Mayor and Mayoress join school pupils in Jarrow for Chinese New Year celebrations
The Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside have enjoyed a vibrant Chinese New Year celebration.
Councillor Jay Potts and Audrey Huntley, the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, joined pupils at Simonside Primary School, on Glasgow Road, in Jarrow, to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The Mayor and Mayoress joined the children swapped South Shields Town Hall for the school’s dining hall as they enjoyed a lunchtime banquet.
Simonside Primary School had specially prepared a menu to mark the lunar celebration, feature a spread of noodles, curry, and sweet pineapple fritters.


The visit comes after the school’s cook, Claire Docherty, was recently recognised with a string of professional awards, cementing Simonside’s reputation for excellence in school nutrition.
Speaking about the visit, Cllr Jay Potts, said: "I really enjoyed spending time with the children.
“We have had so much fun and the food was amazing. Thank you to everyone at Simonside Primary School."
The Chinese New Year banquet is the latest in a series of themed lunchtime events led by Claire and follows the success of a ‘Christmas Dinner Extravaganza’ and a recent Valentine’s lunch.
Donna Scott, the headteacher at Simonside Primary School, has highlighted how much it means to the school to host the Mayor and Mayoress for lunch.
She commented: "We were absolutely delighted to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress to our school.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to engage with our local leaders and celebrate the incredible hard work of Miss Docherty.
“Her recent awards are a testament to the passion she puts into every meal, and seeing the children so engaged and excited about healthy, themed dining is truly rewarding."
You can find out more about Simonside Primary School at: https://simonsideprimary.org/.
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