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School’s out…

I’ve had a brilliant year teaching the class. The children are kind, caring, funny, hard-working and loads of fun. There have been so many highlights this year that it is hard to choose a favourite. However, here are some of the things which have impressed me or made me laugh this year about each member of the class.

• Arran’s fantastic writing and especially his use of vocabulary.
• Archie’s incredible sporting prowess.
• Ahmed’s highly persuasive promotional writing.
• Bailey’s all round hard work and fabulous attitude.
• Brandon’s brilliant progress in writing.
• Ethan’s amazing art skills.
• Henry’s phenomenal calculating in maths.
• Ibrahim’s super reading which I’ve loved listening to this year.
• Isabella’s great progress in both maths and literacy.
• Jahneil remembering her glasses!
• Jaskirat’s great effort and progress in maths.
• Jawaad’s very impressive SATs test score – especially his maths one!
• Jennifer’s sensational writing – even better now you’re using paragraphs!
• Lanas’ superfast number bonds knowledge.
• Lennox’s amazing SEAL skills and all round learning behaviour.
• Levon’s very good progress in maths, his calmness and watching him try not to laugh at my jokes!
• Linda’s great attitude to school and her wonderful writing.
• Molly’s brilliant progress in maths and writing.
• Oliver’s amazing improvement in his writing and also his excellent science knowledge.
• Pavan’s excellent audition for Britain’s Got Talent.
• Ravinder’s hilarious writing – Jolly Fat Phil is a brilliant literary creation!
• Rayhaan’s passion and enthusiasm for school – and cars!
• Roshan’s constant jokes and stories.
• Sam’s rope climbing in gymnastics.
• Shahban’s ultra-hard work in lessons.
• Shriyaa’s interesting stories and comments in her maths and literacy books.
• Simran’s hard work in every lesson.
• Tayshaun’s wheeling and dealing in the market at the fruit and veg stalls.
• Yahya’s great scientific knowledge.
• Zachary’s magic act in Moortown’s Got Talent and his amazing homework throughout the year.

Thank you for all your support throughout the year. Thanks also to Mr Toms, Mrs Sherriff and Mrs Edwards who have done a great job. Have a lovely summer and I’ll see you in September.

Tryzone success

Well done to Luke, Nevan and Husna for all their enthusiasm and effort over the last eleven weeks taking part in the pilot Tryzone Learning programme, run by the Leeds Rugby Foundation.  Based at the learning centre at Headingley Carnegie stadium, Tryzone is an education programme to support children and families across Leeds.  As part of the Year 6 group from local schools, Luke, Nevan and Husna have been involved in street dance, yoga, hearing inspirational speeches by Leeds Rhinos players and creating the Tryzone logo, amongst other activites.

Take a look at the highlights from the recent presentation event.

Scooter training

It’s really good to choose to walk, cycle or scoot to school, because: 

• it keeps you fit and healthy 
• it’s good for the environment (less traffic on the road means less pollution in the air that we breath)

but, it’s really important to stay safe on your journey.

When we walk, cycle or scoot, it’s very important to keep ourselves safe, to try and make sure we are not involved in a road accident.

During Year One, we have taken part in lessons teaching us about road safety. This week we took part in the Leeds City Council Scooter to School initiative. Here are some of the children being put through their paces.

Goodbye!

We have reached the last week of the children’s first year at school! Over the course of the year, we’ve seen the children grow in confidence, make firm friends and develop into happy and healthy learners.

• Well done, Isaac, Manpreet, Sachpreet, Martha and Noorpreet, for your amazing progress in reading.
• Well done, Isaiah and Dylan, for your creativity and positive attitude to your learning.
• We have been impressed with Ripley’s and Alex’s mathematical knowledge and ability throughout the year.
• Well done, Ismail and Ishaan, for trying really hard with your handwriting and also to Nicky for remembering to hold his pencil correctly!
• Theo has been one of the busiest members of the class and Ben one of the politest this year.
• Well done, Lori, for being the best tidier!
• We have all been impressed with Lewis’s drawings and artwork and with Mia’s individual designs and ideas.
• Well done, Albert, Farai, Josh and Ethan, for your Lego stories!
• It has been a delight to see Pia, Grace and Phoebe grow in confidence throughout the year.
• Well done, Thomas, for persevering with your writing and always being cheerful and positive.
• Well done, Filip, for your enthusiasm during our ‘Jungle’ topic.
• Humairah has been our chattiest and friendliest member of the class and we will miss Gabby’s giggles!
• Well done, Karam, for learning to listen well and to Kai for his exemplary learning behaviour!

Have a great summer!

Hanging in there…

12 July 2013

Over the past few weeks (and at many other points in the year) we have been practising our three main spellings rules:

• double-up for short vowel sounds

• drop the e for ing

• drop the y for an i

This week, you need to practise all of the spellings from the last two lists. You won’t get tested on all of them – but you’ll need to know all of them. Also, a few unknown spellings will be added to the test but which still follow one or more of the rules.

05 July 2013

This week, we are spelling words we use in our everyday writing.

They will be tested on Friday 12 July 2013.

05 July 2013

This week’s spellings will be a challenge!  Next week’s test could include any spelling from the last four weeks.

On Friday 12 July, the children will be tested on a mixture of different spellings so be prepared!

05 July 2013

This week the words all end in y. However, when you turn them into a plural, you have to drop the y and add ies.

You do this for any word which has a consonant before the y.

For example, fly becomes flies.

If the word has a vowel before the y, you only add s.

For example, boy becomes boys.

Fab feedback

So that we can feel confident about what we do, we quite often invite feedback.  Thank you to those of you who have returned annual surveys (once again, your feedback is really positive, but with some useful suggestions, too).

Recently, a headteacher from another Leeds school was so impressed by our school’s learning environment, he asked if he could return with the school’s leadership team to get some ideas.  Here are some of the things he said:

Moortown Primary is a school where the learning environment has clearly been carefully considered and a high priority for all members of staff. The compact learning spaces and transitional areas are characterised by creativity, order and clarity.

The organisation and structure of all areas gives a strong indication that pupils are encouraged and able to self-select resources to move learning on independently. There is also an impression that all members of the school community put a high value on maintaining this high quality learning environment.

The use of space was exemplary. This was most strongly shown in the Reception classroom. Areas of provision were well defined, well organised and very engaging for the pupils. The creativity behind many displays/backdrops was admirable. The lack of space did not restrict the broadness of what was offered. Parents/carers had easy and immediate access to pupils’ learning journey folders.

The headteacher went on to praise particular strengths, including classroom displays, classroom management and resources.

Another visitor recently has been a Leeds Primary School Improvement Service consultant.  In her reports, she comments on the Reception classroom and the children there:

The indoor especially is bright, stimulating and offers challenge in all areas to ensure children are making progress. I spent the entire morning in the Reception class. All children were constantly on task due to the engaging provision areas.

When I visited again a week later, there were new challenges to inspire children’s learning at the right level.  All the children were on-task and involved in their own learning due to the challenges and stimulating environment offered to children. The children’s behaviour is impeccable because children are busy and on-task within the learning environment, even in the absence of the children’s usual teacher.

…Once again showing Moortown Primary is a happy, healthy and effective place to learn!