Newsletters

Thursday 20^th December 2018

 Dear Parents,

As we break up for Christmas I would like to share news about recent events in school and let you know about forthcoming events.  

We say good luck to Mrs Burrows as she leaves school at Christmas to have her baby. We will keep you updated when the baby arrives. Mrs Higson will be working in class 3 with Mrs Pollard after Christmas. 

Class News

Nursery Pupils have learned about the tradition of having a Christmas tree and enjoyed making them and decorating them. They have been learning the Christmas story and shared some lovely songs with their parents this week to celebrate Christmas.

Reception Just before Christmas children had a trip to Leeds Minster to learn about the Christmas story and look at all the life size nativity figures. The children also had a wonderful trip to Middleton Railway where they had a train ride with Santa Claus and were given a present each. They have made lots of Christmas angels in class.

Year One As part of their science topic about their bodies, children enjoyed a trip to Thackray Medical Museum. They have also taken part in some road safety training about crossing the road safely. The children had a brilliant time at Skelton Grange Environmental Centre where they made dens, had a campfire and made crafts out of natural materials.

Year Two As part of their topic about toys pupils had a visit and workshop at Abbey House Museum where they handled and looked at toys from the past. Guy Fawkes also visited them to teach about the Gun Powder Plot and brought lots of exciting objects to share. Children really enjoyed a visit to Harewood House for a Christmas crafts workshop earlier this week.

Year Three Children have recently enjoyed the story, Coming Home, and learned lots of facts about Robins as part of their Christmas topic. They have made some lovely story maps which re-tell the story.

Year Four An Egyptian workshop provided a real highlight for year 4 to enhance their history topic last term. The children also took part in road safety training and enjoyed a visit to Moortown Baptist Church for a workshop about Christmas where they made tea light holders and took part in a Christmas quiz.

Year Five Pupils enjoyed a trip to Leeds City Museum as part of their topic about the Ancient Greeks. As part of their science topic they visited the waterworks in Headingley to learn about the watercycle and the challenges of getting clean water in Ethiopia.

Year Six

Pupils visited Leeds Minster to see an exhibition about local people who fought in the First World War. They produced some amazing poetry imagining how the people would have felt.  Some children also took part in a dodgeball competition.

Other News

Football Our football team have played four league games this term and have won one, drawn one and lost two. The team are in the second round of the cup and will continue to have league games next term.  Many thanks to Mr Robertson, Mr Leigh and Mr Solaru for their brilliant support of the team and to all the players who train and take part.

Governors Many thanks to all our governors who have been into school during this half term to meet with us. They give a great deal of their own time up to support our school. Our parent governors are Yordanos Fisseha (parent of Nathan class 4, Sophia class 2 & Luna reception) and Seng-Mai Bickle, (parent of Jasper in year 3 and Lily in year 6). Please feel free to chat to either of these governors if you have anything you would like raising at the meetings.

Road Safety Throughout this term we have had a variety of workshops running in school to teach pupils about road safety. The children have been taught about crossing roads safely and how to be visible, particularly at night. Please make sure younger children hold a parents hand as they leave school as it can be very busy with cars near school.

Flu Vaccines We were delighted that so many of our pupils took up the free vaccine across school to help them stay healthy over the winter.

Fashion Club trip Many thanks to Mr Guthrie and Miss Trew for organising another excellent trip to Leeds College of Art, where pupils took part in a workshop and met fashion students.

Parents’ Evening It was good to see so many parents at our recent parents’ evening. I hope you found the information useful and enjoyed looking through your child’s work. Many thanks to everyone who bought a book at our book sale. School Council managed to raise £100 during the sale. 

Choir Last week the children were invited to sing carols at a Christian Aid concert at Leeds Minster, perform at the Rotary Club lunch in Headingley and share carols at an elderly people’s home. They really were a pleasure to listen to and we were very proud of them all.

British Legion Many thanks to all of you who encouraged your children to buy a poppy. The proceeds have been sent to the British Legion

Lateness and Absence Reporting Attendance figures for this academic year so far average at 98.5%, which is very good. We were delighted to receive a shield for winning the attendance award for November within our local area. This is the third time the school has won it. Out of all the schools in the Inner East cluster, our school had the highest rate for the month. Thank you to all the parents who make sure their child’s attendance and punctuality is a priority.

School Closures If school needs to close due to extreme weather we will send parents a text and an announcement will be made on BBC Radio Leeds and Radio Aire. Information is also available on the Leeds City Council and Radio Aire websites. If you have recently changed your mobile phone number please let us know at school.

Christmas Church Service The whole school attended a lovely Christmas service at Leeds Minster. It was a wonderful occasion with readings and the Christmas Story and gave the children an opportunity to look at all the life size nativity figures.

Christmas Concerts KS1 performed ‘Is There a Baby in There?’ and those of you who came to see it will agree the children sang, danced and read beautifully. KS2 presented a beautiful medley of carols, along with performances by the steel pans and recorder groups. The singing in both concerts was wonderful and I would like to thank all the parents who joined in so enthusiastically to make the events so happy and uplifting. DVDs of the two concerts are available from the school office shortly priced £2.00

Gold Award  

All children who receive certificates each week will have their picture displayed in the entrance hall. Their achievements are also recorded in the gold book. Do feel free to come in and look at the achiever’s notice board. Below is a list of achievers for this half term

Congratulations

Key Stage One

Key Stage Two

Forthcoming Events

These events will be coming up over the next half term and you will receive more information about them nearer the time.

On behalf of everyone at St Peter’s, I wish you a very happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year

Yours sincerely

Mrs E.J.Holliday

Headteacher