News

After more than four years of hard work and commitment the Eco Group is delighted to announce that Sacriston Junior School has been awarded a 'Green Flag', the Eco School's top award granted in recognition of the school's efforts in all matters 'green' and linked to sustainability. We are in fact only the second Primary School in our part of the north east to achieve the Green Flag which has meant children from across the school becoming involved in numerous projects including; a shoe collection in aid of people in poorer countries, building and maintaining several bird boxes, taking part in the annual RSPB birdwatch, helping to build two composters and setting up an organic waste collection from the playground, applying for and securing sufficient funding to set up and maintain seven raised beds in the nature garden, and setting up our own water collection scheme for use on our own plants and vegetables. There have been many more projects too and countless meetings and discussions which have taken place in the run up to receiving this award. The school would like to say a BIG THANKYOU to every member of the Eco Group, both past and present, our Eco Rangers, the Nature Club, Miss Miller (Eco Co-ordinator), Mr Draper, Mrs Crawley, Mr White, and indeed everyone in the school who has supported their efforts over the past four years. Our Green Flag is perhaps just the start however, there are already lots of plans in place for next year, so watch out for more news! (Read more about Eco Group)

On July 14th Sacriston Junior School held a musical soiree for the parents of our up-and-coming young musicians. The evening's packed programme of events included; the school choir singing 'Under the Sea', a guitar playing session, a Samba Band performance, the year 6 choir singing 'My Favourite Things', and an African Drumming performance. Afterwards parents enjoyed an assortment of refreshments made by our year 3 and 4 children and Mrs Dellow. Sharna in year 6 reported that the whole show had been very enjoyable although everyone taking part had been worn out by the end!

This week our school played host to the 'Always Drinking Marching Band' which has travelled from Barcelona to take part in the Durham Brass Festival. Children and staff were captivated for well over an hour with their loud upbeat music and comedy performance which left everyone with a huge 'feel-good' factor. (Read children's report)

The first crop of strawberries were ready to harvest today and the Eco Group, along with Miss Miller, visited the nature garden to sample some of the 'fruits of their labour'. Everyone agreed that this was a good way to spend their lunchtime and that the strawberries were delicious. Here's hoping that there are many more to follow in the coming weeks!

Year 5 children performed in a poetry slam today in front of the whole school, parents, grandparents, and visiting teachers from Fyndoune Community College. As part of the school's latest Creative Partnership Project they have been working very hard with the poet Dan Cockril composing their poems for the competition. The children were mentored by some of the Year 8's from Fyndoune Community College, who helped them to write and perform their poems on subjects like happiness, sadness, food, wishes and much more! The overall winning team was 'The Perfect Poets' with a poem called 'My Wicked Wish'. Prizes were also awarded for the most original performance and for the most striking line in a poem. Well done to everybody who took part and a special well done to all the winners!

Sacriston Junior School is proud to announce that it has received Anti-bullying Re-Accreditation from the County Durham Anti-bullying Service. In order to achieve this status the school had to produce a portfolio of evidence to prove our commitment to preventing and responding to bullying issues effectively. This included a report about the work that our Buddies and Mediators carry out to resolve playground problems, having an up-to-date action plan and Anti-Bullying policy, amongst a wealth of other evidence. Well done to Mrs Singleton and her dedicated team of Buddies and Mediators!

Year 5 and 6 children enjoyed an exciting trip to Marsden Rock and South Shields yesterday as part of their 'Rivers and Coasts' topic work. The trip provided an excellent opportunity for the children to learn about coastal features, coastal erosion, habitats and tourism.

Year 3 and 4 children enjoyed an exciting visit to St. Mary's Lighthouse as part of their 'Rivers and Coasts' topic work. They enjoyed a carousel of activities including; a climb up the 137 steps to the top of the lighthouse where they learnt about its history, a discussion about animal habitats, a 'rockpooling' session hunting for as many sea creatures as they could find, and a practical 'hands-on' session looking and learning about the animals in the aquarium. After a last minute crossing of the causeway which was flooded within ten minutes of leaving, the children had a brief look at the nearby coastline and considered how it had been changed as a result of human and environmental processes.

Twenty nine of our year 5 and 6 children visited Robinwood last weekend. Robinwood is an outdoor activity centre which has been established for many years and is located near Alston. It offers some really exciting activities such as archery, canoeing, zip-wire, night line, obstacle course, caving, climbing, and lots of team building exercises. The children spent two nights and three days packed full of activities under the supervision of fully qualified instructors. The whole weekend gave the children an opportunity to try out something very different, overcome their worries and fears, and to learn how to work together and to support one another in some quite challenging situations. All of our children gained a real 'confidence-building'experience from their visit as well as something to remember for the rest of their time in this school and beyond.

Well done to the Eco Group. All the raised beds have now been cleared and replanted. Thank you for all your hard work! (Read more about the Eco Group)

Hinduism specialist Kirtida Dasi has been in our school this week. She has been working with the year 3/4 children, looking at all aspects of the Hindu religion including their religious beliefs, symbols, prayers and stories.

The whole school enjoyed some tasty treats this week dished up by Expo Chefs Sarah and John. Children helped to prepare and taste a number of South African themed dishes including; a rice and lentil salad, corn and lentil hotpot, and sweetcorn fritters! The cooking was interspersed with Story Tales by Adam Bushnell, author and storyteller, who has become a regular visitor and a firm favourite in our school. Adam continued the South African theme with tales about; Mr Dead and Jack, swallowing South African monsters, Zulu warriors, vultures, and snorting demons. A truly amazing treat for both children and staff!

You can discover recipes and find out more about Expo Chef at www.expochef.co.uk

You can learn more about Adam Bushnell at www.story-tales.co.uk

The ICT club is meeting again. There were over 25 requests to join this lunchtime club and this term's focus is the creation of a series of photostories. Children will be learning how to use Windows Photostory 3 software (which can be downloaded for free from the internet) and have been using photographs of school trips and events to practise their skills. Over the coming weeks they will be taking cameras out into the school grounds, taking their own photographs and learning how to upload them, then incorporating these into their own personal photostories. It is hoped that some of these photostories can be uploaded onto this website.... so keep watching!

The Eco Group has been busy again on a lunchtime tidying up the raised beds in the Nature Garden. The beds had become overgrown during the winter and spring. Three of the raised beds have now been cleared and re-planted with strawberry plants, broad beans, rhubarb and courgettes. Over the next few weeks work will continue on the remaining four beds. Children will then be planting some cabbage plants, lettuce, rocket, runner beans and onions. Our water collection scheme is working well and the Eco Group is now using stored rainwater to irrigate the beds. Our caretaker Mr White has very kindly cut the grass around the gardening area and things are beginning to take shape. However, we still need some more vegetable and/or fruit plants in order to fill our remaining raised beds. So, if anyone reading this news has any to spare please let us know, they will be gratefully received! Thank you. (Read more about the Eco Group)

Lunchtime in the playground has just got better, with the introduction of some new games and toys for children to play with. Everywhere you look there are children skipping, playing basketball or sitting on blankets with games and role play figures. The children themselves decided how they would like to use funding from an 'enhanced healthy schools' grant and nearly all agree that lunchtimes have just become a lot more fun.

There are further plans to build a small stage in the playground, with seating around it, to provide a dedicated area where children can act out and perform various singing and dancing routines.

Once again the small hall was the setting this week for an Easter Eggs..travaganza! Almost every child in the school entered a decorated egg into our annual competition. Two prizes were awarded for each class and judging the competition proved to be as tough as ever! Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to the winners.

Well done to the children on Friday who led the afternoon assembly and entertained the whole school with a half-hour long performance of guitar music. The children were led by Mr Clark, their guitar tutor, and produced a performance to be proud of to the delight of their audience. We all look forward to hearing more of this very soon!

Well done everybody...your Red Nose Day raised a massive £496.55 for Comic Relief. Thanks to everyone who came dressed in their multi-coloured outfits or performed in front of the whole school in the highly-entertaining talent show. A lot of fun was had in the classrooms and around the school where children set up lots of fun activities including; quizzes, sweets and biscuit making, face and nail painting, popcorn and candy floss, and slush making.

Schoolmade sweets and cakes were on sale in the playground during breaktime whilst 'buskers' entertained the watching crowds on a fine sunny day. The school would also like to say a special thankyou to all parents, grandparents and guardians for their very generous support with this event.

Over the past three weeks children in year 4 have been attending cookery classes at Fyndoune Comprehensive school, where they have enjoyed making some delicious pizzas!

Over the past two weeks fifteen of our year 4 pupils attended the 'Final Score' initiative which was held at Sunderland Football Club in their Academy of Light. They were also joined by pupils from Langley Park junior school. The aim of this initiative was to help improve students' numeracy skills using football as a medium.

The children taking part had a fantastic time which included; a visit to the players' dressing room, a look around the sports bar, and a trip into the stands. They also enjoyed a run-out from the players' tunnel and onto the touchline. Strategy-type games (with a football theme) and mathematical puzzles were completed in each of the areas visited and during the afternoons' classroom sessions. Children 'scored goals' for completing tasks and following instructions, or for offering good explanations on how to work certain tasks out, which helped to introduce a competetive edge to the tasks.

February 16th 2011....all children in years 3 and 4 visited the Centre for Life in Newcastle, a visit which was arranged to support this term’s ‘Get Healthy’ topic. The visit gave everyone an exciting 'hands-on' opportunity to learn about life processes and healthy living. Besides looking around the centre's exhibitions, children took part in a 'Keeping Healthy' workshop where they all had a go at examining animal teeth, making scabs, designing a healthy meal, and making a plaster cast for broken bones.

Saturday 12th February...six of our Year 6 children travelled to the Stadium of Light with Mr Draper to watch the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham. Prior to the game they were met by the Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell who invited them to ask questions and handed out autographed photos. Although some of their loyalties lay elsewhere (mainly Newcastle) a great time was had by all! They will return to the stadium on Monday 28th February to complete their 'Write-on-Target' programme which will include a full match report from the game.

As part of their Healthy Eating topic work this term, children in years 5 and 6 have been attending science classes at Fyndoune Comprehensive school. The children got to take part in a real science experiment to establish which common foodstuffs contain sugar. Most children agreed that the highlight of their investigation was being able to use the bunsen burners as part of their investigation!

Eight pupils from Year 6 attended the 'Write on Target' initiative today (1st February 2011) which was held at Sunderland Football Club in their Academy of Light. They will attend a further two sessions this month and will also be going to watch the Sunderland v Tottenham match on Saturday 12th February. They were joined by pupils from Langley Park, Witton Gilbert and St Bedes schools. The aims of this initiative are to improve students' writing skills, widen their vocabulary and to increase their confidence in their writing ability. During their visits they will produce at least three pieces of quality writing, including a match report for the game between Sunderland and Tottenham.

The children taking part had a fantastic first day including a visit to the players' dressing room, which was fully kitted out in preparation for this evening's game with Chelsea, and they also enjoyed a run out from the players' tunnel onto the touchline. Inspired by this visit they have produced some wonderful poetry and everyone is looking forward to their next visit!

At the end of the spring term, all the classes in Sacriston Junior school were hard at work planting our vegetable seedlings into the new raised beds in the nature garden.

The Eco Group has worked really hard to apply for lots of grants to help this happen.

Well done everyone who has been involved, we shall look forward to eating the veg at the end of the summer term!

Well done to everyone! We had a spectacular launch of our new school CD to commemorate the schools 100th birthday. CD's are on sale in school and at local shops in the area!

Enjoy!

Our after school cookery club held their first community event, with parents being invited in to school to see all the amazing cookery skills the group have picked up - and give a help in hand!

There was also time to enjoy and sample the delights!

As part of our centernary celebrations on Friday 30th April, we invited family and friends to join us in a walk back through time. Activities included:
Year 3&4 - 80's fun with food, films and music
Year 5 - 50's Coronation celebrations
Year 6 - 60's disco and film of Sacriston

The day was brought to an end with the release of balloons for the balloon race and the singing of our new school song!

Well done to everyone who came along and dressed up for the day and made it a huge success and lots of fun!

Well done to everyone who entered the Easter Egg competition! We had some amazing entries again this year, from 'David Beggam' to 'The Eggsfactor'! Reverend Caroline judged the entries and we shall update you with the winning entries as soon as possible!

Watch this space!

The whole school enjoyed an amazing trip to Beamish on Wednesday 10th March! Year 3/4 children got to experience a day in the life of a Victorian School child, Year 5 children were involved in a Murder Mystery and Year 6 children were evacuated as part of their World War 2 project!

What a day!

 As part of our annual Anti-Bullying Week children in the school took part in a 'Stamp-out-Bullying' conger around the school playground.

On the 10th of April - our school will be celebrating its 100th Birthday. Watch this space for further news on events and activities.

If you have any good suggestions on what we could do, let your teacher know!