HT Update

Welcome to our February/March Newsletter!

As I write this, I can see children dressed in their World Book Day costumes playing in the sunshine outside my window. It reminds me of how fortunate I am to be the Head Teacher of our school and how wonderful it is to see our community come together for these special events.

In this edition, we reflect on the many activities and events our children have enjoyed so far this term, including Number Day, Mental Health Week, and various trips and visits. We are currently hosting careers week to inspire our students to dream big about their futures. We are extremely grateful to the incredible visitors who have taken the time to come to our school and speak about their professions.

Thank you to everyone who completed the parent survey shared by ALP. We received 50 responses, and I am delighted to report that 98% of parents said their child is happy at school, 100% said their child feels safe, and 98% believe their child is doing well. Your feedback is vital in helping us maintain and improve our standards. If you have any suggestions, thoughts, or concerns, or if you would like to arrange a meeting with any of our staff, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Below, you will find updates from all the classrooms and important dates for your diary for the remainder of this term.

Swimming Gala

The annual school swimming gala was held in February, bringing together 18 schools from across the region for a morning of exciting competition and sportsmanship. Our school’s swim team put in a commendable performance, showcasing their hard work, sportsmanship and support of one another throughout the event.

The gala featured a variety of races, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and relay events. Our swimmers demonstrated great skill and determination, with strong finishes in multiple races. The atmosphere was electric, with cheers and encouragement from teammates, parents, and supporters filling the air.

Despite facing tough competition, our team secured an impressive 7th place overall out of the 18 participating schools.

The swimming gala was not only a platform for competition but also an opportunity for our students to bond and build camaraderie. The spirit of teamwork and mutual support was evident throughout the event, making the event a memorable experience for everyone involved.

We are incredibly proud of our swim team and their achievements. Congratulations to all our swimmers for their outstanding efforts.

Parking outside of school

Can I politely request that parents are respectful of local residents when parking outside of school.  Some concerns have been raised about cars parking on the verge outside of the school fence and the impact that this has had on the grass.  It would be appreciated if this area could be avoided.

If you do need to bring a car as part of the school run, as the better weather approaches, can I encourage you to park further away from the street outside of school and enjoy a short walk in with your child.  The primary years in which your child enjoys the walk to school with you pass by really quickly.  From personal experience, I’d encourage you to embrace this time.  Thanks for your support.

School Uniform

Please remember that we still have school uniform available for free at our swop shop which is located just outside of the school hall.  If your child has grown out of their uniform, we have a variety available for you to exchange.  If you can’t find what you are looking for, please let us know and we might have it in storage.

It is vital that children wear the correct school uniform each day in school.  There’s information available about our expectations on the school website – Uniform – Witton-le-Wear Primary School please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Please make sure that children are wearing their house coloured PE t-shirt on PE days.  This is an important part of their lesson and helps teachers to group children fairly for practicing and developing skills and competitive activities.

Dates for your diary

Date Event Additional Information
18.03.25 Locomotion Visit to school Locomotion staff working with children in school
WC 31.03.25 Y6 Mock SATs week
11.04.25 Easter Egg Decorating Competitions Home competition – Decorated eggs to be brought into school and positioned in the hall.  Winner and runner up in each year group.

School Competition – Eggs to be decorated in class.  Winner and runner up from each year group.

11.04.25 Non Uniform Day £1.00 Donation to School Funds by School Gateway
14.04.25 School closed for Easter Holiday
28.04.25 School reopens to children
07.05.25 Locomotion STEM day Class Three (Y3 and Y4)
08.05.25 Phototronics School Photographs More details to follow
09.05.25 VE Day Celebrations Details to follow
WC 12.05.25 KS2 SATs Week
15.05.25 Durham University Buddhism Workshop Class 2 (Y1 and Y2)
23.05.25 Locomotion Visit Class 2 (Y1 and Y2)
23.05.25 SATs Party Y6
26.05.25 School closed for Half Term
02.06.25 School reopens to children