Author: Mrs Taylor

Anti-bullying day and Odd socks day

Next Tuesday, 12 November, is Anti-Bullying Day. This years’ theme is Choose Respect and we will be taking part in Odd Socks Day on this day.
 
Odd Socks Day celebrates that we’re all unique. Children are invited to wear odd socks (with their uniform), marking the fact we’re all different in some way. Part of Anti-Bullying Day, the day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying. It helps us celebrate anti-bullying day in a fun and positive way.

We are biologists!

This half term, Year 2 have been busy learning all about animals including humans and what they need to survive.

We’ve learnt lots of knowledge about different types of animals and they all have the same basic needs – air, water, food and shelter.

Here is the key vocabulary we have been learning.

More recently, we’ve been learning about humans in particular and how humans need to keep healthy as well as having their basic needs.

Help at home – the BBC website has some great videos to summarise the different types of animals and their basic needs. Choose some to watch with your child to discuss this learning.

Pumpkin picking

One of the community links for our Me and my community themed week, MHA Moor Allerton, are holding an open day next Tuesday 29 October 2pm to 4pm with pumpkin picking from their own pumpkin patch, refreshments and activities.

They can be found at MHA Moor Allerton Scheme, Yew Tree Court, 4 Cramner Close, LS17 5PT.

Me and my community week

After half term is Me and My Community themed week (w/c 4th November) based around identity, diversity and community.
During the week, we would like to invite the children to share with the class anything about themselves that helps to make up their identity. This could be photos or items that represent their heritage, background, family or religion or maybe even sharing some words in a different language they can speak. This is an optional activity for the children.
As part of the week, there is also the identity day on Friday 08 November where the children are invited to dress in something that represents their identity.
The class will also be visiting St Gemma’s Hospice, on Thursday 07 November, as part of getting out in the community. St Gemma’s have recently started a book library and the children are welcome to bring a book (for a child or adult) to donate to this facility.

Living and Learning: New school charity

Every year, we vote for a new school charity to support.

Our new charity will replace our current school charity The Children’s Heart Fund. Thank you for all the donations and support given to this great, local cause, including £180 for our recent Rob Burrow Connect Challenge.

As part of our Me and my community themed week, children will be considering the following shortlist of charities. Children should start thinking about these charities and be ready to share their views.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire. Money raised keeps both of their air ambulance helicopters maintained and in the air.
Leeds Mind 
Leeds Mind provides help and support for people who may be experiencing issues impacting on their mental health and wellbeing.
Willow Foundation 
Willow Foundation supports young adults, aged 16 to 40, who are living with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger aim to save the lives of vulnerable people affected by hunger. Action Against Hunger fights hunger and malnutrition around the world, because no child should ever suffer or die from it. Stop hunger today. 

Zarach  

No child should live in poverty. All children should have their basic needs met so that they can achieve their full potential in life. Give every head a bed.

Leeds hospitals charity  
Leeds hospitals charity who support Leeds teaching hospitals to make a real difference to patients, families and staff for the people of Yorkshire. They fund for lifesaving equipment, treatments, research into rare diseases and home comforts.

Each class will vote for one charity which will be brought to the Junior Leadership Team who will have the final vote on Thursday 07 November.

Leeds School Sports Association cross country race 1

On Saturday, some of our key stage 2 children took part in the first of the Leeds Schools Sports Association Saturday morning cross country races. Over 100 children, from Leeds primary schools, compete in each of the Year 3-Year 6 girls and boys races.

A special mention to Ewan (Year 4) who finished in 5th place and Isla (Year 3) who finished in 13th place.

Thank you to the parents who supported and took their children to this event.

There are three more races coming up this year (see below) and details will be sent out for each race nearer the time if your child would like to get involved.

 

 

 

It’s nearly time to elect our new junior leaders

We have recently launched this year’s Junior Leadership Team election process. Our Junior Leadership Team is one of the ways that children are encouraged to take an active part in pupil voice.

The election process allows children to develop an understanding of one of the British Values, democracy, with two representatives from each class, chosen democratically by their peers.

Here are some of the qualities our junior leaders think are needed to be an effective JLT member.

  • use the 8Rs for learning
  • be respectful and polite
  • help others
  • be a good speaker and listener (to members of your class and in the meetings)
  • share and be confident with your ideas
  • let others speak
  • accept the views of others even if you don’t agree
  • be friendly and approachable
  • follow our school rules and make good choices in class and around school

This weeks’ whole school homework is all about the election and democracy, ready for the elections on Thursday 24 October. For children who want to stand in the election, they will have the chance to share their speeches in class on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Well done to all our current junior leaders who have represented their class so well this year. Remember, you can stand again in the election.

After-school clubs

Our autumn term clubs continue after half term and there is an opportunity to join the below after school clubs which currently have available places: 

Monday

Hama Bead Club – Y4, Y5, Y6

Mindfulness & Yoga – Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6

Tuesday

Skipping – Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6

Sewing & weaving – Y4, Y5, Y6

Wednesday

Skipping – Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4

Girls Football – Y4, Y5, Y6

Thursday

Dazl Dance – Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4

Basketball – KS1 

Basketball – KS2

Clubs run straight after school and finish at 4.15pm.

All clubs will run until w/c 9 December, which would give your child 6 sessions if they’d like to join. 

If your child is interested in joining any of the above clubs, please reply to the email sent and an individual payment request will be set up. 

Rugby ticket offer

Headingley Stadium has the honour of hosting the England men’s and women’s national team against Samoa and Wales respectively on Saturday 02 November 2024.

As a partner school of the Rhinos, we are pleased to offer children and families 20% off tickets. These are purchased directly from the Rugby Football League using the discount code shown below.

Living and Learning: respect

To start our lesson about self-respect, we made our own creature creations. Starting with a head, someone else added a body and finally someone else added legs.

We had some great mixed up creations and not one of them was the same. The creatures were all different as we all have different drawing styles and imaginations and, just like the creatures, those differences make us all unique.

We thought about what else makes us unique and why we are special. Some children wanted to add extra things to this like different behaviours, responsibilities and routines.

We thought about how we can show that we respect ourselves.

Get enough sleep.
Eat your 5 a day and other healthy foods.
Don’t be rude to yourself.
Brush your teeth.
Don’t try and hurt yourself.
Keep yourself clean.
Not having too much screen time.
Looking after your belongings.
Looking after your family.
Do exercise to make you fit and strong.

Here’s a poem we created…

Our weekly circle time sessions give the children chance to build on this learning about respect and self-respect and our themed week, Me and My Communities, after half term will also reinforce this learning about our own identity.

Help at home: talk through this learning and think about how respecting ourselves helps us to respect others.