Dear Parents & Guardians,

Gateshead Music Service delivers instrumental tuition in over 50 schools across the Local Authority and are seeking the views of all parents and carers, whose children may, or may not access the offer.

We are forwarding this questionnaire so you can help shape the future of music education for all children, as we emerge out of the pandemic.

This short survey should take no longer than 10 minutes and answers will be collated with no personal details shared.

Your views, thoughts and input are very much valued, and the summary answers will be shared with schools and the wider community once collated.

To access the survey, please click the following link
Survey

The deadline for responding is Wednesday 19th May.

Please find linked below the application form that parents and guardians should complete in order to apply to Gateshead Council for a Free School Travel Permit.

Please note that the deadline date for the return of bus pass application forms is Friday 18th June 2021.

The application form can also be found on the Council’s website;

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/2784/School-transport

Key Stage 3 Virtual Parents’ Evening – Tuesday 20th April 2021

Further to our previous correspondence we will be holding our Virtual Parents’ Evening via School Cloud, for all Key Stage 3 parents, on Tuesday 20th April 2021. If you have not already booked an appointment please call the Front Office to do so as soon as possible; 0191 499 0111.

Once you have booked an appointment, you can log in to the School Cloud at any time to test your video / audio connection.
The web address for the School Cloud is: https://stthomasmore.schoolcloud.co.uk/

The below guide explains how the system will work on the evening.

How to attend your appointments via video call – School Cloud

A troubleshooting guide is available here if you have difficulty getting connected: Video Appointments Toubleshooting

Update from Salto UK

Our uniform provider Salto UK have advised they will be forced to increase prices this year, due to a number of factors beyond their control. This price increase will come into effect from 1st May 2021.

Regarding the supply of school uniform, there were delays with some items last summer which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The factors attributing to these delays remain beyond their direct control and are impacting supply chains across the globe.

We will keep parents updated if we are informed of any particular problems with stock, so please keep checking the website. We do advise parents to order early where possible to avoid problems in September. Uniform guidance will be sent to new Year 7 students at the start of the summer term.

For a number of years the school has organised successful ski trips, and in the forthcoming year we plan to return to Austria during February half-term 2022 (18th – 26th February 2022). We will be staying in the town of Altenmarkt and have the option of skiing the resorts of Flachau, Zauchensee and Schladming – details of the area can be found at https://www.skiamade.com/en.

The tour company we will be using is Select School Skiing; they have produced a promotional video that gives a flavour of what you can expect on a school ski trip. This can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/390936973

The cost of the trip is £995 and includes:

• Travel by coach from school to Austria
• Full board accommodation in the hotel
• Full medical insurance (for the duration of the trip)
• 5 hours of lessons per day for 5 days plus 3 hours on the final day
• Lift pass for six days
• Hire of boots, skis, poles and helmet

The only costs not included are spending money for drinks, snacks, presents etc. and the purchase of ski clothing (jacket, ski trousers etc.).

If you wish to apply for a place for your child on the trip, you will need to complete this Google form. You will also need to pay a non-refundable £200 deposit via your child’s parentpay account no later than Friday 23rd April. The payment will be listed as Ski Trip 2022. If you are not able to access parentpay or have any other issues regarding the deposit payment then please contact Mr Shield or Mr Lennox via skitrip@stthomasmore.org.uk

We are planning this trip with the assumption that 2022 will be “back to normal” and the restrictions placed on travel due to the pandemic will be over. However should Covid-19 impact the trip, meaning either individuals cannot travel or the entire trip is cancelled, then all money paid will be refunded in full including the deposit.

Traditionally the demand for places on this trip is high and this normally exceeds the number of places available so if we are oversubscribed then we will use the friendship groups specified and draw groups out of a hat. Those who are unlucky will have their deposit returned and be placed on the reserve list and offered places if they become available. We will notify you in due course if your application has been successful.

Successful applicants will require a passport valid until at least six months after return [valid until at least 26/08/2022]. Applicants will also require a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which replaces the EHIC. Details of how to apply for a GHIC can be found at

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/

If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact either Mr Shield or Mr Lennox via
skitrip@stthomasmore.org.uk

Yours faithfully

Mr. D Shield

Some people are having issues adding items to the cart. If this is the case then please contact Motte either by email on Andrea@Moette.co.uk or ring on 0191 3735995 and place the order directly.

Hoodie embroidered left breast with our crest and printed back with our unique 21 design. Your name can be added above the 21 print on the back at no extra cost .

Items will be posted to your home/work address at no additional cost.

Please note we cannot accept returns on these items unless they are faulted.

ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY MIDNIGHT 23 APRIL 2021 AND ORDERED WILL BE POSTED TO YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS AT THE END OF MAY 2021

Order a Hoodie

Please complete the form below if you would like to access this provision. Please note if you have multiple children in the school you will need to complete the form for each child.

We request that pupil attend in non-uniform and, in the event that they complete all work set on a particular day, a non-ficton reading book.

Critical & Vulnerable Learner Onsite Provision Form

It is at this time of year that we would typically invite you to school to begin the Key Stage 4 options process. Unfortunately this year that is not possible, therefore we have had to adapt our process. We have therefore created an online version of the initial parental information session for you. During this presentation you will hear information from Mrs Turner on general curriculum and assessment then more specific information from Mr Shield on the options process.

Please note that students are required to sign into our website before accessing the options form.
Please use the links below to access all key information:

KS4 Options – Parents Presentation
KS4 Options Prospectus
KS4 Options – Form

At St Thomas More, we recognise and understand that many pupils and families will face different challenges when pupils are asked to learn from home. The challenge for us all is to balance these difficulties whilst ensuring that learning remains an important priority for pupils.

Gateshead have issued the following statement with regard for assistance for families entitled to additional help over the Christmas break:

Winter Grants Scheme

The government have announced extra help for those in need over the winter. This is part of their Winter Grant Scheme and it will run from now until the end of March next year.

As part of the scheme, the Council will be giving additional help to vulnerable households and families on a low income with children. If your child is usually entitled to means tested free school meals, you should get this extra help.

If you are going to be given this extra financial help, you will get a letter from the Council before Christmas. Please do not throw this letter away, it will give you details of how you will get a one-off payment this winter. This money is to help you pay for food, heating and other household items.

You do not need to contact the council. All the details on how to get the extra help will be in the letter.

If you have any queries about means tested free school meals please email benefitsfsm@gateshead.gov.uk

A Christmas garden has been setup to get us in the Christmas spirit. It is situated in the year 7/8 zone of school. Below are a few images:
As well as this, students took part in the Classroom to Carehome project. In this project students made Christmas cards that were delivered to care home residents.
Merry Christmas from the Art department!

Welcome to our Virtual Winter Concert! Despite restrictions on extra curricular music this term, we are so pleased that so many of our pupils have continued making music. We hope you enjoy our virtual performances of some Christmas classics, as well as some solo contributions from our talented pupils.

Merry Christmas from the Music Department!

Original Composition – ‘Revolution 25’ by Joe Barron –
Joe has transformed a number of Christmas themed audio clips using various sampling techniques as part of his Music Technology A Level Course. Enjoy this rather unusual but incredibly creative composition, inspired by The Beatles’ ‘Revolution 9’. (We would recommend listening with a pair of headphones!)

Following the great success of our Year 11 Master Classes so far, we will be continuing these throughout the next half term.

They will continue to run Monday to Thursday evenings from 3.30pm – 4.15pm in the main hall. Students can sign up for these via the Google Classroom and recordings of the sessions will also be available to pupils.

For further information please see Mrs Lennox.

This year we are providing an additional opportunity for parents of Year 11 and Year 13 students to discuss your child’s progress. Given the current Public Health situation this will be a remote opportunity, via telephone conversation with any relevant subject teachers.

If you would like to request a conversation with any of your child’s teachers, please complete the Google Form below, by Tuesday 6th October 2020:

Year 11 and 13 Parents Evening – Google Form

Please outline where indicated on the form, which subject teachers you would like to speak to and the nature of any concerns you may have, alongside any times you may be unavailable.
Following this, our staff will contact you to discuss your child’s progress during the week beginning the 12th October.

For many years now we have developed a system that allows pupils to take ownership of their targets, based on the notion that if pupils own their targets they will be more motivated to achieve them. Whilst staff do have progress grades, based on their prior attainment, we will never use these with pupils. Instead we will talk to pupils about the aspirations they have for themselves.

Typically we would structure our target setting process in a session with pupils and parents, explaining our key principles, the process and next steps. Unfortunately we are not able to do this at present. We therefore hope that this information pack provides you with all the information you need.

Year 10 Target Setting 2020
Year 12 Target Setting 2020

Thank you for all your support so far. After this morning we will be making several small tweaks to our systems. Therefore p1 tomorrow will be an additional pastoral session for all pupils.

Please note that to aid consistency the following must apply in the morning:

• Year 11, 12 & 13 go directly to their pastoral class & sit in their allocated seat
• Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 wait on their allocated yard until they are given permission to enter the building

We now have pupils from Years 10 and 12 in school for the second week running and we are really impressed with their attitude and engagement. It is lovely to have some human contact with them! As you will have seen in the news, we are awaiting further details from the government with how we might proceed in September and I will look forward to sharing our plans with you as soon as is reasonably possible after we have had guidance from the Department for Education. – View our full Easter newsletter using the link below:

15th July Newsletter
8th July Newsletter
1st July Newsletter
24th June Newsletter
17th June Newsletter
10th June Newsletter
3rd June Newsletter
20th May Newsletter
13th May Newsletter
6th May Newsletter
29th April Newsletter
22nd April Newsletter
8th April Newsletter
1st April Newsletter
25th March Newsletter

Race and Equality
Mr Parkinson and myself sat down to talk about racism, where we’ve seen it, how little we actually know and how we can do better to fight it. This conversation is honest and vulnerable. We are far from experts and are far from getting it right, but we want to do better. So that is where we are starting. We invite you to join us. – Cody

Year 10 & 12 St Bernadette Timetable
Year 10 & 12 St Catherine Laboure Timetable
Year 10 & 12 St John Fisher Timetable
Year 10 & 12 St Therese Timetable

At this stage we have been instructed to ascertain numbers of pupils in Year 10 & 12 that intend to access face to face provision. This data will help us with our planning if we do invite pupils on site following guidance from the Government.

Year 7, 8, 9 Key Worker Childcare
Year 10 & 12 Return to School

Please complete this form should you need any support for Google or Google Classroom. Please put as much detail as you can about your issue so that we can better support you. (Please note that should your issue be related to content within Google Classroom, this will be forwarded to the teacher of that subject)

Due to the current restrictions and social distancing measures both of our Uniform Suppliers have extended their online services, and we encourage you to order all uniform items online where possible. Our suppliers Emblematic and Salto UK have provided the following updates.

Statement from Emblematic – www.emblematic.co.uk
I would like to thank you for your continued support in this period of uncertainty. Our embroidery facility is currently open, with a reduced staff following all Government Guidance, therefore we are able to complete all Leavers hoodies and online orders. We are currently also taking school orders via email as normal. orders@emblematic.co.uk. After Sunday’s government update, I am pleased to say that we will be offering the following options to parents this summer:

1. Free delivery on all orders placed until the 1st July 2020.
2. After that, you can either pay for delivery to home or use our “Click and Collect” option (starting date to be decided). You will not be able to order with “Delivery to School” as an option.
3. We have a supply of paper tape measures for new starters please see enclosed.
4. We have put measuring videos on our website, which you can use to purchase the correct size, using measurements you have taken at home.
5. We currently offer a free returns system, where you can use our website to return items, you must then make a new order for the correct size (i.e. this is not an exchange service, as garments must be safely stored (Covid-19) before going back into stock).
6. We are also offering a “Click and collect” option in the future from our Benton shop only (date and times to be decided), but plan to stop this mid-August, so we don’t have the final rush of the summer with long queues (that we feel will be unsafe).

Statement from Salto UK – www.saltouk.com
Firstly, and most importantly, we hope you are all safe and well and looking after each other. We would like to update you on our plans to ensure you are able to receive the school uniform required for when the children return to school. Please see below the ways you can order. As the situation changes, we will notify you via our Facebook page and on our website, so please check in now and again to stay updated.
1. ONLINE – We are currently processing all uniform orders from our website www.saltouk.com. When you order online, you will have 2 delivery options:
i) Home delivery – where your child can try for size at home and this gives you time to exchange if required. We will endeavour to process and dispatch orders as quickly as possible, but as we are working with a smaller team, please allow extra time for delivery.
ii) Free ‘collect from store’ option – your order will be processed and will be available from our collection point in Prudhoe as soon as non-essential shops can open once again – hopefully, early June.
Exchanges can be made by contacting us via email or Facebook and we will have your preferred size ready to exchange once our collection point is open. Any items that are returned are dated and hung untouched for 72 hours before they are returned to stock.
2. BY POST – If you do not want to buy online, please contact us via email and we will provide an order form for you to print, complete and post/deliver to our shop in Prudhoe. Orders cannot be processed unless full payment is enclosed.
3. SHOP – We will open our collection point as soon as non-essential shops can reopen, as we will be able to adhere to the social distancing measures through a queuing system outside our shop. However, we will only open our main shop when we feel it is safe for you, your child and our staff, as we must provide a risk-free, Covid secure environment. There is still uncertainty as to whether children will be allowed to try on communal clothes, therefore we are encouraging everyone to order online as the ‘try before you buy’ in our shop may not be an option.
4. QUERIES – We will add measuring videos on our Facebook page and our website to help you make the correct choice. If you have any queries please contact us via our Facebook page or email us at enquiries@saltouk.com.
5. GUARANTEED UNIFORM FOR SEPTEMBER – We urge you to order as soon as possible as it will allow you time to exchange if necessary. When our shop does reopen, we will be observing strict rules in accordance with the Health and Safety Executive, therefore queues may be likely as we expect only 2 customers (plus one child per adult) in at a time.
As you know, this situation is ever changing, and we are monitoring it daily. We are committed to keeping our loyal customers updated and providing the best service we can under difficult circumstances, so please remember, as your local supplier, we are here for you.

St Thomas More Catholic School leavers hoodies are now available for purchase, please use the link below.

Description:
Hoodie embroidered left breast with our crest and printed back with our unique 20 design. Your name can be added above the 20 print on the back at no extra cost.

Leavers Hoodies