Meanwood Park Orienteering

A new owl themed orienteering course has been set up in Meanwood Park using two owls created by some of our pupils.

Remember these?

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They are now part of a fun orienteering course in Meanwood Park.  There are ten owls to find and each has a letter to create a two word anagram.

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owls

SEAL theme ‘Changes’

After a focus on manners, our SEAL theme becomes ‘Changes’.

As we enter our final half term, the next SEAL theme looks at Changes.

We begin with a focus on manners and I cover my mouth (when I cough, sneeze or yawn) is our weekly statement.

The ‘Vampire method’ can help to prevent germs spreading. By coughing or sneezing into our elbow, germs are not spread into the air or on our hands which may contaminate other things.  Don’t forget to ‘use your sleeve to cough and sneeze’.

Following this, we will begin the SEAL theme of Changes. This theme aims to equip children with an understanding of different types of change, positive and negative, and common responses to change. It aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in three key social and emotional aspects of living and learning: motivation, managing feelings and social skills.

The key ideas and concepts behind this theme are:

  • Change can be uncomfortable, because it can threaten our basic needs to feel safe and to belong
  • Change can also be stimulating and welcome
  • Both adults and children can experience a range of powerful and conflicting emotions as a result of change – for example, excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, loss, anger, resentment
  • Worries about change can be made worse by uncertainty, lack of information, or misinformation and lack of support from others
  • People’s responses to and ability to cope with change are very variable, and might be influenced by individual temperament, previous experience of change, and the nature of the change – chosen or imposed, expected or unexpected, within our control or out of our control
  • Some children may welcome most forms of change and dislike routine and predictability. Other children may find even small changes very difficult.

Within school, children, who are coping with or have undergone significant change, are supported in a variety of ways:

  • Our positive ethos within school
  • Support systems, from staff and peers, for children who have undergone change or who maybe new to the school
  • SEAL and circle time sessions where children feel safe to talk about their feelings
  • Class SEAL boxes for children to record any concerns
  • Preparing children wherever possible for planned changes for example, a change of class teacher, Key Stage or even school

Money Matters round up

‘It’s been fun and interesting to learn things we didn’t know about money.’ A round up of the week and how to support your child further.

This week we’ve had our whole school themed week, Money Matters.  There has been some great learning about how to spend, save, donate and get money.

‘It’s been fun and interesting to learn things we didn’t know about money.’

Some highlights include:

  • All classes visiting Barclays Bank.  Thank you to Steve Fergusson, the branch manager, and all his staff for supporting this.
  • Moneysense workshops with KS1 and KS2 classes.  Thank you to all volunteers from RBS and NatWest who supported these sessions.
  • Hearing about how our new school charities, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Leeds Mind, use donations and also how one of our old school charities, St Gemma’s Hospice, have used our donations.
  • Donating money to our charities through our Hotshots sponsored event.  Please ensure sponsorship money is sent to school.
  • Donating loads of pennies to our charities too.
  • Seeing children starting to use their School Saving Club accounts – taking responsibility for managing their money.
  • And finally, to our parents and a governor who were able to spare time to come and talk to the children about their money-related jobs.

Watch out for the first homework after the half term where children can show what they have learnt during the week.

To find out more about how to support your child/children with financial education, here are a number of suggested websites.

The Jangle app contains interactive activities allowing parents and carers and their children to gain financial experience and to learn about money together in an active and varied way. They are focused on meaningful and relevant financial topics and are linked to the day to day real life experiences of children and their families – designed for children aged 7 – 11.

goHenry is a Pre-paid Card and App with unique parental controls, for young people aged 8 to 18.

Penny trail

It’s been great to see the generosity and enthusiasm of the children during Money Matters week to try and fill their class collecting tubes.  They were filling up by the end of the week.  The total amount raised for Leeds Mind and Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be revealed soon.  Thank you for your donations.

 

Food videos

Year 5 combined film production with their food technology skills to create videos demonstrating various food preparation skills. Each group selected age related skills to demonstrate including bridge hold, claw technique, grating and measuring on digital scales.

After surprisingly few takes and the editing process, then it was time for the viewings.


Getting active

This week, a group of Key Stage 2 children took part in a physical activity participation event at John Charles Stadium as part of our partnership with Active Schools.  They enjoyed activities including cheer leading, tri-golf and Tagtiv8.

  • ‘I liked cheer leading and I would like to do it again.’
  • ‘I liked everything because it was fun and active.’
  • ‘I really enjoyed doing the sports, especially the golf.’
  • ‘I liked it because there were sports I haven’t played.’

School Saving Club

Young savers in action this week.

This week, as part of our Money Matters themed week, was the first paying in session for children who have opened their School Saving Club accounts.


It was great to see children take responsibility and start to manage their money in their new accounts.

We have two more paying in dates this term and you are welcome to accompany your child to pay in their money.

  • Wednesday 22 June 3.15pm
  • Wednesday 20 July 3.15pm

Also, it’s not too late to open an account.  Please ask at the office for an application form.

Leeds Cycling Starts Here consultation

How should cycling develop in Leeds?

Young people are being encouraged to share their views in the  ‘Leeds Cycling Starts Here’ public consultation on the future strategy and ambition for cycling in Leeds. The consultation was launched on Friday 13 May 2016 for six weeks, closing on Sunday 26 June 2016.

There is a prize draw for completed consultation responses (first prize: £50 shopping voucher).