Polam Hall E-newsletter

Hello

Our warmest congratulations go to Antonia Puccio – winner of the Best of Darlington Vocational Learner Award and Young Citizen of the Year Award 2011. Everyone who knows Antonia will agree that she is a very deserving winner – she is an inspiration to us all.

We are also proud to be involved with the Awards by sponsoring the Contribution to Sport category and congratulate the winner, Darren Grey, an exceptional golfer and 13th in the Disabled British Open Golf Championships. Polam Hall’s equestrian star, Laura Robinson, was also a finalist in this category.

During a week for awards and accolades we were delighted to receive a letter of commendation for one of our students who recently undertook some work experience.

The Junior pupils thoroughly enjoyed their Bring a Friend to School Day today. The photographs in the gallery reflect how much they enjoyed themselves. Our Junior Journalists have also been at work – take a look at the Junior news for their articles this week.

Thank you to everyone who has returned their Pupil Record Sheet for their daughters/sons. If you haven’t already done so please return your updated forms to us by this coming Monday (28th February) so we can start to use our new database to the full. Nil returns are required.

We look forward to seeing those of you with toddlers at our Parent & Toddler Group starting on Monday at 9.30am and don’t forget we are still collecting old mobile phones for recycling.

Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates this month: -
• NEW Parent & Toddler Group - 28th February
• Whole School Open Morning – 5th March 10am to 12 noon
• Eurolinks – 7th March
• Fashion Show – 11th March

A full list of events can be found on our website.

Buttercup News is now available from the website and is available on both Facebook and Twitter. Why not share our news with your friends. For those of you with teenage daughters – you may want to take a look at the recent My Daughter newsletter for hints and tips.



The Polam Hall Team

New Parent & Toddler Group at Polam Hall

Polam Hall School is to launch a weekly Parent and Toddler group that will have monthly themed sessions with the first focusing on the benefits of helping children to talk by singing nursery rhymes.

The aim of the group, which will first meet on Monday February 28 from 9:30am to 11am, is to provide a support network for parents by allowing them to exchange views about bringing up children as well offering a safe and creative environment in which their children can play.

The first session will concentrate on how using nursery rhymes can help youngsters to talk. Polam Hall School decided to highlight the benefits of nursery rhymes after it emerged that these days fewer parents were using this technique to help their children develop their language skills.

Angela Foster, Polam Hall Junior School Head Teacher, said: “It is important to keep nursery rhymes alive. We believe that by encouraging parents to sing rhymes to their toddlers we are providing the best of both worlds –teaching and pastoral care.

“Nursery rhymes are also a fun way of helping children develop language skills and parents will find this out during the sing-a-long session at our first parent and toddler group meeting.”

The new group is open to families from across the area.

Mrs Foster added: “While the parents will be able to exchange experiences and make new friends in a relaxed environment, their youngsters will have the chance to meet other children, play and socialise.”

Congratulations to Antonia

Many congratulations to Antonia who was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year at The Best of Darlington Awards on Friday 18th February 2011

Click here for full details from the Northern Echo website

Hello

We are sending the pupil information sheets to everyone today. Please check, update and return them to us as soon as possible but no later than 28th February. Once we are sure that the information is up to date we will send you an e-mail confirming that the new system is operational.

Are nursery rhymes a dying tradition? Rekindle your nursery memories and pass on your love of rhymes at our new Parent & Toddler Group starting on Monday 28th February. It will run every Monday during term-time between 9.30am and 11am. Why not bring a friend?

The Parent Association Numbers Club February winners are: -
• 1st prize number 28 Mrs A Roberts £20
• 2nd prize number 55 Mrs J Temple £14.50

Don’t forget we are still collecting old mobile phones for recycling.

Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates this month: -
• Coffee Concert – 22nd February
• NEW Parent & Toddler Group - 28th February
• Whole School Open Morning – 5th March 10am to 12 noon
• Eurolinks – 7th March
• Fashion Show – 11th March

A full list of events can be found on our website.

Buttercup News is now available from the website and is available on both Facebook and Twitter. Why not share our news with your friends.

Enjoy the half-term break. We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 21st February.


The Polam Hall Team

Polam Hall Art Competition Winners Unveiled

Polam Hall Junior School art competition winners have been announced after a panel led by well-known Teesside photographer Joe Cornish judged the entries.

‘Our Future Matters’ was the theme of the art competition, organised by Polam Hall Junior School, which attracted entries from many schools in the County Durham and Teesside areas.

The winners were:
• Foundation Stage: - Yarm School – At Melting Point
• Key Stage1: - Whinfield Primary School – Our World is Worth Holding On To. Let’s keep it like that.
• Lower Key Stage : - Polam Hall School – Nurture Nature NOW!
• Upper Key Stage: - Yarm Preparatory School – The Choice is Ours


Youngsters, between the ages of three and 11 from local nurseries, primary schools, and independent schools, had submitted pieces in four categories around the topic of what matters to them in the future.

Judging took place today (Friday February 4) with an exhibition of the contestants’ artwork on show to the public at Polam Hall School in Grange Road, Darlington, from 10.30am to 12noon tomorrow (Saturday February 5).

The rest of the judging panel comprised art lecturer and photographer Geoff Perry, Roy Hutchings, a member of the National Curriculum for Art advisory panel, and Tony Metcalfe, a retired Art and Design teacher.

Angela Foster, Polam Hall Junior School head teacher, said: “The standard of entries was extremely high and demonstrated the strong artistic talent that there is among young people in the Country Durham and Teesside area.
“The competition is among a number of projects organised by Polam Hall that involve schools from throughout the area as we are keen to collaborate with other educational establishments to further develop the skills and talents of our and their pupils.”

Cups for the competition were donated by Studio 2000, Gallerina, Polam Hall Junior School and former students Rachel & Erinn Campbell.

Polam Hall E-newsletter

Hello

The artwork submitted for the ‘Our Future Matters’ Art competition has been amazing. Congratulations go to all the winners and, of course, to everyone involved. Click here to see full details. We hope you can join us tomorrow for the exhibition in our Theatre between 10.30am and noon. Everyone welcome.

Our Junior Boarders held a party for friends and staff on Wednesday after school. It was an excellent turnout with standing room only! The pupils had great fun preparing the wonderful food, ranging from sandwiches to butterfly cakes, and entertaining the staff. Click here for some photos.

Are nursery rhymes a dying tradition? Rekindle your nursery memories and pass on your love of rhymes at our new Parent & Toddler Group starting on Monday 28th February. It will run every Monday during termtime between 9.30am and 11am. Why not bring a friend?

Our Year 10 students need your help. They will be embarking on a special Eurolinks Day - could you spare a couple of hours to help? Please click here to learn more.

Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates this month: -
• Half term – 11th to 18th February inclusive
• Coffee Concert – 22nd February
• NEW Parent & Toddler Group - 28th February
• Whole School Open Morning – 5th March 10am to 12 noon

A full list of events can be found on our website.

Buttercup News is now available from the website and is available on both Facebook and Twitter. Why not share our news with your friends.


The Polam Hall Team