Message from the Headteacher 11 June 2021

11th June 2021Miss T Carnaby

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this email finds you well.

Reception Display

Well done and thank you to our Yr 7 Art team who have worked so hard on the current display in our reception.  The display marks the Christian Holy Day of Pentecost.  Thank you to  Emma; Abby; Jemima; Daisy and Mrs Healy.

How to survive in the Arctic

Yr 8 will all be better prepared on how to survive in the Arctic due to a live zoom lesson our children tuned into today courtesy of Ocean Education.

Please continue to test twice – weekly

As lockdown eases, taking a rapid COVID-19 test twice a week, even if you do not have symptoms, will help us stay ahead of the spread of the virus, particularly as new strains appear. Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms and are spreading the virus without knowing. This includes those who have had their vaccine.

Please can Yr 7 & Yr 8 children continue to test twice-weekly during this half term..

 

TOP Award Winners for the week beginning June 7th, 2021

5H Emma & River

5T Madeleine

6O Lily

6M Freya & Elsa

7I Archie

7L Ruby

8N Lily

8S Eve

 

Well done to these award winners

 

I hope you have a restful weekend.

Thanks,

Liam

Lateral Flow Testing

10th June 2021Miss T Carnaby

Thank you for continuing to help keep us all safe by taking the supplied twice weekly Lateral Flow Tests (LFT). As cases in the country are rising it is very important that we all keep testing regularly so that any necessary action can be implemented immediately and help reduce the spread.

I have listed below my 15 steps of testing, please take a few seconds to check that you are following these and therefore completing the test correctly:

1. lay out testing kit with all items – LFT test, testing swab, test tube, vile of liquid, tissue and hand sanitiser

2. blow nose and cough in a tissue – dispose

3. sanitise hands

4. open LFT indicator and write on initials (if more than one person doing a test at the same time)

5. break vile and deposit all fluid into test tube – squeeze hard there isn’t much.

6. sanitise hands

7. open swab collector (large cotton bud)

8. swab your sample – 5 seconds stroking each tonsil then 5 seconds twisting up top of each nostril

9. put cotton bud into test tube and swish around in liquid for at least 10 seconds

10. SQUEEZE OUT the cotton bud using the flexi sides of the test tube (very important bit)

11. flip and fasten the lid on the test tube

12. drip 2-3 drops into the well of the LFT

13. set timer for 30 mins

14. log test result on NHS site  – book a PCR test if LFT is positive.

15. log student or staff test result on the school site – ring school and inform directly if this is positive, the whole household should isolate until you have the PCR test result.

Dispose of the used kit into your normal bin.

Families of staff and school children are able to get free LTF kits from the NHS, these can be collected from the NHS collection points or posted to you (not via school).

Message from the Headteacher – 28 May 2021

28th May 2021Miss T Carnaby

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this email finds you well.

Children and Young People’s Plan

During form time this week we have all been looking at the Children and Young People’s Plan for Northumberland.  In 2019, Northumberland County Council and its partners reached out to schools to get their support in creating a long-term plan for Children and Young People in the county. It has been two years since the plan was created and our County’s Youth Parliament were looking for feedback from children in Northumberland about the work they have been doing on the plan. The  Youth Cabinet and Youth Parliament created a short video telling us about their work and asking schools to  send in questions to ask NCC and its partners about the work they are doing for young people based on the plan

The main points of the plan are that Northumberland County Council will:

  • Make sure the voice of Young People will influence decisions that affects them

  • Make sure children & young people have the best start in life

  • Make sure services work together to tackle any form of disadvantage

  • Ensure children & young people have access to the best quality education to prepare them for adult life

  • Make sure children & young people feel safe & supported and are able to cope with life’s ups and downs

  • Promote & support children & young people to be healthy.

Our pupils responded really positively to these ideas and we made sure their voice was heard in this ongoing work.

Please continue to test twice – weekly

As lockdown eases, taking a rapid COVID-19 test twice a week, even if you do not have symptoms, will help us stay ahead of the spread of the virus, particularly as new strains appear. Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms and are spreading the virus without knowing. This includes those who have had their vaccine.

Please can Yr 7 & Yr 8 children continue to test twice-weekly over half-term and test before returning to school after the holiday.

TOP AWARD WINNERS Week beginning 24th May, 2021.  The core value was Service.

5T Harry

5H Daisy-Lou

6O Isabella

6M Emma

7I Rosemary

7L Alexander

8N Isaac

8S Noah

Well done to all of these award winners

I hope you have a good weekend.  It is our half term holiday next week.  We look forward to seeing you back at school on Monday, 7th June, 2021

Take care,

Liam Murtagh

Feedback from Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) Consultation

18th May 2021Miss T Carnaby

May 18th, 2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

I enclose the findings from our school’s Relationships, Health and Sex Education consultation that was undertaken between Thursday, March 11th 2021 and Thursday, March 25th, 2021.

 

Dr Thomlinson Middle School carried out a consultation on Relationships, Health and Sex Education from Thursday, 11th March to Thursday, 25th March, 2021.  Stakeholders were sent a copy of our draft Relationships, Sex Education and Health Education policy together with with the relevant Government Guidance.  The consultation asked:

1. I read and understood our school’s Relationships, Sex Education and Health Education policy – you may add any suggestions for additions/changes (please see statutory guidance)

2. I read and understand our school’s Relationships and Health Education curriculum plan you may add any suggestions / additions (please see statutory guidance)

3. I understand the right Parents/carers have to withdraw their child from sex education

There were thirty four responses – 3 of which were from staff; 31 from Parents/Carers.  Of the thirty four responses all said they had read and understood our policy;  all said that they had read and understood our Relationships and Health Education Plan; all said they understood the right of Parents/Carers to withdraw their child from sex education.

There were three comments:

  • One comment questioned the need for gender segregated teaching for sex education.  We have amended our policy to say when this will take place and for what reason;

  • One comment wanted our policy to recognise the validity of committed adult relationships other than marriage and we have amended our policy accordingly;

  • One asked to see more guidance for children about when they meet outside of school and their behaviour, sleepovers and legal responsibilities.  This will be covered in our RSE curriculum when we look at practical steps children can take in a range of different contexts to improve or support respectful relationships.

At the same time we also consulted with our student body.  We received this feedback.

What do you enjoy most about the things we learn in PHSCE?

Yr 5

The way it makes you think about your everyday behaviour;It teaches you life skills such as getting along with others; You can learn about other people such as how they feel about things; Teaches you about the dangers of life; Teaches you to a responsible citizen; Teaches you to think before you act

Yr 6

The memory games, group discussion, the new information, recaps for each lesson. Find it helpful to learn about topics that might not be covered in other lessons.  Learning something about emotional development

Yr 7

Healthy Eating and Food, Meditation

Yr 8

The way it teaches self-awareness, discusses important issues and listens to the opinions of peers. It’s different to other subjects like Maths and Science, it’s interesting, helpful for life as it could save your life (Like drugs awareness), good for your mental health, modern content, might not learn these things at home, it’s about “you”, it helps if you’re stressed, good information,  raises awareness of what others may be going through, you can find help without even having to ask

What could we improve about the things we learn in PHSCE?

Children requested more help on how to deal with relationships – in terms of dealing with friendships (both offline and online) and peer pressure;

More time spent on basic first aid;

Further discussion of ways to support mental well being particularly managing stress;

More activities to support resilience

More activities that focus on  business and enterprise activities

We will amend our PHSCE Curriculum accordingly.

 

Forthcoming KS2 PHSCE Lessons

Please note that KS2 will be learning about the changing adolescent body during PHSCE during the next four weeks: Friday, May 21st; Friday, May 28th; Friday 11th June and Friday, June 18th.

 

Forthcoming KS3 PHSCE Lessons

Please note that KS3 will be having Sex Education Lessons in PHSCE next term during the weeks beginning 21st June; 28th June; 5th July and 12th July

 

Thank you very much to all those who took part in our consultation.

 

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher, Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School