Welcome to the New School Year!
We’re so pleased to be back and already into the swing of things as the new school year begins! It’s been wonderful to see our classrooms filled with energy, curiosity, and the happy buzz of learning once again.
A very special welcome to all the new children who have joined us this term. We are especially excited to welcome our newest members in Nursery and Reception — we’re so proud of how well you’ve settled in already!
We also extend a warm welcome to the new children who have joined us in Years 2, 5 and 6. It’s been fantastic to see you becoming part of our school community so quickly — we’re delighted to have you with us.
Children across the school have made a fantastic start to the year and are already earning Class Dojo points for positive behaviour, kindness, effort, and more. We encourage all families to download the Class Dojo app if you haven’t already, as all day-to-day reminders and class updates will be shared through this platform. Please also ensure we have your up-to-date email address, as important whole-school information and newsletters will continue to be sent via email. Finally, please follow us on social media where we will share our good news stories.
Diary Dates
September
Thursday 18 September – Friday 19 September – Year 5 Blackhills Residential – see email for full details
Wednesday 24 September, 5:00pm – “Early reading meeting” for Early Years and Key Stage 1 – see Class Dojo for details
October
Monday 6 October – Year 6 Bonfire Talk in school
Thursday 9 October – Year 4 school trip to Cartwright Hall “Turner Prize Workshop” – more details to follow
Monday 13 October – “Bradford and The Museum of Untold Stories” session for Year 1 in school
Tuesday 14 October – Tuesday 21 October, 3:05pm – Scholastic Book Fair visits school
Wednesday 15 October – Harvest Assembly – more details to follow
Thursday 16 October, 3:05pm – 4:30pm – “Book Look” – come and see all the wonderful work your children have been doing
Monday 20 October – Year 3 and Year 4 “Swing Low, Big Sing” event at St George’s hall – more details to follow
Tuesday 21 October – Reception to Year 6 Flu Vaccinations – more details to follow
Wednesday 22 October – Early Years school trip to The Little Lancashire Village – see email for details
Friday 24 October – FOPPS Fundraiser, “Break the Rules Day” – more details to follow
November
Thursday 6 November – Year 3 school trip to Nell Bank – see email for details
Tuesday 11 November – Year 2 school trip to Cliffe Castle – see email for details
Wednesday 12 November – Year 4 to Leeds City Museum – see email for details
Monday 17 November, 3:20pm – 5:30pm – Parents’ Evening – details on how to book will follow soon
Wednesday 19 November, 3:30pm – 6:30pm – Parents’ Evening – details on how to book will follow soon
Friday 21 November – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR DATA DAY
Attendance
Our whole school attendance last week was 90.9%, not near our target of 97%. We do know this has improved this week!
Reception – 92.8%
Year 1 – 89.6%
Year 2 – 90.3%
Year 3 – 94%
Year 4 – 94.2%
Year 5 – 87.9%
Year 6 – 90%
Pride of Priestthorpe
Well done to the following children who received our Pride of Priestthorpe award this week
Early Years – Bailey and Emelia
Year 1 – Tommy and Kamila
Year 2 – Elliott and Jaxson
Year 3 – Brodie and Xander
Year 4 – Ayden and Jessica
Year 5 – Ellie and Lewis
Year 6 – George and Sophia E
Early Years
Early Years have had an amazing time exploring provision and reading The Gruffalo.
Year 1
Year 1 have been exploring primary and secondary colours and have shown their artistic streak producing some artwork!
Year 2
This week Year 2 have begun their 7 continents topic in geography. We learnt all about the 7 continents and the 5 oceans of the world.
Year 3
Year 3 were being botanists in Science. They were observing and drawing plant features.
Year 4
Year 4 have been practising the skills needed to play a game of handball.
Year 5
In Year 5 writing, we have been focussing on verbs. We have been identifying whether a verb is a doing verb or a being verb. We have also been looking at both present and past tense versions of verbs (run/ran = doing or was/is = being). On top of that, we have also looked at singular and plural version of verbs within sentences e.g. The child runs up the hill/The children run up the hill/The child ran up the hill/The children ran up the hill. We then linked it all into our focus text ‘The true story of the 3 little pigs’.
Year 6
Year 6 have been studying a book called The Arrival by Shaun Tan. The book follows the stories of different people from around the world as they leave their homes to seek refuge in another country. The children chose their most memorable part of Chapter Four and acted it out as a ‘freeze frame’ for their classmates to identify.
Important learning information
We use a range of Learning Apps in school, which can also be accessed at home. Please use the links below to practice key skills.
Times Table Rockstars is an award-winning maths learning platform where children can practice their times tables like a rock star! Certificates can be achieved every Thursday for the children who have made the most progress in terms of the biggest increase in accuracy that week. We also run in school competitions.
Times Tables Rock Stars – Times Tables Rock Stars
Accelerated Reader will allow children to read a book and then take an online quiz to test their knowledge and understanding of the text, and receive immediate feedback. Students respond to regular feedback and are motivated to improve their reading skills.
Spelling Shed uses the science of spelling to teach it to pupils. Using phonics as a base and drawing upon proven approaches such as teaching morphology, etymology, and orthographic mapping, as well as teaching spelling patterns. Children are set new activities on here each week.
