All News

It’s extremely busy in school at present, as we work towards the end of term. Parties are in full swing and the school is looking very festive. It was lovely that so many of you were able to join the Christmas Walk Around evenings and we appreciated the positive feedback. There is a lot to get through, so here we go…

1. Carols on the Yard – for the parents
2. Viewing the Christmas Performances
3. Change of dates for Panto and Magic Andrew
4. Christmas Raffle
5. Spare socks
6. Flu vaccine
7. Holiday club
8. Peer network
9. Diary Dates
10. Website

1. Carols on the Yard – for the parents

We know it’s been difficult not seeing the Christmas performances 1^st hand, so next week we would like to offer a chance to see your children perform a song or two…just for you the parents. On Thursday and Friday next week we are inviting parents to an outside performance of some of the songs from their festive production.

Thursday 16^th December

 Friday 17^th December

 The weather looks good to sing outside and children will be able to leave with their parent after. Any child without a parent will remain in school until the normal time. We will share a few more practical details next week.

2. Viewing the Christmas Performances

All festive productions, which we have recorded, will be shared via email once they have been edited.

3. Change of dates for Panto and Magic Andrew

The panto will now go ahead on Tuesday 14^th. Magic Andrew will now perform on Friday 17^th.

4. Christmas Raffle

Tickets can be bought via Parent Pay. £1 a ticket.  This will be drawn on Thursday morning.

5. Spare socks

A request from early years (Nursery & Reception) if you have any spare pairs of socks for this age range. Wet, cold feet are never nice!

6. Flu vaccine

Call 0191 4028179 should your child need an alternative flu vaccine due to the porcine gelatine ingredient.

7. Winter Holiday Club

Saturday 18 December to Sunday 2 January 

You can now enrol your child in a free holiday club programme over the winter. There are free places available for children and young people in South Tyneside who are eligible for benefits related free school meals, where they can enjoy a variety of creative and physical activities, alongside a nutritious meal every day.

Sessions include sports, arts, crafts and more!  

Activities cater for children aged 5 to 16 and take place across the winter holiday. All events are subject to availability. Those taking part are asked to observe Covid advice, wear a face mask if age appropriate and take a lateral flow test before attending. Anyone who is feeling unwell or symptomatic should stay at home.

Booking is essential. Activities and food are funded by the Department for Education. 

Visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/holidayclub 

8. Peer network

Please see the flyer for the LGBT+ session that we have booked for parents/carers to have the opportunity to learn more about the service offer in South Tyneside.

9. Diary Dates

• 17.12.21 – School closes for Christmas holidays
• 5.1.22 – School reopens for pupils
• 21.2.22 – 25.2.22 – School closed for half term

10. Website

Please visit the website for news on:

• STEM at Nissan
• Cop26 Competition Winners

Just to provide a further update regarding Christmas performances/nativities at Mortimer.

Our decision still stands to keep our performances in-house without parents. This was not taken lightly and we fully understand that this is upsetting. We believe this is the right course of action for our school, for the safety of all due to the restrictions our building imposes. We cannot comment or compare what we are doing with that of other schools.

The walk-around will go ahead as we can greatly increase the ventilation of the building and apply social distancing. Parents/carers are free to choose if they come to the walk around, but all decorations/crafts will come home with your child at the end of term.

The hall represents a much greater challenge, where, considering the number of pupils in school, is very small and we would be unable to create the same level of ventilation or create sufficient space to distance.

Please note, the performances are not cancelled. They will be recorded and freely shared with all parents.

If you do not wish for your child to be on video then please let us know, else we will use your permissions that we have on file and include your child.

On a more positive note, we hope to offer a special festive finish on Friday 17^th December which we are sure all parents will enjoy. We hope to share details of this early next week.

The follow events will take place:

MPS Christmas Plan 2021

After much thought, we have decided to run our nativities/carol concerts without parents this year. We feel that the safety of everyone (staff, pupils and parents) would be compromised with live performances. We want to avoid the Government making last minute decisions and then being left cancelling performances. We know this is disappointing and we would have loved parents to see all the festive shows in person. However, we are in talks with an experienced videographer to capture all of our performances and then share these with parents without cost.

All performances will go ahead without an adult audience but will be recorded.

We will still be going ahead with the Christmas Walk Around sessions for parents, but we will ask all adults to wear masks, social distance and take a LFT test prior to coming into school. Classrooms and staff will not be available.

Christmas parties will still go ahead and further details will follow for these. However, if your child will be going home for lunch on the day of their party and will not require a lunch, then please don’t book for their party day.

The Year 3 & 4 nativity will still take place, but without parents. We will record the show straight after school on Monday 13^th – further details will follow.

Please see the attached plan.

Thank you for your continuing support

1. Christmas Lunches
2. Milk Money
3. PCR Testing
4. Parent Pay Availability 
5. Christmas Jumper Day – Save the Children