School Projects

We have five Angel of the North Information Packs to give away to schools.

Published by Gateshead Council Arts Development Team in 2003, these packs introduce public art in Gateshead, detail some of the ways education and outreach groups have worked with the Angel, and include design drawings and statistics about the Angel.

If you would like an information pack please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk with your school address.

Arts Award is delighted to be working with the Royal Shakespeare Company to offer Shakespeare Challenge, an exciting programme for those interested in exploring Shakespeare through their Bronze Arts Award.

2009-2010 saw a successful pilot with 10 schools, and the Shakespeare Challenge is now available to all Arts Award centres.

For the Shakespeare Challenge young people are encouraged to engage with Shakespeare's language through a practical exploration of the plays and through experiencing live performance. The Challenge also encourages young people to share their knowledge and passion to other individuals or groups in a younger age range.

To find out more about completing the Shakespeare Challenge and getting Bronze Arts Award click here.

Is your school not yet an Arts Award centre? Click here to find out about becoming a centre and training as an adviser.

There is support available through the Arts Award Access Fund - small grants of up to £500 for disadvantaged groups wanting to work with artists or visit arts events as part of achieving an Arts Award. Deadline for application-15 October 2010.

Read on for more information including contact details...

Year One pupils at St. Aidan's C of E Primary School have been working with Cultural Partner Lapwing Crafts to creatively explore their farm topic.

In pairs, the children worked with ceramic artist Sally Danys to create a range of colourful farm animal tiles. These were fired and glazed by Sally, and returned to the school to make a stunning display.

Lapwing Crafts deliver workshops in a range of arts and crafts, including felt making, textile collage, hooky and proggy mat making, silk painting, mosaics and much more. For details visit the Lapwing Crafts website. Don't forget to tell your Network Coordinator about your creative activities (Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk if you are in Newcastle or Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk if you are in Gateshead).

Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) is about raising achievement through direct, hands-on, practical approaches to learning that bridge the gap between theory and reality. Whether it takes place in the school grounds; on visits to museums, art galleries or farms; through adventure activities or on cultural exchanges abroad, LOtC is a powerful tool that adds value to classroom learning and offers rich, memorable experiences to young people.

So if you've been Learning Outside the Classroom in your setting, you may be eligable for an award! Visit the LOtC website for more details. The closing date is 16 July.

Five schools in Newcastle and Gateshead have been working with new Cultural Partner Lucy Carlton-Walker to recycle everyday objects into their own landscapes of the future.

 Lucy visited Glynwood Primary, Fellside Primary and Oakfield Juniors in Gateshead, and Walkergate Primary and Waverley Primary in Newcastle, to talk about the work of sculptor Sarah Sze, and inspire the children to creatively explore what their community will look like in 2060.

There were some fantastic inventions and ideas, including remote control teachers, flying houses, underground tunnels to escape air pollution, fortune tellers, and trees that grow money, to name but a few!

Here Matthew Thompson, Acting Head at Oakfield Juniors reports on his class' landscape of the future:

Year 4 at Oakfield Junior School created amazing sculptures to depict the planet in 50 years time. Lucy Carlton-Walker, a professional artist, joined the class and showed us images of sculptures by Sarah Sze, who uses recycled everyday materials to create landscapes of other worlds. We then designed and created our own landscapes of the future.

"It was exciting when we saw all the materials in the classroom after break" Harry Brown-King

"It was fantastic working with Lucy. When the display was finished it looked jaw-dropping!" Caitlin Leverett

"I was amazed to find we could use everyday materials to create our own masterpieces." Olivia Binns.

"It made me want to be a sculptor when I grow up." Matthew Stephenson.

To enquire about sculpture workshops available in your setting, please email Lucycarltonwalker@hotmail.com or contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

Fellside Community Primary School has used the Cultural Ambassadors' Grant to work with The Bare Toed Dance Company. Here Cultural Ambassador Jane Armstrong, and her colleague Sarah Balkwell describe the project:

Key Stage One were working on a topic called Fire! Fire! So the workshop was based on the movement of flames and the events of The Great Fire of Gateshead. Jo bought with her some fabulous resources - flame coloured chiffon scarves were used as emerging flickering, dancing flames that grew in the raging winds and finally died down into slow moving embers. Sheets of lycra were used to create shapes emerging from burning buildings, movements to suggest frantic and controlled rescues were developed and a story in dance was slowly built up.

 As teachers we were keen to look how resources were used and incorporated into dance sessions to stimulate ideas and help illustrate them and we took away with us a recognition that in school such collection of resources should be developed beyond our much used 'parachute'.

The 2005 River Festival Education website was created for the 2005 Tall Ships Races and is archived within NGI's website. It contains valuable resources for history teaching including fascinating old photographs and the story of Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside. The site will shortly disappear for good - possibly by early May - but you can save and print these useful resources if you get there first!

Please make History staff in your school aware of this resource. If you have difficulty, contact the site's creator by emailing alison.stancliffe@newcastle.gov.uk

Heritage workshops and training

Newcastle Community Heritage Project offers a variety of workshops for families, Early Years & Primary School, Secondary School, Higher Education and teacher training. They are also looking for teachers to help them plan an exciting French language trail for KS2 and 3 in the Ouseburn Valley. If you or your colleagues can help please contact alison.stancliffe@newcastle.gov.uk

World Cancer Research Fund is encouraging everyone to get involved in Fruity Friday next month! Why not organise a fundraising day in your setting? Click here for ideas for healthy eating themed assemblies, which can be used year round.

If you're planning to celebrate Fruity Friday please let us know by leaving a comment below....

Bridgewater School has been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'How can the outside area be used to stimulate language and literacy development?'

Over the Spring term the school has been working with Cultural Partner Susan Warlock on designing and building the areas with Reception children. This has been followed by work with Malcolm Green on storytelling activities. The artists will be exploring and investigating the outdoor environment and incorporating the children's ideas into their plans.
Parents will be invited to join in at various points throughout the project and then at the end to celebrate the outcomes.
The creative agent helped explore ideas, identify potential artists and support the planning process and will support the evaluation.
The project reflects national initiatives in using the outdoor area to enhance learning.

Don't forget, you can apply for 2010/11 Creative Partnerships funding for your school up until 1 June!

Walkergate Primary School have been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'Can engaging pupils in activities to develop creativity support their global awareness and give them a better understanding of global citizenship?'

The lead artist, Mark Labrow will work primarily with Year 3 children and staff throughout the Spring term, providing imaginative and exciting interventions, which will be developed as child led enquiries. Mark has been selected for his expertise in developing creative approaches to teaching and his ability to stimulate children's imagination and enthusiasm. Mark will work closely with the two Year 3 teaching staff to support their development and confidence to work creatively and responsively to the children's interests and to incorporate the curriculum into a topic based Spring Term. Year 3 teachers have selected 'Transport' as their topic for the term and are now planning a global approach to broaden the scope of the theme. Both teachers will have opportunities to incorporate their individual interests into the project and will work across Year 3 to maximize their specific skills and share their learning and experiences. Mark will use his skills to support this development by providing additional creative experiences in response to the children's and teachers needs.

Glynwood Primary School have been working on the Enquiry Question, 'How can we raise imagination and motivation to write?'

The project's main focus will be writing, speaking and listening and drama. The creative practitioners will work with Year 5 over nine days between January and February and will develop child led process;
* To increase motivation and engagement in our learners
* To expand horizons and promote self esteem.
* To foster an appreciation and celebration of otherness/difference
* To increase confidence and ambition
* To develop positive relationships

Don't forget to apply for your Creative Partnerships funding by 1 June!

Stocksfield Avenue Primary School have been looking at the ways in which the Creative Curriculum will impact on children's writing.

Children and staff in Years 3 and 4 will be involved in a study of The Romans, during the Spring Term 2010. The children will carry out research into Roman history and through involvement with creative partners, explore the lives of centurians, slaves etc. Visits to the Roman site at Arbeia will add a further dimension to this work and the children will be involved in a range of dramatic activities during the day.

The children will also work with a ceramic artist to link with the idea of mosaics and Roman art. To add to the creative aspect of the project, the areas around the four classrooms will be given a Roman theme, as working with another creative partner, the children turn the shared space into a Roman town. All the activities will be brought together at the end of the Project as the pupils perform an Assembly for their parents and hold a Roman day, when they will dress up as Romans, have a Roman feast and invite parents to take part. There will be a great deal of practical art work taking place throughout the Project and parents will be encouraged to come in to school to support 'Making Days' and artistic ventures.

Don't forget to apply for your Creative Partnerships funding by 1 June!

Chillingham Road Primary School have been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'How can we use the local area as a basis for a creative cross curricular project to engage and enthuse learners in research, exploration and communication?'

The school will explore the background of local author Jack Common who attended Chillingham Road Primary in the early 1900s. Through doing so they will look at the heritage of the local area and devise a half-term's focus of work for year 3. The cross curricular approach to the work will excite and engage our hard to reach learners giving them a real reason to investigate, explore and communicate their findings. The experience will help children to make the jump from their years in KS1 developing the research and communication skills needed for progression to KS2 and beyond.

Read on to find out more about the project and how you can apply for Creative Partnerships funding.

St. Albans have been working on the Enquiry Question, 'How can we use an appreciation of other cultures to help develop and raise standards in communication, including oral and written skills?'

Staff want to do this through exploring folk tales - both from our own culture and those of others, so that children develop an appreciation of our similarities and differences, and the arts and traditions that make up a culture. We have refined it to give a focus on storytelling, to stimulate children's imaginations and through that their communication skills.

Watch this space for more news about the project, and don't forget you can apply for £3,000 funding by 1 June!

St. Oswald's are working with Creative Partnerships on the Enquiry Question, 'How can a creative exploration of other cultures increase our understanding and empathy of the diverse cultures within Reception class and beyond?'

The Enquiry will take place over a three week period. The school hopes to launch it with Mohua Kumar who will tell the children stories from India and will then encourage the children to retell the stories through movement and dance. Staff will follow this work in class with stories, music and art work. Mothers of some of the Indian children in the class will work with the children doing Indian cookery and crafts. 
The school also hopes to work with Lip Lee, who will continue the storytelling using shadow puppets. He will also share stories from China with the children. A mum from China is coming to work with the children looking at cooking and crafts. After each session Jyl Friggens will help staff to extend the ideas. After the second storyteller, Jyl will help the children to make puppets and use the school's own shadow screen to tell stories through the children's own movements, or by using puppets, or a combination of the two. At the end of week two and the beginning of week three Pascale Koyne will work with the children and listen to their ideas and help them to write and act out their own stories.One of the children's mums who is French is coming into school to sing some French songs with the children.

The Enquiry Question 'How do we effectively use creative approaches to develop an innovative and stimulating curriculum that inspires learning and promotes transferrable skills?' has been the focus of Creative Partnership at Fellside Primary.

Work with the costume designers will be over a concentrated period whilst the work with the animator will be over a longer period to ensure that staff and pupils have time to absorb, reflect and apply the knowledge gained with the support of the practitioner still available. The school plans on using costume design as a way to develop the understanding of different cultures using the focus of marriage for key stage 1 children, specifically years 1 & 2. It is hoped that the activity will offer support for a range of learning styles, leading to greater engagement and enjoyment for the children. Key stage 2 pupils in years 3 and 4 will work with an animator to develop staff and pupil skills. It is also hoped that the costume designer will work with year 5. Whilst focusing on a specific topic, the skills developed by staff will be used in other curriculum areas.

Emmaville Primary School have been working with Creative Partnerships on the Enquiry Question 'How can drama and creative thinking empower our pupils to be more effective learners?'

The project's activities will be drama based, working with outside practitioners in school. We would expect our drama activities to take place across the spring term, linking in with the curriculum areas covered during that time. Kirsty Newman is involved in the project, as Year 5/6 were identified as benefiting from wider creative experiences to impact on their literacy skills. She is also part of the arts faculty, which includes leading literacy throughout the school. We have planned for the Year 5/6 class Copenhagen to take part in the project. This may extend the rest of the phase group if possible or advantageous.

Kingston Park Primary School are using their Creative Partnerships project to 'find out if dance, music and creativity can be instrumental in raising standards in writing in Year 4'.

Year 4 will take part in a range of dance and music workshops with The Bare Toed Dance Company, designed to help them explore and develop ideas, leading to writing. These workshops will be part of the planned topic for the first half of the spring term, Our World Our Future. This topic has an environmental focus and the children will be learning about the global impact of rainforest destruction, pollution and waste as well as different cultures.

Larkspur Community Primary School have been using their Creative Partnerships funding to explore the Enquiry Question, 'Can the implementation of a creative curriculum help to raise the aspirations and achievements of children in Year 3?'

The activity will go through stages:
Stage 1: Finding out about growing of food
Stage 2: Finding out about shopping and commercial cooking of food
Stage 3: Cooking Food
Stage 4: Preparing a meal for other people.

Outdoor learning continues to be a popular theme for Creative Partnerships projects; St. Catherine's RC Primary School in Newcastle are working on the Enquiry Question, 'How can we develop our existing outdoor areas to encourage creative and nurturing teaching and learning?'

The project is very important to St Catherine's because they want to be able to develop their staff and their teaching to use the outdoors in a creative way.The project has started with a group of governors, teachers, senior management, classroom assistants, parents and children from each class visiting an outdoor learning environment and spending the day thinking about the type of outdoor spaces we would like at St Catherine's. A documentary of this day has been made by an artist and will be shown to all school staff and pupils. The aim is to develop the existing outdoor areas of the school over an intensive period of two weeks with the help of specially chosen environmental artists.

Watch this space for more news about all the Creative Partnerships projects, and don't forget to apply for funding by 1 June!

Cragside Primary School have been working with Creative Partnerships on the Enquiry Question, 'In what ways can linking puppet making and developing improvisation skills contribute to our long term plans to raise standards in children's writing, with particular (but not exclusive) emphasis on boys?'

Once the puppet emphasis was decided upon there was a research period to find suitable practitioners with a range of skills and experience. Tom Walton was chosen as puppeter. Although he is new to Creative Partnerships work he has experience working with this age group and has made large puppets for stage productions. Magic If (Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin) are very experienced at developing improvisation skills for narratives.This was considered to be an interesting blend of talent and experience.

Bensham Grove Nursery School have recently visited Seven Stories, The Centre for Children's Books, for a special session with The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Here Cultural Ambassador Rose Davies reflects on the experience:

At Bensham Grove we ensure all children are offered a visit during the year before they go to primary school. The visits enhance the nursery curriculum by expanding children's experience. There is a special excitement about going on a coach and having a first packed lunch with nursery friends.   It is an important event which builds their self esteem.  We believe it is a key experience which helps prepare them for the transition to school the following September.  The first school trip is also a milestone for parents as they trust their children to the care of the nursery staff.

In preparation for the visit we read the story The tiger who came for tea to the children.  We didn't have duel language versions but we lent the children who speak English as an additional language a copy of the book to take home so that they could become more familiar with the story, translated into their home language by their parents.   In the home corner we set out the porcelain tea set and a soft toy tiger.

Outdoor learning opportunities have been the focus of Hilton Primary's Creative Partnerships project. Using the Enquiry Question, 'How can out of classroom learning opportunities re-engage and enthuse pupils who currently see no relevance in the curriculum?'

The school identified a courtyard space within the school as the 'Wild Wood' which they will focus the project around. The courtyard space has had some investment in the past and has become slightly neglected. There are established willow trees and a pathway leading through it, however the space does not have a focus or identity within the school.

Read on to find out more about the project...

Fell Dyke Primary School have been working with Creative Partnerships on the provocation, 'Can solving a 'real life' school issue engage children in their learning, especially Year 4 boys from emotionally, socially and economically vulnerable families?'

The targeted children in Year 4 will act as 'project managers' and lead the rest of the year group as they explore the possibilities of creating an exciting forest school on our site. They will have a forest adventure of their own in order to generate ideas for the school's plans and will visit children in other settings who have created outdoor environments on a similar theme.

Kells Lane Primary School have been working with South African dance group, Caliber, as part of the Swallows Partnership. This forms part of a project linking artists and performers from Port Elizabeth, on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with communities in North East England.

Fifty-eight Year 5 children worked with the dancers over two days. The dancers performed for the children which instantly engaged their interest, although their focus was on the children's creative expression. Teacher Paul McIntosh said, 'The dancers' enthusiasm was infectious and made the children feel like they could achieve anything, and gave the children lots of confidence and encouragement. I liked the fact that there was a team of dancers and that they worked with small groups of children rather than it being a class focus'.

The children were divided into girl and boy groups and worked with some of the dancers, who focused on the children's ideas and brought out their creativity. During the afternoon, the class put each of their dances together and created a final dance, followed by a question and answer session with the dancers. The dance was performed for a full audience of parents at the Spring Concert on Friday, alongside other year groups who have been focusing on various countries. These included the African drumming afterschool club, which has been led by Cultural Partner Arts Isiziba.

The children thought it was an amazing experience and enjoyed creating their own dances, with some of them commenting that it was the best thing they've been a part of in Year 5.

Whickham School has also been using its Creative Partnerships funding to explore outdoor learning, using the provocation 'How can we use outdoor space to create an environment which will enhance pupils' learning experiences?'

Whickham School sees the project as leading to a tangible benefit in the medium long term for pupils who will see the spaces being of benefit until the projected re-build in 2012. It is also expected to be a means of increasing parental and community involvement. Pupils will be designing a Parental Perception Survey, and consultation exercise, and ideas will be disseminated to parents and the wider community through the newsletter.
Those involved will be Year 7 pupils, and form teachers, teachers within English and other curriculum areas, specialist artists, parents, the wider community and Creative Partnerships.

Monkchester Road Nursery School has been working on a Creative Partnerships project, exploring the Enquiry Question 'Will the creation of stimulating outdoor environments encourage language development and spontaneous storymaking?'

The project will explore of the outdoor spaces surrounding the nursery. Children's narratives, their ideas and interests will be documented, and these will form the basis of a series of story trails, suggestions and stimuli around the nursery. There will be open ended provocations which can be investigated with the children's stories and meaning making as they arise.

Like several other Newcastle and Gateshead schools, The Drive have used their Creative Partnerships funding to explore the possibilities of outdoor learning.

The Drive focused on the question 'How can the development of an outdoor learning space, and the understanding of how it might be used, contribute to creativity in teaching and learning?'

Read on to find out about this project, and don't forget to visit the Creative Partnerships website to find out how your school can get funding for creative projects.

Kells Lane Primary School has received funding from Creative Partnerships to explore how they can use outdoor learning space. The school is working on the Enquiry Question 'What impact does the design, development and use of a creative space for outdoor learning have upon the development of literacy skills in a group of Foundation pupils?'

Self Evaluation has identified literacy as an area in need of development at Foundation stage.
There is also the need to adopt appropriate responses to the NLS. This project aims to help build pedagogy with the needs of pupils at its heart.

Read on to find out more about the project at Kell's Lane. Don't forget that you can apply for funding from Creative Partnerships.

As part of Creative Partnerships, Gibside School has been working on the Enquiry Question ' Does using song and music to support the curriculum encourage enthusiasm to learn?'

Gibside will work with an established musician Steve Jinski, who, together with the staff and children will explore the potential of using song and music to enable children to become more enthusiastic learners, to enable them to access the curriculum in different ways and to enrich their learning.There will be an strong emphasis on CPD for the staff to enable them to develop the confidence to sustain this way of working beyond the end of the project.

Read on to find out more about Gibside School's Creative Partnerships project...

Don't forget, you can apply for funding to explore a creative approach in your school!

The Cedars School used their grant to create a mural with artist Gavin Mayhew. Here Art teacher Alan Finn reports on the experience: 

Cedars School Sports College were lucky enough to receive a Cultural Ambassadors Grant for creative activity. We decided to transform a plain unappealing wall in the school play ground by painting a colourful mural on it.

We found artist Gavin Mayhew, an artist who has worked on school murals in the past.  The pupils have really enjoyed being involved in working with a 'real' artist, they were very enthusiastic about creating their own ideas and then transferring them into a large mural. 

Now that it is finished the pupils at Cedars have described the mural as 'awesome ' and ' wicked '! It is bright, colourful and full of life very much like the students at Cedars school.

Lucy Carlton-Walker's recycled sculpture workshops, Landscapes of the Future, are booking up fast!

Key Stage Two classes at Glynwood Primary, Waverley Primary, Walkergate Primary and Oakfield Juniors will each spend a day working with Lucy, building sculptures of their community as they think it may look fifty years from now. Watch this space for photographs of their creations...

One workshop is still available for a Key Stage Two class in Newcastle or Gateshead on Wednesday 28 April. Click here to find out more about the workshops and to book.

Windy Nook Primary School have enjoyed an International Arts Week as part of their Creative Curriculum.

Pictured are Year 5 / 6 pupils doing an African drumming and gumboot dance workshop with Cultural Partner Arts Isiziba. Year 3 / 4 enjoyed working with John Treherne from Gateshead Schools Music Service, who delivered a fun and informative French workshop, involving plenty of singing and dancing.

Each class chose a focus country for the week. They researched their country to produce booklets, flags and displays, and then took part in an 'International Cafe' to further their knowledge about their country and excite their tastebuds!
Parents joined in assemblies, classroom activities (such as work on the Chinese Zodiac) and cooking. The week was great fun for staff and children, one of whom commented, "I liked it when our mams, dads and Grandparents came into school to help us." Another pupil summed up the experience, saying "Yippee, the whole week was fun!"
Teachers agreed that the week was "totally engaging for the children". The chance to learn about others through various activities and a sponsored event made the week a valuable learning experience.
 

If you're planning an International Arts Week remember to contact your Network Coordinator for details of Cultural Partners you might like to work with: Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk

The creative talents of Gateshead and Newcastle schools have been shining at Baltic. As part of Shine Children's Art Festival, schools were invited to share the creative projects they've been enjoying this year.

A visit to Gateshead Heritage @ St. Mary's inspired Cedars Sports College to create stained glass windows depicting the Angel of the North. Ravenswood Primary School took a sculptural approach, involving parents in creating a wide variety of sculptures with their children, whilst Whickham School took a contemporary approach to knitting, in a project that involved the whole school. Working on the theme of journeys, Newburn Manor Nursery School enjoyed exploring the world we live in, whilst Cardinal Hume School combined Photoshop and pinhole cameras to create some fascinatingly eerie images.

Congratulations to all the schools involved in this fantastic exhibition, which can be seen in the Quay space of Baltic. Please leave your comments below. For information about other Baltic projects you can get involved in, click here.

NewcastleGateshead's festival for children and young people is back! Following the success of last year's exciting events, Juice 2009 promises even more enticing opportunities!

Between Thursday 22 October and Sunday 8 November, NewcastleGateshead will be bursting with events, performances and activities, celebrating the creativity of children and young people.

There will be a wealth of opportunities specifically for schools to join in with. You can subscribe to the mailing list, to ensure you're the first to hear the news. Photos from Juice 2008 can be viewed here.

Shine Week takes place between 6 and 10 July 2009. You can celebrate Shine '09 by planning and hosting events showcasing everyone's talents. The week will see classrooms, halls, playgrounds, community spaces and cultural venues shine brightly with young people's talents!

Click here to register your school and receive your free resource pack. This includes a creative pack, and a media pack to make sure the local limelight is focused on your Shine event!

Last year over 2,500 schools took part - the website has info on some of their ideas for a spectacular Shine Week.

Don't forget to email your network coordinators if you'd like help finding an artist for Shine Week - Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk and Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk We'd love to feature your events on this website!

Culture and Creativity Cross-Curricular Working Party

Walker Tech's Ambassador, Caroline Gregorio, has taken her role at its name and started a regular meeting of teachers from across the school, to create a forum to stimulate creativity and share learning.

The first meeting was in January 2009. Teachers were asked to prepare by thinking about how they already use Creativity in their daily work. As anticipated everyone had a different approach to this activity, some brought lists, others retold anecdotes and one drew a mind map. What became clear was that everyone was inspired and had great examples of how culture and creativity help, whatever they teach.

The discussion went onto considering 'How to offer Culture and Creativity across the curriculum'. Everyone contributed by sharing their ideas and experiences - and a few chocolate biscuits helped along the way.

We left with some questions:
Are there some examples of successfully using culture in maths?
How to get access to a wider range of recommended creatives and artists who can come into school?

It was great to see the whole school engaging in the questions which we work with everyday in the Network, and to see a hard working Ambassador being appreciated for their voluntary role.

Thanks go to Walker Tech for inviting me along. (Caroline Pearce)

Children's Art Day is taking place on 9 July 2009: Register now to take part.

Children's Art Day is a national programme encouraging children, young people, families and teachers to engage with visual art. It takes place during Shine Week - a national schools festival celebrating talent in all young people.

On Thursday 9 July the spotlight will be on the Visual Arts. All Visual Arts venues, schools, youth and community organisations are invited to take part in Children's Art Day. The first 150 venues registering events will receive a grant of £50 as seed funding for an event, which can be claimed on the event's completion and on submission of a brief report.

We're pleased to showcase the work of Konflux Theatre in Education, who are York-based, but travel all over the UK delivering workshops and performances. They use drama to develop a breadth of skills, such as confidence, citizenship, teamwork and concentration. Based on National Curriculum topics ranging from the environment to Shakespeare and history to healthy living, Konflux's 'Play in a Day' workshops are accessible to all.

Cultural Ambassador Vivienne Howell would like to share the latest cultural and creative activities at Whickham School...

Textile artist and Big Knitter, Ingrid Wagner worked with a group of Year 10 and Year 11 students on a two-day group project using recycled fabrics and yarn.

The project of course began with research, planning and preparation. Using "The Angel" as an inspiration and source, the students listed and discussed what the angel meant to them - powerful, embracing, trust, shelter, safety, security, proud, protecting, a landmark.

It was decided that the textile piece would be a panel made up of sections like the Angel's wings, which would then be used as a chair covering. This would demonstrate many of the Angel's qualities- somewhere to visit, to sit, to read or reflect; somewhere safe to snuggle into, to wrap around and embrace you; a monumental structure to offer protection.

From now on, we will regularly showcase a learning setting that has been engaging in cultural and creative activity. This month's is St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Gateshead, who have been keeping really busy in the run up to Christmas.

Year 5 enjoyed a print workshop with artist Raija Sinikka Patchett, whose work is currently on display at the Nordic Routes exhibition at the Gallery in Gateshead Central Library. The children enjoyed learning two printing techniques and produced some stunning winter scenes. Teachers and children alike learned something new and went home with several works of art, enthusing, "It was a dream day for me!", "This was the best trip in the world!" and, "I hope I can come back soon!"

It's been a busy term for St. Josephs; children have designed safety posters and anti-litter posters for Frank Haslam Builders, which are on display at nearby housing estates; Year Two have been getting creative making Christmas wreaths; and Year Four have enjoyed a visit to English Heritage site Bessie Surtee's house. It's been a term of performing arts for Year Six, who have composed and performed an anti bullying song at The Sage Gateshead, and created a play in a day at Cardinal Hume School.

The City Learning Centre has been the setting of some fantastic school visits: Reception have been programming their own robots, Year One have explored shape and space, Year Two have discovered North East heroes, and Year Six have stepped back in time to a WWII air raid shelter, complete with smoke and sirens.

Amidst all this there have been rehearsals for the Christmas show, a modern day take on the Nativity, entitled Email Jesus@bethlehem Congratulations, St. Joseph's, on the showcased school! Please leave your comments below... If you would like your learning setting featured on this website, please email Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk with your news!

As part of Juice Festival, Year 5 pupils from Bridgewater School in Scotswood have written  six new plays that will preview this month. The children enjoyed a series of workshops which have resulted in this fresh and vibrant theatre production.
First Draft is for anyone over the age of five and takes place on Tuesday 25 Nov (1.30pm & 7pm) and Thursday 27 Nov (7pm only). Don't miss this chance to see this showcase of the region's new writing and performing talent!

First Draft is at Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Newcastle Quayside.
Tickets available from the Box Office: 0191 232 1232. £6 Adults; £5 concessions.

We're pleased to introduce one of our latest Cultural Partners, New Line Graffiti. The group offer graffiti workshops to children and young people, giving them an opportunity to explore the artform and discover the positive impact it can have upon their space.

New Line Graffiti have recently completed a project with West Jesmond Primary School, at the school's temporary site. Concerned that unpleasant graffiti was frequently appearing in the playground, the school decided to commission the artists to run workshops that would fill the playground with the children's artwork.

The theme of 'the jungle' was chosen, and after a week of workshops with New Line Graffiti, the children had brought their playground to life with words, animals and plants based upon the theme.

The teachers, children and artists were thrilled with the results. "We've had a great five days working with some of the nicest and most enthusiastic children you could meet," said the artists, "They worked really well over the five days and we covered years three to six. The kids created some really great work and they all learned a lot, and more importantly had a great time whilst doing it!"

New Line Graffiti are available for workshops with children and young people of all ages. To find out how they can work with your learning setting, email Robby at info@newlinegraffiti.com or see the website www.newlinegraffiti.com

Discover more about your ancestors and the area in which they lived. Buy bargain local history books and ask the experts.

Saturday 19th May 2007 at Caedmon Hall, Central Library. The event is FREE.
For more information contact the Local History Librarian for Gateshead, Anthea Lang on 0191 433 8403 or anthealang@gateshead.gov.uk

From Gateshead Education Business Links Service:

Children at a local primary school will be playing a real-life version of the old game show, 'What’s my Line?', as part of a careers week set up by Gateshead Council.
Pupils at Fella Park Community Primary school will be trying to guess the occupations of a number of special business ambassadors who will be visiting the school next week (23 April).

The children will try and guess what jobs the ambassadors do after a series of clues, mimes and examples of the kind of tools they might use in their work.

The game marks the start of a week of events that will include talks and activities from professions as diverse as the emergency services, hairdressing, engineering, health and social care, construction and travel.

Are you a teacher from Falla Park? How did the children respond to the careers week? From a GEBLS perspective, could it be used as a model to roll out to other primary schools in the borough?

Artist Karen Johnson will be bringing her first exhibition back to her native North East from Saturday 24 March - Saturday 12 May 2007.

Gateshead’s Gallery, based at Central Library on Prince Consort Road, will be hosting the free exhibition, which explores how a family cope with disability.

The show explores the life of Karen's son Jamie, a child with downs syndrome, from birth to age seven. The ups and downs of family life are chronicled using modern photography.

The Gallery is open from 9am - 7pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 9am - 5pm Wed and 9am - 1pm Sat. The Gallery is closed on Bank Holidays. For more details call the Arts Development Team on 0191 433 6927.

Wednesday 6 December 2006

Northern Film & Media, Regional Screen Agency for the North East of England, has announced this year's New Directions - a day of screenings, discussions and workshops about participatory filmmaking with young people and communities. Packed full of ideas about how to go about planning and running fun and fulfilling film projects in the community, the theme of New Directions 2006 is IMPACT, exploring with the effects of filmmaking on the lives of participants as well as the affect their films can have upon wider communities and audiences.

If you are a youth or community worker interested in organising or supporting films or a film maker working in community settings then New Directions 2006 programme information out lining speakers, workshops and screenings will be announced on Monday 6 November 2006 along with full booking details.

To register interest and sign up for updates
E: roxana@northernmedia.org
www.northernmedia.org

You can no log on, find out what the ideal virtual school looks and sounds like on the Virtual Vision website and post a comment (scrolling to the Explore menu (right hand side) and clicking onto 'Thoughts and Ideas'):

Click onto:
www.virtual-vision.org

Virtual Vision - Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of June 2006

We invite you to review our flagship project, where Gateshead teachers worked one-to-one with our Cultural Partners to create a virtual creative school, creative curriculum and creative management model.

Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of June 2006

On these two dates fifteen Gateshead Cultural Ambassadors will descend on the City Learning Centre to make a creative school, creative curriculum and a creative management model. All this work will be made live via this very
website for your contributions and the final results will also be posted here until the end of the summer holidays, so check this site for regular updates.

Our contact at RSPB Newcastle, Carl Watts, is happy to lend a hand to Gateshead teachers who want to take part in this year's Big Schools Birdwatch (23rd January - 3rd of February).
The first stage is to call 08701 222793 to order your pack, which contains guidance, a bird identification picture card and your participation form.
For more guidance, Carl can be contacted on 0191 233 4300.
You can also access the following webpage: http://www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch/index.asp

ALSO, you can write for a free copy of RSPB's colour booklet, The birds in your garden with your name and address to:
The RSPB, Free Booklet Offer, Freepost ANG 10850, 17 Birkheads Road, Reigate, RH2 9ZW.
The RSPB do not pass on details to third parties.

The award-winning schools music service is now inviting schools to take part in the second phase of the Blow the Wind Southerly project. This phase features teachers' packs, CDs, words, music, teachers workshop, school workshop with Concert Royal and a full-scale performance in Hall One of the Sage Gateshead as part of the Music Service's Showcase Event on the 28th of June.

There are places for ten schools (30 places maximum for each school), to suit 7-11 year-olds.
Please see the accompanying attachment for full details and contact Barbara Murray, Gateshead Schools’ Music Service Administrator, Dryden Centre, Gateshead NE9 5UR by 14th February 2006

Download file

Read on for the latest recognition for our Music Service from the National Music Council of Great Britain...

Durham Cathedral is one of the Ambassadors’ network Cultural Partners. Here is an account of a recent visit by one Gateshead School this year by Mrs Anne-Marie Ollivere of Oakfield Infant School.

“This is the third year in a row that I have taken my year two class to Durham Cathedral. We tend to go as part of our Christianity topic in the Autumn term. The children are always amazed by the sheer size of the cathedral and it brings the lives of Cuthbert and Bede to life for them. During the visit there are lots of activities to keep the children busy. In the morning session we have always been given a thorough tour of the cathedral, pointing out many interesting facts. This year it was most impressive as the children were encouraged to touch and feel, which really appealed to the younger children.
The afternoon session is made up of a series of workshops, one of which was to decorate one section of the rose window. When we got back to school we were able to put all of the sections together to create our very own stained glass window. We have great memories of the visit and we will definitely be going again next academic year. “

Mrs Anne-Marie Ollivere
Year Two Teacher
Oakfield Infant School
Gateshead

December 2005.

The Education staff at Durham Cathedral can be contacted on:
0191 386 4266.
http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/

The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch takes place every January and schools can order their own packs.
To subscribe to their excellent e-newsletter containing news about about conservation, campaigning and fundraising work, use the online sign-up form.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/plus/form/(swedsl55aizjzpmlsarhwlyx)/index.aspx

Get into the festive spirit this Friday the 25th November - come to see the Baltic Square Christmas Tree lights switch-on.
A group of carol singers from Crookhill Primary School will perform a selection of festive favourites on Baltic Square from 6.15 p.m. before the Mayor of Gateshead officially switches on the tree lights at 6.30 p.m. The ceremony will also mark the welcomed return of the Ice Rink. Bigger than previous years, the ice rink is located on Mill Road Car Park and is open from 25th November to the 8th of January.
Skating tickets: adults £5.50, children and seniors £4.50, NUS £4.50, Families £17.00, Ten people or more: £5/£4 each. Slots from 10am-8.30pm (Thursdays until 9.30pm).

For more information contact Gateshead Council Events Team on 0191 433 3838

As mentioned at the Gateshead Cultural Ambassadors' AGM on the 22nd of November, The Young People's Arts Award is a brand new scheme which supports young artists and young arts leaders.
There's information to get you started on the award or to help you develop your work as you go along. And if you're doing an award, you can publish your art work in the gallery and get other people's views. Yon can enter for the award via this website. Good luck!
http://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=64

This list gives a taste of how far afield our schools' international links are.
Download file

CTC Theatre's 'Take Off' theatre festival 2006 will be held in Gateshead!
In preparation, the CTC will be in Montreal to look at the work of theatre companies, incluing those from Korea and Japan. Does your school have any existing links with other countries, or would your school like to make links with a particular country? Let CTC know - they can approach companies from specific areas.
You can also register an interest in hosting or attending performances, conference, workshops and CPD.

To register your expression of interest by 12 noon, Monday 19th December, contact:
Mr Steve Aal, CTC General Manager, on 01325 352 004 or email: steve@ctctheatre.org.uk.

or: Mari Macdonald, Gateshead Arts Team
Tel: (0191) 4775380 / E-mail: marimacdonald@gateshead.gov.uk / Fax: (0191) 4901394
Gateshead Visitor Centre, St. Mary’s Church, Oakwellgate, Gateshead, NE8 2AU.

Ambassador schools will have received this information last Thursday via e-bulletins, but we have added it below in full. Read on!

www.ctctheatre.org.uk

The new play area at Kelvin Grove includes an allotment where vegetables are grown, wildlife gardens, grasses, shrubs and an area designed to attract mini-beasts; all contributing to the children's knowledge of nature.

Windmill Hills and Roman Road Primary were featured in the Evening Chronicle's education pages on the 21st of July in an interview and an environmental feature respectively.

...including the national commemoration day this Sunday, July 10th.
http://www.mod.uk/aboutus/history/ww2/

This photograph courtesy of Mark Savage
Leviathan is Gateshead Council’s programme of thirty community projects funded by Culture10 and Arts Council England North East, such as Neptune's Arc of Friendship procession where Gateshead and Newcastle children will take sea monsters and flags to the crew parade on Tues 26th July; Flotilla!,: an exhibition at Gateshead Visitor Centre of thirty handcrafted boats made by locally-connected artists and community workshops from July 15th and What Floats your Boat?: a community flag project about hopes and aspirations to be installed on Baltic Square on Sunday 24th July.
The photo refers to this year’s Wrekenton & Springwell Happy Hearts Lanterns Procession where children from Fell Dyke Primary made ships to celebrate the Tall Ships and Rivers Festival.
Leviathan was not only a mythical sea monster, but also the name of the ship in Nelson’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, with Master & Commander Trotter at the helm. This year is the bicentenary of the battle and Commander Trotter is buried here in Gateshead, in St Mary’s Churchyard. For more information about the Leviathan programme, contact Karolynne Hart in the Arts Development Team on
0191 477 5380

www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com
www.tallships2005.com

Pupils from Bill Quay wrote last Thursday's 'Kron' page, mentioning citizenship, conservation, craft, and music projects. Hurrah!

Gateshead Visitor Centre run the Quays coach park and can book a coach space for a fee of £10 (for 24 hours): useful for large school trips to BALTIC, Sage Gateshead, the Visitor Centre and other venues.

Telephone: 0191 477 5380

Unique competition rewards community action

Whitbread PLC is once again launching its search for the best young volunteers in Britain and from 1st June is inviting nominations for the Whitbread Young Achievers awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of young people in four categories - arts, community, environment and sports and are open to young people aged 16-25.
Creative Partnerships is working with Whitbread as their Arts Partner, to encourage nominations in the arts category.

Each category winner will receive a unique prize that includes £2,000 for personal and project development, £250 of leisure vouchers and a unique 12-month follow on support package. For the arts winner, this could mean anything from spending time backstage at a West End play to mentoring or professional help with a fundraising strategy.

This year's winners will be recognised at a celebration event in London, hosted by TV presenter June Sarpong, on 23 November 2005.

For further details and a nomination form, please visit the website at www.whitbreadyoungachievers.co.uk . Nominations close on 15th July 2005.

David Gaffney
Partnerships Officer
Arts Council England, North West
Direct line 0161 827 9223
Mobile 07718525739
David.Gaffney@artscouncil.org.uk

Baruch Rosengarten is a feltmaker in the North East of England giving workshops in Primary, Secondary schools and Colleges with children of all ages and abilities. He has insurance and CRB clearance and has worked in several Gateshead Schools. Baruch's most up to date CV (Winter 2006) is attached here.
Download file

Free 'Breathing Space' packs are available to accompany the BBC Springwatch series being broadcast every evening until mid-June on BBC Two, presented by Bill Oddie.
Go to www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch

Schools are eligible to apply to their local B&Q store for a grant of between £50 and £500 towards materials for a sustainable community project. See link to the B&Q website below...
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/
templates/contentlookup.jsp?content=/aboutbandq/2004/
social_responsibility//better_neighbour.jsp

The Newcastle Gateshead Initiative is running a competition for schoolchildren for the Tall Ships' Race. See the letter attached...
Download file

The RSPB celebrates a new generation of children interested in birds, wildlife and their local environment with the publication of the January watch results. Well done to all Gateshead Schools who took part. We hope to have a wildlife/environmental CPD session for Cultural Ambassadors this year, so watch this space and your fortnightly e-bulletins.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch/index.asp

Thomas Hepburn, South Street and Caedmon Schools worked with artists Carolyn Handley, Donna MacKinnon and Sharon Wilson to produce Image & Identity, currently on display at the Shipley Art Gallery on Prince Consort Road in Gateshead. Tyne & Wear Museum's collection and the children's own ideas were the inspiration for the masks, jewellery and costumes, curated by Clare Smith and Sharon Wilson. Opened by the Deputy Mayor of Gateshead and Maggie Atkinson, Head of Children's Services for Gateshead Council, a selection of the exhibition will be shown at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London later in the year.
http://www.twmuseums.org.uk

For those of you who took part in this year's Birdwatch either at school or at home, here are the results on the RSPB website. The Birdwatch takes place each January and schools packs are available. If your school in Gateshead has a Cultural Ambassador, they will receive contact details in the Autumn Term.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/2005results/index.asp

Attention all Cultural Ambassadors in Gateshead Schools! Your Summer pack should arrive on Friday 18th or Monday 21st of March.

Kingsmeadow Secondary school in Dunston launch their community radio station, broadcasting for two weeks from the 21st February to the 4th March. A product of the after-school radio club, you can hear live music, interviews, careers advice and news. To advertise, contact Headteacher Simon Taylor on 0191 4606004.
Tune in on 87.7FM

For details of the Lottery-funded scheme open to schools to commemorate the contribution of those who served on the home front in WWII, read on. Deadline March 31st...

Anchors Aweigh!
Do you need more time to finish your story? If so, the Council will accept late entries to this popular competition. See this link for more...
http://www.asaplive.com/iKnow/News.cfm?ccs=121&cs=1312

Following an accident outside the school in December, Headteacher Helen Gladstone continues a long-standing appeal to parents who park their cars in front of the school gates on this busy road connecting the A167 and the Team Valley, despite there being two car parks nearby. Even the children have begun sending their own traffic survey results home and are preparing a display for parents evening. The following links are the Council's Safer Routes to Schools (contact Road Safety Officer, Maureen Laverick) and the Sustrans page...
http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/atoz/serv_s.htm#saferroutes
http://www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk/

After learning about how the NSPCC charity looks after children in the region, pupils at this Low Fell school went on to raise £1,759; each of them learning twenty words each. Lynn Taylor of the charity also gave the children advice about personal safety.

The Evening Chronicle's 'Kron' page on Thursday the 27th of January had Kibblesworth pupils talking about sports, the Christmas Fair, a tsunami appeal day, their funding following an Activemark Award and the Saturday class at Lord Lawson School's Advanced Learning Centre for Mathematics.

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle has an education supplement each Thursday where editorial comment sits alongside pupil interviews (Top Class) and a page composed by a school (The Kron). On Thursday the 6th of January, St Aidan's CE Primary School in Bensham submitted stories on bullying, swimming, the playground, Dunston Festival, netball, the school chapel and the school's Star Worker awards.

Sunderland-based company EDF Energy is working with Learning through Landscapes to promote awards to North East schools. Application form from Elizabeth Metcalfe on 0191 512 5491 or email elizabeth.metcalfe@edfenergy.com
Closing date for applications is the 11th of February. Winners receive £5,000 and four runners-up receive between £1,000 and £750 or a site guidance visit.
Here is the relevant page from the Learning though Landscapes site...

http://www.ltl.org.uk/programmes/programme_umbrella.asp?PG_ID=52

Fri 17th Dec.12:15-1pm
Shipley Gallery, Prince Consort Road
The Gateshead viol consort directed by Master of the Viols John Finnon, joined by Naomi Barker on baroque flute and John Treherne on spinet. Music by Francois Couperin.
Free admission.

Fifty-five saplings were planted near the Angel of the North in Gateshead by pupils from Oakfield Infants School with Gateshead's grounds staff and Councillor McNestry, cabinet member for the environment. Each sapling represents one tonne of the aluminium recycled in Gateshead during the past year either via the 'Kerb-it' boxes or at the recycling points. The planting coincided with National Tree Week and the not-for-profit company Alupro donated the trees as part of a national campaign.

If you did not receive the RSPB flier in your Spring Pack and would like to take part in the hour-long Big Birdwatch on the 29th-30th January 2005 then there are special Big Schools' Birdwatch packs available. Please telephone 08701 222792.
You can also use the website:
www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Last Thursday's Evening Chronicle School Pages saw Jamie McCubbin report on his favourites at Swalwell: PE lessons, school meals, football and Mr Hewitt!

"Have you heard of 'Leonardo' - a celebration of Technology and Invention? It is one of Cleveland Theatre Company's travelling presentations and as the workshop unfolds, the machine is built - it is quite staggering to see and a super way to link technology and literacy work. They also do Good Morning Mr Dickens which is a splendid way to teach writing to a deadline, descriptive and transactional writing and redrafting. Chris Connaughton plays Charles Dickens orally drafting a new scene from Nicholas Nickleby and he recalls writing a similar scene in another story which he changes slightly and reuses. Then he teaches them about the social history of the period and gets the children to write to a deadline imagining the classroom is the workhouse. At the end of the day he hotseats as a Dickens character and it is quite inspiring to see him change from Mr Squeers to Smike... as he fields the questions in role."
Strongly recommended.
Di Hewitson
Headteacher, Kells Lane Primary. Gateshead Ambassador teachers should find two CTC fliers in their Spring Packs.
www.ctctheatre.org.uk

Gateshead Council Leisure Department published this year's winners in the December issue of Council News.
Winner of the Best School Garden went to Emmaville Primary School with runners up: Highfield Primary, Rowland's Gill, Kepier Chare and The Cedars School. Cedars also won the Best Gardening Project within the classroom with runners up: Highfield Primary, Kepier Chare and Front Street Primary.
Congratulations!

We've had several enquiries about the newly-refurbished Saltwell Towers. Over the winter, the Towers will be open from 11am until 3pm. If you need to get into the Park only, the gates open at 7am and close at dusk.
http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/saltwellpark/welcome.htm

Playground 'buddies', part of the drive to eliminate bullying has been a success at St Joseph's in Central Gateshead. Headteacher Eileen Donnelly says: "The buddy scheme is part of our whole school approach to build confidence and independence and is part of our citizenship programme...it gives older children a sense of responsibility and younger children an additional point of contact should they have any worries or concerns in the playground." Teacher Carole Robson trains volunteer children who make an application to her on paper. Gateshead now has 18 'buddied' schools.

Gateshead Council have funded an artist-in-residence scheme to introduce the local community to local practitioners.
Co-ordinated by lecturer David Goard, each of the four artists is studying towards an NVQ III in Arts Development Teaching at Gateshead College. Painter Matthew Blackman is based at St Joseph's Primary School, writer Cathryn Jiggens is based at the Shipley Gallery, glass artist Sarah Blood is at Saltwell Park and Bensham Grove Community Centre and actor Ilana Mitchell is at Tyne View Primary School.

Not only are we having Swalwell Primary in this week's Top Class Pop the Question feature, but last week was the turn of another Gateshead Primary: Carr Hill. Pupil Chenise Ogle gave the thumbs up on her art lessons, her chums, school lunches, football and Miss Burney!

Circus performer Mr Ramon Martinez recently put on a juggling, balancing and magic show for the pupils at Swalwell Primary school, Gateshead. Ramon's sons Ashley and George attended the school and had asked their father to put on the show. "The performance was fantastic fun - just the kind of new experience which the Government is asking us to bring to children now", said teacher Andrea Robson. Swallwell Primary pupils will be in the news on Thursday the 25th of November in the Pop the Question column of 'Top Class' in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, so look out for them!

Sport England's work to make children more active has paid off handsomely at Oakfield Junior School in Low Fell, Gateshead. The school has just been awarded Activemark Gold for a variety of after-school fitness clubs including dance, acrobatics, basketball, tennis, multi-sports, rugby and cheerleading! "The take-up has been phenomenal" said Headteacher Helen Gladstone. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle also carried the story on Thursday the 4th November 2004.
Three cheers!

Thank you!
Ambassador teachers in Gateshead attended the first CCA AGM on Tuesday the 12th October at Carr Hill Primary School, Gateshead. Councillor John McElroy welcomed the delegates with an overview of Culture in Education in the borough and speakers from Ryton Comprehensive, St Anne's Primary and Carr Hill Primary amongst others shared their practice and project successes. Ambassadors submitted ideas for 2005 and were given the very latest good news from Gateshead Arts Team and two surprise guests - schools staff from BALTIC and The Sage Gateshead! A full summary of the event will follow in due course, but the Arts Team would like to thank everyone for contributing to a very enjoyable evening and to Callum Kidd and staff for providing an inspirational venue.

Thursday 25th November at Gateshead Leisure Centre, 6pm.
There are still places available at this year's event for mixed displays of floor, apparatus, acrobatics and rhythmic gymnastics. The pre-event meeting is this Thursday, the 21st October at 4.15pm at the Leisure Centre. For more details, contact Alun Davies, Physical Education and Sport Advisor, on 0191 433 8670.

Those of you attending the Theatre Centre's performance of Trashed at Lord Lawson school on Thursday the 21st of October, please note that the curtain-up is now 2pm and NOT 6pm! Our apologies for any inconvenience.

For further information, call Amelia Davies, Gateshead Arts Team on 0191 477 5380.

Go to our Arts Council's Artsmark page to the left, under the Information heading, to see the thirteen success stories this year. Details of the autumn 2004 seminar for Artsmark '04/'05 will be announced in due course.
Congratulations to all those involved with this year's work!

The Hohodza Band from Zimbabwe are working with four Gateshead schools courtesy of Dodgy Clutch Theatre Company (more from them in Saltwell Park this summer!) and Gateshead Council Arts Team in the week commencing 21st June.

http://www.hohodzaband.co.uk