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Important Note:
This is a text and image only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.
Weekly Newsletter - 13th February 2026
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was being in class 11 for English, they had some amazing ideas and wrote some fantastic sentences.
The end of another half term, a very rainy half term. Let’s hope the weather improves. Well done to everyone who has come to school every day despite the very wet weather. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 23rd February ready for a new half term. Have a lovely week off school.
Attendance – You will be receiving today your child’s attendance certificate. 95% and above is the minimum expectation for the majority of children unless they have a serious medical condition. Read the letter that comes with it as we will be having an increased focus on attendance. Some children are missing too much school and too many families are taking holidays in term time. This impacts your child’s education and the school are held accountable for this.
If you are struggling to get a doctor’s appointment for minor illnesses, please check out your local pharmacist or chemist as they may be able to help.
REMINDERS
FASTING – if you want your child to fast during school time you must complete a form giving written permission and discuss it with Mrs Wainwright or Mr Needham. We understand this is a very important part of Ramadan and older children in Years 5&6 may want to start fasting and we will support them. It can be hard for children in school and we are aware they do not have to fast at their age, many start fasting at weekends when at home but it is important to discuss it with us if you want them to fast in school.
World Book Day - World Book Day will be celebrated on the 5th of March this Year. As always we would like children to come to school dressed as a character from a book, or in their own choice of clothes. We have lots of exciting events happening in classes this year. All children from Reception to Year 6 will be taking part in a workshop called The Extraordinary Adventures of Filolog. This focuses very much on story structure in a fun and exciting way! The day will open with an assembly where children are introduced to an extraordinary creature called Filolog. He has forgotten the detail of a story he is in – and needs help from the children to piece together different elements of his tale. The workshops will run over the Thursday and the Friday to ensure all children are able to participate. On Friday 6th March we will also be opening up the free book shop in partnership with the Children's Book Project, where children are able to enjoy choosing books to take home and keep.
This year with it being The Year of Reading we have an extra competition for the children to enter- 'Book in a box!' Please see the leaflet emailed for more details- good luck and have fun!
- 1st prize £10 Amazon voucher
- 2nd snuggle up and read bundle
- 3rd book
World Book Theme Menu - We will be serving a theme menu on Thursday 5th March, if your child normally has a packed lunch and would like a dinner on this day please pay by ParentPay, payment must be made by Friday 27th February, and inform us of any allergies. The cost is £2.90. You can see the Menu on our website and in the notice boards.
Attendance
We expect all children to be in school every day and on time. 8.30am for Nursery, 12.30pm in the afternoon and by 8.50am for the rest of school. Thank you
Last week’s attendance (2nd February – 6th February)
- Nursery: 89.6%
- Reception: 98.3%
- Years 1 to 6: 94.6%
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 1 – 98.6%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 8 – 98.2%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 14 – 95.4%
Well done to the best classes:
- KS1 – Class 2
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 11
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 16
Headteachers Awards – Well done to the children who have had a great week in school.
- Class 7 Almas
- Class 7 Mussa
- Class 7 Zaynab
- Class 8 Zarah
- Class 8 Ivy
- Class 8 Oscar
- Class 9 Yusaf
- Class 9 Miral
- Class 9 Daniel
- Class 10 Alfie
- Class 10 Isabelle C
- Class 10 Nicholas
- Class 11 Milan
- Class 11 Maria
- Class 11 Chimamanda
Weekly Round Up
Nursery – This week we have been learning about a few celebrations that happen next week. We learnt about Chinese New Year and found out what animal we are from the Chinese Zodiac calendar. We have opened a Chinese takeaway and listened to Miss Grange talk about China from the time she lived there. She also showed us some lovely souvenirs. We have also learnt about Shrove Tuesday and tasted pancakes with our favourite toppings. As it is Mental Health Week this week, we have talked about emotions and what makes us happy, sad, angry, and scared, and children drew how they felt during the week.
Reception – This week in Reception we have been doing lots of work around feelings and belonging to celebrate mental health week. We have talked about different feelings and learnt that all feelings are ok but there are things we can do to help when we are feeling sad, angry or worried about something. We practice counting, taking deep breaths and singing our favourite song. We talked about how sharing how we feel and talking to someone we trust can make us feel better. In Maths we have been comparing objects by length and height and using vocabulary long, short and tall.
Years 1 & 2 –This week children in Year 1 have finished their History topic on famous explorers. They have studied both Robert Falcon Scott and Christopher Columbus and have thought what makes a great explorer. Children discussed all the things they have learned about each explorer and compared them, understanding what is the same and what is different. In Year 2 children have completed their History topic on The Great Fire of London and this week they have focused on the aftermath of the fire. They have looked at how London changed and how houses and roads were designed differently to prevent the spread of any future fires. Children enjoyed being architects and designing their own houses, thinking carefully about the materials they would use.
Years 3 & 4 –This week, Year 3 enjoyed continuing to write some junkyard poems, focusing on rhyme and similes. In Maths, we have been looking at measuring the perimeter of shapes. In History, we have been looking at what a gladiator was and why the Romans enjoyed watching them, and in Science, we have been looking at factors that change the size of our shadows. We are hoping for some more sun soon!
This week, Year 4 have been writing their own poems and built up to performing them to the class. In Science, we enjoyed looking at insulation and materials we can use to stop ice melting. In History, we have been looking at how Iron Age people protected their forts.
Both Years 3 and 4 have also been taking part in an NSPCC assembly, focusing on mental health and how we can keep our minds healthy. We also all enjoyed a drama workshop about a fairy tale.
Years 5 & 6 – Lessons - Click on the following links below to catch-up on the latest news in Years 5 & 6:
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-5
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-6
Homework - Homework is set every Monday and must be completed by the following Monday. Each week, children will be expected to complete:
- Emile homework – tasks set in Grammar, Punctuation and Maths
- Oxford Owl homework – tasks set in Spelling (Spelling homework is released each Monday)
- Reading Plus – children are encouraged to use this at home to further support their reading development
Children who complete all their homework will be rewarded with a longer lunchtime on Friday.
Spring Homework Challenges - Spring Homework Challenges have also been handed out to all children. These activities are linked to our Spring Term topics, and we would love to see children completing some of them at home—independently or with support.
Be creative! We are excited to see the wonderful work the children produce.
Click the link below to view the Spring Challenges! https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/parents/homework
Year 6 SATs Week - Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 11th May 2025. It is vital that all children in Year 6 attend school that week. The test timetable will be as follows:
- Monday 11th May: Grammar, punctuation & spelling
- Tuesday 12th May: Reading
- Wednesday 13th May: Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May: Reasoning
School Dates 2025 -2026:
- Monday 23rd February 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Thursday 5th March 2026 World Book Day- Dress as a word or character from a book
- Friday 20th March 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Wednesday 25th March 2026 Class 9 Tropical World Trip
- Thursday 26th March 2026 Class 10 Tropical World Trip
- Friday 27th March 2026 Class 11 Tropical World Trip
- Wednesday 1st April 2026 Year 1 Farm Visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2026 Year 1 Farm Visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 20th April 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- W/C Monday 27th April 2026 Bikeability Week
- Monday 4th May 2026 School Closed May Bank Holiday
- Monday 11th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling
- Tuesday 12th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reading
- Wednesday 13th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reasoning
- Friday 22nd May 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 1st June 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Thursday 4th June 2026 Class 8 Harlow Carr Trip
- Friday 12th June 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Monday 15th June 2026 Seaside Visit - Class 5
- Thursday 18th June 2026 Seaside Visit - Class 6
- Friday 19th June 2026 Class 7 Harlow Carr Trip
- Wednesday 24th June 2026 Class 7 Sculpture Park Trip
- Thursday 25th June 2026 Class 8 Sculpture Park Trip
- Friday 17th July 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm