West Leigh Juniors Weekly News

PE Days Summer 2

3T

• Indoor PE - Tuesday
• Outdoor PE - Thursday

3H

• Indoor PE - Wednesday
• Outdoor PE - Friday

3L

• Indoor PE - Monday
• Outdoor PE - Thursday

3M

• Indoor PE - Tuesday
• Outdoor PE - Friday

Swimming

• 3H - Monday
• 3L – Tuesday
• 3T – Wednesday
• 3M – Wednesday

Year 4

In English, the children have used various sources to research the pros and cons of zoos. From this, using a formal tone, they prepared speeches from a specific point of view before putting their speaking and listening skills to good use when they took part in a class debate to express their point of view.  Our layered reading lessons involved drama activities where the children had to imagine what it was like to be in the trenches during World War 1. This exciting activity allowed them to empathise with one of the characters from the story.  As budding mathematicians, Year 4 have been focusing on geometry puzzles and investigations. They have revisited key concepts such as angles, triangles, and quadrilaterals through a variety of engaging activities. They particularly enjoyed some tricky problem-solving tasks that got them thinking deeply and working collaboratively. In science lessons, they explored the evolution of habitats over time, engaging their imagination as they envisioned how their local environment might transform during winter. Their sketches illustrating these ideas were both creative and insightful. In DT, the children were excited to start building their spinning fairground rides. They worked collaboratively to measure, cut and fix together recycled items to create the ride. They carefully considered their designs, evaluating their progress as they went along.  REMINDER: Coastal Schools for 4E is now on Wednesday 8th July and 4E swimming is on Thursday 9th July. 

PE Days Summer 2

4B

• Indoor PE - Friday
• Outdoor PE - Thursday

4E

• Indoor PE - Monday
• Outdoor PE - Tuesday

4SW

• Indoor PE - Wednesday
• Outdoor PE - Tuesday

4C

• Indoor PE - Monday
• Outdoor PE - Thursday

Swimming

• 4B - Monday
• 4SW - Monday
• 4C - Wednesday
• 4E - Friday

Year 5

Another busy week is drawing to a close and, with just two weeks remaining until the summer holiday, both children and staff are beginning to feel that familiar sense of excitement and anticipation. It has been another productive and enjoyable week in Year 5 and the children continue to impress us with their enthusiasm, curiosity and resilience. On Friday, after much anticipation, pupils from Years 3 to 5 visited their new classrooms and met their new teachers. There was a real buzz around the school as they explored their new learning environments and discovered a little about what next year has in store. It was wonderful to see their confidence growing as they began to picture themselves stepping into their new roles in September. In English, the children have been carefully editing and refining their Mesoamerican stories in preparation for publication at our upcoming open evening. They are excited to share their writing with parents and carers and it has been a pleasure to see the pride they are taking in their work. We also reviewed recent reading and GPS papers, discussing strategies for future success and identifying key areas where learning can be further strengthened. In Maths, the focus has been on ordering decimals to three decimal places and solving problems involving the addition and subtraction of decimals, including real-life word problems. The children also revisited assessment papers from earlier in the term, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their methods, ask questions and consider how their answers could be improved. Some pupils also reviewed their final consortium papers, exploring a range of question types and discussing effective strategies for tackling them with greater accuracy and confidence. Art lessons this week have been especially creative and engaging. The children explored digital photography, using shadows and everyday objects such as sieves, colanders and natural materials to create striking patterns and effects. They then used digital tools to adjust colour, shade, expression and texture, while considering key artistic concepts such as composition, form, colour, pattern and texture. Building on their earlier Mayan mask drawings, the children digitally overlaid Mayan headdresses and masks onto their photographs. The results were outstanding, sparking lively discussion and plenty of enthusiasm. In science, the children have been learning about changes to materials, focusing on chemical reactions that create new substances and are usually irreversible. They explored the difference between physical changes, such as melting, freezing and dissolving, and chemical changes, such as burning, baking and rusting. Working through a range of scenarios, they confidently identified whether each example showed a physical or chemical change and explained their reasoning. Year 5 also enjoyed a fantastic visit to Hadleigh Cricket Club this week, where they took part in coaching sessions focused on batting, bowling and fielding. The coaches did a wonderful job of building confidence and encouraging every child to participate, making the sessions both enjoyable and inclusive. The visit also linked to the ongoing Women’s World Cup, helping to showcase cricket as an exciting sport for everyone and raising its profile among both boys and girls. The children were fully engaged throughout and embraced the opportunity to learn new skills while supporting one another. It was lovely to see such enthusiasm, teamwork and determination on display - we may well have a few future cricket stars in our midst!

During PSHCE, the children took part in a primary first‑aid survey and learned the acronym DrSABC: a simple and effective way to check a patient in an emergency. They also practised how to place someone safely in the recovery position. The children approached this learning with maturity and great interest, recognising how valuable these skills can be in real‑life situations.

As always, Year 5 have approached their learning with enthusiasm, curiosity and determination. With just two weeks of term remaining, we look forward to celebrating their achievements and enjoying the final weeks of the summer term together.

PE Days Summer 2

5G

• Indoor PE - Tuesday
• Outdoor PE - Monday

5A

• Indoor PE - Friday
• Outdoor PE - Wednesday

5N

• Indoor PE - Friday
• Outdoor PE - Wednesday

5F

• Indoor PE - Thursday
• Outdoor PE - Monday

​​Swimming

• 5N – Tuesday
• 5F – Tuesday
• 5G – Thursday
• 5A – Thursday

Year 6

It has been another exciting and memorable week for Year 6, with pupils continuing to embrace new opportunities both in and beyond the classroom. Rehearsals for the upcoming Leavers’ Assembly are now well underway, with scenes beginning to come together brilliantly. Pupils have been developing their characters and responding thoughtfully to feedback, refining their performances to incorporate both humour and drama. Their enthusiasm and willingness to step outside their comfort zones have been wonderful to see, and the production is already shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of their time at West Leigh. In English, pupils have been introduced to the powerful dub poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah. They explored how his culture, beliefs and life experiences influenced both his poetry and his work as an activist. The children enjoyed discussing the themes and style of his work, gaining an appreciation of how writers can use language to inspire, challenge and entertain. In science and PSHE, pupils have continued to learn about the effects of illegal drugs, while also considering the health risks associated with vaping. They approached these important topics with maturity, asking thoughtful questions and developing a greater understanding of how informed choices can support a healthy lifestyle. As artists, pupils were introduced to Bridget Riley and the Op Art movement. They studied her famous work, Movement in Squares, analysing the techniques used to create optical illusions before producing their own artwork inspired by her distinctive style. We hope the children enjoyed visiting their new secondary schools this week, whether that was King John on Tuesday morning or one of the Southend schools on Friday. We hope these visits were both enjoyable and reassuring, helping pupils to feel increasingly confident and excited about the next chapter of their education beginning in September.