Children at Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham came together recently to help organise a major event to promote the school’s key values.

Sunnyside, which is home to just under 300 pupils, is one of ten primary schools across Teesside, County Durham and Hartlepool under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.

Pupils played a leading role in the planning of the event which involved a series of outdoor activities to reflect the five values which are shared across all Ad Astra schools. They are: –

S – Support

T – Togetherness

A – Achieve

R – Respect

S – Success

Youngsters participated in five separate activities as parents looked on, ranging from an obstacle course and paper chain challenge to building objects from twigs and sticks.

Julie Sutton, Headteacher of Sunnyside Academy, said: “The event was organised to celebrate our star values which are shared across Ad Astra Academy Trust.

“Pupils planned the different activities and ensured that everyone was included and able to participate.”

Sunnyside Academy is a mainstream school with provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly those with visual and hearing impairments.

The event concluded with all children singing their own version of ‘Reach for the Stars’.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Our five values are one of the cornerstones of our brand and part of the foundation on which Ad Astra is built.

“It was brilliant to see how our children interpreted the five values through the different activities and the support on the day from parents/carers was amazing.”

The other primary schools within Ad Astra are Ayresome in Middlesbrough, Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Kelloe and Deaf Hill in County Durham.

Click on the link below to view a short video of Sunnyside Academy pupils singing at the launch. 

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