E-safety Update May 2020

25th May 2020A Stelling

As the country has been in ‘lockdown’ the world has turned even more to technology to keep ticking. As a school we have embraced technology and have moved towards digital classrooms and explored new avenues of social media communication with parents.

E-safety is at the heart of Mortimer Primary School’s computing curriculum and we have continued to attend e-safety briefings by numerous organisations throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

While schools have been closed across the country there has been an increase in the number of children using the internet and digital devices. Screen time has rapidly increased not only for adults but also for children. Younger children are using gaming platforms, streaming videos; there is an increase in social media such as Tic-Toc and Instagram and communication platforms such as House Party and Zoom have helped to keep the world connected while apart. As adults and children are very much aware, these come with age guidance of use and although many are fantastic portals they all carry risks of some level that both adults and children should be aware of.

E-safety is the new ‘stranger danger’ of our day and as a school and as parents/carers it is our duty of care to keep our families updated and educate our children to be aware of the dangers in an age appropriate way. We have linked CEOP resources Think You Know to our website. These are age appropriate units of work that generally involve a video and a discussion with your child.

Please click here to be taken to the resources.

Sadly, not everyone on the internet are nice people wanting the best for your children. A number of parental apps can help you to monitor apps on your children’s devices. ‘Our Pact‘ is one app which is highly rated but there are others on the market.

If you have concerns regarding e-safety; would like more support for adding parental controls to home devices or have concerns you can contact the school, who has trained members of staff to support you and your family. Our website also has links to ICT in Schools (local support), CEOP and Common Sense Media. 

Still At School 2020: Gymnastic Challenge

22nd May 2020A Stelling

An amazing day was had at school today during the last day of challenges. Pupils took part in gymnastic challenges which included agility, speed, balance and strength. Our pupils worked alongside their siblings to maintain social distancing rules and to support each other.

Well done team Mortimer, you have shone through all week!

Week 9 – A letter from Mrs Cunningham (Friday)

22nd May 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here again.

First of all I have to tell you that Miss Middleton delivered packs today with no calamities. Phew!

Today’s letter comes with help from Miss Staw who sent me this and I really wanted to share it with you all.Watch this and enjoy!!

Myself and all the staff at Mortimer are having a little holiday next week. Don’t worry, we are not going anywhere, or seeing each other. We are having a week in our houses. My ironing pile is huge and I have lots of homework to do from the Town Hall.

All of your teachers will be in touch next week.

Have a very happy half term.

Mrs Cunningham

Week 9 – A letter from Mrs Cunningham (Thursday)

21st May 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here again.

What a lovely sunny Wednesday. Sammy’s day is.. meow until I get let out of the front door, go over the fence into the back garden then meow until I get let in through the conservatory door. Eat, repeat!! Eat, repeat!!

Your lovely teachers have been delivering work packs today and will continue tomorrow and Friday. Poor Miss Middleton. She decided to take her mam on her delivery of work packs. And you will never guess what happened. Her car tyre burst on Prince Edward Road. So Miss Middelton rang the AA who were very helpful. But in the meantime Miss Middleton played eye spy with her mam. This is how it went….what begins with LG? Little girl. What begins with LP lamppost. Lastly, (I think Miss Middelton’s mam has won), what is GWDL.

Grass with dandelions!!😂

Have a thrilling Thursday

Mrs Cunningham

 

Still At School Games 2020: Day 3 Tennis

20th May 2020A Stelling

The children thoroughly enjoyed tennis today and ball control improved well over the session. The children of key workers counted tap ups followed by volleys against the wall. They all did very well in what turned out to be an extremely hot afternoon.

Week 9 – A letter from Mrs Cunningham (Wednesday)

20th May 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here again.

I hope you are all well and keeping yourselves busy. I have loved seeing the pictures of some of the things you have been getting up to. They have made me smile. I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about all the different things that people have been doing to keep busy. Then I heard that an 11 year boy has become the first person in the world to complete a 1080 degree turn on his skateboard! I thought I had misheard it, so I checked it out on my computer and sure enough there is a boy who has been practicing lots of skateboarding and has managed to turn three whole turns in the air. No one has ever done this before! I am still doing my skipping in the kitchen, but I do not think I will be setting any records any time soon.
Have a wonderful Wednesday
Mrs Cunningham

Still at school games 2020: Day 2 Rugby

19th May 2020A Stelling

Key worker children had the opportunity to practise their target, touchdown and passing skills during today’s school games challenges. The children (and staff) had lots and fun and went home very tired.

This is part of a competition being organised by South Tyneside School Sport Network for key workers’ children throughout this week.

Week 9 – A letter from Mrs Cunningham (Tuesday)

19th May 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it,s Mrs Cunningham here again.

I hope you had a good Monday. Do any of you know what ‘DIY’ stands for. I bet there has been a lot of it happening in your houses lately. It stands for Do It Yourself. Has anyone had their hair cut by your mam or dad? Has anyone had some decorating done in their house? Who has painted a fence? Who has had to wash the car? My Rachel painted the garden fence. She says she is a poor student, so I ended up paying her! Some DIY tasks are too big to be done alone and help is needed. Sometimes tasks need several people working together, like yesterday at work. Miss Middleton, Mrs Brennan, Mrs Brown, Mr Bennett, Mrs Stelling and Mr and Mrs Douglas helped me with a task. Co-operation is vital. Now I know you all know this story, but I will remind you… The Story of the Enormous Turnip

Once upon a time, a farmer sowed some turnip seed in his garden. After a few days, some shoots began to show, but one seed grew faster than all the rest. It grew and grew and did not stop growing, until the leaves were like a bush and the most enormous turnip had formed beneath the ground. The time came when the farmer decided to pull up the enormous turnip to eat. Going to the vegetable patch, he rolled up his sleeves and took a firm grasp of the turnip stem. Then, he pulled, and he pulled, and he pulled, but he couldn’t pull up the enormous turnip. The farmer called to his wife: ‘Please could you come and help me?’ The farmer’s wife held on to his waist and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, but they still couldn’t pull up the turnip. The farmer’s wife called to their daughter: ‘Please could you come and help us?’ So, the daughter joined the line and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, but they still couldn’t pull up the turnip. Then, the farmer’s daughter called to her brother: ‘Please could you come and help us?’ So, the farmer’s son joined the line and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, but the enormous turnip still remained in the ground. A friendly dog stopped at the garden gate. The farmer’s daughter called out: ‘Please could you come and help us?’ So, the dog came and joined the line and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, but the enormous turnip still would not budge. By now, everyone was getting very hot and tired. When a cat walked down the path, the dog barked: ‘Please could you come and help us?’ Taking hold of the dog’s tail, the cat joined the line and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, but they couldn’t pull up the enormous turnip. Just then, a mouse scuttled out from underneath the hedge. Instead of chasing it, the cat miaowed: ‘Please could you come and help us?’ ‘A mouse?’ exclaimed the others. ‘A mouse? What difference will a mouse make?’ But the mouse cautiously took hold of the cat’s tail and together they pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, and again with all their might they pulled. Suddenly, the enormous turnip flew out of the ground and they all tumbled in a heap! The farmer and his wife carried the turnip to their house and used it to cook a vegetable stew. At supper time, there was more than enough to eat for every one of them. Even the dog and the cat and – don’t forget – the mouse!

I think this story is all about meeting challenges. When we are met with a huge challenge or are faced with a big task, it’s important to pull together. Everyone’s effort is important and, just like the mouse in the story, the smallest help can make all the difference. How can you help today? Think about one little thing that might make all the difference. Maybe make your bed, take your plates to the kitchen, put your biscuit wrappers in the bin or even ask what you can do to help. Remember, little things you can do today, might make a big difference to someone else.

Have a tremendous Tuesday.

Mrs Cunningham