Cat and Dog Shelter.

We love sharing the accomplishments of our students. You will remember that our Lower School Students, led by Class 3JS undertook a challenge to raise funds for the Cat and Dog Shelter with a target of £500. They have smashed this, and we are so proud of them.

John has informed me that they have now raised £1057.

Well done to everyone, the students who walked, the parents and staff who sponsored and the staff who supported them.

This will make such a difference.

Project Linus, Northumbria.

We had a visit in school this week from Liz Villablos McKenna with another delivery of beautiful quilts and blankets which will be passed on to students. This group met regularly, but lockdown has meant they wanted something productive to do. Some live alone and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing their work appreciated. If you receive one, the name of the quilter is on the label and it would be great if you mention them by name and post on their Facebook page.

Photo with RR Class, with Liz in the back row of the photo.

PTA

Plans are progressing for our postponed Summer Fayre on Saturday 18^th September, our families are amazing and we have had so many donations, now safely under lock and key ready for September.

As we will be doing this close to the start of term any offers of help would be appreciated.

Thanks to all who supported our number draw. All 300 numbers have sold, and the draw will be done by tomorrow and the winner contacted. Do join the Facebook page as the winner’s name will be advertised there. View the PTA page here

PTA 100 Club Draw

We drew the remaining 6 numbers on Wednesday and details forwarded to finance to send out the winners cheques. The winners are:

Number:

39        Lisa Buckham
21        Jo Thomas
16        Lorraine Whitney
44        Phil and Nicola Berriman
47        Bill and Eve Mortson
15        Donna Jones

Cheques to the value of £30 each (we sold some more since the last draw) have been requested from finance and will be sent out over the summer. The 100 Club is such an easy way to support the PTA. With 50% of funds covering the cost of our annual memberships it ensures that we can still run legally and support school. Do consider joining again next year. Forms will be sent out in September and will be available at the summer fayre.

I would like to thank the parent committee without whom we could not function.

So, to our Chair Donna Jones, Vice Chair Sarah Warwick, Secretary Chris Fewster and Ros Holden our Treasurer. In school Jo Thomas, Media and Events and Claire Hayden, School and School Council Link support the PTA in so many ways. Thanks to John Steward who has engaged, attending most meetings, Maria Hallett, Fund-raising and Danny Watson, Chair of the Student Council. Let’s hope that in the next academic year we can meet up in person as well as via Teams

I could not end this without special thanks to Chris Fewster, who has supported us in so many ways this year. Here’s a snapshot:

• Gifts for Winter Wonderland
• Toys and games for school.
• Easter Eggs
• Manor House Gift Certificate
• Donations for the summer fayre
• Funded 1 day of Circus Skills
• Funded 2 other events which will be held next term. We had to postpone due to the rising COVID numbers. These are a Magic Show for what is now Yellow Bubble and an African drumming day for what is now Blue Bubble. Chris you are just amazing.

Social Events:

There are plans to arrange social meetings over the summer for families. These will be advertised on the Facebook page and are not being run by school. The plan is that 1-2 parents will arrange the first, with others taking on the next one.

And all that’s left for me to say is thank you to everyone who has supported us in some many ways. Have a lovely summer. ☀️☀️

There will be a whole school assembly taking place at 2.00pm on Friday 16th July.  All of our children and families are welcome to join via the following link:  Click here to join the meeting

We have unfortunately had a positive case reported by a member of staff within the blue bubble this morning.  Contact has been made with all parents of those children affected.

Remote learning will be available for all those isolating.

We have unfortunately had a positive case reported by a member of staff within the yellow bubble this morning.  Contact has been made with all parents of those children affected.

As per guidance from the North Tyneside Public Health team could those affected all seek a PCR test and report the result to us via:  https://forms.gle/EAbgdo4JV8ZWfkAL6

Remote learning will be available on Monday for all those isolating.

Hi everyone 

I do hope all’s well with you all, especially as we approach the summer break, about which there are sometimes mixed feelings, I know 

The end of the school year can also be a time of anxiety for many as people are thinking about either coming here, leaving here, or changes in their class teams. These are really important things for us all, and we understand it’s a difficult time. I’m confident that today’s Transition Event will have helped, and if it has raised questions, and brought any issues to light, then so much the better. We want to work in open collaboration & communication with staff and home, but often these times are also full of compromises and the need to try out new arrangements. It isn’t always easy 

Let’s also hope that next year’s arrangements are Covid free, because the next item, of course, is….. 

Covid Update 

It’s been a bit of a quieter week, although we’ve still had Covid-related absences and the like. It was good to welcome one class back to today, at least 

The changes to the self-isolation rules which will come into effect in August will hopefully mean a significant reduction in the number of pupils missing school, so we’re hoping that that’s going to be good news for all of us 

Please inform us if your child develops any symptoms, and please do seek a PCR test prior to attending school.  Thanks to those of you who are continuing to carry out Lateral Flow Testing at home 

We posted something about the Covid processes a few days ago, about steps we have to take here when something happens, so please do have a look at that if you want to delve more into what we do and why we do it when something happens. Hope it helps. Thanks again for your overwhelmingly understanding responses and support 

Returning in September

We have had an indication from the education minister on changes we can expect to see in Autumn, including the end of the Bubble system and stopping isolation for contacts of positive cases who are under-18 or double vaccinated.  We are also anticipating the return of onsite testing. The government hasn’t yet published the guidance for schools, but we will provide you with more information when we have the detail and understand what we will need to do in school from September 

Trainee Teachers’ Graduation 

Congratulations to (l-r) Tom, Joel, Lena and Anthony, our trainee teachers who graduated this week in a virtual graduation ceremony. We’re so proud of them all.  They’ve been an amazing part of the team and we wish them the best of luck for the future – and we’re delighted to say that some of them are coming back! Joel “won” the graduation as he kept his mortar board hat on all day! Seriously, well done guys, and the very best of luck with your careers. It’s been a pleasure 

The New & Improved Sensory Room 

Leon was lucky enough to be the first student to experience the new and improved sensory room! He thoroughly enjoyed the new interactive elements, choosing options to view different scenes and videos. He especially loved feeling like he was in outer space! We can’t wait to use this more in the next school year! 

Star of the Week ⭐⭐⭐ 

I think it has to be all of John Strachan’s class, for raising £867 for the Dog & Cat Shelter – amazing job. I know they would love to get to £1000, so how about a pound for every shot England make in the final on Sunday? I’m in! If England make 5 shots during the game, then it won’t even take 30 of us to help them reach the £1k mark….well done, guys! 

Football 

No, not that one – this one! 

2SK held their own version of Euro 2020 with a football match! They made their own England flag, medals and trophy in their OT session this morning. Both teams brought enthusiasm, determination and sportsmanship… but at the end of the day, England HAD to be the winners!! Well done to Toby, Wren, Jackson, Danny and Leon! 

All the best everyone, enjoy the other football. Take care 

John S 

 

Kids travel free on the Metro information.

Kids under 18 travel free on the Metro this summer from 19^th July when escorted by an adult with a valid ticket.

Take the kids for free | nexus.org.uk

Free beach wheelchair hire

Information on the above, for 1-6 hours between 10:00 and 17:00 daily can be found by visiting the Newbiggin Maritime Centre website on:

www.nmcentre.org.uk

Cat and Dog Shelter.

Just a message to say a MASSIVE thanks for all the generous donations that have been made over the past 5 weeks.

We have been absolutely blown away by the overwhelming support and generosity of all who have donated.

Our current total is a staggering £867.00  – way over our initial £500 target so THANK YOU ALL for being so kind with your donations.

We are planning on presenting this money to the Dog and Cat shelter next week so if you’d still like to donate then please do as the gofund.me page will be closing on Monday 12^th July.  Who knows, we might even hit the £1000 mark!

https://gofund.me/9c39fff8

Thanks again.  You are all wonderful people!

Have a great weekend.

From everyone in the TEAM 3JS

PTA

Thanks to those who have supported our latest fund-raising initiative below. There is still time to purchase a number or 2. Please feel free to share with friends and family.

The PTA have been donated an amazing prize of an overnight stay with breakfast, £20 pp voucher towards your evening meal and 2 hour use for both guests of the spa facilities at the Manor House Hotel. 

I have organised a number draw with 300 numbers at £2.50 per number to raise much needed funds for the PTA. As you are aware we have had limited opportunity to do fundraising this year but we have tried to continue to support the children and young people (and staff) by buying in the pantomimes, circus skills, photo frames, purchasing one of the new benches out the front of the school etc. This is a great opportunity for you to not only support the PTA by buying a number (or two, it’s not limited to how many you buy) but you could win some well deserved R&R.

If you would like to purchase any numbers contact me on djpercyhedley@gmail.com

Via facebook or messenger PTA page (Donna Jones)

Mobile 07411783334

I’m hoping to draw the winning number on 17th July to celebrate the start of the holidays – subject to selling all the numbers

PTA Facebook page

Have you joined the above? If not, and you are a parent/carer of a young person at Percy Hedley School please do. I would like to encourage all our families to share information on this page which may benefit other families. Parents are often the best source of information.

Facebook PTA Page

Summer Fayre.

You will know by now that this has been postponed until Saturday 18^th September; let’s hope for an Indian summer. Please could anyone who is available to volunteer on the day contact me on e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk to confirm? I will pass information on to Sarah Warwick and Donna Jones who are co-ordinating volunteers.

On behalf of the PTA, thank you to all who have so generously donated. You are incredible.

Dear Parent / Carer

Our class lists for next year are now finalized. As we have our transition events scheduled to take place this Friday we will be sending confirmation of your child’s class teacher by our text/email to parents service later today. This will enable you and your child to have advance notice of their groups prior to Friday. We will also be sending confirmation by first class post this evening.

Kind regards
Carla

Dear Parents & Carers

Thank you for working with us during this difficult time. We thought it may be helpful if we took some time to explain the processes we go through when we find out about positive tests. We hope that this will be helpful and help everyone to understand what are often difficult messages. We’re posting this as a response to feedback, for which we are always grateful

When there is a positive case we work very closely with the North Tyneside Public Health Team, and at all times follow their guidance. Of course, North Tyneside is currently an area of ‘high prevalence’ of the Delta variant, and the Guidance here differs at times from that of other authorities, even ones that are nearby, which can be hard to reconcile, but is what happens!

Also, as our school is actually in North Tyneside we have to abide by their Guidance even if you and your child live elsewhere

Bubbles

We have throughout Covid had children in ‘Bubbles’, like everywhere else, and children do not mix from Bubble to Bubble. Within the Bubbles we have Class Groups and with the exception of post-16 those classes have limited contact with each other

[Post-16 have to move around more than others in order to access their curricular arrangements, and the impact would be too large for them not to do so, as they may not be able to pass their courses, which are very important to them]

Close Contact

When identifying a close contact we have to look at the following for staff and children. This is directly from the Guidance

• face-to-face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within 1 metre
• been within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer without face-to-face contact
• been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact, or added up together over one day)
• travelled in the same vehicle ie, in a taxi

Once we have identified close contacts on the basis of the criteria above we then look at safe staff ratios and the specific needs of the children left in school

Most of our staff are parents themselves and so of course are also affected by Covid, so we have also to take into consideration staff absences due to their own arrangements if they can’t change them. Our staff make every attempt to do what they can in those circumstances and come into work, they really do

Only if we have an unsafe staffing ratio or can’t cover the specific needs of a child, would we close a class or Bubble to children who do not themselves need to isolate.  This would only be as an absolute last resort and following consultation with the Public Health Team

When would we send children home?

On confirmation of a positive LFT or PCR, we would commence close contact tracing and send those connected home to complete their 10-day isolation period

When do we bring children back into school?

Anyone who has had a positive LFT result is asked to seek a confirmatory PCR.  If the PCR returns negative, we will commence bringing children back into school when it is safe to do so

PCR testing for close contacts

In line with the North Tyneside Public Health Guidance anyone who is a close contact of a positive case is asked to seek a PCR test. Within North Tyneside the Guidance, due to us being in an area of high prevalence, is that regardless of PCR result the close contact MUST continue to isolate for the full 10 day period. This is different to other places that aren’t currently areas of high prevalence

Communicating with You

When we are made aware of a positive case, there are a number of steps that we take. We

1. Commence the close contact tracing
2. Contact the parents of those close contacts
3. Notify all other parents via the blog that there is a confirmed case in school

Please be reassured that we communicate with parents as quickly as possible, but our priority is with those directly affected. I’m sure you understand this position

We really are very grateful for your continued support at this difficult time. We hope that this message is helpful, and clarifies our processes

With very best wishes

PHS Senior Team

Covid Update 

We’ve had a few positive cases this week and there are now several classes and staff off. Please see the other blog updates on the situation. Sorry, guys, it’s a bit of a nightmare at the moment 

As ever, the safety of your children is what’s most important to us.  We constantly analyse the staff/pupil ratios and project forward to factor in known absences to ensure we are able to stay safe 

We all appreciate how difficult this makes things at home. We’re sorry it’s difficult, and we only ever want to make things better for you, our partners, rather than worse. It’s just that there are rules and protocols to follow on Covid, and we just have to follow them as best we can. We’re honestly doing our best to manage in the circumstances, and we are always very grateful for your support, especially when it’s hard, like now. Let’s hope it’s better in the Autumn 

Please be assured that any child who is at home at this time, will continue to be offered remote learning and any other support we can manage until a return to school is possible 

Please inform us if your child develops any symptoms, and please do seek a PCR test prior to attending school.  Thanks to those of you who are continuing to carry out Lateral Flow Testing at home; this remains a very important step 

 

Hydro

Unfortunately we’ve had to stop hydrotherapy as part of trying to stop the spread of Covid. The physios will liaise with you about this. I can’t say for certain how long this will be for but given how close we are to the end of term it’s probably unlikely to be open before the holidays. We’ll keep you updated with any further decisions 

As I say, many thanks for your continued support and understanding at this difficult time. We’re hoping that with the vaccine particularly that the situation will be better in September 

 

Returning in September 

We’re expecting the government to publish guidance for schools for the Autumn term before the end of term.  We’ll share more information with you as soon as we understand what we’ll need to do in school from September 

 

‘This is Me’ – Celebrating Pride Day 

This week we’ve been celebrating diversity by marking Pride Day. The theme for our celebration was ‘This is Me’ and we encouraged pupils to strut their stuff in a celebration of themselves and to wear whatever makes them feel fabulous and represents their identity the most.  They even managed to get me dancing with a pom-pom!  Check out these great pictures: 

 

 

This is such an important message for us – it’s all about inclusion, diversity, acceptance, tolerance, and being yourself, issues which are very real for many in our community. Thanks so much to everyone who took part, old or young, but especially to Jo and Leanne who organised it, and Jane and Helen for all the things they did. My first one, but I’m hoping we do this one every year and I love the playlist! 

 

£637 raised from Sponsored Dog Walk 

Congratulations to class 3JS who have raised £637 so far for Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter from their sponsored walk which is amazing! That’s great work for a great cause, guys! 

 

Star of the Week ⭐⭐⭐ 

However, clear Star of the Week has got to be Liam!!!!!!!!!!!!! Having been great previously in Health Eating Week, Liam made a beautiful spinach frittata and had it with Louise. Great stuff, Liam, it’s so great having you in the school 

Watch out Mr Kipling! 

After the sad news that we’ve had to postpone the Summer Fayre, the post-16 students made Krispy Cakes which were all snapped up.   They raised £51, but far more important was the opportunity it offered students to get involved. I am sure they didn’t eat any chocolate – unlike me! 😀 

All the best everyone, have a lovely, healthy few days. Take care. Talk soon 

 

John S 

 

PTA News 

 

Events 

We were due to have a Magic Show in School this week for Yellow Bubble and an African Drumming day for Blue bubble was also pending. Unfortunately, we can’t proceed with these due to the number of classes isolating. These will be rescheduled for as early in the Autumn term as is reasonable. Thanks to Chris Fewster for everything she has done to support school and bring gifts, resources and experiences for our students. We are very lucky to have her and I am sure that you will all join me in saying “thank you”.  

 

100 Club: I will arrange for the remaining 6 draws to be done early next week, so that I can share the names of the winners.  

 

Manor House Hotel Voucher draw 

 Percy Hedley School’s PTA Number Draw 

The PTA has been donated an amazing voucher 

Here’s your chance to win a relaxing one night’s stay for 2 at the Manor House Hotel and Spa. 

The voucher includes a 2 hour use of the spa facilities, overnight stay with breakfast and £20 voucher per person towards the cost of your evening meal.  

I am organising a number draw there 300 numbers available £2.50 per number. 

Please contact me on djpercyhedley@gmail.com 

Mobile 07411 783334 

(Aiming to draw on 17^th July subject to selling all the numbers) 

 

 

 

Family Information 

 

https://phs.percyhedley.org.uk/updates-and-information/ 

Good morning,

We have had two positive cases in school this morning.  All close contacts have been identified and sent home to isolate.  All isolation dates have been relayed to parents, however if you have any queries regarding your child’s isolation or return to school date please contact school.  Remote learning will be available for all pupils at home and the class teams will make contact asap to commence this.

Could we please remind all parents that if your child displays any symptoms, they should remain at home and a PCR test should be booked.  The child along with all other members of the household should isolate until test results are known.

The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

* a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

* a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

* a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Delta variant

Please also be aware that the most common symptoms for the Delta variant are:

* fever

* headache

* sore throat

* runny nose.

We would also recommend a PCR test should any of these symptoms be experienced.

LFT:  We request that those families carrying out lateral flow testing continue to do so as this is proving very effective in identifying asymptomatic cases, however LFT’s should not be used to test when symptoms arise, you should always seek a PCR test in this case.

If your child has symptoms, is isolating due to home contact or you have test results, please inform school asap on 0191 2161811 or out of hours via closure.phs@percyhedley.org.uk

Many thanks for your continued support,

Carla