3 March 2023
Dear Parents & Carers,
Here’s a little Baby, 1, 2, 3.
Each Peach Pear Plum. Kipper the Dog. The Highway Rat. The Gruffalo. Peace At Last. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Zog. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Me and My Cat. Dear Zoo.
If you recognise the above books, I am sure that they will bring back very happy memories of reading to your child before bedtime. You might also remember the transition to more advanced reading that can be a bit trickier for children. I’m eternally grateful to my nephew Jack, for buying a David Walliams book at a key moment, as that was the needed inspiration to develop a love of reading in my household. It’s also true that some children and parents will not recognise those titles and won’t have known the joy of being lost in a story. But there is always an opportunity to develop or renew a love of reading. It just requires the right book at the right moment. There are lots of books that I have taken a chance on and then grown to love.
Today I have walked past students reading independently and in groups in our new, inclusive learning support centre based in Lydia. (Lydia is our former resource area and is named after Lydia Pearson, the first student to enter Durham Johnston School in 1901). At lunchtime today I have observed students with their noses in books in the atrium and sitting outside on the raised flower beds. I have also enjoyed looking at the doors of teaching rooms around the school to see what colleagues are reading. (For full disclosure – I am reading ‘My Father’s House’ by Joseph O’Connor and enjoying the art in Frances Spalding’s ‘The Real & The Romantic,’ an overview of English Art between two world wars).
As a teacher I have often been asked by parents the best way that they can support learning at home. In simple terms, the key thing that you can do is to encourage reading. An interesting book, whatever the genre or content, allows for imagination, escapism and immersion in a story. It aids vocabulary and language development too. Encourage your child to read and you will improve their life. Don’t force specific books on them but see what they are interested in and let them choose a book that they want to read. Set a good example by reading at home too; we will continue with book swaps and recommendations in school so that reading for pleasure is an absolute priority. Reading to children and watching them learn to read is hugely important and it is never too late to pick up a book for the first time or go back to an old favourite.
Peepo!
Have a good weekend
Mr O’Sullivan
Secondary School Place Offers
National Offer Day was on 1st March, and we are looking forward to meeting our new Year 7 intake when the time comes.
We will contact parents about places after the acceptance deadline is completed in late March, and not before.
Should you wish to find out more about the transition process or life at Durham Johnston in the meantime, please visit this section of our website.
British Cartographic Society Map Competition 2023
Students are warmly invited to enter this competition via the Geography department. Please click here to find out more.
You can also ask your Geography teacher, or attend Geography Club on Thursdays, 3-4pm in IT4.
Ms Colquitt
Subject Leader for Geography
Sixth Form Notices
Please click the link below to read the weekly digest of news and information for Sixth Form Students.
Music Notices
Stage & Screen Concerts - Wednesday 29th and Friday 31st March
Weekly rehearsals continue for our forthcoming concerts. Please put the concert dates above in your diary if your child is a member of any of our performing ensembles.
Wednesday 29th - Wind Band, Junior Orchestra, Big Band, Junior Choir & Soloists
Friday 31st - Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Orchestra & Soloists
Auditions for soloists for these concerts will be held on Tuesday 7th March between 2.45 and 3.45 in MU2
Tickets for both concerts will go on sale from Monday 6th March in the Music Department priced £4.00 (£2.00 concessions). Payment by cash or cheque payable to 'Durham Johnston School'.
Mr E Holmes
Subject Leader for Music
PE News
On Tuesday our Year 11 basketball team took on Dame Allan's in the Tyneside Cup final. They are an excellent team, and proved too strong for us, eventually winning 71 - 47. Still a great achievement to finish runners-up.
It was the turn of our Year 10 basketball team to play in the Tyneside final on Wednesday as they travelled to Ponteland High School. This was a different story as we completely dominated the game becoming Tyneside champions with a comprehensive 84 - 26 win.
Also on Wednesday, both our Year 9 & 10 futsal teams were at the Beacon of Light competing in the northeast finals. After an excellent afternoon of futsal our Year 9 team finished runners-up after a 9 - 3 defeat to Monkwearmouth. However, it was great news for our Year 10 team who recovered from a slow start to win 5 - 3 against North Durham Academy to become northeast champions.
Last night our football teams hosted Whitworth as the league season re-started after the winter break. Unfortunately, they had to concede the Year 10 game. However, the other games did go ahead. Our Year 7 team started strongly and dominated the game winning 5 - 1 with goals from Tim Zibrin, Harry Stephenson, Josh Smith and player of the match Louis Burke. This was a league and cup double, so we now progress to the league cup semi-final.
Our Year 8 team went 1 - 0 behind but fought back to lead 2 - 1. We then played some excellent football but just couldn't take several chances. This unfortunately cost us as Whitworth came back to win the game 3 - 2. Zack Smith was player of the match.
Finally, it was more straightforward for our Year 9 team. We were 1 - 0 ahead at half time and went on to maintain our 100% record in the league with a 4 - 0 win. Goals from Alex Wright and a hattrick from captain and player of the match Tom Briggs.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE