2A Plants and growing

12th March 2021Beth Thompson

This was our first week back together as a full class! Well done everyone for your hard work and for looking after your friends that were maybe a bit nervous coming back to a big class.

We looked at plants and how they grow, this week, focusing on Jack and the Beanstalk. We explored the garden and took our own Spring photography. We even took traffic surveys, counting the cars, vans and buses that passed the school. We collected different natural materials to make lots of different craft things such as sun catchers and nature paint brushes. We also planted lots of different seeds and investigated how they grow. We made our own baked beans as well as a magic bean stew, both of which were delicious!

This weekend if, of course, Mother’s Day we made a few treats for mum too. Happy Mother’s Day to you all. Have a lovely Sunday together and I will see you next week when we explore flowers!

 

Welcome Back from the Family Partnership Team

9th March 2021Glynis Burn

Family Partnership Update

A BIG welcome back to school for the Spring Term.

Just a brief update on what support is available from The Family Partnership Team at The Dales.

Unfortunately, due to the current situation we have been unable to offer our normal parent/carers activities and meetings.  However, Glynis, Tracy (Blythdale)  and Demi  (Ashdale) are available to talk at any time and we hope to see you all very soon.

Greggs

We already have support from Greggs who continue to provide breakfast for all of our children in school.  We now have access to the Greggs Hardship Grant, and if you would like further information about this, then please contact us.

Blyth Food Bank are also accepting referrals for families in need, and we can do this on your behalf.

(We are also looking to supporting the Blyth Food Bank with donations from our staff, or anyone else who is able).

Northumberland Communities Together

Volunteers who provide support for shopping, collecting prescriptions etc. for people who are vulnerable or self isolating.  Financial advice is also available.

Please contact the Northumberland Communities Together Response Hub.

Phone: 01670 620015 between 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Email: NCT@northumberland.gov.uk

We can also support you with Bus Pass Applications, DLA applications, Housing Issues and much more.

Please do not hesitate to contact Glynis, Tracy or Demi regarding any support you may need.  We are continuing to work together to support our children and families.

2A Mini Beasts

26th February 2021Beth Thompson

This week in class 2 we investigated mini beasts. We were detectives on Monday, hunting for mini beasts in the garden, taking a survey. On Tuesday we looked at worms, making a wormery to watch how worms live in the soil. On Wednesday we made a mud pie which was delicious. On Thursday we read ‘what the ladybird heard’ and recited the story using actions. On Friday we made a cheese roll caterpillar. Yummy!

We also celebrated World Book Day on Thursday so read lots of books. We voted on which books we wanted to make it fair and to read books we wouldn’t normally experience. We read so many stories this week that it’s hard to keep count, including:

  • Mad about mini beasts
  • Superworm
  • What the ladybird heard
  • The very hungry caterpillar
  • Stuck
  • Elmer in the snow, Elmer and super El, Elmer on stilts, Elmer and the stranger
  • How to look after your pet dinosaur
  • We’re going on a bear hunt

Thank you for another lovely week, class 2!

New Term – Welcome back

26th February 2021Beth Thompson

This week has been very exciting in Class 2. Not only are we able to come in and see our friends, but we have started a new topic – Spring. This week we looked at farm animals.

On Monday, we found eggs in our classroom. We made nests, named our eggs and painted them. On Tuesday we found a crime scene. We found 3 houses, one of brick and two that had fallen over, made of straw and sticks. We read about the 3 Little Pigs and baked biscuit bricks to build a house for the pigs. On Wednesday we sang ‘Old MacDonald’ and read our ‘Big Red Barn’ book. We then designed our own farms. They were brilliant. On Thursday we read an exciting book called ‘The 3 Ninja Pigs’. We also had a letter from Mammy Pig asking us to make wolf soup, which was surprisingly delicious. On Friday we had to help Farmer MacDonald find all of his animals, that had escaped from his farm.

We also celebrated a birthday this week and had a fun party and delicious cake. Thanks for a lovely week.

6B Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

15th February 2021Daniel Harrison

This week 6B have been right back into it saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring back by reading the story ‘Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring’. The children have thought about their favourite memories of winter and talked about some of the signs of spring and what they are looking forward to. They have been out in the garden, tallying up the signs of spring for maths as well as searching out the signs of spring and photographing them with the school cameras for science and computing. They’ve even been in the cookery room making pancakes to celebrate (a little late!) pancake day. What a brilliant week!

Hug in a Mug

12th February 2021Glynis Burn

Most of you will have received your ‘Hug in a Mug’ as a token of our thanks, for being on this journey with us.

You have been amazing, so sit down and enjoy a cuppa and pat yourself on the back.

You are all amazing!  Well Done!

If your ‘Hug in a Mug’ hasn’t arrived, please don’t worry (this is due to the weather) and we will deliver after half term

On behalf of the Family Support Team, we wish you a safe and enjoyable half term.

(The Family Support Team)

Glynis, Tracy and Demi

 

 

Children’s Mental Health Week

5th February 2021Amy Taylor

Well done to everyone at The Dales for taking part in Children’s Mental Health week!  You have been thinking about what makes you feel good, creatively expressing feelings and emotions and you dressed in your most colourful clothing to express yourself on Wednesday.  There were some fabulously bright colours and hairstyles, you all looked great!

Keep remembering our five top tips for wellbeing; keep active, connect, give, take notice and keep learning! 

Well Done to all our Families

28th January 2021Glynis Burn

Family Support Blog

Dear Parents / Carers,

On behalf of the Family Support Team, the Class Teams and the Senior Leaders, we would like to tell you how proud we are of you all and how you have adapted your life to fit in the role of ‘Teacher’!

We truly understand that this is a very difficult time for you all.  We are all, staff included, having to learn new skills. Many of our teachers are also doing home learning with their own children, and so they understand what it is like to be on the other end of the phone/computer.

We are very proud of you and your children, and can only thank you for the way in which you have stepped up and taken this on board.

However, can we please stress, that our aim is to work together and to support your child, and not to add unnecessary pressure to your busy life.  We understand that you are being contacted by the Class Team and also the Family Support Team on a weekly basis, and this may be very overwhelming.

We do not want you to look at the Dales number on your phone and panic or be worried.

Please do what you can do, when you can do it.  Anything that your child is doing at home with you, like cooking, helping to clean, drawing etc. is a ‘life skill’ and should be celebrated as part of their lockdown learning.

So, post your pics on tapestry and let us share together the amazing job you are doing.

Please remember, we are here to help and support you, if you want a chat or a virtual coffee, then please give us a ring.  You do not need an appointment to talk to us, we are here for you.

We will also be sending out some Wellbeing packs with activities and with some tips/advice about talking to your child about their feelings.

The Family Support Team would also like to invite parents for a Zoom Coffee and Chat. It would be lovely to see you again.  Further information regarding this will be sent out next week.

Hope to see you very soon,

Glynis/Tracy (Blythdale) & Demi (Ashdale)

Family Support Team

 

SMILE Together

22nd January 2021Tracy Henderson
We’re excited to announce that SMILE Together online activity / fitness sessions are now running weekly on a Saturday morning and now an additional weekday session on a Wednesday afternoon.
The SMILE Together online sessions are for families in Northumberland to join us for a fun and interactive session. Sessions are suitable for all levels and ages, we can tailor movements for all abilities.
Families can book by visiting www.bookwhen.com/smilethroughsport05