Year 6 have been finding out about the Jewish New Year or Rosh Hashanah in their work on Judaism. They tried apples dipped on honey which are eaten at Rosh Hashanah to symbolise the hope of a sweet new year.

The school council are leading a campaign to raise awareness of the energy we use. When they inspected the school during playtime, they found many lights had been left on despite the rooms being empty.
In Citizenship, Year 6 have written speeches and designed posters to encourage people to help conserve energy.
We challenge you to do the same!

Key Stage 2 started French lessons this week. Year 3 and 4 have looked at France on a map and researched French cities and culture. Year 5 and 6 have been practising conversation skills and playing french games.
Fantastique!

Poppies are being sold in school. Any donations are gladly received.

During 'Food Week' Year 6 studied photos of people from different countries and thought about different eating habits. Here we are thinking about questions that we would ask.

Year 6 girls holding our ISA certificate.

Parents were invited into Merit Assembly today to help us celebrate our 'International School Award.'
The ISA is awarded for a commitment to international education and good practice in curriculum-based international work in schools.
Last Friday, Mrs Fox and Mrs Hetherington were presented with the award in London by George Alagiah, patron of the Fairtrade Foundation.
Well done to everyone at St. Alban's for all your hard work.

In Creative Time, Year 6 have made model Anderson shelters to link with our World War II topic in History. Do you like them?
For more photos, see the gallery.

Year 1 and 2 in the hall.

Two very well informed Year 6 children.

Today, the Community Support Officer came into school to talk about firework safety.
Year 6 were reminded of lots of safety advice.
"You must always wear gloves when using sparklers." Joseph Bainbridge.
"You should never go near a firework that hasn't gone off." Jessica Tracey.

Year 6 have wbeen very busy in Literacy writing detective stories. Here we are reading our stories to our friends.

The trial took place today in Year 6 of the Prodigal Son. The prosecution and defence both put their cases to the judge and jury The older brother spoke out as a key witness. What do you think the verdict should be? View the case photographs in the gallery.

Year 6 have been working on representing moving figures in Art. We have produced collages using ICT and worked very hard to produce accurate line drawings.

Year R and Year 6 have had fun getting to know each other Together, they looked at story books, played in the sand, worked on the computer, danced to some top tunes, worked tirelessly at the hairdressers and even hid in a box! Year R and Year 6 are going to be great friends.

Today, Year 6 started our new History topic, World War II. We have already found out a lot from our internet research and can't wait to learn more!

Year 6 have enjoyed their first fews days settling into class.
"We really like being the oldest children in the school because we have lots of great jobs." Adam Buton and Billy Davidson.
"Year 6 is lots of fun and really cool." Allycia Patten and Chloe Tunnell.

'Jim and Billy Bones'

The Motley Pirate Crew!

Well done to Year 6 who were outstatnding in their performance of Treasure Island. The acting and singing was amazing. The audience was very impressed.
Miss McVittie was incredilbly proud of how hard you worked, how well you performed and enjoyed watching every moment of the play.
Thank you to parents for providing the costumes and props.

Year 6 have had a fantastic time on retreat to Ministeracres. In groups, we prepared liturgies and went on a pilgrimage around the grounds. We had great fun playing games, hanging out in our dormitories and getting dressed up for a disco.

Year 6 had a great time at Heworth CLC today. They used a programme called GarageBand and composed their own music to be added to the opening credits of a film. Excellent work.

Today St. Alban's celebrated the huge success of our Comenius project.
Each class had worked on a traditional tale from one of the Comenius countries and presented their work to an audience of parents. We all enjoyed snacks from each country after our performances and had a delicious European lunch. What a day!

The Little Vain Mouse

Nursery acted out their traditional tale on the Key Stage 1 stage.

How the bear got its bobtail

Year 1 created an animation about their tale using a prgramme called I can Animate.

How to ride a donkey

Year 3 acted out their tradional tale.

Year 4 put on a puppet show and sang a song about the donkey.

The Legend of Colapesce

Year 5 presented a news report about the Sicilain traditional tale.

Year 6 studied Italian art on the Legend of Colapesce and recereated their own artwork. They also presented an animation.

Year 6 have worked really hard to make their own African drums. They had a great time marching around the yard banging their drums in unison.

Here is our Athletics Team just before leaving for Gateshead Stadium. We look very professional in our school tracksuits!

Here we are at the opening of the Athletics Festival. We waved our 'Life to the Full' banner with pride. All the children who took part had a fantastic time and competed against children from over 40 Gateshead schools. It may have rained but we never stopped smiling. There was sprinting, skipping, long distance running, throwing, jumping and lots of cheering as we gave it our all.
Miss Robinson and Miss McVittie also had a great day and felt very proud of the children. Well done Team St. Alban's!

Year 6 had a fantastic day today at Heworth City Learning Centre. We worked on an animation programme and created our own animated movies! Some of use even received special certificates for our work. Well done Year 6!

Year 6 have started making African drums. So far, we have attached the wood together for the base and made a plastic lid and drumsticks. We still have to design a neckband and decorate our drums.
For more pictures, see the gallery.

This week, Year 6 have been auditioning for for parts in 'Treasure Island.' The decision was tough but we now have our lead, Jim, Long John Sliver, Billy Bones and the the most fearsome crew of pirates ever to walk the plank at St. Alban's.

Year 6 are using their ICT skills to create multi-media presentations about our Comenius countries. We have included hyperlinks, music, internet links to make our presentations really impressive.
"We have found out lots of interesting facts about Spain that we didn't know," Frances Davis.

Well done to Year 6 who have worked incredibly hard during their after school revision sessions. I am very proud of you, Miss McVittie.

We are taking part in this year's Send My Friend To School campaign. We have designed Number 10 action cards and added a message to Gordon Brown to ask him to work hard to help the 75 million children around the world who can't get to school. We have invited our MP Sharon Hodgson in to school on Friday to collect our cards and deliver them to the Prime Minister.

This term in Art, every class in school painted flowers relating to the month they were born. Several children from each class were entered in the Gateshead in Bloom Art competititon. Well, the results are in! The above children were awarded special prizes for their fantastic flower paintings. Well done.

Well done to St. Alban's Football Team who played Brandling yesterday and won 2 :1. Great game boys!
Congratulations to our 'Man of the Match' who scored both goals.

Over the past six weeks children from Year 4 have been working on Easter crafts after school. Today they have all taken home their very own "pompom chick". They should be very proud of themselves. Well done!

'We are testing how weight affects the speed that the parachute will fall'.

'We are investigating how to change the forces acting on the toy car to make it travel further'.

'I am proving that sound causes vibrations and travels in waves'.

'We are investigating the effects of friction on the speed that a toy car will move'.

Year 6 worked very hard exploring the effects of forces, magnetism, sound, air resistance and friction. They were able to design their own investigations and make and explain their conclusions. Well done.

We all received a visit from our local community support officer today. We talked about how we can make sure that we are always safe. The support officer was very impressed that we knew what to do if a stranger approached us. Well done St. Alban's for being so sensible.

Well done to St. Alban's Football team who played extremely well against Wardley Primary but were just pipped to victory.
Man of the match- Daniel White

Year 2

Year 3

Year 5

Year 6

Mr Seaton really got into the spirit of it!

For many more pictures have a look in the Gallery.

St Alban's have had a lovely time painting flowers. Two paintings from each class are going to be entered in the Gatshead Flower show. Good luck!

In Science, Year 6 have been finding out about the human body. We know all about the jobs of our bodies' organs.
Astonishingly we are even more incredible than we thought!

As part of our Comenius links, the whole school has been involved in reading and writing about the Lambton Worm. Mrs Fox and Mrs Hetherington are going to take stories from each class to Spain to share with the teachers and children. We will also have the chance to find out about traditional tales from our Comenius countries.
"Year 6 really enjoyed writing a narrative version of the traditional song".

Join us for our liturgy to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Wednesday 11th February at 9:10 am.

Due to poor weather, Year 6 Revision club and meeting about SATs are postponed to next Monday.

8.1.09 revision club
Click on the link to read the letter about Year 6 Revision Club.

Year 6 worked with Sr Angela from Pauline Books & Media to share ideas for a book she is writing on moving to high school. She was very impressed with their ideas and will be using them in the publication.

Year 6 have been investigating how to separate different mixtures and solutions. Shall we use a sieve, a colander, filter paper, a slotted spoon, a magnet? Decisions, decisions!
For more photos, see the Science album in the Y6 Gallery.

Year 5 and 6 had a great time at the party. We danced, played games and really enjoyed our party food.

For more photos, see the Gallery.

St. Alban's are enjoying looking at lots of new books.
These children are thinking carefully about which ones to buy!

Year 6 have been working very hard to write and create our own newsreels. Today we worked with 2 film makers from The Tyneside Cinema and had a fantastic time filming our newsreels about the Second World War.
Here we are above using the Chroma Key screen to recreate a Rationing scene.

These children are filming a Dig for Victory scene and are operating the camera, the boom and the sound. Watch this space for up and coming young film makers!
For more pictures, have a look in the Year 6 Gallery.

Year 6 have been perfecting their acting skills at Cardinal Hume today. They worked incredibly hard with a director from the Konflux Theatre and performed a play based on World War II. Well done actors and actresses; careers on the stage beckon.

The team played incredibly well against Bill Quay last night but were unlucky to lose the match.
Man of the match: Adam Burton.

Year 6 have enjoyed creating Bonfire Night pictures with pastels in Art.
We have created very vibrant scenes from firework displays and bonfires.
If you are visiting a Firework display tonight we hope that you have a great time and stay safe.
For more pictures, see the Year 6 Gallery.

Year 6 re-enacted part of a Confirmation service. They discussed how the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are different.

Year 6 enjoyed taking part in a project at Dryden Centre entitled 'Park Life'. They had to design and build a model of a park. See the other photographs in the gallery.

Year Reception and Year 6 are working together on a liturgical dance for their liturgy on Wednesday 2:30pm in the school hall. You are all very welcome.

Well done to our football team who played their first match last night.
St. Alban's 0 Lingey House 2
We are very proud of you for representing our school so well.
Man of the match- James Young.

Just a reminder, St. Alban's play Lingey House tonight at Lingey House Primary School.
There is also a match on Thursday 23rd October, playing The Drive, hosted by The Drive Primary School. Good luck boys.

Year 6 have been learning to draw figures in Art.
We have been using models to help us to draw figures that appear to be moving.

Key Stage 2 are thoroughly enjoying their guitar tuition. They are learning to play 'The Winter Tune.'

At St. Alban's, the children in Year R and Year 6 develop a close friendship through the 'buddy system'. All children really enjoyed the Year 6 visit to Foundation Stage, where everyone had fun getting to know one another.

We visited the Dryden Centre In our Citizenship lesson today.
We worked really well in our teams to design a new park. Do you like our design?

Children have enjoyed practising their hockey skills during PE lessons. We're getting much better at controlling the ball, passing and dribbling! Look out the London Olympics!

We have been learning how to include dialogue into our story writing. Here we are making a human punctuation sentence. This helps us to remember where to place the speech marks and commas in our sentences. It was fun too!

Tonight's football match at Lingey House has been cancelled due to a water-logged pitch.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
The match will be played at a later date.

Our Football team has 2 upcoming matches:
Thursday 2nd October
St. Alban's v St. Augustine's
Held at Lingey House Primary School.

Thursday 9th October
St. Alban's v Falla Park
Held at Wardley Primary

Each child must be collected from school and taken straight to the venue. A responsible adult is to remain at the venue throughout the game and ensure the child is taken home safely. Thank you.

Good luck boys and don't forget your football boots and shin pads.

Year 6 have really enjoyed choosing books from Pelaw library. We have had fun writing book reviews and talking about our favourite books.

Congratulations to the following Year 5 and 6 footballers who have been selected to represent our school:
Daniel White, Stephen Gray, Adam Burton, Billy Davidson, James Young, Morgan Bridgett, Joseph Bainbridge, Steven Morrison, Cameron Purvis and Callum Elliot.
Watch this space for details of upcoming matches.

Children from Year 5 and 6 tried out for the School Football team yesterday after school.
The team will be announced later today......

Thank you to Mr Bainbridge for running the trials. Your expertise is greatly appreciated.

We have a new Head Boy and Head Girl who will be busy with lots of important jobs this year.
'I was delighted when I was chosen and I really can't wait to get started .' Head Boy.

Each of our 7 Pastoral Houses also have a new House Captain from Year 6 and a Vice Captain from Year 5.
'I really like being a House Captain. I like counting the merits and finding out which House has won before anyone else!' Head of St. Aidan House.
To view these very important children, have a look in our Gallery.

Year 6 enjoyed visiting the library and have been engrossed in their reading books ever since!

Well done to all the children to took part in the Athletics Festival at Gateshead Stadium. Our children competed against children from all over Gateshead. They performed really well and were great representatives for our school.

Whilst some children were competing at the Gateshead Athleics Festivals, the rest of Key Stage 2 had fun playing games outside. We played rounders and football and had a lovely afternoon.

Our new topic is called Difference. Year 5 and 6 have enjoyed creating collages of 'different' people from around the world. We have studied how 'difference' can lead to prejudice but also to enrichment. We are going to study 'The Communion of Saints' (all those who make up the Church) and research different saints.

Congratulations St. Alban's Football team for winning the league.

This week, Year 4, 5 and 6 are visiting Heworth CLC to use new ICT software.
Today, Year 6 had the opportunity to create their own animations. There are definitely some candidates who could work for Pixar/Disney in the future!
Year 5 used Control Technology where they operated traffic lights and used sensors to create a 'dream bedroom'.
Well done children!

Year 6 had a fantastic time at Kingswood last week. We had great fun doing lots of different activities including fencing, quad biking, zip wire, climbing and abseiling. We loved exploring the Roman fort at Housesteads and especially enjoyed sleeping in dormitories with our friends.
To view lots more pictures of our trip, visit the gallery.

Year 6 SATs are over!
Well done to all children for working so hard leading up to the tests. You have all made me feel very proud. Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of our time together. Lots of fun and exciting things are planned.
Miss McVittie

Monday 12th- Friday 16th May
Year 6,
I am immensely proud of every member of our class. You have all worked so hard in school and at home. Thankyou for giving 100% effort; I couldn't ask for anymore.
You should all feel very confident about next week; you're well prepared and let's face it Year 6, ' we know our stuff'. Have a relaxing weekend and good luck everyone.
Miss McVittie.

Well done to our football team: another well deserved victory!
St. Alban's 3 St. Augustine's 1
Liam Manning gave us an early lead with our first goal and before half time Jordan Brown scored giving us a confident lead. St. Augustine's fought back in the second half and we conceded a goal. However, it wasn't long before Jordan Brown scored again. Hooray!
All boys played extremely well and were great ambassadors for our school.
Our next match is on 22nd May against Falla Park at Wardley Primary.

The final revision club is on Monday 28th April. There will not be a club next week due to the Bank Holiday.
Well done to all Year 6 children to have consistently worked very hard throughout this club. I am sure this hard work and effort will pay off.

Year 6 continue to work hard in preparation for the SATs. Today, we have been revising Light and Shadows in Science.
Can you name translucent and opaque materials? Do you know how to make shadows bigger and smaller? We do!
To view pictures, have a look in the Science album in the Year 6 Gallery.

Well done to the following children who received awards on 3rd April 2008.
Year 1: Jack Luke for being a helpful and considerate class member.
Year 2: Rachel Morley for working hard and being helpful in class.
Year 3: Daniel Gurr for always being polite and well mannered.
Year 4: Jack Henderson for becoming more focused and completing his work.
Year 5 : Stephen Gray for having excellent quick maths skills.
Year 6: Lucy Soulsby for always being a happy and hardworking member of Y6.
Mrs Hetherington's Award: Billy Davidson for excellent participation in the Celebration of Easter.
Head teacher's Award: Adam Burton for acting so well as Jesus in the Celebration of Easter.
Attendance Winner- Year 4.

End of term Winners
Attendance- Year 4 .
House Winners- St. Oswald.
Congratulations to all these hard workers.

The following children took part in a Music concert at Cardinal Hume on Tuesday evening.
The guitarists:
Ralph Deloso (Y6)
Rowan Feher (Y5)
Daniel White (Y5)
Aaron O'Donnell (Y5)
Ysabelle Lucero (Y5)
Billy Davidson (Y4)
The violinists:
Zosia Feher (Y6)
Elvira Morris (Y5)
Emily McIntyre (Y5)
"I really enjoyed playing Love is all Around and Old MacDonald." Ralph Deloso
"I enjoyed performing. I always enjoy my violin lessons!" Zosia Feher
Well done to all musicians. Thank you for sharing your talents!

Our Easter raffle and 'Name the Chick' competitions were drawn today.

As part of our easter activities, children have brought decorated eggs into school. They are all absolutely amazing. Well done children.
To view pictures of your creations, have a look in the gallery.

Year 6 were delighted to receive letters from our Turkish friends. There was great excitement in class as we read our letters and discussed our replies.

For more pictures, have a look in the Comenius album in the Gallery.

Parents Evening for Years 1-6 is on Wednesday 19th March from 3:10 pm - 8:00 pm.
Please return the slip with a preferred time or alternatively sign up on the lists outside each classroom. Thank you.

Well done to the following children who received awards on 14th March 2008 in Merit Assembly.
Year 1: Emily Sinton for excellent progress in reading.
Year 2: Adam Gilchrist for excellent progress in reading.
Year 3: Joseph Neill for excellent division and multiplication work.
Year 4: Elli Maggs for making a beautiful Easter card.
Year 5 : Daniel marsden for being very brave on Wednesday.
Year 6: Jordan Brown for making good progress with reading comprehension.
Keep up the excellent work!

On Thursday 13th March, St. Alban's Football team played against Lingey House Primary School.
St. Alban's 1 Lingey House 1
Despite St. Alban's having the edge, Lingey House managed to take the lead in the second half of the match. It was looking as though we might lose the game until the very last seconds where we had a stroke of much deserved luck. Adam Lennox took the final corner, which hit off a Lingey House defender and went in. Hooray, we had equalised! The very next moment, the whistle blew! What a game! There were cheers all round from Miss McVittie, Miss Robinson, our football coaches, Mr Manning and Mr Oliver and all the parents who came to watch.
The St. Alban's boys gave it their all. We're very proud of your sportsmanship, conduct and overal effort. Well done boys!
To view photographs of the football team, have a look in the gallery.

Listen to The Keel Row (mp3)
The Year 6 children recorded 'Keel Row' to be included on the CD which we are making as part of our Comenius project. Songs from all five countries will be included on the CD.

On 13th February, Mrs Fox, Mrs Hetherington, our Head Boy and our Head Girl visited Traidcraft in Gateshead.

"I had a great evening. We met a lady called Marie, who told us so much about Fairtrade." Head Girl.
"We found out how Traidcraft works with people in Peru. I enjoyed listening to the speech and found it very interesting. I now know where the Fairtrade goods come from."
Head Boy.

To view pictures of the event, have a look in the Gallery.

Well done to the following children:
Year 1: James Parkin for excellent mental Maths.
Year 2: Logan Gibson for excellent work in Numeracy.
Year 3: Andrew Ord for participating in class.
Year 4: Ellie Toal for a fantastic chair design.
Year 5: Lauren McDermont for always offering to help.
Year 6: Thomas Storey for writing an excellent advert in Literacy.
Mrs Hetherington’s Award: Emma Jarvis for work on our Thanksgiving topic.
Head teacher’s Award: Alexandra Spencer for wonderful acting.

Winning House: St Oswald
Attendance Winner: Year 5

Our new topic in Literacy is writing advertisements.
We have enjoyed studying adverts and identifying persuasive techniques.

We have enjoyed using ladders, hurdles and cones in our PE lessons.
It certainly gets our pulses racing!

Working very hard in Revision club!

Enthusiastic pupil in Year 6.

In Pastoral groups, we prayed together.
Here are some of our prayers:

In Pastoral groups, we have been finding out about the 'UNICEF Day for Change'.

We know that Fairtrade guarantees a 'better deal to Third World Producers,' though it's also pretty tasty!

Supporting Fairtrade

In Science, Year 6 are learning about the 'Human Body'. We've had great fun wearing this unusual body suit! We have been identifying the different organs and explaining the jobs they do. Great work boys!