As we prepare for the final term of Year 5, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on and celebrate all of the wonderful activities, clubs and competitions that have taken place this term. Thank you for your support on fundraising days, trips and ensuring your child is always prepared and ready to learn.

We are thrilled with how well the children have settled and the contributions they make to our school everyday. At the beginning of this term, I collected their views on how they felt they had settled into Valley and what they have enjoyed so far and wanted to share some of the results with you.

Almost every pupil has taken up at least one extra-curricular opportunity and pleasingly, over 30% of pupils have joined three or more clubs so far this year. My hope is that every pupil will have taken part in a club by the end of the year as they provide opportunities to develop resilience, new skills and friendships. We really do have something for everyone and always strive to offer more.

We say a fond farewell to Miss Horsman this term; a much loved member of staff who will be greatly missed. We wish her every success in her new school and know she will continue to delight pupils with her singing, humour and drama skills as she has at Valley.

We are all looking forward to the Summer Term and enjoying more fun experiences and making memories.

Kind wishes

Miss Hayley McElderry

Head of Year 5

hayley.mcelderry@valleygardenmiddle.org

Our whole school enjoyed an amazing performance from ‘He Knows She Knows' today. Silver and Sharna performed songs and talked about mental health and LGBTQ+ issues.

We think they have lots of new fans! On the 5th April, Year 5 had an amazing experience with the band, 'He Knows She Knows'. They explained mental health issues and how to fix them. They sang five unbelievably great songs and it made us all feel positive and happy. In our opinion, they were amazing singers and entertainers.

Rowan, Sam and Jack.

I really enjoyed the Houses of Parliament trip because we got to visit lots of different places like the London Underground and we got to go to Kings Cross. I really enjoyed having the tour of the Houses of Parliament because I learnt something new that I will use in the future when I learn about it in school. We learnt about how to debate and what to do in the House of Commons. MPs use a technique called ‘bobbing’ to catch the speaker's attention. When they do this, the speaker may give permission for you to add something to the debate.

We debated whether we should ban cigarettes. There were many arguments and we agreed that we should gradually stop selling cigarettes and lower the number of vapes. I think the trip to London was amazing!

Leo, 5VSC Representative

We are thrilled to have our residential trip to High Borrans up and running again. It looked like it was a jam-packed week filled with windswept walks, stunning views and many opportunities to try new challenges and build resilience.

Some highlights included: walking around Hodge Close Quarry; gill scrambling; climbing and caving in Humphrey Head; reaching the summit of Raven's Edge and canoeing. Lots of fun was also had back at base: fire building; model making; film night; fashion shows and reflection time on memories made for a lifetime.

Well done to our first groups of cyclists, training for the level 2 Bikeability badge, which teaches children how to grow more confident and follow expert instructors onto quiet roads, to experience “real” cycling.

We are thrilled to have secured further dates in the summer term due some sessions being cancelled due to adverse weather.

A number of Y5 pupils took part in the North Tyneside Hoops 4 Health basketball tournament. We entered two teams and both of them won their group and qualified for the knock out stage. Having won their first knock out game, the two Valley teams were then drawn against each other in the quarter final. The result meant that one team was unfortunately knocked out and the other had the chance to play in the semi final at the Newcastle Eagles home court on the evening the Eagles took on the Surrey Scorchers.

Although not victorious, the Valley team had a great experience playing on the Eagles' home court. Well played to Wellfield Middle School, the well deserved tournament winners.

Mr Best was incredibly proud of all the pupils involved; everyone did themselves and the school proud. Congratulations and well done to: Cameron, Sam, Emily, Carys, Emily, Jack, Brody, Theo, Will, Lana, Beatrice, Arran, Jacob and Fin.