Me and My Money week – school charity donations
Donating money is one choice people might make when using their money.
As part of our Me and My Money themed week, we welcomed visitors from St Gemma’s Hospice, our current school charity, to hear how they have been using our donations over this year.
We have raised a staggering £1500 across the year so thank you for all of these donations. St Gemma’s Hospice are very grateful for this support.

There is one more way we can donate money this week and this is by bringing any spare 1ps or 2ps into class to deposit in each class’ saving jar.

On Friday, we shall be having a money trail with all the coins donated so please bring any spare change before then.
Here are Year 2 counting their coins so far.

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 if you remember from our class assembly, 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.
We are readers!
This half term, teachers have been keeping an eye out for children impressing them with their reading.
In KS2, teachers were looking out for Reading Records where the weekly activity had been completed with time and care, book reviews had been done or challenges ticked off!
In KS1, teachers were looking for children who were putting the most effort into learning to read fluently.
Well done to our winners for this half term and welcome to the Library Team! They’ll meet with Miss Wilson occasionally to share their ideas and help make decisions about our library.
Take a look at some of their fantastic efforts:


Did you know?
Those who read for pleasure…
- Know more words
- Are better writers
- Have more empathy
- Have better general knowledge
- Have a better understanding of other cultures
- Are better at making decisions
- Do better in school generally!
Keep up the fantastic reading, everyone. There were so many people to choose from and you never know – it could be you next time!
Democracy
Today, Year 2 did a fantastic job delivering their speeches to be elected for the Junior Leadership Team (JLT). The children prepared some wonderful speeches with brilliant ideas. Every child had their democratic vote by deciding who they’d like to see represent our class in the JLT.
Well done to Isla and Henna for being voted as our new members of the JLT.



Tom Palmer local events
This year, some children at school attended an online workshop with author Tom Palmer. Tom Palmer has been in touch to let us know about some local events he is attending in half term.
Message from Tom
For children and families – I am also coming to Leeds on Thursday 2 November
2023 :
* Farsley Book Festival – 10am-11am more here
https://trumanbooks.co.uk/event/flf-kids-day
* Chapel Allerton Library – 2pm
* Pudsey Community Hub and Library – 4pm

PCSO visit
Yesterday, our local PCSO officers visited us. They came to give us an important message about being safe at Halloween and Bonfire Night. The children listened to the key messages really well.
Help at home by asking your children how to stay safe on Bonfire Night.



Living and Learning: respect
For the last two weeks in our Living and Learning lessons, we have been learning about respecting others and respecting ourselves. This is part of our relationships education.
What is respect?
Respect is where you consider the feelings of others and treat them as you would like to be treated.
Who should we respect?
Everyone! Even if someone is very different to you or has different thoughts, likes or beliefs to you, we should still respect them.
We recognised in the class that we have some similarities but also lots of differences. This makes us all special!
I am the same as Hannah because we both have blond hair.
I am different to Hadeed as we like to play different sports.
I am different to Kitty as I can speak a different language.
I am the same as Raffi as we both have a brother.
Next week, in our circle time, we will carry on this learning and think about what is special about each of us.
Help at home: read this story with your child to think about all ways we can be different.
Assembly stars!
We are very proud of all the children after performing their first Year 2 class assembly so well this afternoon.
It’s a lot different performing to a full hall than in our rehearsals and there were a lot of nerves.
All the children have learnt their lines, actions, song words and they have used their oracy skills today to help to share our learning.
Thanks to all the adults who were able to come and watch. We hope you enjoyed it.
Well done, Year 2!
Leeds Diving opportunities
Recently, Year 2 and 3 welcomed Leeds Diving as part of their talent in diving programme.
If your child is interested in learning to dive, please see the information and requirements below.

Leeds Diving
This week, we welcomed James and Oli from Leeds Diving. They came to visit Year 2 and 3 as part of their talent in diving program to unearth the next generation of world class Olympic divers in Leeds.
The children took part in lots of different exercises, including jumping, agility, flexibility, strength and speed, while James and Oli looked to see who may
have the right characteristics to be world class performers.
Well done to Sophie, Isla and Ailie who have been invited to take part in the second phase.
