Living and Learning
Today, Year 3 had a visit from Dave from d:side. We learnt all about the dangers of smoking and how we can stay happy and healthy.
We learnt about the laws around smoking and passive smoking.
We learnt about why cigarette boxes changed in 2016 from bright, colourful packaging to boxes with health warnings and pictures of the side affects on.
Olivia explained, “It’s to try and put people off from smoking because they can get really poorly.”
We then learnt about what is inside a cigarette.
Cigarettes contain tobacco, a plant that grows in hot countries. Hiding inside tobacco, is a drug called nicotine that can affect your body.
Noah explained, “Nicotine is addictive which means some people want it a lot and need another one.”
Ewan added, “There’s also tar. It’s black and gloopy.”
Oliver said, “It’s bad for people with asthma and it makes it harder for me to breathe.”
Over 4,000 chemicals go into making a cigarette. Including the same chemicals that make batteries, toilet cleaner, rat poison and nail varnish remover. Year 3 were revolted!
All of Year Three were involved in the session and many asked some very interesting questions. Well done Year Three!
Let there be light!
Today, Year 3 built simple circuits to light a lamp. Here’s some pictures of their learning. 
Living and learning: d:side visits
This half term, our Living and Learning focus includes staying safe. We have arranged for visitors to come into school to help to deliver this key aspect of education.
We have been working with d:side for many years and they will be visiting school to deliver sessions based around drug education and e-safey sessions to coincide with Safer Internet Day (11 February).
d:side is a comprehensive drug & alcohol education programme that encourages children to make positive & healthy life-choices whilst promoting a pro-active attitude to life. They focus on developing the children’s knowledge, skills & attitude, whilst equipping them with the appropriate life skills to successfully manage sensitive situations with peers & encourage a positive approach to life.
As part of these visits, there are two specific parent/carer information sessions.
Tuesday 21 January 3.05-3.30pm d:side drug education informal information session (open to all parents)
A d:side representative will be available to provide information about your child’s drug education learning with d:side and answer any other related enquiries.
Tuesday 04 February 2:50-3.30pm d:side e-safety informal information session (open to all parents)
A d:side representative will be available to provide information about your child’s e-safety learning with d:side and answer any other related enquiries.
Please contact school if you would like to attend.
Tennis opportunities
Today, Year 2 – Year 6 pupils have taken part in tennis sessions to give children a taster of tennis and to promote sessions starting locally at Chapel Allerton Tennis and Squash Club.
Celebrate Yorkshire themed menu
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Thursday 16 January. Please contact the office, in the next few days, if your child would like a school dinner on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
PE at Allerton Grange
Today, Year 3 did a PE session at Allerton Grange. They worked in teams of three to collect point across a number of throwing and catching tasks. Have a look at some pictures from our morning, below.
Living and learning this half term
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco education (DATE)
- Keeping safe and managing risk
Here are the weekly Living and Learning statements, for this half term, to support this learning. There will also be some whole school homeworks on these themes.
- I don’t interrupt (with my mouth or my hand).
- I can make things better.
- I know what a drug is.
- I know how to seek help.
- I make safe choices, including online.
- I can assess my own risks.
Skillful Cookery
Year 3 and 4 have exercised their baking skills this week by creating stained-glass-window cookies!
Our cookies were vegan and gluten-free so that everybody could enjoy them. We weighed out the butter, sugars and vanilla paste first.
After mixing this into a smooth batter, we added the flour, bi-carbonate of soda and baking powder.
While we waited for the dough to chill, we learned how to make hot chocolate safely so that we can have plenty over the chilly holidays.
Once the dough was cold enough to work with, we rolled it out and cut it into different shapes. If you cut a smaller shape out of the middle, you could add boiled sweets which then melt in the oven to create a sweetie window – very cool.
Cross country success
Following the recent Leeds North East Cross Country Festival at Cardinal Heenan, we are proud to announce that the following children have qualified for the Leeds final in February.
Year 3
Bridget (13th), Jake (5th) and Junior (20th)
Year 4
Billy (11th)
Well done to all the children who took part and good luck to our qualifiers.
Packed lunches
At Moortown Primary, our packed lunch guidance includes:
- information about the different food groups
- how to put together a healthy, balanced packed lunch
- links to recipes and ideas for healthy packed lunches
This week, our packed lunch guidance will be emailed to parents and carers and sent home to children who have a packed lunch in school.
Packed lunches should be in a secure named container. No sweets are allowed – instead, we encourage lots of fruit or vegetables. Water is available on all tables for children who choose a packed lunch. However, your child can bring their own drink in a non-breakable container – please avoid fizzy drinks.
Change4life provides lots of ideas for healthy packed lunches including suggested swaps.
As an alternative to packed lunches, school meals, including a vegetarian option, are a great choice and are prepared daily in our kitchen. Children are offered a choice of main courses and desserts and they select their main meal choice at the start of the day. Catering Leeds provides food which meets national Food Standards criteria. School meals can be combined with packed lunches.
Free school meals are available to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. They are also available to some older children according to family income. It’s important to register for entitlement to free school meals, even if your child has a packed lunch or is in a younger class – this is so we can receive additional funding (called the pupil premium) which we can use to help your child. Please check if this is something you might be entitled to.