School Games Mark
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 third year running.
In an attempt to engage as many children as possible in physical activity, we track children’s participation over the year.
68 children in KS2 and 52 children in KS1 and Reception have taken part in at least one after-school club since September. This is 57% of the total number of pupils.
81 children (68%) in KS2 have represented the school in a competition or participation event.
Children tell us they enjoy taking part in a variety of activitie:
- ‘In scooter club, I had fun on my scooter.’
- ‘I enjoyed Wake Up Shake Up club because I got to spend time with my friends and DANCE!’
- ‘I liked basketball. We learnt how to play the game, basketball skills and working as a team.’
- ‘I enjoyed cricket because it helped me with my skills of bowling and batting.’
- ‘I enjoyed the aqua festival. Everyone took part and nobody was left out. Everybody tried their best.’
- ‘The Brownlee Triathlon was fun and got people involved who don’t especially like sport but they did it. It wasn’t competitive.’
- ‘I enjoyed the Sportshall athletics competition because there were lots of events to choose from and do.’
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.
Great leaders at Moortown
In the last month or so, we’re proud that four of our school leaders have gained national accreditation.
David Roundtree, our Head of Federation, is now designated as a National Leader of Education (NLE) and our school as a National Support School (NSS):
National leaders of education (NLEs) are strong school leaders, who have experience of effectively supporting schools in challenging circumstances. NLEs work… to provide high quality support to those who need it most.
In addition, we have three Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) amongst our staff. SLEs are:
experienced middle or senior leader who [provide support to] middle and senior leaders in other schools…
The roles of NLE and SLE involve working to support individuals or schools which need support. Moortown Primary has a long, successful history of providing such support to other schools, whilst ensuring our own children are all happy and healthy, successful learners.
We’re proud that everyone at Moortown Primary are effective, enthusiastic and skilled practitioners. The status of NLE for David Roundtree goes hand in hand with the school being a national support school (NSS). This is to recognise the fact that our staff are likely to work alongside the NLE in any support we may provide.
Yellow Yorkshire
Thank you for supporting our Yellow Yorkshire day to raise money for one of school charities, Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Our final total raised was £202.31 so thank you for all your donations.
We also had a visit from a representative from Yorkshire Air Ambulance to hear how the money we raise is spent by the charity.
Election of a parent governor - voting now open
We recently wrote to all parents and carers regarding the Parent Governor vacancy, and to seek nominations. As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of Parent Governor vacancies, it is now necessary to hold a ballot.
There are seven candidates and you may vote for one candidate only. The ballot can be accessed via https://goo.gl/LUCBGF
The ballot closes at 12 noon on Tuesday 18 July 2017.
The attached letter provides full details of the voting process and the candidates’ statements.
David Roundtree, Head of Federation
School Saving Club
The next School Saving Club paying in date is 13 July 2017 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 Miss Hale.
This is the final paying in date for this year and dates for next year will be shared in September.
If your child would like to open account, please ask at the office.
Children's Day 2017
Children’s Day 2017 takes place at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Sunday 16th July. The gates for the event will open at 10am and close at 4pm; admission is completely free for everyone, as are the activities when inside the ground.
Families attending the event can make a suggested donation of £3 per adult and £1 per child attending on entry; all proceeds will support the work of Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation.
Let's Ride
Local HSBC guided rides for Leeds are now available to be booked online. There are a variety of rides available at different locations and by searching using a postcode you can then filter the results according to distance, ride level and who they are suitable for.
Making a healthy change
As part of our SEAL theme of Changes, the SEAL statement next week is I can make a healthy change.
During the week, children will be encouraged to make a healthy change. This could be physically or emotionally and may include:
- being active after school rather than being on an electronic device
- having water with a packed lunch rather than a sugary drink
- having a water bottle at school every day
- taking part in a Sports Leader session at lunchtime
- bringing a piece of fruit for KS2 playtime and Year 3 swimming
- dealing with a problem in a positive way
- going to bed earlier
Another healthy change would be travelling to school in a sustainable way – walking, scooting and biking.
Children will also be completing the annual pupil health questionnaire for this week’s whole school homework and this should be returned to your child’s class teacher by Thursday 13 July. Views and opinions from the questionnaire will enable us to consider future ‘healthy changes’.
Change4life, whose aim is ‘to motivate and support millions more people to make and sustain changes that will improve their health’, provides lots of ideas.
We look forward to hearing all about your healthy changes.
Supporting your child through a bereavement
Talking about bereavement with children can be hard. There’s a series of books that might help children learn about a number of sensitive issues. One book in the series is Frog and the Birdsong by Max Velthuijs, Andersen Press.
The book concerns Frog, who one autumn day discovers a blackbird lying motionless in the grass. Worried, he asks his friends what can be the matter. Very gently and simply, the animals begin to understand the meaning of death and the beauty of life in this moving story.
