Health/MedicationSCHOOL CANNOT ADMINISTER ANY MEDICATION UNLESS IT IS PRESCRIBED WITH THE DISPENSING LABEL ATTACHED AND THIS IS ONLY FOR MEDCIATION TO BE ADMINISTERED 4 TIMES A DAY.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN SICK OR HAS AN EPISODE OF DIARROHEA PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES STATE YOUR CHILD MUST STAY AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR 48 HOURS.

EarringsJust to remind you that earrings are not part of school uniform and cannot be worn for school.

Attendance/Holidays (please see attached flyer)90% attendance over a 5 year period equates to a whole year off school.5 minutes late each morning and afternoon you miss one hour of school every week.Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by the parents), as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required.Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason like illness, medical/dental appointments which unavoidably fall in school time, emergencies or other unavoidable cause.Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no “leave" has been given. This type of absence can lead to the Authority using sanctions and/or legal proceedings. This includes:

parents/ carers keeping children off school unnecessarily truancy before or during the school day absences which have never been properly explained children who arrive at school too late to get a mark shopping, looking after other children or birthdays day trips and holidays in term time which have not been agreed.

Whilst any child may be off school because they are ill, sometimes they can be reluctant to attend school. Any problems with regular attendance are best sorted out between the school, the parents and the child. If a parent thinks their child is reluctant to attend school then we will work with that family to understand the root problem. We can use outside agencies to help with this such as the School Nurse.Holidays - The Department of Education has from the 1st September 2013 announced that parents have no entitlement to take their child out of school for a holiday during term time.Any application for leave must only be in exceptional circumstances by completing an application for leave of absence form, which can be obtained from the school office.The Head Teacher will decide if it warrants exceptional circumstance. Parents will be fined by means of Penalty Notices or Prosecutions in the Magistrates Courts by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school.

School MealsPlease ensure all payment are up to date by Monday. If your child’s account reamains arrears you will be contacted to supply a packed (or any of the contacts we have).Please be reminded - It is the parent/guardians responsibility (not the schools or the local authority) to ensure that they provide money for a school meal in advance, providing a packed lunch on the day or taking the child home/off the school premises to be fed if payment hasn’t been made.If a child arrives at school with no lunch or lunch money and before the child is given any food the school should contact the parents to –

inform them that the child has no lunch or lunch money inform them that they are responsible for feeding their child

and that a failure to provide either lunch or lunch money may result in a referral to children’s services as a neglect issue

ask the parents if it is their intention to collect the child and take them home/off the premises to provide a lunch for them

inform them that the school can provide the child with lunch, at a cost, and inform them of the cost

ask the parents to consent to the school providing the child with food; and

inform them that they must pay for the cost of the food within seven days. 

I hope this clarifies the legal stance of not paying school meals. I appreciate your co-operation in keeping payments up to date and making payments on a Monday each week so that we do not need to go down the route of a legal attempt to recover the money.

Free School MealsIf your child does not have Free School Meals, but may be eligible because of your family's income level, please contact the school office (in confidence) to register them. Even if you do not wish them to have the meals, this would still mean that the school could claim the Pupil Premium funding available to help your child. All matters regarding the use of Pupil Premium funds are treated with discretion and in confidence

School Car ParkPlease can I ask that you do not use our school car park at home time and first thing in the morning. We have over 450 children in school and if every parent used our car park we would have a huge problem. Please let grandparents, aunties childminders and anyone else who collects your child not to park in our car park. Thank you for your co-operation.

HometimeThis week everybody is excited about picking up their children after school. The yard has been extremely busy and chaotic but this does quieten down and improve as the weeks go by. Please can I ask Year 1 and year 2 parents to stay behind the line to help the teachers and the children see who is collecting them. Some Year 3 and 4 parents decide to stay on the gravel path and wave down to the door when they see their child. This is absolutely fine.

Homework and PlannersPlanners will be sent home soon.Maths homework will be a new online system and details will be sent home soon.English homework is the CPG books as normal.Other homework is reading book, spellings, Times Table Rock stars (see your Year Group paragraph below for further information.

Parent Information SessionOn Tuesday 18th September at 9am Year 1 – Year 6 parents are invited into class to find out about Year Group expectations etc. everybody is welcome. This will give you the opportunity to meet your child’s new teacher and ask any questions. If you are unable to attend do not worry information will be sent home.

MusicMusic tuition starts next week, Guitar will now be on Mondays.Any new children starting music lessons this term will start week commencing 17 September.

After School ClubsIf your child wants to continue with any of their clubs, payment MUST BE PAID BEFORE MONDAY OR THEIR PLACE WILL BE ALLOCATED TO SOMEONE ELSE.All clubs restart next week for children who want to continue and have paid fees. Spaces will be allocated next week to children on the waiting list to staRt week beginning 17th September.NEW - NETBALL CLUB - Will start on Monday 17th September for 10 weeks after school 3:20pm - 4:20pm.  It is open to boys and girls in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. We would like a good mixture as if we enter a team for future events, we have to have a mix. The total cost is £33.00 for the term. Please pay on AGORA, spaces will be given on a first come first served basis.Art and Craft Club – Year 1 & 2 - We have a fabulous new club starting on a Monday after school. The children can enjoy making and creating some wonderful things that they can take home. From cut and stick to paint and possibly even crochet, the sessions sound like a lot of fun. The club will start on Monday 17th

September 3:20 – 4:20pm and run for 4 weeks. If it is popular it will run after the half term as well. The cost is £12.00 please pay on AGORA, spaces will be given on a first come first served basis.

ChoirOur current Year 5 & 6 children have the opportunity to join our school choir which takes place on a Thursday 3:20-4:20pm. We will be preparing for this year’s Angels of the North concert which will be taking place on Monday 26th November 2018.

ReceptionWelcome to all of our new Reception children, they have all settled in very well!Children are in full time from Monday 10th September 8:40am - 3:15pm. Next week Reception will be learning how to use the Mud kitchen outside. Please make sure your child has a pair of wellies in school with their name on.Your child will have a yellow ‘My World Book’ in their book bag tonight. Please write in any exciting experiences they have each weekend. This book is sent

home on a Friday and must be returned to school every MondayYour child will also have their home-school diary and a reading book (wordless) please share his book with your child and write a comment in your child’s diary. The Reading book and home-school dairy must be in your child’s school bag everyday.

Year 1The children have had a fantastic first week and have settled into their classes really quickly.*Reading books will be changed every Monday but should be in school every day.  Every time a child has read and had their reading record signed by an adult they will receive a Dojo point (Class reward system)*The child chosen from each class for Golden Book on a Friday can bring in their favourite book from home the following Friday to be shared with the class.*PE days are Monday - outside and Wednesday - inside.We have already had a mix up with jumpers with no name in in Mrs Sutherland’s class! We have a spare 5/6 jumper in the class instead of a 7/8 one. Please check your child’s jumper is the correct size and ensure EVERYTHING is named.

Year 2 All of the children have settled in really well this week and all look so smart in their uniforms. Here is some information that may help you.PE kits - please ensure your child's PE kit is in school. The children need an indoor and outdoor PE kit. Year 2 have PE on Tuesday and Thursday but the kit stays in school except when it goes home I holidays to be washed.Home Reading books - books will be changed on a Wednesday and if children have read both of their books they will be rewarded with Dojo points. The children need to have their books in school every day.Homework - this will be given out on a Thursday to be returned on a Monday, it will alternate between English and Maths each week.Spellings - they will be given out on a Friday and tested the following Friday.Water Bottles - all children should have a water bottle in school - this will be sent home every night to be cleaned and filled with fresh water.

Year 3Reminder - Children are no longer eligible for Free School meals. The cost is £2.40 per Day - £12.00 per week. Please ensure this is paid in advance for the week on Agora.P.E Lessons – Tuesday (indoors) Thursday (outdoors)Spellings – Spellings will be given out on a Friday and tested the following Friday. Our spellings will consist of a spelling pattern or rule and also statutory Year 3 key words. We will be constantly checking to see if the children can apply the spelling rules in their independent writing.English CGP Homework - will be given out on a Friday and returned by Wednesday. In the front of the books is a homework record page showing which tasks have been set.If your child has any problems completing his/her homework please send in a note to inform their teacher.Maths Rockets - The children are accustomed to learning their tables and achieving the year group ‘Rockets’. In Year 3 we focus on 3x, 4x and 8x tables to

begin with, these will be regularly rehearsed through TTR (Times Table Rock Stars) but any additional practice at home would be beneficial.

Year 4P.E Lessons – Wednesday & FridayHomework, Spellings and Mental MathsReading – Children will be expected to change their reading books every week.Spellings – Spellings will be given out on a Friday and tested the following Friday. Our spellings will consist of a spelling pattern or rule and also statutory Year 4 key words. English CGP Homework will be given out on a Friday and returned by Tuesday. In the front of the books is a homework record page showing which tasks have been set.If your child has any problems completing his/her homework please send in a note to inform their teacher.Maths Rockets In Year 4 we focus on 7x, 8x and 9x tables to begin with, these will be regularly rehearsed through TTR (Times Table Rock Stars) but any additional practice at home would be beneficial. The children are expected to know all of their times tables by the end of the year.During the year we may well require volunteers to support us with trips and activities in the classroom. If you can make a regular slot to listen to readers we would also welcome this additional support. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Year 4 Team.

Year 5 Year 5 look very grown up and have come back raring to go!Swimming - TuesdaySpellings - Given out and tested on FridayHomework - Given out Thursday, in on MondayPE - Friday 

Year 6Year 6 are now our Young Leaders and have been given Buddy jobs, monitor jobs etc. No doubt they will be telling you all about it when they come home tonightBooster Club - starts Wednesday 12th September 3:20 – 4:20pm.Reading Plus - Continues daily from Monday 10th September at 8:30am.Spellings - Will be given out usually on a Friday and tested the following Friday. PE - Monday afternoon.Homework: handed out on a Friday and due in the following Thursday.**If children are unsure about homework, we ask them to please let us know. The Year 6 teachers will offer a homework club on Thursday lunchtime. Kingswood – Please ensure you have paid your deposit for Kingswood. Whickham School Open evening for parents and students Thursday 20th September from 5pm. Prospectus and information will come home on Monday about secondary school applications.

FOFS (Friends of Front Street)Welcome to the new parents that have joined our school. Here is some information about FOFS. If you are on Facebook you can request to join our group for updates.

We are a small group that plan and lead activities in the school that raise money for resources for our amazing children. Without volunteers to help us do this we can't operate. Please see details below and think about how you help.FOFS meeting - the next meeting will be on Wednesday 12th September at 7pm at the Bridle Path. Please come along, even if you cannot help at an event you could help with ideas and preparation. We are really struggling with the amount of volunteers that we have and we welcome anyone to come along. Tuck Shop - there will be a FOFS tuck shop on 19th October - if you are able to help at this please see the office staff or respond through our Facebook page.Spooky Disco - 1st November - we need lots of volunteers for this to go ahead so please see the school office or respond on our Facebook page if you can help.PLEASE COME ALONG TO OUR NEXT MEETING. WE HOPE TO SEE LOTS OF NEW FACES THERE.

Just to remind you this is a Safeguarding School and we have a duty to pass on any concerns to Children’s Services.

Our staff are also trained in Team Teach techniques in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

This is always a busy term with lots going on. If you have any concerns or queries do not hesitate to contact me. I try to be on the yard every morning and evening, feel free to catch me then. I look forward to working with you all.

Yours sincerelyHJ GladstoneHeadteacher

Diary DatesSEPTEMBERMonday 10th - 9am Tea & Tissues Reception parentsTuesday 18th - 9am Information Session for Parents Years 1-6WB Monday 24th Book Fair week Tuesday 25th – 9am Reception Information meetingWednesday 26th - 8:45am Nursery Information Meeting OCTOBERFriday 12th Harvest Festival for children onlyMonday 15th and Wednesday 17th Parents EveningsFriday 19th BREAK UP FOR HALF TERMMonday 29th RETURN TO SCHOOLNOVEMBERThursday 1st School DiscoMonday 12th Flu VaccinationsMonday 26th Angels of the North Concert at the Sage (Choir)Tuesday 27th Year 4 Durham CathedralWednesday 28th M & M Productions Dick Whittington in schoolThursday 29th & Friday 30th Year 5 visit to Hindu TempleDECEMBERMonday 3rd 3P NissanTuesday 4th 3On NissanFriday 7th PM Christmas FairTuesday 11th FOFS Film NightWednesday 12th Nursery Production Thursday 13th Christmas LunchFriday 14th - 9am Year 1 Christmas ProductionMonday 17th - 9am Year 3/4 Production PM Year 1/2 partyTuesday 18th - 9am Year 5/6 ProductionPM Year 3/4 PartyWednesday 19th - 9am Reception Production Nursery Parties PM Year 5/6 partyThursday 20th- 9am Year 2 ProductionPM Reception partyFriday 21st Christmas Jumper Day

FRIDAY 21ST SCHOOL CLOSES FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYSWE RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY 7TH JANUARY.

Family Sharing AssembliesParents are warmly welcomed into school for a sharing workshop with your child at 9am. Dates are as follows:Friday 21st September Year 6Friday 28th September Year 3

Friday 5th October Year 4Friday 19th October ReceptionFriday 2nd November Year 1Friday 9th November Year 2Friday 23rd November Year 5

Maths Rockets

One of the aims of the new National Curriculum for mathematics is to develop children’s fluency in the basics of mathematics. At Front Street, we encourage this through our ‘Maths Rockets’. The awards are split into ‘Platinum’, ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Bronze’. Each child has the opportunity to earn these badges by learning the following: Yea

rBronze Silver Gold Platinum

Nurs

Count to 20 in 1s Count a set of 10 objects accurately with 1:1 correspondence.

Count out objects from a larger group and recognise numerals to 10.

Count back from 13.

Rec Count in 1s to 20 and back.

Say one more and one less than a number to 20.

Recognise and order numbers from 0-20 and double numbers from 1 to 10.

To half numbers upto 20.To share out a given quantity e.g. beads shared between people.

1 Count fluently forwards in multiples of 2 and 10 to 20 and 100.

Count fluently forwards in multiples of 2, 5 and 10 from zero to 20, 50 and 100.Recognise odd and even numbers to 10.

Count fluently forwards and back in multiples of 2, 5 and 10 starting from different multiples.Recognise odd and even numbers to 20.

Given a number and identify one more and one less than a number.Counting forwards and backwards and across 100 from any given number.

2 Fluently recite the 2 and 10 times tables .Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for these tables.Recognise odd and even numbers.Recall doubles of all numbers to 10 and corresponding halves.

Fluently recite 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables.Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for these tables.Count in multiples of 3 to 36.

Fluently recite the 3 multiplication table to twelfth multiple.Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for the 2, 3, 5 and 10 tables.

 Say the time to the nearest 5 minutesGive an amount of money in a said number of coins, e.g. 50p in 3 coinsSay 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of an amount of money

3 Fluently recite the 3 and 4 multiplication tables. Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for these tables.Count in multiples of 8.

Fluently recite 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for these tables.Count forwards from zero in steps of 50 and 100 to 1000 and back again.

Fluently recite the 6 multiplication table. Answer multiplication and division facts out of order for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 tables.Use division facts to find ½, ¼ or 1/3 of given numbers within tables range.Use multiplication facts in different ways to create the same number e.g. 12 = ? x ? = ? x ?

Count up and down in a give fraction.Answer missing number questions using inverse.Answer division facts for x6 tableFind 2/3 and 3/4 of numbers within tables range.Find 1/8 of numbers within tables range

4 Fluently recite the 7 and 9 multiplication tables and answer multiplication and division facts out of order.

Fluently recite any requested table to 12 x 12 and answer multiplication and division facts out of order.Count forward from zero in steps of 25 to given number and back again.

Use known facts and place value to calculate quickly e.g. 20 x 4, 150 ÷3, 80 x 6.Use division facts to find quickly a unit fraction e.g. ½, 1/5, 1/8 of a given number.Identify factor pairs of any number up to 50.

Answer questions about times tables from 1 -12 within a specified time limit.

5 Fluently recite any given table up to 12 x 12 and answer multiplication and division facts out of order.Count on or back from any multiple of 25, 50 or 100 in steps of 25, 50 or 100.

Find factor pairs of any number in the tables to 12 x 12.Quickly identify factors that two given number have in common.Recall prime numbers to 19 and square numbers to 12x12.

Use known facts and place value to calculate quickly e.g. 0.6 x 7, 2.4 ÷6.Use division and multiplication to find non unit fractions of numbers within tables range e.g. ¾ of 20, 5/7 of 35, 6/9 of 81

To know cube numbers to 12x12x12.To find missing values presented in a range of different ways, including missing number calculations, area, perimeter and angle work.To know fraction, decimal and percentage equivalents and use this to solve problems.

6 Fluently recite any given table to 12 x 12 and answer multiplication and division facts out of order.

Identify prime numbers up to 50.

Use known facts and place value to calculate mentally e.g. 200 x 3, 40 x 6, 360 ÷ 6, 7.2 ÷ 9, 0.6 x 8.

Mentally divide 3 digit number by a single digit using tables facts to partition the number e.g. 372 ÷6 = (360 + 12) ÷6, 434 ÷ 7 = (420 + 14) ÷ 7.Identify prime numbers up to 100 e.g. which numbers between 80 and 90 are prime?Find e.g. 1/3 of ∆= 21, 1/5 of ∆= 2.5

Use multiplication facts and range of strategies to quickly multiply 3 numbers including cubes of number to 10 e.g.6 x 6 x 6, 5 x 17 x 2, 7 x 4 x 5, 6 x 8 x 4, 3 x 8 x 5.Express any number up to 100 as the product of its prime factors.Find e.g. 18 is 2/3 of ?, 35 is 5/7 of ?http://www.mathsisfun.com/prime-factorization.html is one site where children can explore this for themselves if required.

Link knowledge of times tables, place value, squares and cubes to look at order of operations.

Please take time to look through your child’s year group expectations for their rocket awards. We will be working on these skills at school, but would love it if you could also work together on these at home. As your child has moved into a new year group, the challenge will be greater. Please support us in helping your child in becoming fluent in their recall of maths skills.

Remember: it is a National Curriculum requirement that children know all of their times tables by the end of Year 4.

You can practice these at any time at home. Apps and online maths games would be really useful in developing fluency. There are thousands of free apps available. We would

also like to stress how valuable it is for children to be fluent and confident in their times tables as soon as possible.

When children have demonstrated that they can reach a ‘Maths Rocket’ then they will be awarded a badge for that level. Awards will be given in school and displayed in classrooms.

Thank you for your support.

Watergate Wildlife Watch

A new club at Watergate Forest Park, aimed at children aged between 6 and 13, will be held on the last Saturday of the month, starting on

September 29th from 10.30am – 12.30pm.

Membership is free, and younger siblings are welcome to come along too. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The club will be based at Watergate Café (behind Emmanuel College), and will be run by Durham Wildlife Trust, supported by the Café and Friends of

Watergate Forest Park.

To register your interest and for enquiries, please send a message on the Friends of Watergate Forest Park face book page, or call in at the Café.

Our first session will be Terrific TreesSat 29th September 10.30 – 12.30  

Come along and get busy in the woodlands. Take part in a great nut hunt and learn who has nibbled which nuts. Discover how to identify the different trees in the forest and create some terrific tree artwork. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 For all sessions, meet at the Watergate Café at 10.30am. There is a car park nearby on the A692, just past the college; or the X31, 11 and 97 buses from Gateshead Interchange stop at the top of Lobley Hill near the shops.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCEFront Street Primary School is currently working very closely with the Local Authority to promote the importance of attending school regularly. We have introduced the Traffic Light System to monitor attendance and identify students who may need supportThere is a direct link between attendance and attainment. Every day your child is absent impacts on their education and opportunities.

Your child’s attendance will be categorized as:-

Red – Danger Zone - Below 90%

Amber – At Risk Zone – 91% - 96%

Green – Safety Zone – 97% - 100%

In order for us to improve overall attendance we need the support of both parents and students. You can help by:-

Making sure your child goes to school and arrives on time. (From 8:40am)

Avoiding taking holidays in term time.

Arranging non-urgent medical and dental appointments for after school.

If your child is experiencing difficulties which affect school attendance please do not hesitate to contact us on 0191 488 1941.

Every School Day Counts Traffic Light System

365 days 190 School Days

Days Missed

100% 190 days 095% 180 days 2 weeks90% 171 days 4 weeks

85% 161 days 6 weeks

80% 152 days More than half a term

75% 143 days 9 plus weeks

Every Second Counts

Minutes missed every day add up!

Lateness = Lost Learning!

5 mins every day 3 days lost

10 mins every day 6.5 days lost

15 mins every day 10 days lost