BBC Children in Need brings out the best in us. It's our chance to shine, to step up, to do whatever we can to help change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.It’s easy to think ‘my little bit won’t help’. The fact is, no contribution is too small, and true heroes know that if enough of us heed the call and work together, we can achieve truly great things. So if you’ve always wanted to be a Hero, now is your time to shine!

This year for Children in Need we are dressing up as Superheroes! Children can come to school dressed up as Superheroes if they wish for a kind donation of £1. Children will then spend the day learning about the Children in Need cause as well as learning about another cause that we will be raising money for.  

We all know where the money for Children in Need goes! However, this year a friend of Mrs Ross (Paula Goodson) is going out to Sri Lanka to do some work with other children who are in need. We have decided that the money raised for Children in Need will be split two ways; (1) for the BBC Children in Need cause (2) to support the work carried out by Paula. 

Paula has promised to send us back photos of where our money has helped the children in Sri Lanka which we feel will be very beneficial for the children to see the impact of their contribution. Our children will be able to see what Paula has been able to provide with the money we raised and therefore help the children to see how a small amount can make such a massive difference in these deprived countries.  

Link to website-  http://www.volunteersrilanka.net/

This is Paula Goodson who is going to Sri Lanka. Paula is a Macmillan Nurse from Sunderland, travelling in her holiday time, all funded by herself, her hope is to raise enough money to help support a local school and provide resources for families and children in need.

The Ultimate Spelling Bee Final took place today and was truly amazing! Some of the challenges today included spelling 5 words in a row continuously, counting the letters in 5 spellings, spelling words backwards and recalling as many of the words from the children's spelling list as possible. 

All of the children did amazingly well and it was a very close competition. 

1st Josh (Yr2) 
2nd Robbie (Yr6) 
3rd James (Yr3)

Just when you thought things couldn't get any better! Today's Spelling Bee Final was amazing! The newly added round of 'Back Spell' really increased the pressure of the competition but the children stepped up to the challenge. 

I was so impressed with the dedication and commitment shown by the pupils in the build up to the competition. It paid off! Those words were so tough!

Thank you again to the parents who came along and support... I think some of you were more nervous than the children. 

Today we received the following letter... 
Well done to the pupils, the teachers and support staff and parents at home for supporting and practising these vital skills with their children at home. 

Mr Stock 

A huge thank you to the Parents who came along to watch the Year Group Final of the Spelling Bee for Year 5 and 6. The children have worked very hard to learn these spellings and it was great to see the adults coming along to support. 

Well done to all of the children who made it this far... those spellings were tough!!! 

Well done to the Year Group Winners - Robbie and Thalia. Super job!

As mentioned at the end of the final, the idea of the spelling bee was to create some excitement around spelling (and I think it did - today was great fun!) but also to expand pupils vocabulary which will help to improve their writing.