Whole School PE Challenges 1-7 …

19th January 2021N Noble

We live in a world full of challenges. Going out and meeting friends is not happening, hobbies are cancelled and the internet gives you trouble when you when you should join Google Meets and complete your work!!  Also, one of the most important place in the world for all of us is closed! (I mean Dunn Street!)

This family decided to send even more challenges to the school team (students, teachers and other staff). PE Challenges! They send out two challenges a week and the goal is for each of us to try and try to overcome the challenge.

A challenge can be really hard, but don’t be discouraged! The purpose is just to have fun and get away from the computers in between lessons. You can also challenge your whole family, relatives, friends, pets, etc.

Let’s all challenge ourselves!

… how many of these challenges can you complete?  Be sure to let your teacher know and we will see which classes have risen to the challenge!!







SCHOOL CLOSURE, Monday 4th January 2021

4th January 2021N Noble

Monday 4th January 2021

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you are all well and have had a lovely holiday with your children.

As you will now be aware, the government announced tonight that schools will close from tomorrow and everyone wherever possible needs to stay at home.

School will only be open for children of critical workers if they are unable to be cared for at home and our children from vulnerable families.

If you fall into the critical worker category, then please complete the attached form and email as soon as possible to the school office (info@dunnstreet.s-tyneside.sch.uk).

The list of ‘critical workers’ was updated on 31/12/20 and can be found on the government website www.gov.uk. The list of workers includes:

  • Health and Social care
  • Education and childcare
  • Key public services
  • Local and National government
  • Food and other necessary goods
  • Public safety and national security
  • Transport and border
  • Utilities, communication and financial services

Parents and carers of vulnerable pupils (who include those who have a social worker and have Education, Health and Care Plans) will be contacted directly by school staff tomorrow.

As in previous lockdowns we ask that every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. Remote learning will be available for pupils – staff will use Google Classroom.

Please continue to contact school if your child has any COVID symptoms and you are taking them for a test. Inform us as soon as possible of any test result (positive or negative). It is essential that emergency contact details are up to date for all pupils. If your child has been in contact with a positive case, they MUST isolate for ten days and they must not enter the school site.

We request that adults wear a mask when picking up or dropping off their child to reduce the risk of transmission. Can I please ask that all adults comply with this request?  We also request that only one adult per household drop off or collect from the school at any one time.

We understand the timing of this announcement has been difficult and a challenge for everyone and to support parents/carers we will still offer an 8.45am start to the day for the children of critical worker and our children of vulnerable families.

There will be no after school clubs until further notice.

This is going to be another challenging term for us all. We will continue to put your child’s safety and education at the forefront in all that we do. We will continue to follow the guidance from public health, the Department for Education and the Government.

Thank you for your continued support and for the well wishes and messages we have received over the Christmas break. If you have any queries, please no not hesitate to email or ring school.

All my very best wishes and I sincerely wish you all a Happy New Year.

Alison Burden, all staff and governors.

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Celebrating INTO Film Club (under 11 years old) of The Year!!

12th November 2020N Noble

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Brad said:

“I’m lost for words…  This is an extraordinary achievement. I can’t thank the parents, the teachers and staff enough for this! This is something the school should treasure for how long it is an education establishment. Everybody in the club thanks you all for giving us the chance to achieve this.

When we found out the club couldn’t make it to London because of coronavirus, we were devastated, appalled and furious. We thought INTO Film Awards had been cancelled and we had lost our chance at winning… until this morning when we watched the Virtual Award Ceremony and won!

The club is bamboozled in the sight of winning one of the biggest award shows in The UK! Mrs Baxter, our film club teacher, supported us in the pursuit of winning the award and becoming the best under 11’s film club in the UK. She helped us with basic animation, flip books and many more astonishing activities!

What I remember from the film club last year, is the smiling and bright faces of the children involved and the teachers knowing that they had created something that enhanced over time. This film club has inspired me to reach new heights with art and many more subjects which I did not think I would like!

This film club is not about coming in and watching movies every week!

This film club is not about the popcorn or the food and drink!

This film club is about ambition, inspiration, and mental, physical drive. Pushing you to your limits, creating imaginations within the children young or old, using subjects from the primary curriculum and making it into humorous work  which makes the pupils want to work and achieve the highest they can. This is not a club. This is a community.”

This message was received from INTO Film:

Congratulations on winning an Into Film Award for Club of the Year 11 and Under!

We hope you’re pleased and enjoyed the online screening of the ceremony. You can watch the full screening again here: https://vimeo.com/476214487

We’ve also published an article on our website including all the winners: https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/into-film-awards-2020-winners and announced on our social media channels!

The club members, Mrs Burden and Mrs Gilmore met with Mrs Baxter and Mrs Moore today and received some bags stuffed full of goodies as well as a superb trophy!

#JerusalemaDanceChallenge

12th November 2020N Noble

The “Jerusalema” dance challenge is taking social media by storm. The song that has transcended its national boundaries, the continent and has people across the world dancing to its vibrant rhythm. They are sharing videos of themselves dancing to the hit song Jerusalema by South African musician Master KG, featuring the voice of South African songstress Nomcebo. According to Master KG, the dance challenge, that has sparked craze around the world, started in Angola when a group of friends recorded a video of the dance choreography that has since gone viral.

From hospital hallways in France and Sweden, to roof tops, public places in Italy, Romania, the UK and Canada, the beaches of Cape Verde, in a Jamaican compound, somewhere in Tanzania; on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge has hundreds posting videos of themselves or others dancing to the song.

We hope you enjoy watching our version as much as we enjoyed doing it!

Children In Need Dotty Day THURSDAY 12th November

7th November 2020N Noble

BBC Children In Need

Dear Parents / Carers

Historically, at Dunn Street, we have supported this appeal.  It will be no surprise that this year will be very different.

Pupils are being invited to come into school for a DOTTY DAY on THURSDAY, 12th November.  If pupils would like to, they can come dressed with as many dots as possible.  They will take part in a range of activities within their classes / bubbles during the day.

We are aiming to collect £150 as a school.  A suggested donation of £1 can be made via our Just Giving Page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dunnstreetcin2020

Kind regards

Mrs Burden

12 Ways to Celebrate Halloween During COVID-19

24th October 2020N Noble

Many people have a special place in their hearts for Halloween. It’s fun for the sake of fun, and a chance for children (and adults) to let their imaginations run wild. We all need that to look forward to, especially during this pandemic.

Yes, Halloween this year will be different. But even if your family is in quarantine, there are lots of creative and safe ways to celebrate right at home.

1. Go big on DIY decorations.

Brother and sister dressed up for Halloween in front of DIY Halloween decorations

Build anticipation for the big day by making your Halloween décor a showstopper. Get your child started on crafty sessions now. Think: Paper chains around the mailbox, lights over the door and construction paper silhouettes in the windows.

2. Create a Halloween home movie or play.

It’s the perfect scenario: everyone already has a costume! Get the family involved in writing a script, building or arranging a “set,” picking out theme music, rehearsing, and filming. Then share it as a “Quarantine-O-Ween” family greeting.

3. Learn a Halloween dance.

This could be the big finale for your home video or play – or just a great way to get some exercise and laugh together as a family. Search YouTube for “monster mash dance,” “monster shuffle” – or choreograph your own, featuring your child’s best moves! Practice then perform, preferably in costume.

4. Plan a scary (or not-so-scary) movie night.

Host a full-length feature with a theme that ties to Halloween or your child’s costume, or plan a marathon of Halloween-themed TV episodes. To make sure your selections are age appropriate, check commonsensemedia.org.

5. Have a Halloween-themed reading hour.

Check your library for book suggestions!  (And if you need help getting your child excited about reading, check out these suggestions…

or these….!)

6. Make Halloween treats.

From cookies frosted to look like witch hats to tangerines peeled and garnished with mint to look like pumpkins, the options are endless. Whatever you decide, you’ll be spending time with your child building kitchen skills and having fun.  Click on the picture for more ideas…

7. Camp out under the blue moon.

In case you hadn’t heard, there will be a full moon on Oct. 31, 2020 – something that happens just once every 18 or 19 years. It’s also a “blue moon,” aka the second full moon of the month. So set up a tent, and enjoy the show. Howl if you want to.

What’s the meaning of a blue moon and how can you see the next one on Halloween?

8. Host a video chat costume party.

Dad and two kids take part in virtual costume party via video chat

Use a video chat app like Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Skype to host a virtual event. Invite your child’s friends to participate in a spooky singalong, dance party or group chat.

9. Join a virtual pumpkin-carving or painting contest.

Host your own with family and friends, or try searching your online community for virtual events open to the public.

10. Create a Quarantine-O-Ween scavenger hunt.

Instead of your child trick-or-treating around the neighbourhood, they can trick-or-treat around the home or yard. Hide treats, create clues, and send your child on a spooky scavenger hunt.

11. Have your child “art direct” a Halloween family photo shoot.

Make planning part of the event. Invite your child to brainstorm several locations to take photos, and make a list of any props you’ll need to have on hand. Then let them “art direct” the photo session – setting up family members in different funny or scary scenes based on their costumes.

12. Create a Halloween home gallery.

Have fun going through old photos of your child and other family members in costume over the years. Display your favourites in a corner of your home with description cards – the year, age and costume inspiration, for example – and have your child to draw or paint original Halloween-themed artwork to add to the collection.