At the end of 2011 we asked parents to send in stories and photos of how their children have progressed since leaving Kids 1st. Over the next 12 months we will share their successes with you, starting this month with four children from Wansbeck, Hexham, Rake Lane and Quorum.
If your child is a graduate of Kids 1st, or you know somebody who is, and would like to be featured in the Kids 1st Hall of Fame please email: Rachel Todd at rachelt@hmcgl.co.uk.
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Kirstin Blake – Kids 1st Wansbeck
Before Kirstin had left Kids 1st Wansbeck she had already attended ballet, modern and Irish dancing. The time came to decide which she would prefer to specialise in and the answer was very clear, Irish dancing. She has now been Irish dancing at the McGuinness School of Irish Dance for two years and is enjoying it more every time she goes and is getting better all the time. The whole team range from five to nine years of age but Kirstin started when she was four and has proven that a young age is no barrier. In June of this year the team danced twice at the Northern Stars Variety Show in the Whitley Bay Playhouse to a packed audience of over 650 people. The applause brought the house down and the team received the loudest cheers of the night. This year the team are travelling to Northern Ireland to take part in a Festival in Derry. When Kirstin left Kids 1st she went to Ringway First School in Stakeford and is now in Year 2. She is doing very well both academically and socially, helped in part no doubt by the great start and support she received at Kids 1st Wansbeck.
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Ethan Pattinson – Kids 1st Hexham
Ethan was the first child to join Kids 1st Hexham and he was with us right up until he started school so we thought it would be great to feature him in ‘Where are they now?’.
Ethan is now six and in Year 2 at the Sele School in Hexham. He loves trampolining, racket sports, playing out on his bike and doing stunts at the play park. Ethan’s mum writes that he remembers Kids 1st fondly and he often talks about the staff and how much he misses them. She said: “If it wasn’t for sending Ethan to Kids 1st Hexham he wouldn’t have the social skills he has now.”
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Gabrielle and Jonathan Dawson – Kids 1st Rake Lane and Quorum
Gabrielle and Jonathan Dawson started their Kids 1st journeys at Rake Lane and finished them at Quorum. Since leaving Kids 1st Quorum Gabrielle and Jonathan both now attend Newcastle Preparatory School and are doing exceptionally well both in the classroom and outside it.
Gabrielle is now in Year 4 and enjoying every aspect of school life, as well as doing well academically Gabrielle is in the school’s under 9 hockey and netball teams. Her real passion though is for chess. Over the last 12 months Gabrielle has won the Northumberland under 9 girls County Cup and is the North East Girls supremo for her age group.
Her biggest achievement to date was playing internationally in the Reythmyno 2011 Tournament in Crete. Here she was playing alongside some of the current best players in the world.
Jonathan, Gabrielle’s younger brother, is now in Year 3 and as well as embracing day to day school life he is also enjoying a wide range of extracurricular activities. His two favourite sports are football and rugby which he plays every week. He is currently a member of the under 8s Northern Rugby team.
Wow, it looks like Gabrielle and Jonathan have been very busy since leaving Kids 1st and it’s great to see that they are doing so well.
