Thank you to everyone who joined us for this term's Christmas themed Stay and Play sessions. The children in Nursery and Reception had so much fun, painting their salt dough tree decorations, writing and posting letters to Santa and creating individually designed, hand printed wrapping paper. They practised lots of important skills, but more importantly had fun with their grown ups in school.

The Christmas disco was a lively and joyful celebration, filled with colourful lights, upbeat music, and plenty of excitement. The children thoroughly enjoyed the event, laughing, cheering, and dancing with big smiles on their faces. They had the chance to show off their best dance moves, from energetic spins to creative freestyle steps, as they danced alongside their friends. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful, making it a memorable occasion that truly captured the spirit

KS1 had the most amazing day out at the Rising Sun where they went to visit Santa’s Grotto! It felt like we were transported to the North Pole! Both year 1 and year 2 were lucky enough to meet Santa and ask lots of different questions about Christmas. Santa said his favourite snacks were warm mince pies! They were trusted to hold Santa’s very important keys that let him into the houses and they also sang some carols with his jingle bells. They all sat around a crackling fire,

This year, the children have enjoyed a wonderful range of festive Christmas activities filled with fun, creativity, and celebration. We began December with our Christmas performance, where every child took part with great enthusiasm. They sang beautifully, joined in with the actions, and looked absolutely fabulous in their costumes. The performance featured all the traditional Nativity characters, along with animals and shining stars, as well as some cheeky elves, Santa, and

On Tuesday 9th December, Key Stage 2 pupils showcased their wonderful Christmas Carol Service at St. Aidan’s church. Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 worked incredibly hard, alongside their teachers, to put together a truly moving service. This special service was deliberately simple and straightforward, keeping the focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The children’s singing and acting was so impressive and I’m sure you’ll all agree that it was a beautiful, poignant evening where we all

Santa visited St Stephen’s in the last week of term with a gift for every St Stephen’s pupil. Early Years enjoyed a very special visit from Santa, who spent time reading us a festive story and handing out presents. We then shared a lovely breakfast together, making it a truly magical and memorable experience for everyone. After his time in Early Years, Santa tried to visit as many pupils as he could and checking he had the nice and naughty lists up to date! We can’t wait to s

On the 2 nd and 3 rd of December, Year 3 took part in their first overnight residential trip to the YHA at the Sill. One of the reasons we arranged this trip for December was to celebrate the festive period of Advent. Whilst at the Sill, the children took part in a beautiful Celebration of the Word whereby we reflected on the Word of God by sharing our thoughts on how to enjoy a peaceful Christmas. We discussed that whilst Advent is a time for preparation, it is also a good

Our recent Advent Celebration of the Word services were truly meaningful events, reminding us of the true spirit of Christmas as we journey through this festive season. Led beautifully by KS2, the services were filled with reverence and respect for the Gospel, with children sharing key messages to guide us through this time of preparation. Thanks to the generosity of all who attended and supported their children, we raised a grand total of £226.93 , which will go towards buil

St Stephen’s Choir recently had the wonderful opportunity to perform as part of Side By Side’s Friendship Week , held in celebration of Anti-Bullying Week. The event featured a series of songs centered around the theme of friendship, and our talented children truly wowed their audience. One of the highlights of the afternoon was their powerful rendition of “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” , which quite literally took the roof off the church! The energy and enthusiasm displayed by t

This term, Year 6 laced up their trainers and headed off for an action-packed Athletics afternoon, ready to challenge themselves in a variety of exciting events. From the moment they stepped into the sports hall, the buzz of competition and the cheers of different schools created an atmosphere full of determination and pride.  The day began with the relay, an event that tested coordination, timing, and trust. Pupils sprinted down the lanes, baton in hand, giving everything th

This Christmas season, our wonderful Year 1 and Year 2 children brought the magic of the Nativity story to life on stage. They shared the story of the very first Christmas and reminded us of all what this special time of year is truly about. The children worked incredibly hard to learn lines, songs and actions. From twinkling stars to fluffy sheep every child had an important role to play. What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas together at school!

In History, Year 2 have been learning all about George Stephenson and the impact that he has had on railway transport! Year 2 were excited to learn that he grew up in Northumberland and worked just round the corner at Killingworth Colliery! They have loved reading all of our books about George Stephenson and transport. They have found some excellent facts from their studies. For example, George Stephenson’s train called ‘The Rocket’ won the Rainhill Trials! Year 2 had a very

The school hall was buzzing with excitement in early December as pupils poured in for our first ever Toy Swap event. Tables were stacked with everything from board games and puzzles to books, dolls, soft toys and well-loved action figures, each waiting for a new home. Children who brought in toys they were ready to part with received special swap vouchers, which they could then use to ‘buy’ a new treasure from the selection. Others chose to make a small donation instead, addi

Our Year 4 children recently took part in an exciting hockey skills event held at The Parks Leisure Centre. Organised by the North Tyneside Sports Team, the morning focused on developing key skills rather than competition, giving the children the chance to learn and improve in a supportive environment. Throughout the session, pupils rotated around a series of skill-based circuits designed to build confidence and technique. They worked on dribbling, passing, control and shooti

The Girls Football Team have been in action this term. With a squad made up of many Year 5 players, they have shown fantastic character and resilience while adapting to the step up in competition. Despite some challenging fixtures, they earned a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Fordley and battled brilliantly to secure a narrow victory over Ivy Road. Although they were beaten in their remaining league matches, their commitment and teamwork have continued to shine through. The g

The Boys Football Team have again made a strong start to the year. Their league campaign began with two closely-fought fixtures in the Stan Jackson League. They produced an excellent performance to win their opening game before narrowly losing the second. These results currently place them 4th in the table, in a league of nine teams, with plenty of matches still to come in the new year as they continue their push up the standings. The boys have also impressed in the Bishop’s

Year 1 had a wonderful experience with Relax kids. We have learned how to keep our minds and bodies calm and happy. We learned different breathing techniques that we could use at different times during our day. The children enjoyed exploring different stretches, especially the elephant stretch. We stood tall and stretched our trunks (arms!) down low, making our bodies feel strong. We enjoyed trying different soothing massage movements on our hands and our face we also made th

This half term, the children in Reception enjoyed a visit to Longbenton Library. They loved walking through the autumn leaves and talking to each other about where they lived as they walked along Goathland Road towards the library. They listened to a story and answered questions about what they had read. They chose a book to take back to school and then finished their visit by decorating a hedgehog with autumn-coloured leaves.  Longbenton Library is a great place to visit wit

This Autumn, the Phunky Foods team from North Tyneside have been busy inspiring Nursery and Reception with their Early Years 5-Week Food Explorers Programme. Designed to encourage healthy eating habits from a young age, the programme offers children the chance to explore the world of food in a fun and interactive way. The children begin their sessions by listening to a story that introduces a particular food group or food type. The children learn fun facts about the food they

As part of our "On the Move" topic, Reception children have been exploring different ways of travelling. We first enjoyed a walk to The...