Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 6th September 2024

On Wednesday 18^th September you are warmly invited to my first social coffee morning of this year.

Some of the Friends of Percy Hedley School (FoPHS) committee will be in attendance to share what we do and how it benefits school. The social coffee events are different from departmental ones in that class team don’t attend. They are a valued opportunity for parents to get together, chat, share tips, knowledge, experiences over coffee and cake. What’s not to like? Drop in any time between 9.30 and 11 and stay for a short while of the lot. I do need to know who is coming along. Letters will have been sent out, you can email or return the form.

Just a few things to get started. The school website has lots of up-to-date information including term and event dates, uniform orders, blogs and policies.

Below are the links to some.

“I am trying to restock my Forest School Craft box, could people please look out for any natural items when out an about and see if you have any spare craft items that can be used within Forest School activities please.

These include (but are not limited to);

• Pine cones
• Conkers
• Big/interesting leaves
• Big feathers (eg. Magpie/Pigeon)
• Corks
• Jam jars

In school staff are proactive in identifying potential/actual issues involving student online activity. Often the blogs relate to an incident or information we receive which is important. I would urge parents, especially those of students who do access the internet independently to read this section. If you need support or have concerns please contact your child’s class teacher.

The link to the Online safety information can be found on the school website under the heading “Parent and carers area”, then “online safety” from the dropdown menu.

Each week a theme is chosen and there is a specific blog covering the subject. You will find these linked below.

I would very much appreciate your suggestions. What is important to you in terms of information? How would you like to receive it, in person, by email in blogs, on TEAMS?

The fair will be here for around 2 weeks. Your children/young people will have opportunities to visit, choose a book they would like, and this information will be sent home to you. There are some good discounts to be had and school earns vouchers for books for our library.

You will find more information below.

Louise Finlay and I had a good discussion and hope to offer some opportunities for parents to come in and meet with them. This is relevant for our Post 16 families especially. The advisors work to help remove barriers to work for people with disabilities. We raised with them the challenges many parents have trying to get work capability assessments for their young people. If this is important to you, and you would like more information please let me know.

However, I try to include seasonal events, new initiatives and anything I feel may be of interest to some of you. It is so important to get your children/young people out in the community and hopefully you will find something in this section to help.

It goes without saying that I welcome your input too. Been somewhere and enjoyed it? Share the knowledge please and thank you.

Weekly clubs include: Youth Group (alternate weeks), Boxing, Inflatable play and trampoline club.

Holiday activities include: Pottery painting, Halloween crafts, ice skating, circurama, Santa train, BSL panto, York Christmas Market and Christmas party.

Our BFI funded Film Academy, starts on Friday 1st November 2024 and is now OPEN for applications.

We’ve got 12 places available for disabled or neurodivergent young people, aged 16-19 or 20-25 with an EHCP, who live in the North East.

Any young person, who is interested will need to attend one of our Taster & Application workshops, which will take place on Sunday 13th October. 

All of the Film Academy workshops are FREE to attend.

But, we have a limited number of places available.

So young people MUST apply in advance, if they are interested in gaining a place.

There are 8 filmmaking workshops in total, which take place on weekends.

They start on Friday 1st November and finish on Saturday 7th December.

A support coordinator is in attendance at all of the film-making workshops.

Travel and access bursaries are also available for those who need them in order to attend

We want to engage with parents/carers and make the FoPHS the best it can be. We need your support though, whether that is your time, sponsorship, supporting events and sharing ideas.

Great North Run.

My husband Richard and daughter Aisling have signed up to do this to raise funds for FoPHS. As they run/walk or crawl to the finish line I will be waiting at the charity village, helping at the Percy Hedley tent as I have done for more years than I can remember along with my 26-year-old son Niall, a former PHS student. He definitely livens the place up, so this year we are hoping not to have a thunderstorm as that was not a hit with him, or indeed the runners last year. They have been asked to raise £600, so any donation to help them reach the target would be much appreciated and will help FoPHS to continue supporting the fun element of school.

The link to sponsor them is below. There are also a few photos below. If you are doing the GNR, please drop in to the tent and say hello.

The aim is to sell 100 numbers at £12 each for the year. £6 is retained by FoPHS and if we manage to sell 100 that would rase £600 for us; this covers our membership costs of Parentkind and National Trust. The remainder is given as cash prizes; the amount depends on how many numbers are taken. We do a draw for each month, but do them in 2 batches of 6, the first 6 at the AGM and the remaining ones in July. In 2022 we sold 94 numbers, whereas last year it dropped to 60. Please help us this year if you can, and if you have friends or family who would like to join that would be amazing.

Forms are being sent home today and the link is below.

It is not for external professionals who may be working with families. To join, you must answer the question stating your link with school.

Please note: this group is for sharing news and updates about school life and is not intended to discuss any issues around individual students, and as such all comments are moderated. If you have a particular issue or concern, please contact school directly on 0191 216 1811.

Contact details

Eileen Robinson: Family Liaison Officer

Email: e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk

Telephone: 0191 2161811 ext. 3260.