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End-of-year reports

Teachers are busily writing the end-of-year report for your child, and the 29 other children in the class. It takes quite a while (hence no Class Newsletter this half-term). Once they write the reports, I read them (another task which takes a while!).

We’ll send final reports home for you on Tuesday 08 July this year – this is a little earlier than other schools so that you have the chance to meet with teachers to discuss the report.

For parents / carers of children in Reception, there is a third parents’ evening (Monday 14 July); for others, we encourage you to make an appointment with your child’s teacher (or someone else in school who can help) – especially important if you see that your child is working below expectations or has made only a little progress this year.

06 June 2014

This week’s homework is creative.

What was the seaside like in the past?

Choose any way to show what you know about what the seaside was like in the past. Why don’t you…

• create an information leaflet.
• draw a picture and label it.
• pretend you’re a child in the past and write a diary about your trip to the seaside.

06 June 2014

Here are this week’s spellings.  There will be a spelling test on Friday 13 June.

06 June 2014

This week’s homework is creative.  Please make sure it is handed in by Wednesday 11 June.

What was the seaside like in the past?

Remember, you can be as creative as you like:

• a picture detailing what the seaside might have looked like in the past
• a collage of pictures that you find on the internet
• a poster advertising “Punch and Judy”
• a timeline showing how the seaside might have changed
• a mirror image – one side showing the seaside today and the other showing the seaside in the past

We are looking forward to seeing what you have learnt about how the seaside has changed.

6 June 2014

This week’s homework is creative(ish) and is due Wednesday 11 June.

I can research a cyclist from the Tour de France.

The homework requires your child to complete a mini-research project on a well-known cyclist from the Tour de France. Your child has been given a booklet with certain information they must find out. Encourage your child to look in newspapers, magazines or online to investigate the life of their chosen cyclist.

The research your child uncovers will help inform next week’s Literacy lessons.

6 June 2014

As we are learning about the Tour de France this half-term, the spellings are all words which the children will come across during the topic.

Summer Reading Challenge 2014 – win a visit from a fabulous author!

A message from Michelle Ackroyd, Moor Allerton Library, West Area Librarian:

Summer Reading Challenge 2014- win a visit from a fabulous author!

I am writing regarding this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Held in libraries across the country, every year we encourage children to continue reading over the summer and to try lots of new reading material. The challenge is designed to ensure children keep practising their reading skills and develop a life-long love of reading.

The Summer Reading Challenge can help to widen pupils’ reading repertoire and motivate them to read through the long summer holiday. Studies have shown that 80% of children taking part feel they are better readers as a result (Product Perceptions, 2003 and 2006).

How the Summer Reading Challenge works:

• Children sign up at their local library and receive a Mythical Maze poster.
• Children read six books of their choice collecting stickers and incentives along the way.
• Library staff will be on hand to advise and run family-friendly activities.
• Children who complete the challenge are presented with a certificate and medal.

This year, we’re offering children who join the opportunity to win a visit from a fabulous author/illustrator for their school – the highest number of school completers wins a visit!

We are currently offering assembly visits to local schools. I hope we can arrange a visit soon.

Our new SEAL theme for this half-term is…

…’Changes’.

We begin the half term with a focus on manners: I use good table manners.  Adults in school, including lunchtime supervisors, will be looking out for children who show good table manners – not talking with their mouth full and using their cutlery correctly.  What other table manners can you think of?  Ask your child to add their suggestion to their class SEAL box.

Following this, the Changes 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

Catering Leeds recruitment

The following comes from Catering Leeds, who provide our school dinners:

The Government has announced that free lunches will be available from September for all children in Reception, Years 1 and 2. This is a fantastic opportunity for children, parents and schools. This development also means that Catering Leeds are recruiting catering staff across the city to fill Kitchen Assistant vacancies.

These posts are 10 hours per week, 11.30am – 1.30pm, Term Time Only.

We are looking for staff who are enthusiastic about good food and strong customer service; any catering experience is desirable but not essential.

Catering Leeds have set up a number of recruitment information sessions. These will be held every week at the Civic Hall in Leeds, starting on Tuesday 20th May, from 9am-4pm.

If you would like to book an appointment, or for more information please contact Helen Collins on: 0113 3782323, or Helen.Collins@leeds.gov.uk .

Free school meals for younger children

You will have heard in the news that the current government is introducing free school meals for younger children.  The following text is from Catering Leeds, who supply our school dinners:

Children are able to concentrate and learn better when they have eaten a healthy, balanced lunch – school meals can be the simple solution.

From September 2014, school meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are completely free! This will provide a saving to families of £430 per year for each child.

At Moortown Primary, there is a choice of three meals each day: a meat option, a meat-free option and a jacket potato option. Each meal includes a main course, vegetables and salad, pudding of the day or fruit or yoghurt and water.

Meals are freshly made every day using great quality produce:

• fresh vegetables and potatoes, locally when in season
• UK farm-assured chicken, beef and lamb
• free range eggs from East Yorkshire
• 100% salmon and white fish fillet from sustainable sources
• dolphin-friendly tuna
• UK cheddar

The menus are designed to provide healthy, balanced meals which will be enjoyed by children. They meet the Government guidelines for school meals. All medical and religious diets can be catered for.

View our current menu.

For more information, please speak to Paula or Nicky in the office.