This afternoon year 3 have been learning some very important skills.

We learnt about how to do CPR on an adult, a child and a baby. We know what safety checks to carry out before we begin CPR and we know a very popular song to sing to keep us on track. 

After we all had a turn at practicing our new skills of CPR, we went on to learning how to applying bandages. We had lots of fun patching each other up but we have also learnt some amazing skills that could help save lives.

Well done year 3, a brilliant afternoon 😁

Mrs Ryder and Mrs Wright 

What fun we have had over the last five weeks in Creative Crew. From making sun catchers to brighten up the bay to amazing melting crayon art work.

Well done to all the children who came along, you have created some brilliant pieces of art and your encouragement and support towards each other is great to see.

Thanks for coming!!

Mrs Wright 😁

Sub zero temperatures, strong winds and treacherous footpaths have all been created over the past few days by a Siberian weather system named the 'Beast from the East.' Despite it's -50 degree Celsius temperatures warming to just below freezing by the time it's reached the North East, we're still experiencing extreme weather that has made Mrs Wilkinson and many other Headteachers close their schools in order to keep people safe. 

Just before the storm hit we had 5cm of snow covering the school ground and Y3/4 swapped their scheduled tennis lesson for snow sculpting and teamwork. Many children were impressed with the size of snow balls they had managed to make on the school field, as well as their ability to lift them to create Snowman heads! Check out the pictures of their creations in the Gallery. 

If you have any pictures of the snow / yourselves enjoying the snow please e-mail them in to stfrancis@durhamlearning.net and I will add them to the Gallery. Md Runendu and our friends at Memorial Christian High School, Bangladesh are keen to see what it's like to have snow as they've never experienced it. 

Thanks

Mrs Lakey

PLEASE NOTE - CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE

Tickets, where requested will be issued tonight, in ENVELOPES with you child(ren).  Spare tickets will be issued to those that have requested them in the same way tonight.  If you would like to request any additional tickets, please do so by 3PM today (Wednesday 29th November).  Once tickets are issued, we will not have further supplies as we have to comply with fire regulations.

On Friday we looked at research around homework in Primary School. We read the Education Endowment Fund's research which claimed homework in Primary School gives only modest improvements to children's learning.

We are aware that homework can be a source of arguments and pressure in the home and would like to collect your thoughts on whether we should continue to set homework and if so what your thoughts are on the homework tasks.

Mrs Ball and I have uploaded a survey onto the school PIOTA App that was launched last May. You can download it from the App/Google Play Store by searching for St Francis C of E Junior School. The questionnaire is under the 'Survey' tab.

The How to Guide for our PIOTA App (pictured below) is located under the PARENTS / USEFUL LINKS section of our website.

Kind regards

Mrs Lakey

As you are aware the school's messaging service has moved to SchoolCal.  SchoolCal has been designed to be accessed on any device and can be downloaded as an app

* Smartphone App: download the apps, by simply searching 'SchoolCal' within app stores

* Online: simply visit:  https://app.school-cal.co.uk

I am delighted to confirm that in our recent "church" inspection we have been judged to be "good" in all areas; the inspector (Mrs Mary Cook) has written in glowing terms about the children , from their "exemplary behaviour" and "the children rejoice enthusiastically through singing." She notes that there are "excellent relationships within the school family" and "parents speak positively of the care and support given to their children." We are , naturally, delighted with this outcome and I would personally like to thank all staff, parents and carers, Governors and Church Members for the support the school receives. An excellent outcome!!!

A copy of the report can be found in Ofsted and Performance (School Information)

On Tuesday we went, as a school, to South Shields and then the  Sage. We hoped for sunshine for the beach and clear skies for the Sage. Unfortunately we didn't get either - but that didn't stop us from having a brilliant day out! The day started with a feat never before accomplished (to my knowledge!) before - we had two buses in the carpark alongside all the staff cars. The drivers were highly skilled to be able to do this - normally 10 cars is the maximum!

Mrs Pickett kep checking her BBC weather app, but it just confirmed what we already feared - it was going to be wet. The ride up the A1 was - wet. The ride out to South Shields was - wet. And at the beach? It looked like a mini tropical storm was raging!

This did not dampen spirits however. We all trotted (???) towards the toilets via the amusements. Everyone was wet and cold - but then a mini miracle occurred when the owner of Quasar Amusements welcomed us into her arcade for packed lunch. Admittedly she thought there was one class- not 120 children, but this didn't stop her helping us in a very soggy situation. The children were brilliant and even gave a rendition of "Let it Go" by way of thanks before we left.

Then we drove the few miles to the Sage. Men and women in high vis jackets ushered us around the builing, then we paused whilst the 3rd level (where our school was) was cleared. The children were all amazed when they entered - a beautiful arena, live band playing and lots of spotlights too. At 1.15 precisely the event began - our children were magnificent, singing was loud, excited and fabulous. Not one child sat and watched - everyone joined in and danced away the next hour . Undoubtedly one of the many highlights was the whole of the back left section of the Sage giving a soulful rendition of "Skyfall" with all the artistic moves!!! As one child put it, "This has been the best day ever- I loved it."  A great day out; great children, wonderful helpers and staff, the best location. Thank you everyone!!