Important Updates | St. Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School

Important Note:

This is a text only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.

Weekly Newsletter - 22nd September 2023

With this newsletter, you will receive a copy of the results from the parent survey many of you completed in the summer term. It includes our responses in some areas and identifies areas we need to improve.

Over the next school year, we will look at addressing some of the points made by you. Thank you to everyone who returned the survey.

It is important to us to know what our parents think and how we can improve. If you do have any questions or want to talk to us about anything the senior leadership team are around outside every morning and evening or ask to make an appointment.

Reminders

Please return the data collection sheets. It is very important we have your current details. We have had occasions when we have tried to contact parents and have had no working numbers. Your child will receive 100 Trackit points and you will go in the draw for the Asda vouchers.

If you would like to apply to be a parent governor, please complete and return the form by 9am Monday 2nd October. If we have more than one application, we will hold a ballot.

If you would like your child to start borrowing books from our new library to bring home, you MUST return the parent agreement.
Attendance – We have had a fantastic start to attendance, Nursery have had their highest attendance ever and we have many children with a 100% start to the year. Well done!

However, we still have some children who are already causing a concern and unfortunately, this year we will be taking further action and this could lead to a Fast Track process leading to a fine. We have tried hard over the last four years to avoid this but feel we have no further course of action to take. If you need help or want to discuss your child’s attendance please see Mrs Wainwright or Miss Lawson. We really want to see our children in school, enjoying their learning and reaching their potential. We are also aiming to have the best attendance at St Bart’s this year and need your support, this includes your children arriving at school on time. Thank you.

Worship – Our current theme is Thankfulness and this week we have been reflecting on the world around us and what we should be thankful for. We listened to the song ‘What a Wonderful World’ to help us thinks about this.

What we are doing to make things better. Over the summer, a very dedicated group of staff started to develop our outside Science garden. This will be used to support their learning over the coming months and years. We would like to thank Emma’s mum who provided us with a lot of the resources we needed for this, it is very much appreciated. It is not finished yet but we are looking forward to the finished result.

Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was going swimming and seeing Bryan jump in the deep end for the first time, he was a little worried but wanted to do it and he did, more than once, well done Bryan! We were very proud of you.

Headteachers Awards – Well done to the children who have had a great week in school.
The teachers in school have decided these children have worked particularly hard this week and should receive a special mention and certificate, presented on a Friday afternoon in our assembly. Well done!

Class 1 Ruqayyah
Class 2 Alyshia
Class 3 Bojan
Class 4 Miley
Class 5 Aayah
Class 6 Hareem
Class 7 Michelle
Class 8 Dorota
Class 9 Joseph
Class 10 Karen
Class 11 Niko
Class 12 Aaila
Class 13 Raquel
Class 14 Mokhammad
Class 15 Hana
Class 16 Lydia
Class 17 Rafaela

Best Classes in School - These classes worked well this week and together earned the most points for their work and behaviour.

KS1 – Class 3
KS2 – Class 15

Attendance Winners for last week:

KS1 - Class 5 – 100%
KS2 – Class 13- 98.7%

Whole School Attendance for last week:

Nursery: 94.3%
Reception to Year 6: 95.1%

Weekly Round Up

Nursery - In Nursery this week, we continued to get to know each other and make new friends. We have shared some of our family photographs which children enjoyed doing. Thank you again to all the parents who sent in the photographs. We also looked at each other in the mirrors and learnt how to describe each other, who we are and what we look like. The children even had a go at drawing their self-portraits. We learnt a few songs: 'Head and shoulders' and 'If you’re happy and you know it' and we are sure children will be very happy to sing them with you at home.

Reception – This week in Reception, we have been continuing to think about ourselves. We have listened to lots of different all about me stories and have finished drawing our self-portraits looking closely in the mirror at our features. We have been naming our body parts and have enjoyed singing head shoulder knees and toes and replacing the body parts each verse. Our favourite version was back, eyebrow, elbow, and chin. We have been having many chats about our school rules and we have been making some class promises. The children are working really hard to listen when others are speaking, keep our classroom tidy and be kind to others.

Year 1 & 2 –This week children in Year 1 have been reading the story of The Three Little Pigs. They have looked at different types of houses the pigs built and have started to write sentences to match. In our provision areas, children have enjoyed being estate agents and selling different types of houses to each other. In Year 2, the children have been looking at representing different two digit numbers using both base 10 and through drawing their own pictures. We have added some photos to the website of the great Maths they have been doing. In PE the sports coach has been introducing children to the sport of handball. They have been practising different types of throw such as the underarm and chest pass. Please can children come in their PE kits on PE days - all children have been provided with a red T-shirt. Then either tracksuit bottoms, shorts or leggings and trainers need to be worn.

Year 3 & 4 - This week, we have continued to read the story 'Oliver Twist'. Year 4 have been writing direct speech from the story, using inverted commas to punctuate appropriately. In Maths, we have continued our focus on place value. In our History lessons, we have been looking at what a rich and poor house looked like during Victorian times, ahead of our trip to Armley Mills later in the term. Please ensure you return your letters as soon as possible. In Art, we have continued to look at LS Lowry and his famous street scenes and matchstick men. In PSHE, we have been looking at democracy and what the government does. Please ensure your child brings their reading book to school everyday. There have been lots of children not bringing them in regularly and this means reading time is used up getting new books. Well done to all of the children who brought their homework in on Friday. Please remember that Maths homework books need bringing into school on a Friday and children must complete their spelling task on Emile. We appreciate your support with this.

Year 5 & 6 – Lessons: In Art, children have been learning about different graffiti art and practicing their own graffiti art. In Science, children have been looking at Geocentric versus Heliocentric. In History, children have enjoyed learning about the pilgrimage of Grace and whether it was successful activism.

Year 6 SATs Week
A reminder that Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 13th May 2024. It is vital that all children in Year 6 attend school that week. The test timetable will be as follows:

Monday 13th May: Grammar, punctuation & spelling
Tuesday 14th May: Reading
Wednesday 15th May: Arithmetic & reasoning
Thursday 16th May: Reasoning

High School Applications
High school applications for children in Year 6 are now open (closing date is 31st October 2023) – an information pack has been sent home and there is information on the school website (in the news section at the top of the home page). If you need any, help with applying online for a high school – please contact Mr Needham.

Weekly Newsletter - 15th September 2023

The end of our second week and what a fantastic start to the new school year we have had.

Worship – Our current theme is 'Thankfulness' and this week we have started to talk about the people in school we have to be thankful for and why. Our worship is based on a quote from the bible, ‘Always be thankful’. Please encourage your children to think about the people at home they need to be thankful for. With this newsletter, you will receive our Worship and Visions Quick Guides. These are also on our website.

What we have done to make things better over the summer holidays - The council have started the long process of replacing our roof. We have had a new non-slip floor fitted in the main corridor where the children eat. Mr Tumilty has been busy including painting some areas of school. The cleaners worked hard to give the school a deep clean. Thank you to all the staff who worked hard this holiday.

The Library - We are very lucky to now have a school library. This has taken a lot of hard work from design to filling it with books. Mrs Dixon has put a lot of effort into making sure it has a great range of books, which the children will love, and some that match their topics in class. Books are very expensive and we ask you encourage your children to take great care of them. We are looking forward to the opening later this month. Please see the letter about the library and sign the Library Contract if you want your child to start bringing books home. Thank you.

Attendance - AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING!

What a fantastic first week in school it was. Attendance was 96.8% for the whole school and this included Nursery, which is the best attendance they have had for a week. Thank you as attendance at school is so important, the children have to be here to learn. This includes being here on time and not missing the start of the day.

Let us keep this up and have the best ever attendance this year.

It is fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold, but if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

Reminders:

Please return your data collection sheets, we should check your information every year and should always have two contacts for every child. Remember the children get 100 Trackit points when this is returned and you go in the Asda voucher drawer.

Photo day is Thursday 21st September

Parent Governor – We now have a vacancy for a parent governor who can join our governing body this year. A letter explaining the role and what you need to do if you are interested will go out on Monday.

Personal Attributes Award – In addition to the weekly Headteacher’s Award, there will be a new weekly attributes award. This will be given to one child from every class who has worked hard to show this attribute in school, as we want confident, independent British citizens, who will be positive role models in society and demonstrate the following attributes:

Ambition – always aiming to better themselves.
Courage - they will not be afraid to try new things.
Commitment - they will work hard.
Willpower – they will strive to be the best they can be.
Integrity – they will tell the truth at all times.
Drive – they want to better themselves at every opportunity.
Patience – they will accept that some things take time.
Resilience – they will always keep trying.
Optimism – they know that good things will happen to them if they work hard.

This half term’s attribute we are encouraging is ‘Optimism’ something we want all our school family to have especially at the beginning of a new school year.

Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week is seeing how well the children have settled into their new classes. Walking round the children are happy and keen to tell me what they have been learning so far. Seeing the children in their uniforms is great, if you need help with this we have a small stock of uniform that has been passed on to us.

Headteachers Awards – Well done to the children who have had a great week in school.

The teachers in school have decided these children have worked particularly hard this week and should receive a special mention and certificate, presented on a Friday afternoon in our assembly. Well done!

Class 1 Willow
Class 2 Aairah
Class 3 Amna
Class 4 Zakes
Class 5 Toro
Class 6 Noah
Class 7 Sebastian
Class 8 Elita
Class 9 Esa
Class 10 Bilal
Class 11 Zoriana
Class 12 Aayana
Class 13 Timi
Class 14 Peter
Class 15 Hamzah
Class 16 Hasan
Class 17 Nina

Best Classes in School - These classes worked well this week and together earned the most points for their work and behaviour.

KS1 – Class 5
KS2 – Class 16

Attendance Winners for last week:

KS1 - Class 5 – 99.2%
KS2 – Class 12 – 99.7%

Whole School Attendance for last week:

Nursery: 97.6%
Reception to Year 6: 96.8%

Weekly Round Up

Nursery - It has been wonderful to welcome our Nursery children and their families. The children have been settling in really well. We have been exploring both indoor and outdoor areas of the Nursery and getting to know each other. The children really enjoyed painting, making sandcastles, moulding the dough as well as playing instruments or riding the bikes.  We would like to thank the parents who sent in family photographs and filled ‘All about me’ forms so far and we cannot wait to receive some more. 

Reception – The children have settled really well into Reception and are already making some excellent friendships. We have been exploring the environment this week, selecting our own resources for tasks and working hard to tidy up when we have finished. We are using a little saying to help us remember to keep our classrooms tidy, 'choose it, use it, put it away '. We have been reading lots of different stories about what makes us unique and have been looking in the mirror and talking about similarities and differences. We have enjoyed creating self-portraits and have tried hard to use the correct shapes for our face, eyes, nose and mouth. We have enjoyed talking about where we live and whom we live with. We would love some photos of the children and their families to put in our home corner. Please send any photos in with your child upload to Learning Journals or email to Reception@stbartsleeds.org.uk .

Year 1 & 2 –What a flying start we have had to the new school year. All children have settled in superbly and have impressed us all with their fantastic learning attitudes. Last week the Years 1 and 2 newsletter went home with children so hopefully parents and carers are all aware of our homework procedures and opportunities. Please see a member of staff if you still have any questions as there is always a lot to remember at the start of term. We would also like to remind everyone that on PE day’s children need to come to school in PE kit. This should include trainers in order to keep children safe when they are running and that jewellery, skirts and dresses should not be worn on these days. Year 1 have really enjoyed their first book of the year - The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson. The children have loved writing about him and playing in the Highway Rat's Bakery. In Year 2, children have started their work on castles and learning about the Normans. Children have learnt some really tricky vocabulary to describe the different parts of a castle and have used these to label their castle diagrams. Can we end by saying a huge thankyou to all parents and carers who have sent their children to school with their reading book every day. This has really helped us when hearing children read. 

Year 3 & 4 - This week, Years 3 and 4 have been reading the story ’Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickins. This links with our History topic all about the Victorians, which we are currently learning about. We have been looking at living conditions and various diseases that made people ill during this time. In our French lessons, we have been learning about classroom commands in year 3 and body parts in year 4. Year 3 have also started their ukulele lessons. Last term, we sent out a letter of interest about the children going to see the 'Oliver Twist' musical at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. We are very excited to tell parents that we have managed to secure a grant for the cost of this, so the trip will be free for families! Thanks to all of the parents who sent a reply in, and a permission letter will be coming out nearer the time. 

Year 5 & 6 – Lessons - In English, children have been writing from the perspective of the sea when the Titanic sank. In Science, children have been learning about the Solar System, the eight planets and facts about them. In History, children have enjoyed learning about the Magna Carta and if it is a significant historical document.

Year 6 SATs Week - A reminder that Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 13th May 2024. It is vital that all children in Year 6 attend school that week. The test timetable will be as follows:

Monday 13th May: Grammar, punctuation & spelling
Tuesday 14th May: Reading
Wednesday 15th May: Arithmetic & reasoning
Thursday 16th May: Reasoning

High School Applications - High school applications for children in Year 6 are now open (closing date is 31st October 2023) – an information pack has been sent home and there is information on the school website (in the news section at the top of the home page). If you need any, help with applying online for a high school – please contact Mr Needham.

School Dates:

Friday 27th October 2023 School Closes at 3.30pm
Monday 6th November 2023 School Opens at 8.30am
Friday 24th November 2023 Training Day- No Children in School
Friday 22nd December 2023 School Closes at 3.30pm
Tuesday 8th January 2024 School Opens at 8.30am
Friday 26th January 2024 Training Day- No Children in School
Friday 9th February 2024 School Closes at 3.30pm
Monday 19th February 2024 School Opens at 8.30am
Thursday 28th March 2024 School Closes at 3.30pm
Monday 15th April 2024 School Opens at 8.30am
Friday 3rd May 2024 School Closes at 3.30pm
Tuesday 7th May 2024 School Opens at 8.30am
Friday 24th May 2024 School Closes at 3.30pm
Monday 3rd June 2024 School Opens at 8.30am
Friday 14th June 2024 Training Day- No Children in School
Friday 19th July 2024 School Closes Summer Break at 3.30pm