Letter to Parents – School Phased Reopening
‘Bling Your Wheels’ – D&T Week
The children began D&T Week with a ‘Bling Your Wheels’ event in school. The children did a fantastic job and showcased their special wheels to the rest of the school during an afternoon presentation. Well done to everyone who received a Headteacher sticker for their efforts and a special well done to each class winner who received a special D&T prize.
Art Day at St. Mary Magdalen
Last Wednesday students of St. Mary Magdalen R.C.V.A Primary, Seaham produced some astonishing drawings during this year’s Art Day workshops. Over the last three years the school has invited me to deliver an annual workshop for their Art Day. The theme this year was inspired by my new project I LOVE THIS CITY / COLLECTION. Delighted to return to this exceptional school, students and staff gathered for a presentation about the project during morning assembly. The football related symbolism within the Biro drawings for SUNDERLAND and NEWCASTLE t-shirt designs, sparked a lively debate between fans of both clubs, as to whether England was going to win the World Cup!
(Above: Tommy Biro drawing by 8 year old Student)
SUNDERLAND 2018 red Bic Biro drawing Jane Lee McCracken I LOVE THIS CITY / COLLECTION
The aim of the workshop was for each student to create a t-shirt design, celebrating their hometown of Seaham. Drawings were to be made with the same Biro pens I use for my full-colour drawings. The design had to incorporate two elements, which included recognisable Seaham landmarks as well as local wildlife. The second element also forms a link with the environmental aspect of I LOVE THIS CITY project, which highlights the importance of indigenous wildlife in maintaining our eco-systems.
Seaham Images selected by Mrs C. Wilkinson
PPA Teacher and Creative Lead, Mrs C Wilkinson kindly collected and printed images of iconic landmarks and birdlife for students to use as inspiration. Landmarks included Tommy, statue of a First World War soldier by Ray Lonsdale, Jewels of the Sea sculpture by Andrew McKeown and Wind and Fire sculpture by Craig Knowles. Birdlife of Seaham included images of guillemots, kittiwakes, herring gulls and kestrels. Vane Tempest Colliery sculpture and Kittiwake colour Biro drawing by Year 6 student
Working with around eight classes over the course of the day, discussing each student’s design individually, while helping with drawing tips, produced a hub of creative activity and individual expression galore. No pencils are allowed in my workshops, only Biros! This helps focus the mind as Biro can’t be erased and also allows students to practice skills of concentration and patience.
The Coxswain Biro drawing by Year 6 student
The ethos of all my workshops is to give students an opportunity to express themselves through one of humanity’s oldest forms of visual art and expression – drawing. One of the students asked a brilliant question during the workshop intro “How do feel when you draw?”. The answer is also a key objective of the workshops, “Drawing transports me to another world”. Drawing is one of the ultimate forms of therapy for our busy minds!
Colour Biro drawing by Year 5 student incorporating landmarks Seaham Lighthouse, Tommy, Jewels of the Sea, Vane Tempest Colliery sculpture within the image of a grey seal
Other key aims are to encourage the recognition that each person has an individual style, which is unique to them and that everyone’s style is valid. Also, making mistakes is part of the process and these can be rectified by weaving them into the drawing or rediscovered as happy accidents. Ultimately at the heart of each workshop is encouraging self-belief and confidence, as well as relaying the fact that everyone can draw.
Wind & Fire and a Guillemot by Year 6 student
For me, the standout designs of the workshop are the black Biro line drawing of Tommy (top image), a remarkable and iconic piece of work by an eight year old boy. His use of continuous lines (no mean feat), which automatically flowed from his pen, demonstrates an incredible natural ability. Also the bold and triumphant Wind & Fire and Guillemot (above) by a Year 6 girl, who with great self-expression created a sense of movement and flight throughout her design. Her avian interpretation of the Wind and Fire sculpture, was also echoed by the inclusion of a guillemot in flight. This student initially struggled to draw the guillemot, but with practice and belief, her achievement is outstanding.
Jewels of the Sea, Tommy and a herring gull Biro drawing by Year 6 student
St Mary Magdalen R.C.V.A Primary school are hoping to release one of their students drawings as a t-shirt design to celebrate the town of Seaham. Read more about the Art Day workshop in a post on the school’s blog.
With great thanks to Headteacher Mr L J Duncan, Mrs Wilkinson and the staff and students for working so hard, creating such inspirational art and providing yet another amazing experience working at your incredible school.
Wind and Fire Sculpture, Sea Glass and a Herring Gull colour Biro drawing by Year 4 student
Diocese Inspection Report
Please click here for our most recent Diocese Inspection Report February 2018. This report replaces our previous report 2013. If you require a hard copy please contact the school office. Our most recent report will be available on the Diocesan Department for Education website next month.
Food for Thought Day
A reminder to parents that we will be having a ‘Food for Thought Day’ on 16th October. The children will be learning about the importance of food and where it comes from. They will be learning about people who are less fortunate than themselves and people who struggle to have enough food to eat both local, nationally and internationally.
In order to support our local food banks we will be collecting food cans on the day to donate to County Durham food bank. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.
If you want to offer further support to our local County Durham food banks, further information on this can be found below:
Book and Bake Sale
Well Done everyone involved! £550 raised – Photos and comments on ‘Friends’ page on this website. ( Go to Community )
End of Year Arrangements
Just a quick run through the events of this week!
Monday – FAIRLY STRAIGHT FORWARD! Y5 are at The Centre for Life and Y6 are going Bowling after school.
Tuesday – Beach Day – Children need to wear a school t-shirt, it is due to be chilly so a hoodie is a good idea. Remember buckets and spades!!!
Wednesday – Fairly quiet – probably clearing out classrooms etc., etc., etc,
Thursday – Hankies at the ready for our Y6 and their parents – Final Leavers’ Assembly at 2.00p.m. in the hall!
Friday – Mass followed by awards – Hopefully this will take place on the yard but knowing our English Summer we will probably end up going to church. 1.30 p.m. If by any chance we are at church then the children will have to come back to school before being dismissed hopefully round about 3.00 p.m.
Then I wish you all a Happy Holiday and all the best wishes for the future wherever that may lead!
Katie does it again!
It has been a very creative year for Katie Dickinson! She has shown her artistic talent already winning two design competitions and now she has made it a Hat Trick of wins. Her photograph has won our competition for a partner picture to Tommy! Judges thought that not only the theme but the colouring matched up very well with Mrs. Wilkinson’s photo of Tommy. The photo which shows the pit wheel reflects the heritage of Seaham while the background reflects the colour of the evening sky while Tommy reflects in the morning sky. So well done Katie and thank you to all our other entrants as well – there were some really good photos!
The winning photo alongside Tommy:-
Forever Angels Children’s Home
As you may know we have supported this orphanage in Tanzania over the last couple of years. This is because Mrs.Sharp has visited and worked at the orphanage the last two summers – and she has decided that she will again work there this summer. So with support of parents we have some Sunderland AFC memorabilia to raffle and sell over the next week or two. Hopefully the children will support this worthwhile cause and we will raise some much needed funding for the Forever Angels Orphanage.