Dear Parents/Carers,

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

Well done to our Mock Trial Team

A huge well done to our Mock Trial team who took part in the area heat of the competition on Saturday 16th March, 2024.  The Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition helps young people understand how the law touches every aspect of their lives, gaining an insight into how the legal justice system works. Schools are given access to resources, including a specially written criminal case, to help teams prepare legal arguments. After preparation, our school team took part in a head-to-head trial with another school to prosecute and defend a case – on this occasion it was a case involving an assault on a taxi driver.

All 17 pupils who took part did very well, special mentions going to Dillan and Emily who took the part of witnesses in the case and Samantha who played the part of a lawyer in a very convincing way.

Dr Thomlinson Sport Success

Well done to the Dr Thomlinson Boccia and Ten Pin Bowling Teams who enjoyed medal winning success in their respective competitions.  Boccia is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. The name “boccia” is derived from the Latin word for “boss” – bottia. Dr Thomlinson entered two teams with Edward; Tyler; Daniel and Beth winning two of the five group games.

Our other team, comprising of Ethan, Leo and TJ, won four of their five group games and then the resulting semi final and final – making them Regional Boccia Champions.  Very well done to all involved.

Dr Thomlinson Literary Success

Well done to our triumphant Lit Quiz team who won the regional round of the International Litquiz competition.  Competing against 24 other teams; Dr Thomlinson finished in first place – three points in front of Yarm School.

This tremendous success is the first time we have won the competition which, as a result of our victory, takes our team of Xanthe; Gabriel; Cecily and Jonah, into the national Lit Quiz final in London in June.

Our other team composed of Annabel; Charlotte; Gabrielle and Leon finished in an impressive 14th place which augurs well for their chances in next year’s competition.

The winners of the national Lit Quiz final round head to Australia to participate in the International final.  We wish this team the very best of luck in their future exploits!

Wednesday 27th March,  Easter Church Service

Parents/Carers are very welcome to join the school for our Easter Church Service on Wednesday 27th March at 1:45pm at All Saints Church, Rothbury for our school Easter Service.

I hope you have a restful weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Our Year 7 Courageous Advocates are leading activities to both raise awareness and raise funds to mark World Cancer Day.  Please read an email from them below.

Thank you,

Mr Murtagh – Headteacher, Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School

“Our #Think Pink group are organising a sponsored 5km run/walk around our school grounds this week, and we would like your help.

If children would wish to take part we ask that your child bring a spare pair of trainers as our school fields are quite wet at the moment and we would like to keep our school clean for our pupils.

We are very proud of our pupils who have so far participated.  Children are taking part in our sponsored run/walk every lunchtime. Yesterday on Monday, 12th February, our school ran a total of 103 laps! We are very proud. Imagine what it would be like at the end of the week if everyone took part!

You may sponsor your child or anyone else in our school community and the money will go to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the organisation that organises World Cancer Day.  Participants can run as many laps as they want but 2 is the minimum. We are extremely grateful for whoever takes part in the goal and hope by the end, we will have raised a lot of money.  There is a sponsor form attached to this email.

Our goal is to run 5km by the end of the school week. We are doing this because it is proven physical exercise is one way to encourage good health.  You can find more information about cancer by using this link.

Thank you very much for all your support.  We raised almost £440 from our bake sale on Friday, 9th February.  We  are very proud of the children who ran today, and we hope they will continue to run throughout the week.

Yours truly,

The Think Pink group”

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope this email finds you well.  We have had a very productive fortnight at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.

Anti Bullying Presentation – 22nd January

Thank you to the 8 parents who attended the Trust Anti Bullying session by Clennell Education on the evening of January 22nd.  A similar event was held in the same week at Stobhillgate First School, Morpeth to which 21 parents attended.  The sessions followed Trust Parent E Safety events held, again at Dr Thomlinson’s and Stobhillgate First School In September 2023 to which over 100 parents attended.

Yr7 & Yr 8 Cinema Trip to see One Life

Yr 7 & Yr 8 pupils went to the Cramlington Vue Cinema on January 26th.  One Life is a a 2023 British biographical drama film based on the true story of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton as he looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to hide and flee in 1938–39, just before the beginning of World War II.  Watching the film was part of our school’s commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day that takes place annually on January 27th.

Ski Trip – 20th January – 27th January

Thank you to all our staff who helped run our very successful 2024 Ski Trip.  The school has received some lovely feedback from parents/carers of those who attended the trip.

Yr 8 visit to Newcastle Central Mosque February 5th

On Monday February 5th Yr 8 visited Newcastle Central Mosque.  The visit will supplement the unit on Islam the children are currently studying in Religious Education.  Thank you to Brother Khadim for all his help to make our visit such an interesting one.

Key Stage Two trip to see Shrek – the Musical on February 7th

Yr 5 & 6 pupils really enjoyed their trip to see Shrek the Musical at Sunderland.  The coaches carrying our children didn’t arrive back at school until after 7pm – thank you very much to all our staff for giving up a lot of their evening to enable this successful trip to take place.

World Cancer Day – February 9th

On Friday, February 9th our “Think Pink” group of Year 7 Courageous Advocates began a week of events marking World Cancer Day.

World Cancer Day (Sunday, February 4th) is an annual event to raise awareness of the disease of cancer.  The day looks to increase understanding of cancer as well as looking to change behaviours and attitudes.  The day is an international event run by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

On February 9th children were invited to::

•  to come to school in blue and orange (children doing so are invited to make a suggested donation of £1);

• Take part and contribute to a bake sale at lunchtime.

Even I, the Headteacher, went deep into my wardrobe to find an orange and blue outfit – although my daughter remarked I was better dressed for the golf course than a school!

Thank you to all those who took part.  Already we have raised £437.95 and we still have our sponsored walk/run challenge to take place…

• Between Monday February 12th to Friday February 16th children & staff are challenged to take the World Cancer Day Challenge –  running or walking a total of 5km during that week’s lunchtimes to raise money for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) .   If children are taking part in this then please could they bring a change of footwear (the field will be muddy).A sponsor form can be found here.

Further information on the International event can be found here.

Dr Thomlinson Parent Questionnaire

Please could you spend a few moments of your time to complete this survey.

Thank you.

Aidan House Service 16th February

On 16th February at 10am at All Saints Church, Rothbury members of Aidan House will celebrate the life of their Saint.  Parents/Carers are very welcome to attend.  The service will last for approx 30 minutes.  On Friday members of Aidan House are allowed to come to school in blue (the colour of their House)

TOP Award Winners

Week beginning 29th January – core value: Creation

5T Will

5H Evie

6O Stan

6M David

7I El

7L Teddy

8N Mary Anne

8S Jessica

Week beginning 5th February – core value: Creation

5T Lilly

5H William

6O Morgan

6M Iona

7I Emme

7L Josh

8N Emily

8S Miles

Well done to all of these award winners.

I hope you have a restful weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

On Friday, February 9th our “Think Pink” group of Year 7 Courageous Advocates have organised a week of events marking World Cancer Day.

World Cancer Day (Sunday, February 4th) is an annual event to raise awareness of the disease of cancer.  The day looks to increase understanding of cancer as well as looking to change behaviours and attitudes.  The day is an international event run by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

On February 9th children are invited to::

•  to come to school in blue and orange (children doing so are invited to make a suggested donation of £1);

• Take part and contribute to a bake sale at lunchtime;

• Between Monday February 12th to Friday February 16th children & staff are challenged to take the World Cancer Day Challenge –  running or walking a total of 5km during that week’s lunchtimes to raise money for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) .

Further information on the International event can be found here

Year 7 and 8 have taken part in a Biodiversity project, creating wax-resist paintings of British wildlife.  The students worked amazingly well to create some fantastic works of art!

Dear Parents/Carers,

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

Yr 7 trip to Newcastle Gurdwara

It was a real privilege to be able to take Yr 7 pupils to the Newcastle Gurdwara on Monday, January 15th.  Thank you very much to Jaswinder Singh who gave us an excellent tour and to both the musicians and catering staff who made us feel very welcome.  Our children were immaculately behaved and asked some excellent questions.  The visit will really support the unit Yr 7 are currently studying about the Sikh religion.  We were shown wonderful hospitality and our children really enjoyed the excellent food in the Gurdwara’s Langar (community kitchen).

Yr 7/8 Cross Country

Well done to the eleven children who took part in the Cross Country event on Tuesday.  The weather was very, very cold and our team had to run through snow for part of the course!  The resilience and spirit they showed were admirable.

House Services

Our House Captains began planning our annual House Saint Church Services this week.  The services are at All Saints Church, Rothbury and begin at 10am.

Aidan House Service – Friday 16th February

Bede House Service – Friday, March 22nd

Cuthbert House Service – Friday, 7th June

Invitation to attend an Anti – Bullying Education Session for parents / carers

As part of our responsibility to effectively safeguard all children within our Trust, we are holding some parent support and education sessions this month. These will be delivered by professionals from our Safeguarding partners at Clennell Education Solutions.

Sessions will take place at the dates and times shown below –

• Monday 22 January 2024 at Dr Thomlinson Middle School, Rothbury at 5.30pm for all year groups

• Monday 29 January 2024 at Stobhillgate First School, Morpeth at 5.30pm for all year groups

A Letter informing you of this event is attached to this email.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Take care,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,