Western November Newsletter
2020
Welcome
What a busy month November has been! As is our tradition we commemorated Remembrance Day, celebrated Children in Need and we even wore odd socks to show just how important anti-bullying is to us all. We have celebrated our love of Maths in National Maths week, taken part in virtual author visits and enjoyed learning and spending time with our friends in school as we entered another national lock down. Year 4 children are doing wonderful home learning during their period of self-isolation and the Year 4 staff team are so proud of them. Teachers have really enjoyed sharing news with parents and carers in our telephone consultations. December is set to be another busy month and even though we feel a little sad that we can't celebrate in our usual Western style we are confident that we have put together a Christmas calendar that will allow all children to experience the magic of the season in school.
If you are enjoying the newsletters we send please give them a like by pressing the heart. This helps us tailor the news we send you.Good to be Green Stars Friday 6th November
Good to be Green Stars 13th November
Good to be Green Stars 20 November
Good to be Green Stars 27 November
EYFS
KS1
LKS2
Nursery
Detectives!
Spreading kindness
The Mole Who Knew It Was None Of His Business
Reception
Evil Pea Strikes Again!
Happy Diwali 2020
Victory for Supertato!
Community Heroes
We have completed fitness challenges and found out what makes our bodies healthy, focusing on diet and exercise. We have sent our findings back to Firefighter Steve and are looking forward to the next challenge.
Year 1
Little Red Riding Hood
Animals
It's Christmas!
Year 2
Fantastic Fireworks!
Moving to the Beast
Monster Recipes
Year 3
Body Percussion Session
Self Portraits using Sketches
PE and Geography
Year 4
Author Visit
n Year 4, we have been lucky enough to participate in a virtual author visit this month! We had the fantastic opportunity to watch and listen to Humza Arshad introduce his ‘Little Badman’ book series and share stories and pictures of his own family members who have inspired his characters. He told us all about how he became a famous YouTuber and comedian before he started writing books with his friend Henry. As well as listening to Humza we also had a chance to meet the brilliant illustrator of the books and took part in a challenge to draw along with him. Mrs Walton and Miss Islam were very impressed by our efforts! We enjoyed the session so much that we have decided to read ‘Little Badman’ as our next class reader.
Science
We have had brilliant fun investigating electricity in our new Science topic. We have explored the different components of a basic circuit and had a go at making our own! After a little trail and error, we all managed to get our bulbs to light up as we began to explore more complex circuits.
PHSE
Together we have explored the meaning of being part of a community. We decided that a community was a place where we felt safe and had sense of belonging and place where common interests and beliefs are shared. We then discussed the different types of community that exist and recognised that we are all part of our school community! We talked about what makes a good school community and all agreed that it was super important that we showed kindness and looked after one another so that our school was happy place to be.
Year 5
Getting to Grips with Keynote
GarageBand Workshop
The Curse of Woodside
The children have been examining how a writer impacts on the reader through use of descriptive language and in using conjunctions to add extra details. They are looking forward to being able to tell their own version of this story, which they have recently planned.
Year 6
My Friend the Enemy
Super Science
GarageBand Workshop
Reading for Pleasure
Fireside Reader
No matter what age you are, there’s something special about having a story read to you. One of the most magical times of the school day at Western is our dedicated 'fireside reader' time. Each day after lunch, every class in the school puts a cosy, crackling fire on the interactive whiteboard and listens to their teacher read a chapter or two of their class reader. Our class readers this half term are linked to our theme of 'Overcoming the Monster'. They have been carefully chosen by your child’s class teacher and Seven Stories so that they match the children's interests and help further ignite their passion for reading.
Our fireside reader time allows teachers to discreetly teach children to ‘read as a reader’. They do this by asking the children questions that come into our heads naturally as adults as we read. We thought it might be helpful to share some of the skills we promote in these sessions to allow you to talk to your child about their class reader. You may even like to try out some of the skills at home with your child's favourite books.
Asking questions
Readers ask questions about the things they read.
Why is something happening? Or not happening? Why is a character feeling or acting a certain way? Why did the author use a particular word?
Making Predictions
No reader, it seems, can resist thinking about what is going to happen next. Predicting helps readers sort out important information from unimportant information. It also helps them organise their thinking as they encounter new material.
Developing Inference Skills
Readers figure out things that aren’t actually written in the text. There’s almost always more to a text than just the words on the page. Often, writers leave “clues” that good readers can use to discover important information.
E.g. 'The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end'.
Making Connections
We can’t help but be reminded of our own lives as we read. We’re also reminded of similar things we’ve read in other texts and other parts of the same text.
Where have we come across a character like this before? Have you ever felt like this? Have we read another story that had a similar ending? What happened earlier that links to this part of the story?
Virtual Visits from Authors
In KS2, we will be having virtual visits from authors this half term. The children will be submitting questions to the authors, participating in draw along sessions with illustrators and learning all about how to develop their writing skills with tips from the top! We look forward to sharing news with you from these exciting sessions in our next newsletter.
Values
"Our unity is our strength and our diversity is our power" -Kamala Harris
We are also beginning our exploration of equality by think about how we treat others. We have discussed how equality means treating others as we would like to be treated and giving everyone the same opportunities.
Can you think of a way in which your family has used unity at home? How do you work as a team to get things done?
During each session we have the opportunity to 'Pause for Thought' and reflect on a picture or quote. Our displays in school also reflect the thoughts and feelings of the children throughout the term.
Attendance
Free School Meals
If your circumstances have changed, you can check if you are eligible and apply using the online portal via the link below. Just select: 'How to apply', click ‘Apply for free school meals’, register or log in and just follow the instructions: https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/238/free-school-meals
Message to Families from Go Smarter Cycling in North Tyneside
Like most parts of the country, we have seen an increased number of bikes in North Tyneside this year due to lockdown. Lots of people, including school pupils have got new or second-hand bikes, or got their old ones repaired. In addition, we have been asking pupils to travel actively to school to assist social distancing and reduce the burden on public transport.
We believe that cycling is a great transport option the whole year round, but the darker winter nights unfortunately sometimes see an increase in bike thefts. With that in mind, Geoff Crackett Sustainable Transport Officer at North Tyneside, has worked with his team who have come up with a few tips that they would like us to share with families to help prevent that:
- Encourage families to register bikes with a registration scheme such as www.bikeregister.com - it is used by the police to identify stolen and recovered bikes.
- Encourage families to check their home insurance to see if it covers stolen bikes.
Children in Need
Following another fun and successful Children in Need day we are pleased to announce that we raised £295.08.
We were also so proud to hear about Freya Curr's fantastic fundraising efforts for Children in Need! She joined up with her Rainbows group to raise money by 'acting their age'. Freya and her younger sister Sylvie both completed 7 minute runs over 7 days to raise money! They raised over £50 for children in need and Freya’s Rainbow group as a whole have currently raised £1500 and counting! Her family are rightly very proud of the way Freya has gone the extra mile for charity.
Year 5 Children in Need
Y5 Children in Need window display
Children in Need crafts
Year 2 Children in Need
We started the morning by joining in with Joe Wicks and his 24 hour PE challenge. The children also spent time making a range of 'Pudsey' themed crafts. We even made a Pudsey bear using the leaves we found on our forest walk!
Year 4 Children in Need
Year 4 had a great time participating in Children in Need Day. We came to school wearing spots to celebrate the day and had lots of fun. As a class we discussed the importance of the day and talked about where all the money that is raised goes. We discovered that Children in Need might help support children who have a life changing illness or live in poverty and this made us think about the importance of looking after one another in school and in our wider community. We read about the history of Children in Need and how the appeal has grown over the years – did you know that Pudsey Bear made his television debut in 1985? In the afternoon, we enjoyed our cupcakes and took part in various Children in Need activities, we particularly enjoyed trying to complete the Pudsey Code Breaker challenge! Our favourite activity was exploring what made us special and unique!
Nursery Children in Need
Reception’s Silly Photobooth
Harvest
Link to Families Magazine
Dear Parent/Carer,
We're pleased to be able to send you the Nov/Dec Families Newcastle Gateshead Magazine.
It is full of resources and ideas to help you and your family through the autumn term and to keep your children entertained, busy and productive.
You can read the magazine HERE.
We hope that you enjoy it.
We will be back with you in print in the New Year. With very best wishes for a happy Christmas.
Kind regards,
Laura Macaulay (Editor & Advertising)
Direct dial- 07794909820
Book now for our Jan/Feb 2021 issue!
Winter Wellbeing at Western
As winter draws in we experience shorter days and longer nights, this can really affect our mood and wellbeing. This winter may be made even harder for families for a variety of reasons- the uncertainty of who we can see, where we can go, loss of jobs, routines and for some of us, sadly, the loss of family members over the year. All of these things can have a negative effect on our mental and physical wellbeing. That is why it is so important at this time of year to focus on what we can control, look to the future with hope and show gratitude for all we have.
One wonderful way to look after our own wellbeing is through acts of kindness. Our brains respond to helping others by releasing feel good hormones, known as endorphins. Action for Happiness have released their December calendar and this month's theme is 'Do Good December'. For each day of the month there are ideas you can use to help support your own wellbeing but also the wellbeing of those around you- loved ones and strangers! You can access the calendar here.
You might like to design your own 'happiness' calendar with your family as an alternative advent calendar. There are lots of ideas online as to what to include, you could even start your own family traditions, such as 'the kindness elves', as an alternative to Elf on the Shelf. Another positive, family activity, is to take an empty jar and for each day of December write down something you are grateful for that day, on New Year's Eve take time as a family to read all the lovely things you have been thankful for over the month.
Remember, it's perfectly normal to struggle at times- keep talking to family and friends and reach out for help if you need it.
Eco Council
Management to take part in a Design competition to create a poster
highlighting the importance of recycling batteries correctly. The
winning entry will win £100 and have their poster displayed on the
side of a 18 tonne recycling vehicle. As a result of this, we
displayed our eye-catching poster entries in the school office area
and launched our new Eco Scheme to start recycling batteries.
Check out our new battery recycling container in the school office. A
special thank you to James Reeder whose creative contribution
has made our battery recycling container really stand out.
We are encouraging everyone to recycle their old batteries and
contribute to looking after our planet. Please check the label before
recycling to check which batteries we can accept.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
ACT Early - Message from Tim Cousins, Northumbria Police
The impact of Covid-19, social isolation and a rise in hateful extremism online is creating a ‘perfect storm’ which is making more young people vulnerable to radicalisation and other forms of grooming.
But parents, friends and families can now get specialist support to stop their loved ones being drawn into harmful activities or groups, with the launch of ACT Early - a new dedicated safeguarding website and advice line from the specialists at Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).
This new resource will provide advice, guidance and support for anyone who is concerned that someone they know may be at risk from being radicalised by terrorists or extremist content online.
Between 1st January 2019 and 30th June 2020, 17 children have been arrested in relation to terrorism offences. Some were as young as 14 years old, while nearly all will have been radicalised entirely online. In the same time period, more than 1500 children under the age of 15 were helped by the Prevent programme to choose a different path, away from hatred and violence.
Family and friends are best placed to spot the worrying behaviour changes which can indicate that a loved one is heading down a path towards terrorism, but currently just 2% of referrals into the Government’s anti-radicalisation programme Prevent come from that group of people.
Prevent is just that – a preventative programme, delivered locally by teachers, healthcare practitioners, social workers, the police, charities, and religious leaders. It places protection around people vulnerable to radicalisation, stopping them from being drawn into terrorism – regardless of the ideology.
It works in a similar way to safeguarding processes designed to protect people from gangs, drug abuse, and sexual exploitation.
And with Covid-19 preventing regular access to schools, social workers and mental health support, specialists at CTP are concerned that people who need help are not getting it - which makes it more important for friends and family to use the new ACT Early resources to understand what might be happening to their loved one and what support Prevent can provide.
“We are seeing more young people being drawn towards terrorist activity,” says the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu.
“Last year, 12 children under the age of 18 were arrested in relation to terrorism offences, some as young as 14-years-old. That is a relatively new and worrying trend in the UK, because just a few years ago we were not seeing anyone that young amongst our casework.
“What concerns me most is this – there has been a sharp increase in extremist material online in the last few years, and Covid-19 has meant that vulnerable people are spending a lot more time isolated and online, and with fewer of the protective factors that schooling, employment, friends and family can provide.
“In my opinion that is a perfect storm, one which we cannot predict and that we might be feeling the effects of for many years to come.
“But I remain hopeful, because there is something we can do right now to try and stop this. It requires parents, friends and family to help us by acting early, by talking to their children about what they view online, and sharing their concerns and seeking support if they fear someone they know is in danger of being radicalised.
“Asking for help is a difficult and emotional step, but we must see it for what it is – action which won’t ruin their lives but may well save them.”
Someone who knows all about the dangers that extremism and radicalisation can pose is Kath Jack from Families and Extremism Support, whose son was convicted of being a member of the proscribed Right Wing Terrorism group, National Action, after being radicalised online and who now works to help other families in similar situations before it is too late.
Kath said: “My son is now trying to rebuild his life in prison after being drawn down a path by extremists. But his story could have been so different if I had had advice and support like this available to me. I did know something was going wrong in his life but didn’t know enough about what it was, how to talk to him about it without arguments or where to go for help. When the police did try to intervene he refused to engage with them because by then it was too late.
“So I would encourage any other mums, dads or wider friends and families to Act Early and seek help and support. The police and other services can help turn lives around if you tell them what’s going on soon enough.”
If you are worried that someone you know is being radicalised, visit http://www.actearly.uk/ You won’t be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
For help and advice visit www.actearly.uk, or call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns.
Tim Cousins 4654
College Police Liaison Officer
Northern
| M: 07736193235
www.northumbria.police.uk
School App - SchoolGateway
Our app allows us to message you and also enables you to reply directly to us. This makes communication between home and school much easier for families and school. As you know, we have now moved to a completely paperless communication system. All letters and school communications are now sent via the SchoolGateway app.
If you are new to school and haven't yet downloaded the app, please follow the steps below.
Downloading the App:
Please download School Gateway from your app store (Android and iPhone). Once you have downloaded the app, you will need to click "Sign Up". It will ask you to enter your email address and phone number. A pin is then sent to your phone, which you will use to activate your account.
OR
For those parents or carers without a smartphone, you can visit the website:
www.schoolgateway.com and click on ‘New User’. Enter your email address and mobile phone number and you’ll receive a text message with a PIN number. Use this PIN to log into School Gateway.
Trouble logging in? It might be because school doesn’t have your current email and mobile phone number on record. Please contact school and we’ll update the details on our system.
Please contact Mr Ashard on 0191 263 0202 or western.office@ntlp.org.uk if you have any problems getting started or have any questions regarding SchoolGateway.
Social Distancing on site
School Term Dates 2020/21
Western Community Primary School
Email: western.office@ntlp.org.uk
Website: westerncommunityprimary.org.uk
Location: Rutland Road, Wallsend, UK
Phone: 0191 263 0202
Twitter: @westernprimary