Top vegetable choices
If your child chooses school dinners, they are served two portions of vegetables or vegetables and a portion of salad with each meal. As we are all aware of the importance of eating vegetables, all children have been consulted on their favourite vegetables based on the vegetables that currently feature on the school dinner menu. The most popular choices will now feature more regularly on the menu.
We would also like your views on school dinners. Look out for the school dinner survey due to be sent out next week.
An active half term
We’ve started the year with plenty of physical activities. Here are some of the highlights.
Rugby World Cup
In September, the Rugby World Cup came to Leeds and we were lucky enough to win tickets to watch Italy play Canada at Elland Road. There was a great response to our prize draw for tickets and our three lucky winners enjoyed the World Cup experience.
Active Schools
This year as part of our investment of the Primary PE and sport premium government funding for schools we have joined the Leeds Active Schools programme. Their mission is to promote and develop, through collaboration and partnership, a sustainable system for physical activity, PE and sport that enriches the lives of all children and young people. Already this year, as part of this programme, we’ve had the opportunity to take part in some great events.
Big sing Big dance
A group of our Year 3 pupils were part of over one thousand children from across Leeds who took part in the Rugby World Cup Big dance Big sing event in Millenium Square.
Singing and dancing to the Rugby World Cup theme tune ‘World in Union’, the event was to celebrate the rugby matches in Leeds.
- ‘I loved it and I tried my best.’
- ‘It was exciting when we did the dance.’
- ‘I enjoyed using the rugby balls for the dance and singing the song, too.’
Rugby World Cup fanzone
As part of the celebrations for the Rugby World Cup, a number of children had the opportunity to be involved in the fanzone in Millenium Square. There was a carousel of activities including rugby activities and inflatables, a practical Tagtiv8 session and a visit to Leeds Library to meet author Tom Palmer. Tom writes sports novels for children, including the Rugby Academy series.
- ‘I really enjoyed the event. It was fun, especially the bit with Tom Palmer.’
- ‘I loved it! I especially enjoyed when I won the rugby ball. It was so good I want to do it again.’
- ‘I enjoyed playing pass with my friends and learning how rugby started.’
Brownlee Triathlon
Harewood House recently hosted the Brownlee Triathlon. Following this, a number of our children took part in the children’s Brownlee Triathlon held at the John Charles Centre.
The event involved a 30m swim, 1km cycle and a 400m run and was attended by Jonny Brownlee.
- ‘It was the best sporting event that I’ve ever done.’
- ‘It was great and was very challenging but in a good way.’
- ‘I have never done a triathlon. It was amazing, especially the fact that I met the Brownlee brothers.’
Football
This year we continue to be part of the Leeds School Football Association leagues for Year 4, 5 and 6, led by Mr Lawton and Mr Catherall. Here is a summary of their season so far.
The ‘Moortown Dragons’ (Year 4 football team) are learning quickly what it means to be part of a team: sticking together, working for each other, and keeping smiles on everyone’s faces. In our most recent game, they showed off some sharp passing as a team, gritty goalkeeping displays, and capped it off with a couple of stylish goals. ‘Make friends, make friends, never, never break friends!’
In the short time we’ve had, the Year 5 footballers have impressed with their passion for the game. They’ve started to show their desire to work for each other, and we’re looking forward to a good run of matches after half term. If they can show half the skills that they demonstrate daily in the playground, and keep looking out for each other, they’ll go far indeed.
The Year 6 football team have grown in confidence throughout each of their fixtures so far this year. With an emphasis on teamwork, enjoyment and working hard (on and off the ball), each team member has improved significantly. Their continued development as a team was, perhaps, most evident in the recent game against local rivals Gledhow. Well done to all! Keep it up and you’ll soon be rewarded for your efforts.
Events to look forward to next half term include more football matches, Leeds North East sports hall athletics competition, a Come and Try basketball session at Roundhay, cross country and a health-themed week, too.
Thank you to all parents who support with transport and accompanying children to these events.
Well done to all our competitors and participants who have represented the school.
The Year 6 assembly
Well done, everyone in Year 6, for a great class assembly this week, and thanks to all the parents, friends and family who visited.
For those unable to attend, the assembly was a very entertaining summary of some of the learning which has taken place this half-term.
Comments from our guests include:
- “Nice to see what the children have been learning. Very good.”
- “Very interesting to have a view of what the children have been working on – fantastic!”
- “Very interesting. I have learnt a lot of things myself.”
- “Great show, as ever. Brill song and very interactive.”
- “Brilliant adaptation of the song. They’re experts at assemblies now!”
…I was struck by that last point, too: the children were confident, clear and comfortable in front of the large audience.
Year 6 football heroes!
Our Year 6 football team have made a strong start to the new season.
Much improved on last year, the squad has displayed their talent against other local schools. With each player representing Moortown with pride, passion and (relentless) positivity – keep it up!
Their most recent outing, a very close 1-0 loss to neighbours Gledhow, was very impressive to watch. I’m certain our faithful supporters would agree!
Well done to all children who have represented our school so far this year and a huge thank you to the parents for your on-going support in transporting children to fixtures.
What’s on the menu in Brazil?
As part of the whole school Holidays topic, Year 5 and 6 have been ‘visiting’ Brazil. Following some research about popular foods in this South American country, we’ve recreated our own Brazilian dish. This was taken from a recipe book donated by the Brazilian restaurant chain Cabana. There is even a branch in Leeds if you’d like to try some more traditional Brazilian dishes. Our dish was a vegetarian version of moqueca (fish stew).
Take a look at our food preparation and tasting. Ask your child what skills, equipment and ingredients we used. Maybe you’ll get chance to try this at home as it was a very popular dish.
Some of the words to describe the dish were: outstanding, delicious, mouth watering, healthy, impeccable and fantastic!
Applying for secondary school
Please remember that the deadline for secondary school applications (September 2016 intake) closes on the 31 October 2015. Please ensure you’ve submitted your application by this date.
You can either apply online by visiting the Leeds City Council website or submit a paper form and return to:
Leeds City Council, PO Box 837, School Admissions, Leeds, LS1 9PZ
Leeds Children’s Mayor update
Unfortunately Ahmed, our entry for the Leeds Children’s Mayor competition, wasn’t successful in reaching the final twelve. With a record number of entries this year, thirty six, all entrants were congratulated on their efforts. Well done, Ahmed.
‘We really appreciate you taking the time to enable your Year 6 children to take part and that having your Year 6 think “big” about changing the city and their local community was an interesting citizenship activity for them.’
The Leeds Children’s Mayor project provides pupils with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding about democratic processes and being an active citizen, promoting this aspect of ‘British Values’. All pupils are encouraged to take part in the election itself by reading the manifestos of the final twelve and casting a vote for their choice of the next Leeds Children’s Mayor.
Please note that voting goes live at 12pm on Tuesday 13 October and closes at 12pm on Thursday 05 November. The winner of the election will be announced on 9th November by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Judith Chapman.
Leeds Children’s Mayor
Every year, year six pupils in primary schools are invited to enter the Leeds Children’s Mayor programme. Pupils write a short manifesto saying how they would improve Leeds if they were the Children’s Mayor. The manifesto must be based on one of the 12 wishes for a more child friendly Leeds.
Our entry this year, titled safe and independent, is by Ahmed. Here’s his manifesto. Good luck Ahmed!
If I was Children’s Mayor of Leeds, I would like to create a system which would mean certain shops have a poster on their window that shows the child walking past that it is safe in there. This means that if the child is scared about someone following them or doesn’t want to be out alone they can go in there and know that they are safe. This also follows one of the ‘12 Wishes for a more child friendly Leeds.’ This wish says that all Children and young people can make safe journeys and easily travel around the city.’ This is what would happen if I was Children’s Mayor.
To continue this manifesto, I would like to highlight that I am a strong leader and, as an observant member of year 6, I can listen and see problems. Furthermore, I can use my supportive fellow students, friends, and family to find solutions to problems. Plus, I would like to think I am a kind and caring person. Also, my older brother is part of a group for children and young people who deal with issues regarding children for the whole of England so I have learnt a lot from him and have gained experience about how to deal with problems like child poverty and unhappy children.
I would also like to put in place a special council made up completely by children and chosen by children. I think this is important because, as kids, we know what is best for us and what we really need. We should be able to make or at least have a say in the important decisions that concern us. Like my other point, this also supports the statement, ‘Children and young people express their views, feel heard and are actively involved in decisions that affect their lives’ and the fact that we will be allowed to participate and shape our lives according to decisions that we as children have made agrees with this wish. It also would mean the wish ‘Children and young people are treated fairly and respected’ is also fulfilled.
I hope I have the chance to become a candidate for Children’s Mayor for Leeds and I hope I am able to make a difference.
Breaking news from Y6 PE lessons
As you know, we are learning PE and basketball in PE with a twist. Here, two of the six journalists explain how their teams are doing so far.
Linda explains:
In recent PE lessons, we have learnt lots which makes it difficult for me to know where to start. Ah, I believe I need to do some explaining so I guess I will start from the beginning when Mr Catherall put us in groups…
It was just a normal day of working hard at school. We had done everything planned: maths, English, reading and break time. After all that work, we were heading out for lunch when Mr Catherall explained that we were going to be put in groups and would be teaching ourselves PE (basketball and rugby). We’re learning rugby because the Rugby World Cup is happening in England at the moment. Don’t panic though – of course we still have support from our teacher regularly.
Another journalist, Ravinder, wrote:
In PE we are doing rugby. However, we are in charge of our own lessons. We are in teams of five people. Our team is made up of: a skills coach (Zack), a physio (Lanas), a captain (Oliver), an equipment manager (Simran) and a journalist (Ravi). Last lesson, Zack did especially well as the skills coach. He was teaching our group and came up with some good games. Lanas also did a great warm up which included a pulse-raiser and stretches.
Ask your child how their team is getting in. Do they think their teamwork skills are improving? Why?
PE!
In PE this half-term, we’re learning rugby and basketball skills through a model for teaching called Sport Education.
Each child is placed in a team and has a specific role. Ask your child if they are the journalist, the skills coach, the physio, the captain or the equipment manager.
Also, ask them how learning PE in this way differs to the way they might’ve been taught previously.
