Family Liaison and PTA 7 January 2022
Happy New year to all; and I would like especially to extend a welcome to the families of the new students who joined us this week, or are starting imminently. Some have already had blips with transport with places being confirmed as everyone was heading off for the Christmas break. To introduce myself to new families, I am the Family Liaison Officer and my role is to offer support, signposting and provide information on non-school related things. I can provide information, some support and signposting for those applying for DLA/PIP.
As COVID continues to affect our ability to meet face to face I would like some suggestions as to how we can meet. Would Teams coffee mornings be of interest? Would you like discussion groups on specific topics? I’d very much appreciate your thoughts.
I am heavily involved with the PTA, as founder member when I held the dual role of parent/staff and was the first Chair. You will find me encouraging families to join us. If I can be of assistance, please contact me. My email address is at the end of this blog.For new families, have a look back over previous blogs where you will be sure to find something of interest.
Information
E-Safety.
This is just a “save the date” for a planned online workshops for parents.
Monday 7th February 10:00 – 11:00 presentation then 11:00 – 11:30 questions.
The plan is to record the session, so that people can view it afterwards. I will meet with Maria and Philip, who will deliver the workshop with me in attendance in January to discuss further. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of this session.
Wood Hub cic
For those families with young people approaching 18 years the following may be of interest. I often recommend to families that they look into services in their area. Although I don’t know much about this one, I know there are a few others around the North East.
Activities:
Smile through Sport.
Message below from Jenni. Smile through Sport perates in Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside and Durham, offering sport for people who are differently abled. I have heard very positive reports from families. The sessions they offer are inclusive but require children/young people to be escorted and supported throughout the sessions. They are NOT drop off.
Happy New Year, hope you’re well and had a nice festive period.
Smile are ready and raring to go with a number of sport and physical activity sessions for disabled children, young people, adults and their families across the North East. We kick start the year with our first family session this Saturday 8th January at Blyth Sport Centre.
Please see below information and posters about our community sessions, to book visit www.smilethroughsport.com/sessions-and-events-calendar
Family Sessions
- 1st Sunday of the month 11am-12.30pm at Sporting Club Cramlington
- 2nd Saturday of the month 1.30-3pm at Blyth Sports Centre
- 3rd Sunday of the month 2-3.30pm at Prudhoe Community High School
- 4th Saturday of the month 1.30-3pm at Jarrow Focus
5-10 years Session
- Every Tuesday 4-5pm at Eagles Basketball Arena, Newcastle (book through Eagles Community Foundation)
10-19 years Sessions
- Every Tuesday 5-6pm at Eagles Basketball Arena, Newcastle (book through Eagles Community Foundation)
- Every Wednesday 5.30-6.30pm at Cramlington Sporting Club
- Every Thursday 6.30-7.30pm at The Louisa Centre, Stanley
Adult Session
- Every Wednesday 10.30-11.30am at The Parks Sport Centre, North Shields
We are also available to deliver sport and physical activity sessions to organisations such as schools, colleges, day centres, day services and more, please get in touch to book in.
We look forward to a healthy and positive year.
Regards
Jenni
Jenni Wade-Rudin
Sport and Activity Manager
SMILE Through Sport
16C Moorland Way
Nelson Industrial Estate
Cramlington
NE23 1WE
Office: 01670 457 757
Mobile: 07710 891 741
New Superworm Trail at Hamsterley Forest
From the creators of The Gruffalo, the hugely popular children’s picture book Superworm returns to Hamsterley Forest in January 2022 with a brand-new family activity trail.
In the latest exciting partnership between Forestry England and Magic Light Pictures, the Superworm trail showcases the unsung heroes of the forest.
Based on the children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the trail highlights the small but mighty creatures in the Superworm story, such as toad, beetle and Wizard Lizard, and shows their amazing abilities as they make their home in the forest.
The Superworm activity trail can be found at 26 of the nation’s forests across England and with lots of fun activities to complete, the new self-led trail will encourage children to become superheroes of the forest themselves.
Special Superworm trail packs are available to buy from the visitor centre for £3.50 with additional activities, including stickers, a superhero mask, creature fact cards, at-home activity sheet, pencil and crayon.
Titanic in Lego
One of our Post 16 students James is a massive fan of transport, especially the Titanic and of Lego. Here is his latest creation. I’m reliably informed the dining room table was out of action throughout construction! A neighbour helped.
Mini and Junior Great North Run – Represent Team Percy Hedley
Take on the challenge of the Junior or Mini Great North Run this year and proudly represent The Percy Hedley Foundation. Sign up here
Great North Run spaces go on sale on Monday 10th January, so check out the different races and routes around Newcastle quayside here.
PTA
Just a reminder that the AGM will take place on Thursday 10th March 2022 , details to follow. In the meantime, I thought, especially for our new families that I would provide a little information on our PTA. Full details are on the school website under the heading “parents and families”; select PTA from the dropdown menu.
The PTA was set up in 2013 and supports school, enhancing the school experience for students by funding non curricular/educational items. In the past year we funded resources for Winter Wonderland, 3 online pantomimes, a Circus skills day, picnic benches, funfair rides for the Autumn fayre, resources for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts. We also fund annual school memberships for The National Trust, Tim Lamb Centre and pay annual membership of Parentkind, the organisation which keeps the PTA operating legally. We arranged in school events including Circus skills, Magic Show and African Drumming. We depend on the support of families and appreciate all you do to help.
Our committee is:
Chair: Donna Jones (parent)
Vice Chair: Sarah Warwick (parent)
Treasurer: Ros Holden (parent)
Secretary: Chris Fewster (parent)
Family Liaison: Eileen Robinson (school, role specific appointment to assist with logistics) (staff)
Media and Events: Jo Thomas (staff)
School (Teacher) and Council link: Claire Hayden (staff)
Co-opted:
Fund-raising: Maria Hallett
School Council: The Chair of Student Council.
We are usually joined at meetings by John Steward, Head Teacher and Kate Cordwell Smith, parent governor.
We hold our PTA meetings virtually at the moment but hope to return to face to face when allowed. These are half termly. As we approach the AGM it would be great to have more parents/carers involved. Meetings normally last an hour and we plan to offer the virtual option when face to face resumes, allowing those who live a distance from school or do not drive to join. If you are interested in joining the committee, please get in touch with me or with the Chair (email me and I will forward)
PTA Meeting
We have had to delay our PTA Meeting, scheduled for next week until Thursday 27th January at 10.00. Full details and time will be included in next weeks blog. Save the date if you can; we would love to see you.
True Colours Theatre Group.
Unfortunately, due to the numbers of people affected by COVID at present, we have postponed the 2 day whole school workshops which were due next week. We will advise when they are rescheduled.
PTA 100 Club.
We run a 100 club each year, with 50% of takings coming to the PTA and the other 50% given out in prizes. Although the draws are monthly, we draw them twice and the first 7 draws will be done during the AGM. The form to join is below. For those who have already subscribed, thank you. You are still in and don’t need to join again.
100 Club Annual Subscriber agreement 2021-22
PTA Facebook page.
This is a closed group for parents,carers, students over the age of 13 and staff. We sometimes share images of students who do not want them shared widely so please do not share any of these.Join HERE
If there is anything you’d like to discuss/raise please contact me.
Best wishes,
Eileen Robinson
Family Liaison Officer
Email: e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 2161811.