Big Walk and Wheel
Thank you to all the families who have supported the Big Walk and Wheel over the last two weeks.
Overall, we were placed 150th in the small school category, out of 643 schools, with a daily average of 74.29% of journeys to school being active. In Northern England, we were 18th out of 107 small schools. Well done to everyone who took an active journey to help to achieve this.
Over the two week period we actively travelled 1,358 times!
It would be great for these active journeys to continue. Travelling actively (walking, park and stride – Marks and Spencers car park, scooting or biking) is a safe and healthy start to the school day.
Book Club – new author alert!
In this week’s Book Club, we looked at Authorfy’s author of the week. It was the brilliantly funny Burhana Islam who has written Mayhem Mission!
We listened to an extract about the main character being in trouble when his bedroom was a mess. Everyone found it hilarious. I think one or two had found themselves in a very familiar situation…
“He says he will ruin his sister’s wedding! I think he will wait for the vows and say something stupid,” predicted Leah.
Tanvi shared, “I think it sounds a very good book because it relates to a lot of people!”
“I want to know where it’s going to end up! It’s starting with a messy bedroom and a wedding! What on earth will happen next?” mused Sasha.
Computing Experts
This half term, Y6 have been programming a range of complex games on Scratch.
First, we made an animation where a sprite walked up the stairs. It sounds easy but it wasn’t!
We needed to use selection and repetition. Challenge your child to define these terms and why programmers use them.
Next, we created a quiz called Chatbot!
“It was very fun to do. We had to make a quiz that chats to you and asks you a couple of questions. You had to get them right but if not it would say, ‘Unkucky!’” said Lewis.
Finally, and most difficult, came the Times Tables Quiz game. We had to use variables. Ask your child which variables they used in their game.
“Our game has two sprites and we added sounds for when the players gets it right and a weird laugh when they get it wrong. One character is happy and the other is called potato head!” laughed Thanu.
Living and Learning – First Aid
Last week, Y6 learnt what to do in case someone is suddenly ill, injured or needs help.
If they’re bleeding…
If they’re suffering from shock…
If they’re having a nose bleed…
We recreated some of these scenarios using drama and acted out the best possible ways to deal with these situations.
“First Aid is so important because it could save somebody’s life,” said Simran.
“If you’re doing drama about First Aid, it can get funny but it’s serious in real life and these are the things you need to remember,” warned James.
Christina explained, “If it’s serious, call 999!”
What would you do in an emergency?
NSPCC Speak out Stay safe
During our recent Staying Safe themed week, all pupils took part in the NSPCC Speak out Stay safe learning featuring Ant and Dec and Buddy.
We are proud to receive our certificate to recognise this.
Living & Learning – I know the importance of personal hygiene.
What does being healthy mean?
Lots of us also said about the important balance of mental and physical health.
How might you know if you are ill?
More importantly, if you are ill you could:
– go to the doctors
– test yourself
– take medicine (ask a trusted adult first)
– go to the chemist or pharmacy
– rest, get enough sleep, fresh air, keep drinking water
Why is personal hygiene important?
“Otherwise, we’ll spread germs, viruses and bacteria to others around you,” said Leah.
“It keeps you clean and if you don’t you might get sick,” explained Christina.
“It keeps yourself and others safe,” said Billy.
What should you do if someone is having an allergic reaction?
“If it’s serious, call 999 or 112 and ask if they have an injection that might help. If they do, read the instructions for how to use it. See if they’re doing well. Help them to sit in a position to help them breathe. If it’s still getting worse, get ready to perform CPR,” explained Khadija.
What is a vaccine and how does it work?
Aadil says, “A person named Edward Jenner wanted to be a doctor. He practised in his home town where there was a serious virus called smallpox. There was another mild one called cowpox. The people of the town said if you got cowpox it’s very unlikely you get smallpox. He went to the gardener’s son and gave a bit of the cowpox pus to the boy. He recovered quickly. Then, he also gave the smallpox pus to the boy and amazingly he did not get infected. The name vaccine comes from the Latin word for cow which is vacca which you’d say ‘wacca’!”
Big Walk and Wheel
Get set… we’re taking part in Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel 2022 (the new name for Big Pedal), the UK’s largest inter-school cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting challenge. The challenge runs from 21 March to 1 April. It’s free and we would love everyone to be involved.
What do you need to do?
Encourage your child(ren) to walk, scoot or cycle to school on as many days as possible during the event. Park and stride (parking your car further away from school, for example, Marks and Spencer car park and walking, scooting or biking the final part of the journey) also counts.
Why we are taking part
As a happy and healthy school, Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is a great way to build physical activity in children’s daily routine which is important for their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Active school runs also help to reduce congestion and air pollution outside the school gate. A 2021 YouGov study showed nearly half of UK children worry about air pollution near their school. Children thought active travel was the best away to bring down these pollution levels.
Plus there are some great prizes to be won every day if we get enough children taking part!
Useful resources
To help you prepare, Sustrans has developed a handy free guide packed with advice, games and challenges to help you have hassle-free cycle, walk or scoot to school.
Download your free family guide here.
Cross country runners
Well done to pupils who took part in the Leeds Schools Athletics Association Saturday morning race at Middleton Park. These races are open to Key Stage 2 children. This was the final race for the season but we will continue to offer these races next year.
It was great to hear they were encouraging each other at the event. Great work!
World Book Day
To celebrate all things books, Y6 had a lovely morning enjoying the library, completing activities related to their favourite books and chilling out and reading.
We looked amazing in our costumes and we all took turns to share who we’d come as, which book we were from and who was the author!
Amber from the Midnight Gang takes her mind off her broken arm.
Gangsta Granny is probably researching another jewel heist.
Mr Poe is giving the competition his best shot – good luck!
If you’d like to still enter, bring in £1 and bring your competition sheet back by Friday 11 March.
And finally…
Where’s Wally?
Cross country opportunity
We are pleased to invite KS2 children to compete in an upcoming cross country race as part of the Leeds Schools Athletics Association cross country programme of Saturday morning races. Children will compete against pupils from other Leeds schools.
The race will take place at 10am on Saturday 5th March at Middleton Park (next to the John Charles Centre for Sport, Middleton Grove, Leeds, LS11 5DJ).
There are opportunities for Year 3 and 4 girls and boys (under 9) to race 900m and Year 5 and 6 girls and boys (under 11) to race 1500m. Once your child has completed their race, you are free to leave the event.
Please note, parents/carers are responsible for taking and supervising their child/children.
If your child is interested in taking part, please respond to the the message recently sent out.
We look forward to pupils representing our school at this event.
If you are unable to take part in this event, you may want to join the free Sunday morning junior parkruns held locally at Roundhay Park, Temple Newsam and Boddington.