SEAL statement 1 November
This half term our SEAL theme is all about Getting On and our first statement is ‘I can work co-operatively to help a group.’
The SEAL theme Getting On focusses on four main aspects:
- developing the social skills of friendship
- working well together in a group
- managing anger
- resolving conflict
Group work takes place across all lessons and even at lunchtime and playtimes. Some questions for children to consider are:
- Did everyone take turns?
- Did everyone listen to what other people thought?
- Did each person have chance to tell the group what they thought?
- If people had different ideas could the group reach a compromise?
SEAL statement 18 October
The last statement as part of our New Beginnings SEAL theme is ‘I can make my class a good place to learn.’
Class contracts and routines are fully in place now so staff will be looking out for children who make good choices to enable their class to have a positive learning environment.
Healthy packed lunches
We have been using the Eat Well Plate to see if our packed lunches are balanced. Here is an example with the correct proportions of food in each food group.
SEAL statement 11 October
‘I can do something brave’ is the new SEAL statement for this week. This could be anything from having a go answering a difficult question in maths to joining a new after school club.
Health Week feedback
Thank you to all parents and carers who have made such positive comments about our recent Health Week.
Our Health group (pupils) met this week with some great examples of how Health Week has enabled them to make even healthier choices. Some of the comments from the meeting include:
- “I’ll eat more fruit now.” Bailey, Year 1
- “I’ll keep doing more exercise at home.” Zakir, Year 2
- “I will try to do more sport and exercise at home rather than watching the TV.” Arjun, Year 3
- “I am going to ride my bike more at home.” Amit, Year 3
- “I’ve asked my mum if we can get a blender to make our own smoothies at home.” Bethany, Year 3
- “After using the trampolines at Allerton Grange I am going to use my own more at home.” Connor, Year 4
- “I eat more fruit now including mango which I hadn’t tried before.” Connor, Year 4
- “I enjoy Family Fridays where I spend more time with my family doing exercise.” Ebony, Year 4
- “I am going to cut down the number of unhealthy snacks I have.” Ajay, Year 5
Following the introduction of our Packed Lunch Guidance, a number of children are already trying ways to make their lunch healthier:
- “My mum has suggested that I only bring crisps on Mondays as a treat, instead of every day, and I am going to try this.” Amit, Year 3
- “Following the Health Group meeting for parents, about packed lunches, I now send a chocolate biscuit once a week rather than every day and my children see it more like a treat.” Parent
- “I’ve stopped bringing a Fruit Shoot with my packed lunch as I have the water on the table instead.” Husna, Year 4
We would love to hear more Health Week feedback.
SEAL statement 4 October
This week some children will receive a certificate if they show evidence of our weekly statement, ‘I can solve a problem.’
Problem solving is something we do lots of in maths but how might you solve a problem at playtime, lunchtime or maybe at home?
Through our SEAL work in the Getting On theme, next half term, we shall be looking more closely at how to use the Peaceful Problem Solving technique.
Stranger Danger
Today, children in Year 1 – Year 6 in our school have had a brief reminder of the importance of being aware of ‘stranger danger‘. For example:
- not getting into a stranger’s car
- making sure they go home with the right person
- not encouraging chat with strangers
We encourage you to talk to your child about this as well.
There has been a number of incidents in Leeds schools this term so far.
We want all our children and parents / carers to be safe, happy and healthy learners.
SEAL statement 27 September
As part of the SEAL theme of New Beginnings our SEAL statement for this week is, ‘I know how others might feel when they are in a new situation.’
As the children are settling into their new classes and routines it is chance for them to empathise with others who may find it difficult to cope with a new situation.
New Healthy Packed Lunch Guidance
In your child’s health bag, taken home at the end of Health Week, was a copy of the new Healthy Packed Lunch Guidance.
The guidance has been produced following:
- Consultations with parents, carers, governors, staff and children through questionnaires and Health and Wellbeing Development Group meetings
- A survey of packed lunches (May 2010)
- Advice from Education Leeds and the School Food Trust
Prior to the introduction of this guidance the children have been taking part in a variety of activities and curriculum sessions on promoting healthier packed lunches:
- Some of our current Year 4 and Year 5 pupils attended a Harvester restaurant in June 2010 to take part in their Fantastic Food session
- Curriculum sessions have included using the Eat Well Plate to design a balanced packed lunch, ICT nutrition programmes, trying a variety of fruit and vegetables, some for the first time, and preparing and serving dishes for packed lunches
- Promotion of healthy eating as part of our Health Week including visits to Allerton Grange Food Technology Department, Activ-Eat Health Education Programme from BUPA and the healthy food fairs
From this work we have already seen positive changes in some of our pupil’s packed lunches and we will continue to work with children to help them to understand the benefits that healthier eating will bring them.
Children are rewarded for making healthy choices in their packed lunch using stickers and also certificates designed by the pupil Health and Wellbeing Development Group.
Once the guidance has been established a second survey will be carried out to assess its impact and results will be available and discussed at forthcoming Health and Wellbeing Development Group meetings.
We hope you will find our Packed Lunch Guidance informative and if you have any comments or questions please do contact me. The guidance can also be downloaded from the Find out (Food) section of the website.
Health Week Success
Thank you to all parents, carers, staff and especially children for helping to make our Health Week such a great success. Visitors to school this week have commented on the children’s excellent behaviour and enthusiasm to take part in a wide range of health activities.
The food fairs were very popular with plenty of healthy foods to taste and maybe make at home! If you were unable to come along or you didn’t pick up one of the recipe booklets, we have some copies available at the office.
Our school lunches stand, run by Catering Agency, was always busy. Did you know your child can have a combination of school lunches and packed lunches across the week? Please ask at the office for more information on this option.
Following a successful trial during Health Week and the positive responses to our recent letter, the tuck shop, run by Year 6, will be continuing every Friday at KS2 playtime. Fruit and vegetables will be on sale for 20p-30p per item. We hope you can support the tuck shop.
Thank you for all contributions made for the week. They have enabled us to provide great healthy learning experiences for our children.