Butterflies, beans, tadpoles, peas, carrots, cress, radishes, potatoes and children are all growing and flourishing in our nursery. This period of Spring/Early Summer has given our children a wonderful opportunity to study growth inside the nursery, in the garden and in the pond (literally for one child!).

This week children have enjoyed their home grown cress in their own sandwiches and have shared the fascination of all of us watching the painted lady butterflies emerge from cocoons. Tadpoles borrowed from our pond have demonstrated another of these miraculous transformations of nature as legs develop and they change to frogs. Today will see the release of the butterflies and tadpole/frogs into the wild.

These very real early childhood experiences are often those we remember as our memories of the more routine fade with time.

Thanks of course to Lynn and Anna for the extra but essential effort it requires to provide these stimulating experiences for the children. I take this opportunity also to those of you—probably almost all—who have helped in the nursery this year.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By now all parents and carers will have had, and taken the opportunity to discuss children’s progress for the second time this academic year.

Doubtless you’ll have applied a simple test of progress, and one we encourage all children to use—”look back at your work in September and look at it now”.

In many cases, and this is often most obvious with our youngest children, this can and does show an astonishing rate of progress in writing and maths.

Expert teaching at school, combined with that essential support from home and of course the enthusiasm of our children enable almost all our children to achieve our aim of ‘learning to read’ in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, enabling them to ‘read to learn’ and develop advanced skills in Key Stage Two.

We were delighted at the response from parents of younger children to our Phonics for Families workshops run by Mrs Armstrong and Mrs Balkwill. Similar workshops are sure to take place in the Autumn Term.

As you are aware we make every effort to enrich and enhance our curricular and extra curricular provision and always celebrate success and progress in the arts, sports and social aspects of school life. We never lose sight of one of our core purposes—ensuring our children are literate and numerate. The ‘nuts and bolts’ of primary education.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s all go! In the two weeks since half term so much has happened to enhance life at Fellside.

Year Six have had their residential outdoor activity visit to Robin Wood Centre near Alston. Wild country and some pretty wild weather but hugely rewarding with our children attracting many positive comments for their immaculate behaviour, enthusiasm and positive attitude.

Many of our Karate Club members are now proudly wearing new coloured belts. Our swimmers competed at Felling Pool last week. Year Five children have now had two days working with a professional film crew on a film project to be screened later this year at the newly refurbished Tyneside Cinema.

… And what about last Thursday? World Book Day with Friends of Fellside Discos after school. Newcastle Utd’s well practised goalkeeper, Steve Harper was here in the afternoon promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles. A real bonus arose after a phone call from London on Thursday morning. A BBC Match of the Day TV crew travelled north to film the whole event for a slot on this weekend’s Match of the Day*. While all this was happening at Fellside I was heading south (staff say escaping!) to London to 10 Downing Street at the invitation of the Prime Minister. So all in all an exciting day for everyone.

What I’m well aware of is that all these events which excite, enhance and enrich school life require the extra effort of teachers, support and admin staff and others, often volunteers.

Sincere thanks to all.

* Sunday morning Match of the Day

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Posted by V Hogarth at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On behalf of everyone at school, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a belated Happy New Year. The start of a new calendar year it may be but we are close to half way through the academic year and in the term where we often see the most rapid progress by children.

I note from last January’s Fellside Matters that I gave an indication of some plans and expectations for 2007—the introduction of a childcare facility, the new Primary Strategy and increasing awareness of sustainable energy, ideally through the installation of wind and solar energy. Well … Fellside Funclub has been in operation since September as has the Primary Strategy (revised guidance for teaching of Maths and English). The installation of wind and solar power has not been as straightforward as we’d hoped for. We submitted plans in October for a wind turbine close to Burnthouse Lane, the ideal location for wind. The proximity to a road and the likelihood of bats (a protected species) in the neighbourhood has necessitated further work to move these plans forward. Similarly a structural survey of our roof is needed to determine suitability for solar energy.

Any structural engineers or bat expert parents please get in touch!

Sustainable energy plans roll forward into 2008 alongside the introduction of foreign language teaching from September. The installation of interactive whiteboards in all classrooms is planned as are further improvements to outdoor learning and play facilities. Lots to anticipate.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the temperature in recent days hovering around zero, it’s difficult to believe that this term started with some of the best weather of an indifferent summer.
Sixteen weeks since the start of term. Lots of hard work from children and staff and an Ofsted Inspection to keep us on our toes. No surprise in this last week there are some flagging faces among staff and children.
It’s time for everyone to take a well earned break and spend some precious time with families and friends. On behalf of all at school I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

We start back for the new term on Monday 7th January 2008.

… and coming in the New Year.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There’s something of the calm before the storm about school this week. It will be clear from the diary of events in this Newsletter that there’s lots happening in school before the end of term—Pantomime, Christmas Fair, concerts, carol service, Christmas Dinner, parties etc., etc.
Lots to look forward to in the next four weeks, including some ‘big occasions’ such as the Carol Service—our single biggest gathering of the year.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Next week we say goodbye to our Year Six children and around half of our nursery children. Whether they’ve been with us one year or, as for may of our Year Six children, eight years we thank them for their contribution to our school and wish them the very best for the future.

The exemplary attitude to learning of our current Year Six has been evident as they’ve moved through the school. This attitude and their ability when combined with high quality teaching and learning opportunities with a number of teachers has enabled these children to record the school’s best ever SATs performance—surpassing last year—with 100% reaching the government target of Level 4 in all three subjects and stunning results at level 5 (the highest level) English 70%, Maths 93% and Science 100%. Wow! As ever what is important is that children fulfil their potential whatever their ability.

Maximising potential is a central value to us. Job done again by all concerned—not just on the academic front but also the lighter side of school.

For the second year we’ve run a business enterprise project in Year Six. With a loan of £3.00 per child, Year Six pupils have operated a number of small business schemes this half term—the advertising directory accompanying this newsletter is one example.

They’ve repaid the loan of £90.00 and made a clear profit of £458 for their leaver’s party—a disco and buffet at Blaydon Rugby Club with transport to the venue by stretched limo!

Great attitude, tons of hard work, astonishing results, lots of laughs. Enjoy the party—you deserve it.

Children return to school on Tuesday 4th September (Nursery and Reception have their own induction arrangements). Fellside Funclub, our new childcare facility has an open evening for interested parents and children on Monday 3rd September from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

It remains for me to wish everyone an enjoyable, well deserved summer holiday.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A glance at the Diary of Events to the end of term in this edition of Fellside Matters gives an indication of just how busy the end of the school year is. Just two days without a significant visit, performance or social event.

Many of our children are ‘out and about’ this term and as ever we expect them to exhibit the highest standards of behaviour and manners.

Last night and today we have received plaudits for Year Four’s performance and exemplary behaviour at a concert at the Sage. Not just from our justifiably proud parents, but Mrs Ducker reports from total strangers and teachers from other schools. Well done Year Four.

Many (not all) of the visits this term require a sometimes considerable parental cash contribution. We are aware that, particularly if you have two or three children in school, this can be an expensive time of year. Indeed this issue has been discussed at governors meetings and by the F.O.F. committee.

There’s a tricky balance here—yes we want our children to experience some of the North East’s unique venues (Vindolanda, Beamish etc.) but costs, particularly transport have rocketed recently. As a school we already subsidise or pay completely for some visits—e.g.. weekly swimming transport. It may be that prior to this time next year we look to extending the school’s contribution to visits. This would impact, of course, on provision in other areas. Be assured we’ll give this issue due consideration.

Please also be aware that no child would ever be excluded from a visit for the inability to pay. If there are insufficient parental contributions a visit cannot actually take place. In reality, experience shows that parents make the full contribution requested for all visits, though in isolated cases of genuine hardship the school has and does discretely help with finance.

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Music in the Nursery

Following on from the success of last year Dr Brendon Renwick will be coming into nursery next term to do several music workshops called Musical Discoveries with your children.

Children explore the elements of music through a fun range of singing, playing & movement activities. Each session provides good opportunities for children's creative development and fully supports related Early Learning Goals.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first entry in a weighty leather-bound log book in my office reads “School opened on Monday 5th June 1967�?. Effectively Fellside is forty on Tuesday 5th June this year—Something to celebrate we think.
Friends of Fellside and Staff are developing ideas for how we can mark this day (the second day back after the half term break) making it memorable for our current children, and equally for adults who actually worked here or who attended Fellside in the past—possibly even in 1967.
We’ll be in touch again about ‘Fellside at Forty’ before half term. In the meantime, if you, family members or friends attended Fellside in the past, know anyone who did, or who has taught here please alert them to this milestone and the likelihood of events at school on Tuesday 5th June. Photographs, memories, memorabilia will all be welcome. Look out for further information during May.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are now exactly half way through the school year with children in all year groups working hard, being well taught and learning lots, and crucially, happy. That’s certainly the conclusion I drew from time spent in every class last week.
Teachers constantly assess the progress of all children. You’ll shortly have another opportunity for an update on your child’s progress with parent consultations scheduled for week beginning 12th March.
The typical child’s response to the parental “what did you do at school today?�? question is “nothing�?. I’m sure evidence in their books and displays will contradict this.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By now all our parents have had the opportunity to discuss childrens’ progress with teachers, in Nursery this term this is done on an informal basis with more formal consultation during March. I hope you found the dialogue useful and are clear about your child’s progress to date and targets for future improvement. Please inform me if that’s not the case.

Teachers are available to discuss concerns or queries throughout the year. Please remember that such discussions would require an appointment to be made through the normal channels.

Of course we’re always available at the start and end of the school day for quick information sharing etc. but please be aware that the period before 8.55 am is an important preparation time for staff and that lessons must start promptly in the morning. After school many staff are involved in meetings and clubs.

So if it’s a few words, we can fit you in any time—a discussion will most likely need an appointment.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On 2nd October local MP Dave Anderson* kindly visited school spending some time with children explaining the role of an MP and his work, followed by a question and answer session.

He then officially launched our website (www.fellsideprimary.co.uk) which I hope you’ve had the opportunity to browse. We hope you find our newsletters informative. The website offers much more information (including an electronic version of this newsletter) and has the facility for you to comment on the content (blogging).

We intend to update the site regularly and shortly after half term children’s work will begin to appear on the site.

We welcome any suggestions for extra content and improvements—get blogging!

* Dave Anderson is supporting us with a proposal for significant capital investment to extend our building to meet the clear demand from the community for out of hours childcare.

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Posted by V Hogarth at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our Nursery edition of the newsletter 'Fellside Nursery Matters' is usually to be found here, however with the staggered entry September is virtually over so we have our Welcome to Nursery Letter instead. Normal service will be resumed next month!

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Posted by V Hogarth at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)