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.
For more information, please speak to Paula or Nicky in the office.
23 May 2014
There will be no homework or spellings this week. Have a lovely holiday.
Half Term Break
Just a quick note to wish everybody a very relaxing half term. Although it has been short, the children have worked extremely hard so far this term and they should all be very proud of themselves. Enjoy the holidays!
Ahoy, me hearties!
Year 2 had a great day on Friday 09 May becoming pirates and travelling to a forgotten island!
We made pirate hats at the beginning of the day before setting sail on the seven seas in our boat.
After sailing around the seven seas and performing our pirate duties, we came across a message in a bottle that told of a boy name William trapped on a deserted island. Of course, we went in search of him, using our telescopes, making a raft and rowing to shore.
We found all sorts on the island – Soft leaves, straight twigs, tall trees and fluffy plants! And, of course, we found William. We joined him on the island and drew a map of where we were…
…before writing a sense poem about what we could see in the North, East, South and West of the island.
In the North I see
A leaf as green as a croaking frog.
In the East I see
A gate as black as a dark cave.
In the South I see
A building as hard as rock.
In the West I see
Miss Rushbrooke, as cheeky as a monkey!
Roundhay Football Tournament
A report from Zakir:
“In the semifinal, Year 5 played Talbot Primary School to book a place in the final. Unfortunately, we lost on penalties after a tense match. Talbot scored first then suddenly Year 5 climbed back with a brilliant goal from Harris. The final whistle blew meaning the match was going down to penalties. Unfortunately, we lost the shoot out in a heartbreaking result. Let’s see who wins next year!”
Zakir asked Mr Catherall (the head coach) for his views:
“Everyone was immensely proud of the way both teams played and the sporting manner of both their wins and their defeat.”
Roundhay Football Tournament
The Year 5 team have now won three and drawn one match meaning they’re through to the semi-final! Come on, Moortown!
Unfortunately, the Year 6 team could only draw their second match meaning that, although they finished second in their group, they’re not quite through to the semi-final.
Roundhay Football Tournament
The Roundhay 7 a side tournament is well under way. The Year 5 team have a win and a draw from their first two games!
Nothing (or little Toby)
Year 1 had another visitor this week. It was Nothing.
Nothing is the main character in the book we have been looking at in our SEAL lessons. When his family move house and leave him in the attic, Nothing becomes lonely and afraid. Helped by big Toby, Nothing is reunited with the rest of his family at their new house. We have used the story to think about how Nothing might have felt and how the children might feel if they were in similar situations, developing empathy skills. The children can certainly recognise a wide range of emotions.
‘He might have felt uncomfortable,’ suggested Pia.
‘When he was reunited Nothing would have felt brave,’ Ethan thought.
We invited Nothing to visit our class and this week the children were so excited to meet him. Making sure Nothing felt safe and welcome in the class, we introduced ourselves.
As part of the project the children will be taking Nothing home overnight and we will continue to look at how to look after Nothing – what might he want but more importantly what are his basic needs.