Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this email finds you well.  It has been a very busy few weeks at Dr Thomlinson Middle School.

Celebrating our Culture of Reading and Writing at Dr Thomlinson

We had an eagerly anticipated and ‘most unlady-like’ treat on the morning of  December 2. Robin Stevens, best selling children’s author, paid an exclusive virtual visit to Dr Thomlinson’s, sharing her experiences of reading and writing.

This event was part of a prize won on the school’s behalf by previous Y8 pupil, Will.  He, along with other KS3 students, entered a national competition, writing about war from a child’s perspective. However, we did not only have one person scooping a prize. As well as Will’s winning story, Xanthe in Year 7 achieved a ‘Highly Commended’ for her entry. Well done and congratulations to both these winners. A national award is certainly worth celebrating and a significant achievement! Will has now moved up to KEVI, and so unfortunately did not get to experience Ms Stevens. Xanthe did have the pleasure of reading part of her story aloud to Robin though.Both students received individual awards for their efforts. In addition to this personal audience with the author, our School Library received twenty-one of Robin’s books. They are a mixture of Malory Towers meets Cluedo- well worth stuffing in a stocking for someone this Christmas. Many thanks to Mrs Lamont, who entered those eighteen pupils from her English classes who wished to submit an entry. You have got to be in to win, and it most certainly could be you!

Dr Thomlinson’s got Talent

Last week I really enjoyed being part of our auditions for Dr Thomlinson’s Got Talent.  We will announce the acts that have been chosen to go through to the final on Monday, 11th December. Well done to all those who took part.

Parents/Carers are invited to attend our Dr Thomlinson’s Got Talent show on Monday, 18th December 2023.  The show starts at 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing who will claim the prestigious prize.

Dr Thomlinson Christmas Service at All Saints Church, Rothbury – Wednesday December 20th

Parents/Carers are invited to join us for our annual Christmas Church Service at All Saints Church on Wednesday, December 20th.  The service starts at 1:45pm.

TOP Awards Week beginning 27th November & 4th December November

Our Thomlinson Outstanding Pupil Award is given to the child in each Form Class who, in the opinion of their form tutor, has best shown our core value of the week.

We are concentrating on the core values of Hope; Service; Koinonia; Friendship and Service this year as our school feels that these values will help us best raise awareness of the United Nations 17 sustainability goals that have been devised to help us tackle Climate Change.  Through this important work we feel that we will best live our school mission statement of using our skills and talents for “the good of all”.

 

This week our core value was Creation.

5T Ruth

5H Delphie

6O Ryan

6M Leo

7I JHenry

7L Myles

8N Mary Anne

8S Amelia

 

Last week our core value was Hope

5T Will

5H Paige

6O Louie

6M Jake

7I Rosie

7L Daniel

8N Kayden

8S Harry

Well done to all of these award winners

Prayer for Advent

Newcastle Diocese is committed to working with parishes to encourage and support them in reaching out to children and young people and designed a series of prayers for Advent to help with this.

Heavenly Father,

We pray that all children and young people are given opportunities to use their voices to call for change.

We think especially of those who want to make a difference but don’t know how to start.

Surround them with adults who will listen and give them the right spaces and places to speak out.  Give them the right words to inspire others, and light to path in front of them so they will know where to tread.

And give them peace so they can live their lives without fear for the future.

In your name,

Amen

I hope you have a good weekend,

Liam Murtagh – Headteacher