How can we develop Justice in our school community?
The image for Christian Unity Week this year is that of a shipwrecked boat – it symbolises the ship in which St Paul was in that ran aground on the islands of Malta. The island celebrates – on 10th February – the Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul, a celebration that marks and gives thanks for the arrival of Christian faith on the islands which occurred through the shipwreck of St Paul.
St Paul was much touched by the “unusual kindness” (in his words) he received from the inhabitants of Malta during his unexpected stay on the islands. Many times we look to make sure that we are treated fairly and justly. Often we find ourselves saying, “it’s not fair” in terms of how we are treated by others. Yet how often do we express surprise when we are treated with unexpected or “unusual” kindness” by others?
Justice is not about a culture which encourages everyone to insist on their own rights at the expense of others. Let us try to think about how we can treat others with the kindness and consideration that we would wish to be treated. Think how encouraging this would be to both ourselves and the people we meet. What can we do and how can we behave so that visitors to our school can be struck by our “unusual kindness”?
Dear Parents / Carers,
I hope this email finds you well and I would like to take this opportunity to offer you and your family a very happy new year!
Dr Thomlinson’s Got Winter Talent
Our annual Dr Thomlinson’s Got Talent competition is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5th at 7pm. Children are invited to sign up if they wish to take part. The window for applications closes on Friday, January 24th after which there will be auditions in front of each of our Houses (Aidan, Bede and Cuthbert). We look forward to this exciting event.
Science Activity
Each message from the Headteacher offer a Science Activity that children can do at home and this one is no exception. You are welcome to follow the link and do a little extra Science investigating…
https://spark.iop.org/
RSE – Relationships and Sex Education
We will be teaching our RSE – Relationships and Sex Education – over the next two terms at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School. These sessions will be age appropriate and, on occasion, taught in same gender groups. All the materials have been produced by health workers in the region and tailored to suit our own particular needs.
These lessons will take place during a rolling PHSCE lesson that moves through our weekly timetable. We will be starting with Year 8 and working down through the year groups.
If you would like any further information or you do not wish for your child to participate in the Sex Education Lessons (not including what is taught as part of the Science Curriculum) then please do not hesitate to get in touch with the school
Electronic Devices in School
Two electronic devices have gone missing from children’s school bags during the school day in the past two weeks. Such incidents are very rare at our school but very upsetting for the people involved. Both cases are being investigated by the school and have been reported to the Police. Please remember that the school will not be responsible for the loss/theft/damage of any mobile phone or similar device brought onto the school site. Those who do bring an electronic device to school do so at their own risk.
School Dinners
We have welcomed our new School Cook Mrs Muir and meal take-up is steadily increasing since her arrival. To change your child from packed lunch to school meals, (or vice versa) we do require notice in writing 1 week in advance. 2 course school meal is now £2.30
Mrs Muir has started a 3 week rolling menu (available on the website) with her own recipes and is keen for children to try any new food that she is cooking, she willingly gives out small tasters when children ask. Mrs Muir is now using local butchers, Greens in Longframlington for all the school meat.
As part of the Cheviot Trust we abide by the Trust Food in Schools policy (available on the school website) – this has hugely reduced the choice of snacks now available in the tuck shop at break time. We now sell toast and crumpets for 25p and bacon or sausage sandwiches on Fridays. We ask that parents, sending in a break-time snack, ensure this is sugar & salt free, for example, fruit or veg and is not a chocolate bar or crisps. The policy also gives advice for parents on providing packed lunches. We ask that anyone providing a packed lunch reads the section and helps us keep all our children healthy. This includes keeping sugar and salt to a minimum and increasing fruit and veg portions. From this week onwards, children on packed lunches will resume bringing home the unused contents of their lunches to allow you to monitor what they are eating from their lunch.
Please remember that only water is allowed to be drunk during the school day around school. Please provide your child with a freshly filled named bottle daily.
We are committed to keeping our children healthy and ask that you help us achieve this by adhering to our policy.
TOP Awards Week beginning 6th January 2020
5T Freya
5H Laney
6O Will
6M Emma
7L Isobel
7I Kaci
8N Ollie
8S Noah
TOP Awards Week beginning 13th January 2020
5T Jessica
5H Dexter
6O Isla
6M Abby
7L Eve
7I Hannah
8N Daisy
8S Dexter
Mathemagician of the Week Awards go to Martha and Edward
P&Q Award goes to Kai
Well done to all of our award winners!
Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks,
Liam
How can we develop Trust in our school community?
Trust is central to civilised society, to living together in harmony and to be valued and honoured.
To feel that you are “not trusted” is one of the worst feelings of the world, yet more and more our world feels that people can’t be trusted and instead must be watched, filmed and monitored. No-one wants to be in a place where they are constantly monitored so we must all do our best to ensure that we can trust each other and that we behave towards others and other people’s possessions in the respectful way that we wish ourselves and our possessions to be treated by others
How can we develop Endurance in our school community?
January 6th is the feast of the Epiphany when the Three Wise Men visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The visit of the Magi is described in the second book of Matthew’s Gospel:
Epiphany also means “a sudden realisation” and we have looked at the “epiphanies” experienced by Archimedes, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.
However the “sudden realisations” of Archimedes, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein didn’t happen by accident; instead they happened through people thinking about things really deeply. Similarly, it is suggested that the Three Wise Men deeply studied and interpreted the stars in order to be at the birth of Jesus.
Such momentous realisations come about by showing great endurance in our studies. It is only through such endurance that we can show our commitment to growth mindset. Albert Einstein said: “ “I have no special gift,I am only passionately curious.” We need to think how we can show the necessary endurance in our studies so to constantly grow and improve our thinking about the things we are studying in order to realise epiphanies in our own learning.
We are very pleased to inform you that with funding from Northumberland County Council Cultural Fund, we are delivering a free all day Drum Festival on Saturday 25th January 1000-2200 at Hexham’s Queens Hall. This is a very exciting event as we are bringing some of our countries top percussionists to our region.
There will be workshops, performances and one to one lessons throughout the day culminating in an evening Gala Concert featuring Owen Gunnell with Millenium Percussion from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Army Musicians. The Concert will be opened by Internationally renown street drumming troop Spark!
The events are free to all but we are hoping that those attending may pop their hand in their pockets to give the Foundation a donation! To register onto any workshop just email me at mjbpercussionfoundation@gmail.
1000-1230 Martyn Kaine drum kit workshop
1300-1415 Will Lang bodhran workshop
1430-1600 Royal Army Musicians
1600-1700 Owen Gunnell tuned percussion for beginners
1700-1800 Owen Gunnell tuned percussion for intermediates
The event is taking place at Hexham’s Queens Hall on Beaumont Street in Hexham 1000-2200 in the main auditorium. In the foyer there will be stalls from the Army, so people can enquire about a career in army music, and JG Windows will have a music stall, (they are very kindly lending us all the bodhrans for the bodhran workshop) we will also be running a prize draw for a £50 amazon voucher, a drum beat challenge (to find the fastest drummer), a raffle and samba workshops for beginners.
Tickets to the evening Gala Concert are available now from the Queen’s Hall Box Office, free in person, there is a 50p admin fee if booked online or over the phone. They is a limited amount available.
The aim of the Mark Jon Bolderson Percussion Foundation is to provide workshops, tuition and performance opportunities for youngsters in the North East and we also run an annual scholarship to award financial prizes to aid youngsters with equipment and tuition. It was set up in 2017 in memory of Hexham born percussionist and composer Mark Jon Bolderson.
You can follow us on our website www.
and on facebook Mark Jon Bolderson Percussion Foundation.
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope this email finds you well.
It has been a really busy two weeks at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School.
We enjoyed a great disco on Friday 6th December. I was even surprised to recognise some of the songs that were requested by our students! Thanks to the Friends of Dr Thomlinson Middle School for organising this event.
Wednesday, December 11th saw our Gardening Club host our inaugural Christmas Fair. The event went very well and I managed to pick up some great Christmas presents. Thanks to all those pupils who did so much to make this a great success.
Well done to all those Year 8 children who took part in our Year 8 Christmas Cake Coffee Morning. It was lovely to see so many Parents/Carers at our coffee morning which showcased the many excellently cakes decorated by Year 8. Congratulations to Matilda, Jenny and Billy who won awards for the three best decorated Christmas cakes.
Everyone enjoyed their Christmas Dinner on Wednesday 18th December. It was wonderful seeing so many Christmas jumpers. It almost made one feel it was nearly Christmas! We raised over £150 for Save the Children.
Thank you to all those children who had a role in our Christmas Church Service at All Saints. Thank you to Mrs Allan and the Choir and Orchestra for all their hard work.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you on Monday, January 6th, 2020.
Take care,
Liam
