Thursday 17th December

The children have had a lovely week in the academy undertaking Christmas activities. The Polar Express has left Dormanstown a few times this week, and the Year 6s enjoyed dressing up as their favourite Christmas character. Lots of craft activities have also been made to celebrate this important time of year as well as us enjoying a delicious Christmas lunch on Tuesday.

Christmas Extravaganza

Please make sure you have watched our Christmas Extravaganza on Facebook.  As we couldn’t undertake our normal Christmas performances this year, each class has given you a little piece of Christmas to enjoy.

Ladies of Steel

Another huge thank you to the Ladies of Steel who brought each child in the academy a Christmas bag to take home on Wednesday.  Your costumes were absolutely fantastic, and you really made the children’s day with your kindness and generosity.

During our Christmas Jumper day the children donated £178 which we will give to the Ladies of Steel to support their charity and community work. The whole Dormanstown community are so grateful for what you have done this year; you all deserve a well-earned rest over Christmas.

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Trust Carol Service

We were so lucky to be able to participate in a Trust Carol Service which has been put on our website and posted on Facebook. In these difficult and restricted times, it was an amazing achievement to combine readings and songs from all five of our academies to make a full service.  Well done to all the children involved and to Mr Stogdale for putting the service together.

Covid-19 update over Christmas

Please see the attached letter for informing the academy of any positive cases over the Christmas break. We thank you for your support and communication with school during this time.

Christmas Holidays

We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas holiday. The children have worked very hard this term, and we are really proud of how they have adapted to all the changes and expectations. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the academy on Monday 4^th January 2021

Please continue to stay safe and follow the Tier 3 guidance

Friday 11th December

We can’t believe that we have reached the last week of the autumn term after such a difficult and unusual year. Although disappointed that we can’t share our normal Christmas performances and events with you, we hope to reward the children for their hard work with some memorable Christmas activities and events in their bubbles next week.

Christmas Activities…

The children enjoyed a lovely day in the academy on Monday undertaking a range of Christmas activities including a Christmas treasure hunt, making gingerbread men, re-enacting the Christmas story, a Christmas dance, sewing Christmas stockings and enjoying a hot chocolate. What a wonderful range of Christmas jumpers we had, and it really heralded the start of the festive season. We were also able to record our part in the Trust Christmas Carol Service which will be available to watch online next week.

The children will have further Christmas celebrations this coming week, which they thoroughly deserve after a busy and hard-working term. We will share these in our final Christmas Assembly.

Christmas Dinner Day…

We are all looking forward to our Christmas dinner in the academy on Tuesday 15^th December. Children can also wear a Christmas jumper/accessory again on this day alongside normal academy uniform.

Christmas Holidays…

Just a reminder that the children break up on Thursday 17^th December at their normal finish times and return to the academy on Monday 4^th January 2021.

Covid-19 update over Christmas…

Please see the attached letter for informing the academy of any positive cases over the Christmas break. We thank you for your support and communication with school during this time.

Awesome Attendance…

A huge well done to Class RM for being the first to win the attendance reward this year! They have managed to get all 7 letters of AWESOME by being the top class for attendance for 7 weeks this term.  They are in discussion with Miss Duffy to decide what their reward will be. Mrs McFarlane is delighted! 

Times Tables Rockstar

Year 6 Reece 

Year 5 Spencer

Year 4 Reilly

Year 3 Leo 

Year 2 Paige

Year 1 Saif 

B2H Noah

B3A Joseph

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

Top Weekly Spelling Group

1st: 6H/S – 87 503 774

2nd: B2H English – 46 883 587

3rd: B2H – 46 883 587

Top Weekly Speller:

1st: Cupples J – 44 514 918

2nd: Houlden L – 15 378

3rd: Clark-Wood R – 13 832 528

Autumn Term Leader Board

1st: 6H/S – 674 269 708

2nd: B2H English – 375 522 912

3rd: 4S – 282 374 718

Please continue to stay safe and follow the Tier 3 guidance.

Friday 4th December

Well done to all the children who undertook their assessments last week; it was so positive for the children to share all the learning that has taken place during the Recovery Curriculum.

New Uniform

We hope you like the new uniform that the academy has provided for the children.  If your order came in slightly later, then your child’s jumper or cardigan will be in our second delivery.  We will let you know when they arrive. The children were all very enthusiastic to start wearing them and very proud of our new logo.

If you would like to order more uniform, please contact myclothing.com

Christmas Jumper Days

On Monday 7^th December we will be having a Christmas Jumper Day, and the children will be engaging in a number of Christmas activities as we enter the festive season.  This will include recording a carol for the Trust Carol Service and photographing our festive activities. With current restrictions, if your child doesn’t have a Christmas jumper, we don’t want you to rush out and buy one: festive adaptations to an existing jumper are perfectly acceptable (and lots of fun to make). Please note that the children wear full normal uniform with their Christmas jumper. We are proposing that the children bring a donation of £1 on this day which we will donate to the Ladies of Steel as a thank you for all they have done for all the children and families in our community during this year.

Christmas Dinner Day

Children can also wear a Christmas jumper/accessory on Tuesday 15^th December which will be Christmas dinner day in the academy.

Christmas Activities

This year, due to the Coronavirus we cannot allow children to bring Christmas cards and presents into school to share with friends and staff. We will be doing a lot of exciting Christmas activities, but we are unable to accept anything into school from home this year. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Action for Happiness Calendar

The Action for Happiness December calendar reminds us that random acts of kindness matter. We can all make lots of people happy during the festive season

Times Tables Rockstars…

Year 6 Reece 

Year 5 Spencer

Year 4 Reilly

Year 3 Leo 

Year 2 Paige

Year 1 Saif 

B2H Noah

B3A Joseph

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

Top Weekly group:

1st: 4S – 99 377 380

2nd: 6H/S – 57 701 264

3rd: B2H English – 23 475 949

Top Weekly Speller:

1st: Standing K – 22 817 502

2nd: Cupples J – 21 008 166

3rd: Stubbs R – 20 579 166

Autumn Term Points League:

1st: 6H/S – 630 807 482

2nd: B2H English – 350 652 880

3rd: 4S – 279 613 278

Please continue to stay safe and follow the Tier 3 guidance.

27th November 2020

We look forward to welcoming back B3A on Monday and our Reception children on Tuesday. Well done on all the home learning you have engaged in whilst isolating, and a big thank you to all the staff who have been supporting you.

Christmas Jumper Days

On Monday 7^th December we will be having a Christmas Jumper Day, and the children will be engaging in a number of Christmas activities as we enter the festive season.  This will include recording a carol for the Trust Carol Service and photographing our festive activities. With current restrictions, if your child doesn’t have a Christmas jumper, we don’t want you to rush out and buy one: festive adaptations to an existing jumper are perfectly acceptable (and lots of fun to make). We are proposing that the children bring a donation of £1 on this day which we will donate to the Ladies of Steel as a thank you for all they have done for all the children and families in our community during this year.

Children can also wear a Christmas jumper/accessory on Tuesday 15^th December which will be Christmas dinner day in the academy.

This year, due to Covid-19, we will not be allowing children to bring Christmas cards and presents into school to share with friends and staff. Next week, and during the last week of term, we will be doing a lot of exciting Christmas activities, but we are unable to accept anything into school from home this year. Thank you for your support in this matter. 

Stars in our School

On Friday, we said a HUGE thank you and celebrated all the support staff who work in the academy.  This included our Academy Council saying thank you to each group of staff during our virtual Celebration Assembly and each member of support staff receiving a “Star in our School” certificate. Thank you to all our learning assistants, pastoral staff, office staff, lunchtime supervisors, cleaning staff, kitchen staff, our caretaker and ICT technician; what a huge difference you all make to our academy.

Academy Council

Our Academy Council have been meeting virtually via Zoom to discuss issues occurring in the academy and sharing the views of their classes. This week we discussed how children were feeling about the changes in the academy due to Covid, and the children gave very positive feedback. We also discussed how we will change the name of our Celebration award, in line with our new logo, and the token rewards children can earn each day in the academy.

The views of the children will be taken to SLT, and we will let you know the outcomes soon.

P.E. Lessons

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, all PE lessons will take place outside unless it is raining heavily. As it is getting colder, please ensure that your child has an outdoor PE kit on their classes P.E. days.

Assessments

Children from Year 1 upwards will be undertaking assessments in the academy this week.  We are sure that it will be a real opportunity for the children to show all they have learnt since their return to school in September whilst undertaking the Recovery Curriculum.

Times Tables Rockstars…

The following the children are currently in the lead for TTRS:

Year 6 – Reece

Year 5 – Spencer

Year 4 – Reilly

Year 3 – Leo

Year 2 – Paige 

B3A – Allie

B2H -Noah

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

Weekly Top Groups:

1st: 6H/S – 119 656 462

2nd: B2H English – 27 854 608

3rd: B2H – 26 465 300

Weekly Top Spellers:

1st: Houlden L – 45 200 414

2nd: Cupples J – 18 924 648

3rd: Richardson A – 13 764 220

Autumn Term League Points:

1st: 6H/S – 551 273 016

2nd: B2H English – 320 737 266

3rd: B3A – 251 811 952

Please continue to stay safe, especially with the new lockdown rules in place.

20th November

It has been an eventful week in the academy. Our children who are isolating have really impressed us with their home learning and positive attitude. 

We are really missing both the children and staff, and we look forward to welcoming 4S back this Monday.

Anti-Bullying Week / Odd Socks Day

Thank you to everyone who took part in Odd Socks Day on Friday. We certainly had some colourful and unusual socks around the academy, showing how we can all be different and individual. The children participated in some excellent discussions and activities linked to Anti-Bullying Week which really highlighted this important issue and reflected the theme “United against Bullying”.

Children in Need

We managed to raise £209.45 to donate to Children in Need.  Thank you for your support.

Youth Sport Trust

We know the children are missing their after school clubs and activities so this might help! Every weekday at 5pm until the end of term (18 December), the Youth Sport Trust are running a 30-minute online club for children and young people to do some sport, develop skills and, most importantly, have fun!

Adventure Monday – This might involve getting children to do floor, wall climbing and map reading all within their living room

Tuesday Play – Imaginative play utilising resources in the house to create games and activities to get active

Wild Wednesday – Some high tempo competitive activities involving personal challenges

Thinking Thursday – Introducing cognitive challenges for children through movement. Active noughts and crosses and introducing an element of competition – whether that be against themselves, the clock, their siblings or remotely with friends

Fun Friday – A chance for children to let loose and have some fun. Dancing and doing what makes them feel good. The After School Sport Club will be led by Athlete Mentors from different backgrounds, abilities and sports.

After School Sport Club | Youth Sport Trust

Feeding Families

Would you like help for your family this Christmas? Feeding Families provides and delivers FREE hampers to hundreds of families in the north east. You can apply if you are in financial need and struggle on a day-to-day basis to feed your family (deadline is the 30^th November for applications).

For more information visit
https://feedingfamilies.org.uk/receive

Keeping Teesside Connected

Times Tables Rockstars…

This week, please find a list of the names of the children who have been practising Rockstars the most at home – well done to everybody!

Year 6 – Lucas M

Year 5 – Mason

B3A – Mohammad

B2H – Alexis

B1R – Lydia

4S – Lewis

3A – Leo

2PR – Gypsy -Leigh

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

1st: 6H/S – 62 244 896

2nd: B2H English – 18 842 788

3rd: 5N/W – 15 558232

Weekly Top Spellers:

1st: Mason M – 8 259 472

2nd: Clarke O – 7 548 626

3rd: Hoyle K – 7 388 496

Autumn Term Points League:

1st: 6H/S – 440 793 988

2nd: B2H English – 305 024 854

3rd: B3A – 237 661 512

Please continue to stay safe, especially with the lockdown rules in place.

We have had a busy week in the academy with lots of activities linked to Children in Need day and some super learning taking place. Class 4S have also really impressed us with their home learning, so a big well done to you all.

Children in Need

The children have had a super week with activities linked to Children in Need.  The focus this year was “Together we can, change young lives” and the resources provided to schools looked a children’s mental health and wellbeing. With a daily “Five to Thrive” video from Joe Wicks, it has really made the children think about how they are feeling, strategies they can use and how to make a difference to themselves and others.

Thank you for sending your children in some great costumes today; we appreciate that it wasn’t as easy this year, but the children all looked so colourful around the academy.

We will let you know how much was donated for this worthwhile cause next week.

Aldi Food

This week we received a very generous donation of surplus food from Aldi, Redcar, and we distributed it to 4S who are currently self-isolating. We are signed up for many more donations; if you feel like you would benefit from a food package, please let us know, and we will do our best to help and support.

Anti-Bullying Week

Next week is Anti-Bullying Week, and the theme is United Against Bullying. The children will be undertaking activities during this week to reflect on and discuss this very important topic.

Showbie

Showbie is our new home learning app that we hope to use extensively in the academy in the near future. Thank you to everyone who has returned their consent letter.  Additional letters were sent out yesterday, and we ask for them to be returned to the academy as soon as possible.

Lockdown

Please see the attached guidance that we put on Facebook earlier in the week as a reminder of the current lockdown rules.

COVID -19 Symptoms

If any member of your household has symptoms of COVID-19, everybody in your household must self-isolate. You should then arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please inform the academy of any test results ASAP, so that any arrangements can be made regarding your child’s bubble.

Please click the link below for more guidance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Times Tables Rockstars…

Thank you to all the children who have taken part already in the competition this week; however, it doesn’t finish until tomorrow and there is still time to play! The results will be announced on Monday. So far, Year 5 are in the lead!

Max – Year 5

Reece – Year 6

Finley – Year 4

Joseph – B3A

Toby – B2H

Leo – Year 3

Paige – Year 2

For the classes:

Year 5 – 1,491

Year 6 – 421

4S – 272

B3A – 242

2PR – 66

3A – 1

B2H -6

 

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

Weekly Top Spelling Group:

1st: 4S – 84 364 368

2nd: 6H/S – 78 833752

3rd: B3A – 30 577 466

Weekly Top Spellers:

1st: Mitcheson J – 35 233 086

2nd: Trewhitt E (4S) – 33 828 026

3rd: Balam J – 17 387 914

Autumn Term Points League:

1st: 6H/S – 378 549 092

2nd: B2H English – 263 885 719

3rd: B3A – 209 068 490

Look out for our virtual assembly on Facebook later this afternoon, celebrating all your children’s achievements this week. Some of our Year 6 Junior Leadership Team are presenting the assembly this week!

Please continue to stay safe, especially with the new lockdown rules in place.

It has been lovely to see the children back in the academy after the half term break.  They have come back very settled with positive attitudes and all eager to learn.

Clothes and P.E. kits

As we sent out the message earlier in the week regarding the ventilation in classrooms, we have seen the majority of children have a jumper/cardigan in school this week.  Thank you for your support in this matter to keep your child comfortable in class.

Also, just a reminder, that most P.E. lessons are undertaken outside at the current time, so a tracksuit or leggings/hoodie are advisable for P.E. alongside plimsolls.

Half Term Vouchers

We hope that all children on free school meals received their holiday food vouchers.  These were fully funded by Tees Valley Education, and we hope that they supported families over the holidays during these exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in.

Breakfast Packs

The children have brought home another breakfast pack this week; we hope that these are supportive in providing a nutritious breakfast before school and setting the children up for a day of learning.

New Uniform and Books

Our new academy logo is proving very popular, and the children have been learning about the values in their assemblies in class. Our new uniform is available to order from www.myclothing.com

The jumpers that the academy is providing for each child are on order, and we hope to take delivery soon.  We will let you know when we receive them.

We are also delighted that we received our brand new books with the logo on this week. The children are starting to use them over the next few weeks, and they are very proud of them.

Christmas Hampers and Aldi food

Please see the following link to request Christmas Food Hampers from Feeding Families:

https://feedingfamilies.org.uk/receive

Feeding Families provides and delivers FREE hampers to hundreds of families in the North East. You can apply if you are in financial need and struggle on a day-to-day basis to feed your family.

(more information on Facebook)

We are pleased to be teaming up with Aldi in the very near future to receive donations of a variety of different foods. This will help us to continue to support those who are self isolating or who need extra support during this very stressful and worrying time. Look out for more details to come out very soon.

COVID – 19 Symptoms

If any member of your household has symptoms of COVID-19, everybody in your household must self-isolate. You should then arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please inform the academy of any test results ASAP, so that any arrangements can be made regarding your child’s bubble.

Please click the link below for more guidance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Times Tables Rockstars…

Year 6 – Shilo and Reece

Year 5 – Spencer and Josie

Year 4 – Reiley and Lewis

Year 3 – Leo and Olly

Year 2 – Paige and Maddy

Year 1 – Saif and Bonnie

B2H – Noah and Ryan

B3A – Albie and Joseph

Spelling Shed Leader Board…

Weekly Top Spelling Group:

1st: 6H/S – 52 681 720

2nd: 4S – 40 239 258

3rd: 5N/W – 18 918 258

Weekly Top Spellers:

1st: Standing K – 21 463 376

2nd: Stubbs R – 12 953 738

3rd: Houlden L – 11 048 728

Autumn Term League Points

1st: 6H/S – 301 142 636

2nd: B2H English – 245 388 826

3rd: B3A – 181 164 808

New Ways November…

Although Covid is restricting our lives, we can find new ways to keep making progress. Trying out new things can actually boost our well-being. When we open up to new ideas, it helps us stay curious and engaged. It can also bring a sense of accomplishment and help to boost our self-confidence and resilience. There are so many ways to learn new things and this month we’re encouraging everyone to find new and creative ways to overcome our frustrating situations.

Look out for our virtual assembly on Facebook later this afternoon, celebrating all your children’s achievements this week

Please continue to stay safe, especially with the new lockdown rules in place.