51ÊÓƵ

Hi everyone,

The new events calendar for 24-25 is online, on the Parent and Carers Area of the website, so please do take a look

Well, here we are at the end of the school year. And what a year it’s been! It started with another Ofsted inspection, which went well, and there have been so many good things in sport, subjects, trips, events, reading, awards, new staff appointments, new children starting, improvements to the building, and all sorts besides. Thanks to everyone who has supported us – we are only a successful, functioning school because of the support from and partnership with families. We also have great staff, and you could see that so well in our Prom, our Leavers’ Assembly, our Sports Days, This Is Me – and of course every day in school. Thanks to everyone, it’s a pleasure to work here, in this school, with these pupils and staff, in this area of the country

Please do have a read of this and Eileen’s blog, and the rest of the Foundation news on the websites. Our prom was terrific – thanks for coming and for the mocktails – there are loads of pictures here and elsewhere. It was lovely to see some of you then and at the Leavers’ Assembly. We wish our nine leavers this year the very very best of luck – and we very much hope to keep in touch

Have a lovely summer. I look forward to welcoming 161 pupils back on Wednesday 4^th September, after two training days, and I look forward to the pupils, staff and families working together to make this the very best school it could be

Our Key Drivers are Communication, Wellbeing and Independence – that’s the point of our school

Our School Values are Respect, Teamwork and Resilience – that’s the kind of school we strive to be

All the best. See you soon. Take care

J

😊 from John & the PHS Team 😊

Let’s hear from our three Super Steering Groups which deliver our Key Drivers through the curriculum –

Communication, Wellbeing and Independence

Ìý

Literacy

Becky, our Literacy Lead, is going to get us going! It’s always good stuff! This week – Summer Booknic!

Well we’ve had a lovely end to the school year with our Summer ‘Booknic’, which happened on Thursday. Appropriate Accreditation turned the sensory garden into the most lovely reading area, complete with sofas, and classes throughout school got the chance to have a chill on a blanket and take time to explore books together. The only down side to being so relaxed, and so focused on books, was that we have no photos to show for it! But the important bit was that it went down well with staff and students, so thank you to those who brought a book in and thanks for staff for supporting all of our reading celebrations over the year!

We’ll have more parent training sessions uploaded to the parent/ carer resource area in the next week, including the ideas sheets to make your own personalised sensory story for your child, so keep an eye out for those if interested.

Finally a little reminder that you can continue to access Pickatale over the summer, as well as the ‘Marvellous Makers’ reading challenge at your local library. We hope you find a new favourite book to share with us in September!

Ìý

Thank you for all the support with our reading events, training sessions and activity packs this year, have a lovely summer and happy reading!Ìý

Physical Development

And everything that is fabulous in the world of Physical Development too! This includes physio, hydro, MOVE, PE, HI, VI, a lot of OT and all sorts of key areas for us, including all of the Outdoor Learning, John Muir Award and many other aspects…look how much there is today! Enjoy!

First: Michael and the MOVE Olympics

Michael’s mum and dad couldn’t be happier with Michael’s start at PH, he’s done amazingly well to settle into class so quickly. We were all absolutely delighted to award Michael with the Beating the Odds shield. Michael has recently joined our school and has shown great resilience through settling well into class, coping with lots of changes, working hard to recover from major surgery and develop his physical strength and persevering in all aspects of learning, even when he has been unwell. Michael’s mum and dad had a lovely surprise when they popped into school to pick up equipment and were invited to join his class to pick up the award. As it was our Olympics MOVE session, we played some podium victory music and had a speech! Well done, Michael! We know you will go from strength to strength and we’re very proud of you.

Rowing/Kayaking from Richard!

On Monday the school welcomed coaches from the Tyne Amateur Rowing Club. Students were given the opportunity to experience what rowing is like, take part in different games, as well as asking the coaches lots of different questions. The students particularly enjoyed the 1-minute challenge, Well done to Jack in 3TW for completing 200m!

Students also took part in a kayak sensory story, experiencing what it would be like to kayak on the sea. Students sung along to a kayak song, felt the sand between their toes as well as listening to the crashing waves

Bike Club with Lizzie!

Everyone in KS2 ELTBA has made such wonderful progress and had such a positive attitude during our cycling sessions. Everyone has joined in and got involved and many of our students have learnt how to ride a bike or trike! It has been wonderful to watch students build resilience and developing a love of cycling. Well done everyone!

MOVE Olympics!

Students at 51ÊÓƵ had an amazing time at their Move Olympics sports day this year. Students were encouraged to work as a team to score points as a class. Each activity had a different challenge that everyone took part such as throwing at a target, different types of races, balancing and finally jumping over hurdles.

The Engagement pathway accessed MOVE Olympics Sport day where they participated in a variety of activities such as a relay race and the parachute popcorn challenge. Everyone worked super hard and received a medal.

Please take a look at some of the students competing in the Move Olympics and take a look at the video from former wheelchair rugby player and Paralympian gold medalist Jim Roberts inspiring our students at 51ÊÓƵ.

#jimroberts, #gbwr

Well done to everyone involved in the fantastic day!!!

The Further Adventures of the John Muir Group! With Natalie!

What a beautiful day we chose for our final John Muir outing! This week we visited Cragside and got the opportunity to explore Cragside house and formal gardens. All of the students thoroughly enjoyed this experience and loved seeing all of the flowers and plants and getting a glimpse of how Lord and Lady Armstrong lived in the grand house! We crossed the iron bridge too – Some students were super brave and crossed despite being afraid of heights. Overall, it was a day to remember and although we’re sad it’s our last trip of the year, we’re all grateful for the adventures we’ve had. Here’s some of our fabulous photographs

Beth’s Class, Cool Topic of the Week!

2BE’s theme this term has been Outdoors. Pupils were asked to create their favourite outdoor place or a place they have visited recently. Pupils did these amazing pictures independently, only needed a tiny bit of adult support. It took us a few sessions to paint and then add details which pupils chose themselves. They have used a range of communication methods to express their choices – VOCAs, eye pointing, symbols, objects and been outside to collect natural resources to embellish their pictures. They have enjoyed showing their friends their final pieces of art and are looking forward to taking them home to families tonight. What a talented class!

Designers of the Year

Students have been working hard in DT to design and create a light feature – and two students, Robyn and Katie, absolutely smashed this project! They created their own specifications and worked to their own brief, creating cross sectional drawings as well as annotated drawings. The students were resourceful in finding the materials to build their lamp and were able to critically evaluate their work and explain how they can improve on it in the future. The students made their own circuits to get their lights working! See below a picture of the final products, we think they’re brilliant. Well done Robyn and Katie, enjoy using your light feature at home!

From Katie – “It worked out how I wanted it, actually better”

Also Katie said ” I am so proud of myself, its colourful and represents me”

Robyn – “It works!!” I am really happy with how my light turned out”

Both students worked extremely hard and are very proud of themselves

Subject of the Week – Geography! With Chris!

4OW/TJ Sustainable Living

In a recent geography project, 4OW/TJ has embarked on an inspiring project to create their very own model of a sustainable city, demonstrating remarkable creativity and

environmental consciousness.

Under the unit focused on sustainability, students enthusiastically accepted the challenge of designing a model that exemplified eco-friendly practices. Their model city showcases ingenious solutions that are both practical and innovative.

One notable feature of their city is the strategically placed apartment blocks, specifically designed to maximise space efficiency while also incorporating solar panels to harness renewable energy. Taking inspiration from cities like Copenhagen and Zurich, the class opted for a car-free zones, promoting eco-friendly modes of transportation such as footpaths, cycle routes, and public buses.

Drawing from their research, the students included a local farm to promote sustainable food production within the community. Additionally, they integrated green spaces inspired by the urban planning of Ljubljana, fostering a harmonious coexistence between urban development and nature.

Through this project, the students have not only showcased their creative talents but have also demonstrated a deep understanding of the Ìýprinciples of sustainability and environmental conservation. Their dedication to creating a model that prioritises renewable energy sources, efficient land use, and local food production is truly commendable.

Overall, this project highlights the importance of integrating sustainability education into the curriculum and empowering students to think critically and creatively about building a better, greener future.

Another Subject of the Week! Also with Chris! This time Science!

6CT Get in to Microscopes!

Students of 6CT were recently enthralled as they delved into the world of science using our school’s newest microscopes. The lesson involved the analysis of a variety of prepared slides showcasing different cells, animal fibres, and tissues.

The acquisition of these cutting-edge microscopes symbolises our school’s unwavering commitment to promoting science as a key subject. This dedication was recently underscored by the prestigious PSQM GILT Award in Science bestowed upon the school. The award not only acknowledges the school’s excellence in teaching science but also recognises our potential to influence and enhance other educational institutions.

The students’ enthusiasm during the session clearly illustrates the significance of this investment. The captivating experience offered by the new microscopes has made science come alive for our pupils. These microscopes cater to all students, with a range from traditional eye-piece microscopes to advanced models featuring digital screens, enabling us to capture images of the microscopic wonders visible through the lenses.

The interactive nature of the microscopes has not only sparked curiosity but has also fostered a deeper understanding of the intricate world of cells and tissues among the students. As we continue to harness the power of these innovative tools, we are confident that they will play a pivotal role in nurturing a generation of budding scientists within our school.

In embracing these advancements, the school is taking significant strides towards creating a stimulating learning environment where students are encouraged to explore, question, and discover the wonders of science. This exciting journey into the microscopic realm marks just the beginning of our quest to inspire a lifelong love for scientific inquiry among our students

Our Third Prom!

We are going to share the rest of the photos via a Google Drive folder that Beth has set up called Edwards Photography.

The Mocktails were a huge hit! Thank you so much to Christine!

…..from John & the Team here at PHS