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
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.
Word journey to word island
To launch our Seaside topic, Year 1 took part in ‘Word journey to word island’, an outdoor activity day focusing on language and literacy skills. Led by Annie Berrington of Get out more, we took an imaginery journey to discover a new island. The children responded brilliantly and really got into their roles as crew on Captain Annie’s ship. They produced some fantastic writing including poetry using adjectives and similes. Here are a few images from the day.
Upcoming sporting events
Sports & Active Lifestyles Fair
Find out what sports clubs and physical activity opportunities are available in our area for all children, young people and adults. This is a great opportunity to come as a family or with friends and take part in sport / activity taster sessions and watch sports demonstrations from local clubs.
- When: Thursday 5th June 2014
- Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
- Where: Roundhay School
Roundhay Park Family Fun Run (1K & 5K)
- When: Saturday 7th June 2014
- Time: 10:00am
- Where: Roundhay Park
REAP and Roundhay Live are starting the celebrations of Le Grand Depart early with this community event, full of family fun, music, food and cycling.
- When: Sunday 22nd June 2014
- Time: 12:00pm-5:00pm
- Where: Roundhay School
For further information about any of these events please ask at the school office.
A busy week
There has been no relaxing this week – loads of learning and some unusual visitors.
Art and maths
This week, Year 1 have been using a piece of artwork, on loan from Leeds Art Gallery, to inspire our literacy and maths.
In maths, we looked at the different lines on the drawing, in particular parallel lines. After looking at examples of parallel lines in real life such as train tracks, running tracks and flags, we had a look for some ourselves.
We then got to work creating our own examples of parallel lines.
Some of the final versions will be displayed in the hall, very soon.
Future goal keepers?
In PE this half term Year 1 are taking part in the Leeds United Foundation Take it to the kids coaching scheme. Ian, our coach, along with some footballing apprentices began our lessons by developing goal-keeping skills. We focussed on sending, receiving and manoevering the ball with partners. Next week, we hope the weather will improve and we can be outside so please ensure your child has their outdoor PE kit for this lesson.
Do you use the vampire technique?
As part of our focus on manners this week, Year 1 have been mastering the ‘vampire method’. I cover my mouth (when I cough, sneeze or yawn) is our weekly statement so we looked at why this method can help to prevent germs spreading. By coughing or sneezing into our elbow, germs are not spread into the air or on our hands which may contaminate other things.
Don’t forget to ‘use your sleeve to cough and sneeze’.
Our new SEAL theme for this half-term is…
…’Relationships’.
We begin the half term with a focus on manners: I cover my mouth (when I cough, sneeze or yawn) is our statement for this week. Children, and adults, will be taught the ‘vampire method’ for coughs and sneezes in order to prevent the spread of germs – ‘use your sleeve to cough and sneeze’.
Following this, the Relationships theme explores feelings within the context of our important relationships including family and friends.
It aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in three key social and emotional aspects of learning: self-awareness, managing feelings and empathy.
There is a focus throughout the theme on helping children understand the feelings associated with an experience that we all need to cope with at some time: that of loss – whether of a favourite possession, a friend, a family home, or a loved one. Although relatively few children are bereaved, most will experience losses of other kinds during their childhood; losing a home, losing friends because of moving house or changing schools, or losing a pet are examples.
We would therefore ask for parents / carers to alert us to any experiences your child has had that might make this area particularly difficult for them – for example, a bereavement.
