Learning updates
Going home with your child (Y1 to Y6 only) today are the end-of-term Learning Updates. These ‘mini-reports’ aren’t new – we’ve used these before during parent-teacher meetings.
This year, we’ve listened to what you said in the annual surveys: you asked for more frequent updates on your child’s learning. As a result, we’ve tweaked when we do things a little so you now get an update at the end of most half terms:
- Autumn 1 (the parent-teacher meeting)
- Autumn 2 (the Learning Update)
- Spring 1 (the parent-teacher meeting)
- Spring 2 (the Learning Update)
- Summer 2 (the end of year report)
If you’ve any questions, comments or concerns about the report, please contact your child’s class teacher.
Sphero coding!
Recently, Year 1 and 2 enjoyed a visit to Wetherby library to participate in a coding workshop using Sphero balls and iPads.
The children used the Sphero app to programme their robot. They programmed it using drag and drop actions and even changed the colour of their Sphero. Sphero was sent flying across the library and the children learnt to weave the robot around a maze.
Fantastic Creative Homework
This week, year 1 and 2 were given the creative homework task: I can show what I know about a country. They could choose any country they wished and present this in any way. Here are a few of our creative homework with a wide variety of countries represented.
Leavers’ Service
Thank you to Reverend Stroma and St James’ Church for hosting our year 6 leavers’ service last week. It was a special afternoon where the children reflected on their primary school years together. We are incredibly proud of our year 6 pupils.
Fabulous Library Visit!
Yesterday afternoon, Year 1 and 2 visited Wetherby Library. Have a look at some of the comments the children made and the pictures of them using the library. They were much more confident in how to use the library this time and more focussed on choosing books that suited/interested them.
Ellie – The library trip was great. I got one of my favourite books called ‘I’ll never let you go’.
Lilly – It was fun walking down the library and getting a Harry Hill’s book.
Jack – I like going to the library because I saw a book that I liked about Kart Racing and Mr Wicks liked it too
Harley – It was really fun and I picked a book about fires, police and bees.
Joe – I like going to the library because there are so many books that I would like to get from there.
Daisy-Mae – I liked going to the library because I found some Beast Quest books and I got to get a Molly Broomstick book. I saw a book about a clown but there were no words in it so I think it would be a good book to make up my own words for the story.
This half-term’s Christian value is…
…peace.
Every half-term, we focus on one of our six Christian values.
Peace is about positive harmony and healthy relationships between people. It involves spiritual as well as material security. Peace is a state of true wholeness, a state of well-being.
This value promotes harmony, stability and security within the school and local community.
Why did the Church Council choose this Christian value? ‘Because when Jesus was sent down there was peace.’ (Year 2 Church Council member)
St James’ Head of School post
As you will know, Miss Beatson has been Acting Head of School since September in the absence of Mr Williams.
A recruitment process to find a permanent Head of School culminated yesterday, Monday 19 March, in Miss Beatson’s permanent appointment.
The recruitment was rigorous. Two governors were involved as well as me, the Head of Federation. Also involved was an advisor from the Diocese in order to provide an external viewpoint and the perspective of the Diocese, since St James’ is a Church of England school.
Miss Beatson has a great passion and enthusiasm for supporting all staff and pupils in school, and I know parents also respect her and value the great relationship she has built up with them.
She and I are looking forward to continuing to make sure St James’ CE Primary keeps getting better and better.
Well done to Miss Beatson!
Learning workshops
Thanks to the parents and carers of Year 2 and Year 6 children who came to school this week for a workshop around supporting their child’s learning at home. We’re really pleased to see people taking the time to learn how you can best support your child at home.
Here are two examples of the great feedback we got:
- ‘We found it very informative on what [our child] should expect and how we can support her and help learning.’
- ‘It helped us as we understand the SATs papers more thoroughly. This will enable us to support her better to achieve positive results.’
Watch a short video about the Key Stage 2 assessments (SATs) here.
12 January 2018
This week’s spellings homework is a spelling list. It’s due in on Thursday 18 January.
Have a look in your child’s book to see which spellings they have.
- Group 1: in, is, it, as
- Group 2: was, you, they, are, my
- Group 3: like, so, do, come, some, were, there, little
- Group 4: grow, grew, fly, flew, bring, brought, fight, fought, teach, taught
Town Hall visit
Today, the School Council visited the Town Hall, to look at proposed plans for playing areas in Wetherby. They were asked for their views and opinions to help developers design the best possible parks they can.
Here is some feedback our school council gave the planning team:
- “I like the swings in the spider web park because they look like they go really high.”
- “I like some of the ideas for the slides because there were different sizes so all ages could use them.”
- “I thought in one of the parks they could have a big slide as well as a little slide.”
