Please be aware that following a change in guidance for schools there will be a change to requirements as to the wearing of face masks/coverings.

From Monday 17th May there is:

– no longer a requirement for secondary age children (Y7 and Y8 at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School) to wear face masks / coverings in school, either in lessons or in communal spaces

– there is no longer a requirement for adults to wear face masks / coverings in classrooms, but they should continue to wear face coverings when moving around school on corridors and in communal spaces

 

Whilst there is no longer a requirement to do so, should you wish for your child to continue to wear a face mask / covering in school then we are more than happy for this to be the case.

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this email finds you well.  It was great to see so many of you able to participate in our three Spring Parent evenings, the final one of which was on Thursday, 29th April, 2021.

 

Year 8 take part in Virtual Careers Fair

On Friday, April 30th Year 8 took part in the annual Discovery Museum virtual STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and maths) careers fair.

Year 8 took part in interactive career presentations from organisations that included Siemens Energy, Northumberland National Park, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Newcastle University,  Virgin Money, Unipres, Dove Marine Laboratory, & Youth Art Fundraisers

This week Year 8 also took part in a workshop with Northumbria Police on Image Sharing.

 

TOP Award Winners  – Week beginning April 26th, 2021

5H – Hylton

5T – T-Jay

6O – Nathan

6M – Libby

7L – Jemima

7I – Freddy

8N – Ava

8S – Jasper & Cerys

 

Well done to all of these award winners!

 

County Line Information Leaflet for Parents and Carer

“County lines” is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK. Such gangs are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults.  Please find enclosed a leaflet for Parents and Carers written by Northumbria Police giving more information on this area of concern.

I hope you have a restful Bank Holiday Weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this message finds you well.  We have had a good week at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.

 

THE BIG ASK – Nationwide Children’s Survey

I enclose details of a national survey for children led by the Children’s Commissioner for England. The survey, which runs until 19 May, aims to gather children’s views and experiences on important issues and will be used to inform recommendations to Government and proposals to policy changes which affect them and their futures. Please spend 5 – 10 minutes with your child this weekend to complete the survey.

 

“Hi, my name is Rachel de Souza and I’m the Children’s Commissioner for England. My job is to speak up for children in England, stand up for their rights, and make sure that the people in power listen to what children need and want”

For more details see here

 

Internet Watch Foundation Campaign backed by the Home Office

Please be aware of an important campaign led by the Internet Watch Foundation and supported by the UK Home Office.  Internet Watch Foundation data shows 11-13 year old girls are increasingly at risk of grooming and coercion at the hands of online predators.

In 2020, IWF confirmed 68,000 cases of self-generated imagery, a rise of 77% on 2019 and self-generated imagery accounts for nearly half (44%) the imagery the foundation took action on last year. In 80% of these cases, the victims were 11- to 13-year-old girls.

Any child, no matter what their background, with unrestricted access to internet-connected devices, is at risk.

The hard-hitting campaign, backed by the UK Home Office and Microsoft, aims to empower girls, and warn their parents and carers about the risks posed by online predators targeting children. Its aim is to build resilience to the threat of self-generated sexual abuse of children, thereby reducing the number of incidences.

The purpose of the campaign is for girls to have an increased awareness of how to respond safely to requests online for self-generated child sexual abuse material; and for parents/carers to have an increased awareness of self-generated child sexual abuse online and feel motivated and equipped to protect their children.

For more details see here

 

TOP Award Winners – Week beginning April 19th, 2021

5T – Lucy

5H – Toby / Ryan

6O – Megan

6M – Fran

7I – Hannah

7L – Emma

8N – Julia

8S – Mia

 

Well done to all of these award winners!

 

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope this email finds you well.  It has been a busy week at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.

 

On Thursday Yr 8 took part in a Comic Masterclass event led by Kev F Sutherland’s comic masterclasses. Kev F. Sutherland is a Scottish comedian and comic strip creator. He has drawn for a variety of publications, including The Beano.  The sessions – linked with the Hexham Book Festival – were very well received.

 

March 23rd – National Day of Reflection

Our school will be commemorating the National Day of Reflection on Tuesday, March 23rd with a minute’s silence at midday.  There are also Yellow Remembrance Ribbons which can be purchased by pupils – children can give a donation of their choice and all proceeds will go to The Great Daffodil Appeal.  The ribbons will be tied to our Reflection Display in the main foyer.  Further information on the National Day of Reflection and The Great Daffodil Appeal can be found here

 

Comic Relief

We marked Comic Relief on Friday 19th March with a School Non Uniform Day.  The day raised £240.41.  Thank you for your donations.

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TOP Awards – Wk beginning March 15th

The Thomlinson Outstanding Pupil Award this week was for those pupils best exemplifying our core value of Reverence

5H – Alfie

5T – T-Jay

6O – Amy

6M – Charlotte

7I – Rose

7L – Polly

8N – Nicole

8S – Lulu

 

Well done to all of these award winners.

 

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope this email finds you well after a week where it has been lovely to be able to welcome back all our students.

World Book Day

Thursday, March 3rd was the 26th year that the United Kingdom celebrated World Book Day.  Unfortunately, this year, we celebrated this event virtually however this did not stop some really impressive work from our students.

 

In Key Stage Two Yrs 5 & 6 were invited to turn a potato into their favourite fictional character of all time, or paint a pebble illustrating the front cover of their favourite book, either the original or their own design.

 

The KS2 winners were:

Year 5

1.  Daniel (Jackdaw Summer by David Almond pebble)

2.  Xanthe (Romley Jefferson’s Awesome Adventures  – potato)

3.  Max (Pirate Potato) & Madeline Heslop (Grumpy Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

 

Year 6

1. James ( Woolly – Ice Monster by David Walliams)- potato

2. Toby ( Where Eagles Dare- Alistair Maclean) – pebble

3. Sarah ( Olaf and friends)- potato JOINT Alex ( Slime- David Walliams) potato

 

In Key Stage Three Y7&8 were invited to design a bedroom for a fictional character then lace clues around the specially designed bedroom and see if we can guess whose room is this?

 

The KS3 Winners were:

Year 7  Bedroom designs.

1. Rosemary

2. Sasha

3. Luke

 

 Year 8 Bedroom designs

1. Rosy

2. Maddison

3. Rachel

 

Well done to all the students who took part.  I did especially enjoy the tribute to “Where Eagles Dare” – the books of Alistair Maclean were a significant part of my youth.  I would also strongly recommend “Ice Station Zebra” and “The Satan Bug”.

 

TOP Award Winners Week beginning 8th March, 2021

Thomlinson Outstanding Pupil Awards are awarded to the student who best demonstrates the core value of the week.  The core value this week was Humility and the TOP Award winners were:

5T Leon

5H Jodie

6O Hannah

6M Oliver

7I Sasha

7L Joel

8N Lois

8S Calaina & Abi

 

Well done to all of these award winners.

 

Yr 7 & Yr 8 Lateral Flow Tests

All children will have received Lateral Flow Tests.  Please read an explanatory email detailing how and when these tests are to be carried out.

 

Uniform

 Please remember that Pupils are not allowed jewellery (including earrings), make up or unusual hair colour or styles. Long hair must be tied back.  Thank you for your ongoing support in this regard.

 

I hope you have a restful weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) Consultation Thursday, 11th March – Thursday 25th March

We are writing to inform you of a consultation Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School is carrying out from Thursday, 11th March to Thursday, 25th March, 2021. Please see the attached letter

The consultation gives Parents/Carers an opportunity to look at the way in which our school aims to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) that gives children and young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.