PTA School Disco
There will be a school disco on Friday 24 May from 4:30pm to 6pm. It is open to children from Reception to Year 4. Admission is £1.50 and snacks and drinks will be available.
Gardening Club Plant Sale
The Gardening Club will be having a plant sale on Thursday 23 May at 3:15pm. All proceeds will go to the school allotment project.
Marathon Team Relay – We Did It!
On Sunday 28th April, a group of ‘friends of Wylam First School’ ran the Marathon and Half-Marathon of the North to raise funds for an outdoor community classroom. Having expected a flat and fast course, they were all surprised by the hilly route, made more difficult by the cold and strong winds. Andrea Coady completed the half marathon, and the ‘Jukes of Hazard’ relay team completed the marathon. The team had a little wobble 2 weeks before, to be saved by one member agreeing to run 2 stages! The Jukes of Hazard comprised of year 1 parents & teacher: Andy Parker, Julie Humes, Kathryn Creighton, Francine Jukes & Anna Rikkerink. Some of the runners so enjoyed the team relay they are committed to a more competitive attack next year (4h12min to beat)!
To support our fundraising efforts please visit
http://www.everyclick.com/wylamcommunityclassroomrunners or make a cash donation in the school yard.
P.S. When you make a donation online, don’t forget to check the Gift Aid box if you’re a UK taxpayer as your charity can then claim an extra 25% from the government!
80′s Night Cancelled
The 80′s Disco to be held on Friday 17th May has been cancelled. Please contact the school office for a refund of any tickets purchased.
School photographs
The school photographer will be in school on Wednesday, 8th May to take individual photos and/or together with other children in the family.
Class photos will be taken on Thursday, 4th July.
Update on 20 is Plenty in Wylam
Wylam Road Safety Group is a group of local parents and residents desperate to make our village safer.
The perception of traffic going too fast along the main street from the shops through to and beyond the train station continues. Last Autumn the government recognised that 20mph through residential areas should be encouraged and with this in mind issued new guidelines. There are well known various ‘black spots’ through the village e.g. by the Jubilee park and around the school, so a group of Wylam residents have formed a group focussing on road safety. They are hoping to achieve 20mph around the school and by the Jubilee park if not throughout the whole of Wylam.
Many thanks to all who supported this cause and signed the petition. The petition has now been submitted and a decision will be made at the next West Area Committee meeting in June.
Staff Changes for 2013
Dear Parents
I am writing to inform you of the changes to staffing at school after February half term.
Mrs Johnston will return to Wylam after the half term holiday. She will be in school on Mondays, Tuesday and Fridays and will be fulfilling her role as head teacher. Mrs Johnston will be acting head at Corbridge on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I will be Acting Head when she is at Corbridge. I fully anticipate that we will be able to offer seamless provision for children, staff and parents.
I will be returning to my Year 3 class and teach them on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Mrs Channon will teach Year 3 on Thursdays and Fridays. Mrs Channon and myself have enjoyed working closely together over the past few months and are both looking forward to sharing the class for the remainder of their time in Year 3.
Mrs Hamilton will continue to teach Year 2 on Fridays. Mrs Viv Smith will be teaching nursery every Friday morning. The nursery children already know Mrs Smith as she has been providing cover for Mrs Hamilton when she has her PPA time.
These changes will remain in place until the summer holidays. In September Mrs Johnston will return to being full-time head teacher.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the governors for enabling Mrs Johnston to support Corbridge during their difficult time. She has played an invaluable role there. I would also like to thank everyone for the support they have given me during my time as Acting Head – governors, staff and parents have made this an extremely rewarding experience.
If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact me.
Have a happy half term.
Becky Kroese
Acting Head teacher
Diary 2013
Take a look at the new diary page with key dates for the rest of the 2013 school year. The diary will be updated regularly to keep parents up-to-date with forthcoming school events.
Wylam Rockets U7′s Tour of St James’ Park
The Wylam Rockets Under 7′s went on a tour of St James’ Park on Saturday 26 January. The tour gave the boys exclusive behind the scenes access to Newcastle United, and included access to the Directors box, dugout, pitchside and changing rooms.
At the end of the tour the boys were delighted to meet new signing Moussa Sissoko. The French international midfielder has just signed from Toulouse, and was making his way from his press conference to his first training session. The boys gave him a warm welcome and they were over the moon to meet him.
Puffing Billy Festival Meeting
In 2013 communities along the Wylam to Lemington waggonway will be celebrating 200 years since steam locomotives were used to transport coal from Wylam colliery to Lemington staiths on the River Tyne. ‘Puffing Billy’ was one of these steam locomotives, built circa 1813 – 14, working for nearly 50 years along the waggonway. The engine survives today, almost certainly the oldest locomotive in the world and a fully operational working replica was built in Beamish and launched in 2005.
A group of interested parties has begun to meet to discuss possible events to develop a programme for a Puffing Billy Festival which will include visits to and from Beamish Museum , involve the Puffing Billy replica, community events and an attempt to replicate the steam power that travelled down the lines with pupil power that will travel along the track way from Wylam to Newburn (along its original route).
This group, including so far, representatives from Wylam Parish Council, Beamish Museum, members of local groups, members of the public, Northumberland County Councillors and officers and Newcastle City Councillors and officers would like to invite you to find out more and how you can get involved at an informal meeting on;
Wednesday 16th January at 7pm Walbottle Campus,
Hexham Road, Walbottle. Newcastle upon Tyne. NE15 9TP
