Balance, Pedal, Go!
This report highlights that, according to new research by Keep Britain Tidy, a third of primary school children have never been taught how to ride a bike.
We’re happy to say that following the recent Reception balance, pedal, go bike training sessions, 24 out of 30 children can now ride a pedal bike. Two children missed their final session so the number could be even higher! Prior to the training, four children could ride a pedal bike.
Well done to the Reception children who remained focussed through their sessions and used determination to achieve this key life skill.
These sessions were funded by our PE Premium and from the staff, parent and pupil feedback, this will be an initiative we will repeat next year too.
We hope the children will continue to develop their riding skills over the holidays – maybe going on a family bike ride; taking part in the Leeds Let’s Ride event on traffic free roads on Sunday 2 September; going along to a Let’s Ride Pop Up ride locally and most importantly using their bikes to travel to school when we return in September.
New school dinner menu
From September, our school dinner menu will be changing. This menu, provided by our school meals provider Catering Leeds, will be served until February half term.
Through liaison with Catering Leeds, the vegetable choices and jacket potato fillings requested by the children have been incorporated into the new menu.
As well as on our website, the three week cyclical menu is displayed in the parent/carer noticeboard for you to discuss with your child. If you would like a printed copy, please ask at the office.
Have a look for the days ahead to make your child aware of what the daily meals are. All children now make their main meal choice at the start of the day. This ensures they get their first choice of meal.
School meals continue to be free for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. If your child is in Key Stage 2, please check for eligibility for free school meals. (It’s important to check for eligibility for younger children, too, because school receives additional funding for each child who is eligible for a free meal, even when they’re free in Reception and Year 1 and Year 2!)
If your child would like to start having school dinners, please inform the office. A combination of packed lunches and school dinners is also available.
Children are consulted on school meals through our regular School Council meetings. Feedback may also be given by speaking to an adult in school or completing a suggestions/comments slip and posting it in their class I want to say box. We have a few new dishes on the menu which we encourage the children to try.
Thank you to parents who also raise questions and give feedback. We can then ensure this is passed on to the kitchen staff.
Allerton Grange DT
Year 6 went to Allerton Grange last week to experience some Design and Technology teaching and use some fantastic equipment.
They used a computer program to add a design to a keyring.
That design was then sent to a laser cutter which etched the design onto a small piece of wood.
The keyring was then taken to the woodwork area where the children used saws and vices to cut out the main shape.
Finally, they painted their design and added thread and a keyring to it to finish it off.
It’s gold again!
At the end of each year, schools are invited to apply for their School Games Mark. The School Games Mark rewards schools for their commitment to and development of competition, school sport and physical education.
We are very proud to announce that our application has been verified and we have been awarded Gold award for the fourth year running.
Thank you to staff who have accompanied children to these events or run after-school clubs this year. Thank you also to Mrs Russell who provides excellent administration of our clubs and sporting events and competitions.
Thank you as well to all parents/carers who have helped with transport and supported at our events this year. Finally, thank you to all pupils who have tried out a new physical activity either at an after-school club or as part of a competition or participation event and to those children who have represented our school so well this year.
Free tennis weekend
This weekend, 21st and 22nd July, sees free tennis activities for all ages and abilities at David Lloyd to celebrate Great British Tennis Weekend.
Living Streets local area audit
As part of our partnership with Living Streets and during our Being Healthy week, some of our school councillors joined representatives from Living Streets to carry out an active travel audit in the immediate area. They were looking for barriers that families might face when traveling to school in an active way.
We look forward to hearing all about the findings.
Youth Voice Summit
Recently, our Year 5 and 6 school councillors attended the third annual youth voice summit for primary schools in the banqueting suite at Leeds Civic Hall. During the event, the children:
- Learnt how to run effective social action campaigns in their schools and communities
- Learnt about influential historical and current campaigns such as the suffragettes and American civil rights
- Learnt about how to write to the government and local council
- Had the opportunity to come up with their own campaigns and create placards
- Had a full tour of the Leeds Council Chamber
Their chosen campaign, to work on back at school with the rest of the school council, is all about clearing up litter. We look forward to seeing how this campaign will develop.
Moortown PE polo and hooded tops
As we come to the end of the school year, please check at home and return to school any red polo shirts or black hooded tops that your child may have borrowed for a sporting event over the year.
Please could you ensure they are returned to the office asap to ensure we have all the kit available for our next sporting events.
Allerton Grange sports day
Recently, some of our Key Stage 2 pupils took part in a sports day led by Allerton Grange sports leaders competing against other local schools.
Well done to all pupils who took part.
School Savings Club
The next School Savings Club paying in date is Thursday 12 July 2018 at 3.15-3.45pm.
If you’re unable to attend in person, please hand in any money to be deposited to the office in a sealed envelope addressed to Mrs Tiffany.
The paying in dates are the penultimate Thursday of each half term and dates for next year will be posted to the website in September.
Finally, if your child would like to open account, please ask at the office.
