Kings Priory School Newsletter
6 March 2015
Dear Parent
It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Stephen Pettitt this
week. Stephen was formally Director of Music at The King’s School and
has been working as a peripatetic music teacher at Kings Priory School
since the merger. He was a dedicated teacher and friend to Kings Priory
School with over 40 years of service to the schools. We will all miss him
greatly.
Once again we are facing concerns about road safety after a near incident last week. Please
can I ask that all parents take great care when they are using the roads in the vicinity of either
school site.
I’d like to remind parents that Kings Priory School does not, as yet, have its own Facebook
page and any messages for school should be forwarded to the appropriate person through
the Chapter Administrators. I have been made aware that a number of concerns have been
posted on Facebook sites and have not been presented to any member of staff through our
normal school channels. I have put a reminder of contact details at the end of this newsletter.
Over half term the pupil toilets on the Huntington Place site were deep cleaned and a
maintenance programme that includes painting all the toilet areas has begun. My thanks go
to the site and cleaning teams who worked tirelessly on this to ensure the work was done
quickly.
A new date in our school diary is the Alumni AGM which is being held on 27 March at 5.30pm
and I hope you have seen the invitation to attend with the offer of a ticket to our production of
Hairspray later that evening. All our Sixth Formers are automatically members of the Alumni
as are former staff and pupils of The King’s School and we look forward to seeing as many of
you there as can make it.
It is good to see the nights becoming lighter and I hope we will not be faced with too much
inclement weather over coming months. Having been in education for quite a number of years,
for me this is an early indication of the approach of the examination season and I know that
the vast majority of our pupils, with the help of their teachers and parents, are working hard in
preparation. For those who have paid work or extensive interests outside school it may be a
time to pull back to ensure they maximise their chances of success. Whilst it is extremely
important to have ‘down time’ every minute counts at this time of year.
The next newsletter will be sent to parents on the 20 March 2015.
Yours sincerely
Gill Hewlett
Principal
Percy Park Road update
Pupils have quickly settled back into school after the halfterm holiday and their positive attitudes towards learning and
achievements across the curriculum have been celebrated in
assemblies.
Congratulations, in
particular, to the children who received
Head Teacher certificates for their
outstanding attitude, commitment and
progress over the last half-term.
Buildings update
The new Reception block is now watertight and the floor screeds are being laid this week, the
Electrical & Mechanical 1st fix work will commence next Monday.
Gardening Club – helpers required
Do we have any keen gardeners in our parent body? Would you be prepared to spare an hour
of your time on a Friday lunchtime to help our Year 1 – 4 children with their Gardening Club
on the Percy Park road site? If you are interested, and preferably DBS cleared, please contact
the First School Office on 0191 2589105 or [email protected] with a
subject heading of Gardening Club – Percy Park Road. Thank you.
Bubble Foundation UK
As many will remember on the last Friday of last term we held a Non Uniform Day and cake
sale in support of the Bubble Foundation. The Bubble Foundation is a world renowned charity,
who have a local ward In the RVI in Newcastle. They support young children suffering from
life threatening diseases. The pupils and staff from Percy Park Site also participated in the
Non Uniform Day and a special decorate a cupcake event for everyone.
We are glad to report that the day was a huge success among the pupils and this was reflected
in the £1,700 that we have raised. We would like to thank everyone involved with the event,
with special thanks to the Café K staff and Year 13 students who gave up their time to help
out.
U6 Design Technology Class 2015
World Book Day
What a fabulous day we had on both sites to celebrate World Book Day. From famous book
characters to book swaps and the culmination of our book fair, a truly fitting celebration for the
international celebration of reading for pleasure!
Mrs J Angel
Music School News
Cheese and Wine evening – A Celebration of Music at GCSE, AS and A Level
On Thursday 26 February parents and friends were treated to a really beautiful evening of
music from our GCSE, AS and A Level music students. The pupils performed at an incredibly
high standard and were a credit to parents and the school alike. For some, this will be their
last performance before beginning examinations, so it was a really special occasion and one
we hope to repeat in future years.
ABRSM Examinations
Instrumental examinations take place on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 March in the Music
School. If your child is taking an examination, please can you support by ensuring your child
has his / her instrument and music in school and is in full, correct school uniform. Parents will
have received a ParentMail detailing examination times. Thank you.
Mrs E Johnston
Sporting News
It has been a fantastic sporting couple of weeks for the school with too many fixtures to go
into detail but here the results:
Under 12 Rugby team beat Austin Friars 12-10.
Under 13 Rugby team won the NSB 7s Plate final and beat Austin Friars at XV a side on
Saturday
Under 13 Rugby team beat Valley Gardens 17 – 15.
Under 14 Rugby team lost to Austin Friars.
Year 10 boys won the NSB 7’s rugby: pictured.
1st VII won the Plate at the NSB 7’s rugby.
1st VII entered the Durham 7’s rugby on Sunday but did not
reach the final.
1st VII reached the semi-final of the Bowl in their match against Austin Friars.
Badminton
Senior badminton team competed in the North Tyneside tournament and Bradley Robinson
and Daniel McDougal came 2nd overall winning medals. With Oscar Ball and Tom Ridley
coming third on count back.
Cross Country
Adam Gibbs in Year 12 has been selected to represent Northumberland in the English School
Cross-Country Championships at Witton Country Park, Blackburn on Saturday 14 March and
wish him all the best.
Football
1st XI team drew 2-2 against Bede Academy.
Under 14 team lost against St Thomas More Blaydon.
Year 5 boys beat Newcastle School for Boys, winning in A B C team.
Hockey
1st XI hockey in the County Tournament beat Longridge Towers, Dame Allan’s, Duchess
Alnwick and Newcastle High School, narrowly losing 1-0 in the final to RGS to come runners
up.
Year 5 and 6 girls and boys mixed hockey won 3 drew 1 and lost 1 at the North Tyneside
hockey tournament.
Year 6 girls hockey won 1 drew 1 and lost 1 at National Schools tournament.
Year 8 girls hockey beat Newcastle Girls 3-0 and also won the North Tyneside tournament
see picture below.
1st XI defeated KEVI 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the County Cup.
Under 15 XI drew 0-0 with KEVI.
Under 14 team defeated Duchess 4-0.
Under 14 team reached the semi-finals of the County Tournament and were knocked out by
Newcastle High School for Girls.
Under 12 lost 2-0 to Newcastle High School for Girls.
Mr R Snow
Under 13 Hockey
In the 7 – a –side North Tyneside Tournament the Kings Priory
School Under 13 Hockey team were undefeated to become
champions. They will now go to the Tyne and Wear games to
represent North Tyneside. Congratulations to the team.
Miss C Taylor
Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers
A reminder that we collecting vouchers again this year. Remember to ask all your family and
friends for any spare vouchers and even the person in front of you at the till if they say no to
accepting the vouchers. Please hand any vouchers to your class teacher, tutor, chapter
administrator, Percy Park Site Reception or directly to the PE Department. Thank you.
Mrs S Smith
Science News
Science Competition.
A big thank you to everyone who entered the Science competition to name the new workshops
for pupils in Year 4 and their parents, led by our very own Science Ambassadors. There were
lots of innovative and inspiring names and the panel of Sixth Form scientists had a difficult job
in deciding on a winner. They, however, after much debate voted for the name “Mini
Einsteins”. Congratulations to Hattie James in Year 4 who came up with the name… a
chocolate treat will be making its way to you shortly.
Year 4 will be soon receiving a letter explaining how you can get involved in KPS’s first Mini
Einsteins workshop on Wednesday 1 April in the science labs on Huntington Place.
Science Ambassadors
We started the Science Ambassadors programme at Kings Priory School in 2014 and were
overwhelmed with the success. This programme contributed to us being named Special Merit
Award winners in the Rolls Royce Science Prize. It was with great anticipation that we started
to recruit new Science Ambassadors from Year 9 to join a dedicated team of Science
Ambassadors in Years 10 and 11. Once again we were astounded by the talent and passion
that our students possess; the quality of applications was very high. Pupils had to produce a
1 minute video about something scientific and fill in an application form. We have just chosen
our new Year 9 Science Ambassadors and are very excited about them joining the team. The
Science Ambassadors over the next few weeks are involved in training with Newcastle
University Street Science team and are attending workshops in Biomedical and Biological
Sciences as part of Durham University’s Science Festival as well as helping run the new Mini
Einsteins workshops.
Mrs S Drury
Sixth Form Art visit to National Glass Centre
On Monday 9 February our upper and lower sixth form artists were
enriched by an informative and hands on workshop visit to the newly
refurbished and upgraded National Glass Centre in Sunderland. A sunny
frosty morning greeted us all but we were soon warmed by the friendly
welcome of the Gallery staff who started the day with a tour of the history
of glassmaking on the banks of the
Wear and the many developments
in the manufacture of hand made
and moulded glass. An exciting
workshop followed in which all
students constructed a glass tile using wire, beads, foil
and glass shards based on an element from their own
coursework projects. This was a new set of techniques
and processes that we are keen to explore and develop in the department, so this was useful
inset for us as well as the students. The highly skilled art of blowing glass was then presented
to us, a real treat to see two highly experienced craft workers applying the experience and
years of knowledge in the creation of a unique artefact.
Following a wholesome lunch and a particularly nice cappuccino we
were given a guided tour of the fine art, design and architectural glass
studios of the University which provided real insight into the next stage
of art education as well as a useful opportunity to learn about possible
careers opportunities. An exhibition of the renowned potter Magdalene
Odundo who is new to glass making was a stunning and fitting way to
end a varied, informative, creative and thoroughly enhancing day and
thanks go to Miss Laura Smith for organising the whole event which
has put the Glass centre back on the map as a must see venue.
Mr G Dickson
500 Words
The English Department are delighted to report that many
students in Years 7 and 8 have entered into this year’s BBC 500
Words Competition. Inspired by our work last term on one of the
world’s most famous storytellers - Shakespeare himself - many
students responded to the idea of writing a short story of their
own. They loved the challenge of fitting their storylines into such
a tight word limit. It certainly tested the powers of description for many students who
developed ideas and created characters that any professional storyteller would be proud of.
We’ll wait now with baited breath to see if any of our students are selected for a prize by the
judges.
Mrs S Penhall
Maths’ Puzzle of the Week
Some problems to discuss over dinner…..
Don’t forget to return all completed answers to the Maths office before Friday 13 March.
Good luck!
Mrs F Leather
Facilities on HP site
Facilities on HP Site
The in-house maintenance team have spent a great deal of time over the last
couple of weeks refurbishing the student toilets around the site, replacing
sanitary ware where required and redecorating of walls and ceilings.
This work is on-going and should be complete by the Easter break.
Dates for your Diaries
Event
Under 16 Rugby Durham 7’s
1st XV Rugby v KEVI Morpeth at Percy
Park
Under 13 v Emmanuel College – The
Parks
Date
7 March
Under 14 Hockey v KEVI
Start time End time
13:00
16:00
9 March
16:15
17:30
9 March
16:30
18:00
9 March
15:30
17:30
18:00
1 XI Hockey v Durham School – The
Parks
ABRSM Theory Examinations
ABRSM Music Practical exams
Under 14 Hockey v KEVI
Collapsed PSHE Day 4
ABRSM Music Practical exams
9 March
16:30
9 March
9 March
9 March
10 March
10 March
15:30
Year 10 Grade Card
10 March
st
Parent Focus Group meeting – Percy Park
Road
Science Ambassador Training with
Newcastle University Street Science team.
10 March
17:00
18:00
11 March
16:30
18:00
1st VI Hockey v RGS – The Parks
11 March
14:30
16:00
Under 12 North Tyneside Mini Hockey
Tournament – The Parks
11 March
16:00
17:50
Year 10 Parents' Evening
12 March
16:30
20:00
Year 8 Girls Football CVL at Burnside
Under 13 Rugby – Durham 7’s
Under 12 Rugby v Whitley Bay at Rockliffe
Year 9 Rugby County 7's at RGS
Year 13 Field Visit - Craster
Under 14 Hockey v Newcastle School for
Girls – Coach Lane
Year 10 Rugby County 7's @RGS
Under 13 Rugby v Dame Allan’s at Prior’s
Park
Hockey County Finals Night
Year 11 Rugby County 7's @ Percy Park
1st XV Rugby County 7's @Percy Park
1st XI Football v Harton School - away
Under 14 Hockey v Durham School – The
Parks
Year 8 Girls Football CVL @ Burnside
Under 13 Hockey v Valley Gardens – The
Parks
12 March
12 March
14 March
16 March
16 March
15:00
13:00
10:00
13:00
08:30
17:00
11:30
15:30
16 March
16:30
18:00
17 March
13:00
17 March
16:15
17:30
17 March
18 March
18 March
18 March
13:00
13:00
16:00
16:00
16:30
18 March
16:00
17:30
18 March
15:00
19 March
16:00
17:30
Choir for Adults - Chapel
Year 8 Rugby County 7's @RGS
Lunchtime Eucharist
Under 12 County Hockey Festival – The
Parks
19 March
19 March
20 March
19:30
13:00
13:00
21:30
20 March
13:00
16:00
Year 12 History Boys – Edinburgh
20 March
12:30
20:30
DofE Gold Practice – Lake District
20 – 22 March
21 March
10:00
11:30
21 March
08:00
17:00
21 – 28 March
24 March
25 March
08:30
15:30
25 March
12:45
19:00
Under 15 Football v Birkdale School
John Spence Community High
1st XV Rugby v Silcoates School
Silcoates, Wakefield
French Trip to Cannes
KS1 Enrichment Afternoon
Year 12 Geography Field Visit
Durham University School Science
Festival Biological and Biomedical
Sciences
KS2 Enrichment Afternoon
Year 13 Geology Field Visit - St Marys
Lighthouse
Hairspray
Hairspray
Hairspray
DofE Silver practice - Allendale
26 March
13:30
15:15
26 March
08:30
15:30
27 March
28 March
28 March
28 – 29 March
19:30
14:00
19:30
22:00
16:30
22:00
PTA Dates for your Diary
Event
Venue
Date
Quiz Night
Café K
24 April
tbc
16 May
tbc
4 July
tbc
Sponsored Dog Walk
Summer Party
PP site
Time
for any further information please contact: [email protected]
Contacting School
Parents are kindly asked that they report their child’s absence from school, to the appropriate
Chapter by 9.00 am in the morning. Thank you
First School
for ALL Reception to Year 4 pupils
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2589150
Chapter Administration: Anna Ilderton
Barfleur Chapter
Pupils from Year 5 - 13
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2589103
Chapter Administrator: Alex Callighan
Dunelm Chapter
Pupils from Year 5 - 13
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2589107
Chapter Administrator: Stephanie McKenzie
Hotspur Chapter
Pupils from Year 5 - 13
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2589118
Chapter Administrator: Angela Shepherd
Provost Chapter
Pupils from Year 5 - 13
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2589148
Chapter Administrator: Gill Vacher
Learning Support
Email: [email protected]
General Enquiries
Email: [email protected]
Please ensure you state your child’s name and tutor group details in any correspondence and
that all First School correspondence are directed to the Percy Park Road site.
Kings Priory School Presents
Friday 27 March:
7pm
Saturday 28 March: 2pm and 7pm
The King’s Hall
Tickets available from your Chapter
Hub or PPR Office
Adults: £4 Concessions: £3