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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 - 21st November 2025
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was working with worship council and watching them develop in confidence and delivering worship in front of the children.
Worship – Our current theme is trust and this week we listened to the Worship Council tell the Bible story ‘Jesus Calms the Storm’ and reflected on how at times when you are frightened it is difficult to trust people. We talked about how at times when you are scared and frightened it is important to speak to someone you can trust.
We have also discussed our attribute, ‘Integrity’ and how you always need to choose to do the right thing even if nobody can see you.
To the dodgeball team who played last Thursday and won all ten of their matches including against a staff team. Well done and thank you to Mr Blackburn and Mr Clipsham for taking them.
REMINDERS/UPDATES
- STAFF – We wanted to let Class 10 know Mrs Martin will be leaving us at the end of this half term, we will be sad to see her go but happy for her new opportunity at a new school closer to home. Mrs Weaver will be in class from January.
- COATS - Children MUST come to school in a suitable coat as the weather is getting so cold. Please make sure they have your children’s name in. Thank you.
- CLUBS – If your child is in a sports or activity club they MUST be collected at 4.30pm, every night we have children left and this is not fair to staff who need to wait with them.
- DOGS- Please remember all Leeds City Council sites do not allow dogs on site expect for guide dogs, this also includes carrying them.
Headlice - Head Lice are a common problem in school aged children. They can’t be prevented, but regular checking ensures early detection and treatment if necessary. Parents and carers should check their children’s head once a week during hair washing. You need your usual shampoo, conditioner, and a detection comb – ask your local pharmacist to recommend a suitable one. Remember that you are looking for living moving lice, which is the only evidence that your child is infected. If you find a living louse, sellotape it to a piece of light coloured paper and take it to your local pharmacy (Leeds only) who will advise you and can provide free Hedrin lotion under the Pharmacy First Minor Ailments Scheme. Combs are available from the office.
My Health My School Survey - Pupils in KS2 will be taking part in the My Health My School survey next week. Parents will have received a letter to give consent to your child taking part in this. The survey is anonymous and does not ask for the children's names or any personal details. The results that are given in the survey help us to ensure that our PSHE curriculum meets the needs of our children and that we can provide any more information about any topics that children would like to learn more about.
Nursery Places – We have Nursery places available, if you have a child who is currently 3 years old or turning 3 between now and July 2026, please register them at the office in advance and we will contact you nearer the time they turn 3. If you need any further information, please see Mrs Drake.
Starting Primary School 2026 – Is your child due to start primary school in September 2026 if so you must Apply Now! Applications are open for Reception places to start in September 2026. You can apply online until Thursday 15th January 2026. If you need any help with applying, please see Mrs Drake. Please note that you must apply even if your child is attending our Nursery.
Attendance
We do not break up until Friday 19th December and expect every child to be in school until that day.
We have some children and families who have a pattern of not attending well in the last week of term, especially a Friday and absences may not be authorised.
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 (10th November – 14th November)
- Nursery: 90.5%
- Reception: 93.6%
- Years 1 to 6: 94.7%
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 6 – 97.3%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 11 – 98.4%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 12 – 97.9%
Well done to the best classes:
- KS1 – Class 4
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 8
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 16
Weekly Round Up
Nursery – This week we have continued to read the 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear' book. We have drawn our favourite animal and made a chart to see which animal had the most votes. In Maths we looked at positional language. We learnt words like: on, in, behind, under, and in front of, and we used the language in practical activities during play. We continue to learn songs and Makaton signs for our concert. During our mark-making sessions we practised tracing. The children did amazingly when tracing over the lines.
Reception – This week in Reception we have been talking about Birthdays and the traditions people use to celebrate their birthday such as giving a cake, sharing gifts and having a party. We enjoyed celebrating our class bear 5th Birthday and threw them a little party with balloons, cards and a game of musical statues. We have enjoyed listening to the story Little Red, a twisted tale and have used our talk token to say if we liked the story. In Maths we have been comparing more and fewer. We are working hard to learn our Christmas Concert.
Year 1 & 2- This week both Year 1 and Year 2 children have been learning about keeping safe in PSHE. They have looked at times we would call 999 and the different emergency services that are available to help us. Children were given different scenarios and thought about which service they would need - fire, ambulance or police. We have also been visited this week by the local PCSO who came to talk to the children about their job and what they do. Children were really interested and asked some fantastic questions.
Year 3 & 4 –This week, Year 3 have enjoyed their trip to the Coal Mining Museum. We took part in a workshop about rocks and soils and enjoyed a tour of the museum. In lessons, we have been comparing creation stories in RE from a range of religions. In Geography, we have been learning why Milton Keynes grew so rapidly. In English, we have enjoyed creating our own villains to form part of our fairy tales.
This week, Year 4 have been looking at how to build suspense in spooky stories, looking at how short sentences and punctuation can support this. In Geography, we have been looking at how WW2 impacted Leeds. In PSHE, we have looked at alcohol and how it can change our bodies. In RE, we have been looking at the 'golden rule' and how we can be kind to others.
Year 5 & 6 – Lessons: We enjoyed visiting Kirkstall Abbey at the start of the week – looking at the Abbey and its surroundings – we imagined how we could incorporate the Abbey into our scary stories. In Geography, we held a debate about the Three Gorges Dam. In Science, we looked into the effects of air resistance – designing different parachutes and investigating different levels of air resistance.
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 given on Mondays and must be completed by the following Monday. Each week, children will be expected to complete homework on Emile (with tasks set in Grammar, Punctuation and Maths) and Oxford Owl (tasks set in Spelling). Spelling Homework will be set from Monday. Children will also be encouraged to use Reading Plus at home to support their reading development. Children who complete all their homework will be rewarded with a longer lunchtime on Friday.
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:
- Friday 21st November 2025 Training Day – No Children in School
- Thursday 4th December 2025 Years 3 & 4 Christmas Concerts 9.30am & 2pm
- Monday 8th December 2025 Reception Christmas Concerts 2pm
- Tuesday 9th December 2025 Rock Steady Concert 2.30pm
- Wednesday 10th December 2025 Performing Arts, Choir & Ukulele Club Concerts 2pm
- Wednesday 10th December 2025 Nursery Christmas Concerts 10.40am & 2.30pm
- Thursday 11th December 2025 Years 1 & 2 Christmas Concerts 9.30am & 2pm
- Monday 15th December 2025 Reception Christmas Party
- Tuesday 16th December 2025 Years 1 & 2 Christmas Party
- Wednesday 17th December 2025 Nursery Christmas Party
- Thursday 18th December 2025 Years 3 & 4 Christmas Party
- Thursday 18th December 2025 Years 5 & 6 Christmas Party
- Friday 19th December 2025 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 5th January 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Tuesday 3rd February 2025 Year 2 -Classes 5 and 6 Great Fire of London Workshops
- Friday 13th February 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 23rd February 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 20th March 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Wednesday 1st April 2025 Year 1 farm visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2025 Year 1 farm visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 20th April 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- 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
- Friday 12th June 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Monday 15th June 2025 Seaside visit - Class 5
- Thursday 18th June 2025 Seaside visit - Class 6
- Friday 17th July 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
FAO Families - Reception Places 2026
For parents who are making enquiries about applications for Reception places, please follow the link below to a video guide on how to apply for a Reception place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRU1SrS7iJE
There is also a detailed page on our website with information:
https://st-bartholomew-s-cofe-primary-school.schudio.com/parents/admissions-attendance
