Visit from the University of Leeds
Year 4 examined a real snail’s brain and a real rat’s brain! We’re currently being visited by lecturers from Leeds University. Well done to Farhaan who knew that the brain has 100,000,000,000 brain cells.
We also tested our touch receptors. We tested the back of our hand, our fingers and the back of our neck to see which had the most receptors.
Water Aid Assembly
We’ve a sponsored walk on Friday – Gary from Water Aid tells the school about what happens with our donations.
How do drugs affect the brain?
…This was one of the questions Key Stage 2 children have been looking at today as part of their drug education sessions with d:side.
Each class have been focussing on a different drug and its effects on the body:
- Year 3 – tobacco
- Year 4 – alcohol
- Year 5 – solvents
- Year 6 – cannabis
Both pupils and staff have given great feedback on the informative sessions and d:side also commented on our ‘very friendly and well behaved’ children.
If you have any questions please see a member of staff or contact Dave Hill, d:side Programme Manager, on 2225471.
For a comprehensive guide to this subject visit the Talk to Frank website (www.talktofrank.com).
D:Side visit Year 4
As part of Brain Box week, Year 4 are learning about the dangers of alcohol and its effect on the brain.
A Year 4 pupil experiences the effects of alcohol on balance by wearing some disorientating glasses.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caewvhDuXjA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Two Year 4 girls demonstrate how to say no.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK6h5Me1VQo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Our amazing brains – Brain Box week!
This week is dedicated to developing an awareness of learning and how the brain works.
The importance of exercise, healthy food, sleep, hydration and emotional health, for a healthy brain, will be covered throughout the week alongside a main focus for each day:
Monday
Understanding your brain, brain cells and how to help your brain to learn.
Tuesday
How your brain learns best and learning styles.
Key Stage 2 classes will also have a visit from d:Side. As part of our drug education in school, representatives from d:Side, a drug and health programme, will be looking, in particular, at the effects of various drugs on the brain.
Staff from d:Side will be available after school, in the dining room, for parents / carers to ask any questions about these sessions.
Wednesday
Developing the understanding of multiple intelligences and that everyone has gifts and talents.
Dr Dave Lewis, Senior Lecturer of Neuroscience, from the University of Leeds will be visiting Key Stage 2 classes.
Thursday
Thinking about thinking and problem solving.
Friday
A day to remember – exploring a range of memory strategies.
The whole school Water Aid sponsored walk will take place during Friday.
Please check the website for further information and links to websites throughout the week.
Save water and money!
Yorkshire Water are currently running a Save Water, Energy and Money campaign. As part of this campaign, they’re giving away free water and energy saving packs.
To claim a free pack, follow the link at the bottom of the post and enter this reference code: MGMCR8
If enough people order the packs, school could win an iPod Touch!
Thanks to Mr Russell (Finn and Owen’s dad) for letting school know about the competition and for offering to donate the prize to school.
What are you waiting for? Order a pack. Save some water. Save some energy. Save some money!
http://www.yorkshirewater.com/savewater
Welcome back!
As most of you already know, I taught the current Year 4 two years ago in Key Stage 1. They were a wonderful group of children then and it’s great to see that Mr Wilks has had such a positive impact.
In literacy, Year 4 are currently story-writing in literacy. Further into the term, they will be learning about promotional writing (advertisements, leaflets) as well as writing reports (information texts – often a website or factual book). Encourage your child to read these different types of text when you’re out and about or if you spot an interesting report in a newspaper or magazine.
In maths we’re investigating place value (this is all about knowing the value of digits in a number, such as knowing 357 has three hundreds, five tens and seven units) as well as the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and divide). By the end of the year, your child has to know all times table facts up to 10 x 10. It is imperative that they practise their times tables every day for a few minutes until they can recall any times table within five seconds.
Parents’ evening will be towards the end of October; in the meantime, please feel free to drop in if you have any queries. Finally, I’d like to welcome Luca to our class. He’s slotted perfectly into our learning community and has already made excellent contributions– especially in art!
I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Fruit tuckshop returns!
Our fruit tuckshop, to be run by the Year 5 class this year, returns next week on a new day – Tuesday.
The tuckshop is open to all Key Stage 2 children during playtime. Reception and Key Stage 1 children receive free fruit at playtime.
Each item costs 20p and the fruit can be a snack for playtime or used to top up their packed lunch box – all contributing to their 5 a day!
As stated in our Food Policy, fruit is the only snack allowed at playtimes for Key Stage 2.
SEAL statement 07 September
This week we begin our new SEAL theme, New Beginnings, and the weekly statement is ‘I can make someone feel welcome.‘
Over this half term, as the children are experiencing new beginnings, each class will be looking at how they can all contribute to establishing a welcoming and safe environment for learning.
Farewell, Year 4!
What a privilege it has been to teach Year 4 this year. I will miss them all, even though I will probably still be able to hear Arjun from Year 5! I have been so impressed with the exemplary attitude to learning from almost all of the class – I’m sure they will continue to succeed next year.
Highlights for me are many, but here’s a few:
- Holly’s improvement in her writing this year has been nothing short of exemplary. Sami’s writing this year has also been brilliant; he has produced writing this term that would not look out of place in Year 6.
- The Rai Master’s (Hari Rai) times tables speed has been phenomenal. Additionally, Tom has the highest average times table score in the class.
- Pavanpal and Bethany W’s reading has gone from strength to strength: they were both one mark short of a maximum score on their end of year reading test.
- Bethany G scored maximum marks for all her end of year assessments.
- The Lion King production showcased some terrific acting talent. In my opinion, Maeve’s Simba was better than the one on Broadway!
- Finally, Loraine has excelled in every aspect of the curriculum this year and has been an asset the class as well her school.
Parents, it has been a delight getting to know you all. A big thank you for your support at home. It has certainly made a difference. A thank you also to Mrs Bald, who has been instrumental in ensuring children achieve their goals this year.
