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Summer 2 Diary Dates - Year 3 - Year 4 - Year 5 - Year 6 - Online Safety
General News - Sports News - Summer Term Inspirational Person - Dinner Menu
Attendance - Sports Awards - House Points - Achievements - PTA - Parent Council
Summer 2 Diary Dates
July
Please note that there will be no After School Club on Tuesday 15th July due to Open Evening . There will also be no After School Club on the last day of term (Wednesday 23rd July).
- Monday 7th - Sports Day - no swimming
- Tuesday 8th - Sports Stacks Event - Year 3
- School Nurse Drop In
- Wednesday 9th - Year 5 IndiRock visit (5L & 5G)
- Boys' Choir singing with Music Man Project
- Thursday 10th - Meet the Teacher morning (Years 3 - 5)
- Monday 14th - Friday 18th - Fun Swim Week
- Tuesday 15th - Open Evening 5pm - 7pm - no After School Club
- Friday 18th - Annual School Reports
- Monday 21st - Year 6 Swimming Gala
- Tuesday 22nd - Year 6 Leavers' performance to parents - 2pm
- Wednesday 23rd - Last day of term - no After School Club
Year 3
Last Friday, the Year 3 children enjoyed a fantastic Field Study trip.The weather was glorious, and the children’s behaviour was equally wonderful. We were all incredibly proud. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the trip; these valuable experiences wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of our parents and carers.
In our Connected Curriculum lessons, we’ve continued to focus on our local area by exploring its history. The children have been learning about how Leigh-on-Sea has changed over time, particularly due to the arrival of the train line. They focused on the question: 'What kind of impact do you think the c2c train line has had on Leigh-on-Sea?' We were mightily impressed with their thoughtful responses.
As creative designers, the children have completed their pneumatic toys in Design and Technology – and they look amazing! These will be on display during our Open Evening on Tuesday 15th July, and the children cannot wait to share them with you.
As writers, the children have been working hard to publish their own versions of The Lighthouse Keeper. We are so impressed with their effort and enhanced storytelling skills. These wonderful stories will also be on display during our Open Day, and the children are very excited to share and read their work with you.
In science lessons, the children investigated how shadows change throughout the day, observing the position and length of a shadow cast by a stationary object. The highlight was making and testing their own sundials—learning through practical, hands-on fun!
We are looking forward to meeting the children at Belfairs for their first Junior Sports Day on Monday. Enjoy a wonderful weekend!
Reminders:
- Please ensure that your child wears a coloured top in their House Team colour for sports morning on Monday.
- Any offers of help to walk back from our sports morning at Belfairs on Monday would be greatly appreciated.
Swimming
- 3M - Tuesday
- 3S - Wednesday
- 3H - Monday
- 3T - Wednesday
PE
- 3M - Wednesday - Indoor PE - Friday - Outdoor PE
- 3S - Tuesday - Indoor PE - Thursday - Outdoor PE
- 3H - Tuesday - Indoor PE - Friday - Outdoor PE
- 3T - Monday - Indoor PE - Thursday - Outdoor PE
Letters sent home this week
Year 4
Despite the warm weather, we have had a successful week of learning in Year 4.
In English, we have continued our work using Zoo by Anthony Browne. We have used our skills of empathy to write a day in the life of a chosen animal. The children used evidence from the text to support their ideas. They also researched the pros and cons of zoos. From this, they have started to prepare speeches from a specific point of view. They will be using these in preparation for a debate next week.
As mathematicians, the children have been practising their formal multiplication skills (some including decimals), or developing their understanding of division. Some children have also enjoyed playing and devising games to enhance their multiplication skills. Some groups have also been practising their formal addition and subtraction skills.
As geographers, 4E and 4SW were finally able to go on their field trip to Southend in order to find the answer to the question: ‘Is Southend-on–Sea a suitable location for a theme park?’ They used a range of fieldwork techniques such as traffic and ride surveys, completing field sketches and carrying out questionnaires to the general public. The children thoroughly enjoyed the valuable experience and found out a great deal about the area in terms of its physical and human features.
Reminders:
- Please ensure that your child wears a coloured top in their House Team colour for sports morning on Monday.
- Any offers of help to walk back from our sports morning at Belfairs on Monday would be greatly appreciated.
- We will be visiting Belfairs Woods for science next week: 4B and 4SW on Thursday 10th July, 4E and 4C on Friday 11th July. The timings are 1:45pm-2:45pm. Please let you class teacher know if you are able to help.
Swimming
- 4B - Monday
- 4E - Friday
- 4SW - Monday
- 4C - Wednesday
PE
- 4B - Wednesday - Indoor PE - Thursday - Outdoor PE
- 4E - Monday - Indoor PE - Tuesday - Outdoor PE
- 4SW - Friday - Indoor PE - Tuesday - Outdoor PE
- 4C - Monday - Indoor PE - Thursday - Outdoor PE
Letters sent home this week
Year 5
Despite the heat, the Year 5 children have shown great resilience this week and continued to work hard, with good humour.
5K and 5F thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Indirock in Southend on Wednesday, where they demonstrated and improved their stamina, strength and problem-solving abilities, scaling the walls and having a great deal of fun. 5G and 5L are looking forward to their trip next week.
Our Layered Reading lessons this week have focused on the essential skills of improving stamina and pace when reading. The children were also tasked to summarise parts of the chapter in one sentence and answer comprehension style questions based on what they had read. In other English lessons, we returned to our cultural text, Cloud Tea Monkeys. Using the structure of this story, the children planned a story with a change of setting to the forests, lowlands, or mountains of the Ancient Maya. Their task was to incorporate cultural references, demonstrating their knowledge of the lives of these ancient people gathered during their Connected Curriculum lessons. There was also an opportunity to write a figurative setting description and include a native animal as either an antagonist or a helper.
In maths lessons, we have been reviewing and building on the children’s knowledge of fractions, decimals and percentages. In some classes, the children have been finding percentages of amounts and converting between different ways of showing fractions. They also enjoyed a Maths Mission challenge, demonstrating their knowledge of a wide variety of mathematical skills in order to ‘escape a castle’!
The Jaguars, (the Mayan version of the famous Dragons from the Den) visited the classroom this week during one of our Connected Curriculum lessons. In teams, the children were tasked to research different Mayan inventions and choose the one they thought was the most valuable, describing its attributes and why the teacher Jaguar should ‘invest’ a certificate to the group. Verbal battles were fought and won and great fun was had by all. In our second lesson, we looked at the possible reasons for the fall of the Mayan civilisation. Thinking about the Millennium Seed Bank, the children were asked what from their lives they would want to be saved for posterity if our civilisation was on the brink of ruin . The ideas were varied and well-considered, allowing time for reflection and discussion.
Reminders:
- Please ensure that your child wears a coloured top in their House Team colour for sports morning on Monday.
- Any offers of help to walk back from our sports morning at Belfairs on Monday would be greatly appreciated.
Swimming
- 5K - Tuesday
- 5F - Thursday
- 5L - Tuesday
- 5G - Thursday
PE
- 5K - Friday - Indoor PE - Wednesday - Outdoor PE
- 5F- Friday - Indoor PE - Wednesday - Outdoor PE
- 5L - Thursday - Indoor PE - Monday - Outdoor PE
- 5G - Tuesday - Indoor PE - Monday- Outdoor PE
Letters sent home this week
Year 6
We hope you have enjoyed hearing all about the children’s exciting adventures during Ilam Hall or Southend Week. Whether exploring the beautiful Peak District or engaging in the wide variety of enriching experiences closer to home, the pupils have certainly created many lasting memories.
Back in the classroom, our science lessons have focused on the biological impact of medicine, drugs and vapes. These sessions have encouraged mature and thoughtful discussion, with pupils considering the short- and long-term effects of substances on the human body.
In English, the children have been exploring the poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah. They have read and reflected on several of his powerful and emotive poems, appreciating his unique style and the important themes he presents through his work.
Maths this week has seen pupils developing their problem-solving skills, with particular emphasis on applying systematic listing strategies to tackle more complex challenges.
Preparations for the Leavers’ Assembly are now well underway. Initial rehearsals have been full of energy and excitement, with pupils throwing themselves into the singing of a wonderfully diverse collection of songs. We’ve also begun setting many of the scenes, and it’s already shaping up to be a special and memorable performance.
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish the children well for their transition day. We are confident that they will represent West Leigh brilliantly as they begin to take their next steps.
A quick reminder that Sports Day will take place on Monday 7th July at Belfairs Academy. If you are available to help walk your child’s class back to school after the event, please write a note in your child’s communication book. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Reminders:
- Please ensure that your child wears a coloured top in their House Team colour for sports morning on Monday.
Swimming
- All Classes - Friday
PE
- 6D - Wednesday - Indoor PE - Monday - Outdoor PE
- 6A - Thursday - Indoor PE - Tuesday - Outdoor PE
- 6P - Thursday - Indoor PE - Monday - Outdoor PE
- 6W - Thursday - Indoor PE - Tuesday- Outdoor PE
Letters sent home this week
Online Safety
iPads are a familiar fixture in many households and classrooms, offering access to educational tools, entertainment, and the internet in one sleek package; however, with great versatility comes notable risk. From accidental spending and data privacy breaches to excessive screen time, there’s plenty for parents and educators to consider before handing over the device. While Apple offers built-in safeguards such as ‘Screen Time’ and ‘Family Sharing’, these features must be correctly set up and actively managed to be effective.
Our guide walks you through these options and highlights some of the more surprising ways children can get around restrictions – including with Siri – while offering practical advice on how to help keep young users safe and healthy online.
General News
Ukulele performance
On Wednesday afternoon, a number of children from Years 5 and 6 performed a music recital at West Leigh Baptist Church. As a school, we often try to go out and about into our local community and really enjoy visiting the church to entertain some of its patrons.
Alongside the ukulele group, members of the girls' choir performed pieces to entertain. From Glenn Miller inspired songs to 'The Weeknd', the group performances were well received and enjoyed by our friendly audience. Well done to all of the children.
A special mention must go to Amelia from 6D who played her first violin solo in front of an audience - what a professional and accomplished performance it was - well done Amelia!
Thank you to a number of parents who came along to offer support, as well as the parents who accompanied us on the walk to the church.
We look forward to reprising some of the material at the upcoming Open Evening.
Ilam Hall
On Monday 23rd June, 108 pupils departed school, bound for Ilam Hall in the Peak District. Our journey went well with a brief stop en route. On arrival at Ilam Hall, the children massed on the lawn outside the hostel whilst the coaches were unloaded. Having deposited cases and bags inside, water bottles were topped up and the three groups set off to climb either Bunster Hill or Thorpe Cloud. The steep ascent was rewarded with spectacular views back towards the hostel. Having surveyed the rolling countryside, the groups returned to the hostel ready for their evening meal.
The Tuesday itinerary meant that Mr Dunn’s group would follow a slightly different order than the other two groups. For group C, their day started with a short journey to the outskirts of Ashbourne where they picked up bicycles and set off along the Tissington Trail. Meanwhile, the other two groups headed to the town of Castleton where the Blue John caverns are located. Having explored the caverns, they had lunch followed by a couple of brief showers! This marked the start of the climb to the top of Mam Tor. The showers were soon dispersed by a blustery breeze which again allowed the children to appreciate the landscape and the walk they had just completed!
Wednesday meant the reversal of activities on the itinerary. Group C headed off to Castleton to enjoy the wonders of the High Peak area. Mr Boylan was heading off to Chatsworth House with his group whilst Mr Queenborough was leading his group on a cycle ride along the Tissington Trail. The cycle route is a total of seven miles along a former disused railway line. Thankfully, the gentle incline towards the former Tissington station means that the return leg is a relaxed ride!
At Chatsworth, all the groups enjoyed a tour of the spectacular stately home. With lots to see in the open rooms, the children marvelled at some of the artworks on show and the splendour of the rooms. Once through the house, the children got to explore a tiny part of the extensive grounds. The fountain, which was built in 1844, allowed the children to cool off in the spray. Some groups got to explore the maze whilst others got to walk through the rockery. Whichever route was taken around the grounds, all can say how amazing they are.
Thursday meant Alton Towers. The children were excited to try and ride many of the attractions. Hex, Thirteen, Smiler, the Conga River Rapids and the Battle Galleons amongst others all proved to be popular choices by those that got to ride them. With any large theme park, it is always difficult to get to ride everything, but the children were pleased to get to experience many popular attractions. Children exchanged stories about their day on return to the hostel. After the evening meal, like each evening before, the children played outside in the grounds of Ilam Hall. There was a buzz of activity, and it was hard to believe that it was soon time for bed with the week almost over.
On our last morning, all rooms were emptied, and packed bags stored, ready to be loaded onto coaches. Each group set off for a local walk around the Manifold Valley. Watched over by the sheep, the children walked around designated paths before returning to the hostel, where the coaches met us, ready for the return leg to school. The whole week has provided the children with some lasting memories. The hostel staff praised the children for their manners and behaviour. Similar messages were echoed in other places we visited during the week. The children were a credit to West Leigh and a credit to their parents.
Southend Week
Year 6’s Southend Week got off to a busy start with a trip to the Sea Life Centre where piranhas and penguins very quickly became the most popular attraction! Once the children had managed to tear themselves away, they enjoyed a brisk (and very windy) mile and a third walk to the end of Southend Pier. Pupils enjoyed their packed lunches while looking at the sea views, followed by an ice-cream, or in some cases brightly-coloured candy floss! To complete the Southend Pier experience, the children then travelled back to shore on the Pier train.
Nerves and excitement were high on Tuesday morning as pupils embarked on a trip to Belfairs Riding School. Here, each child mounted a horse for a ride through the woods. For many of the children, this was their first time on a horse and it was a pleasure to see how much they enjoyed it. After a brief return to school for lunch, the Year 6 pupils headed out into the sunshine to spend the afternoon playing team games, board games and indulging in some arts and crafts at Fields.
The following day involved another train ride to Southend. By Wednesday, the pupils had already racked up an impressive 43,000 steps, but they didn’t let that stop them from enjoying an hour’s bouldering at Indi Rock. After the safety briefing, children took on the climbing walls, challenging themselves with more difficult sections as their confidence grew. With aching arms and sore fingers, they headed to the seafront for a well-deserved ice cream and/or doughnuts. Refreshed by this, the group then played a game of Crazy Golf, with many of the children demonstrating their more competitive streaks!
On Thursday, equipped with buckets, nets and towels, they headed down to Old Leigh Beach. Upon arrival, some pupils opted to collect (and later return) crabs from the Estuary mud; others preferred to relax in the sunshine. During the afternoon, after a quick clean-up, pupils utilised the school kitchen to make individual pizzas and gingerbread.
As the final day of Southend Week rolled round, pupils spent the morning demonstrating their creative talents with a rainforest-themed art course led by Revelation Art. After creating ceramic sloth hanging baskets and sand art, the group packed their bags for their final train ride into Southend. Upon arrival, competitive spirits were displayed during two intense games of bowling at King Pins.
The Year 6 pupils had a wonderful week making the most of everything the local area has to offer. Their attitude and general behaviour were a true credit to both themselves, their parents and the school. We hope they all enjoyed themselves as much as the staff involved did!
Year 4’s Eddie Delights Infant School with Punch and Judy Performance
This week, Year 4 student Eddie took centre stage at the Infant School with a fantastic performance of a traditional Punch and Judy show. Armed with hand-crafted puppets and a lot of enthusiasm, Eddie brought the classic seaside tale to life for the younger children, who were thoroughly entertained by the cheeky characters and lively storytelling.
The pupils were captivated from start to finish, joining in with laughter and excitement as the show unfolded. It was a wonderful opportunity for Eddie to share his creativity and confidence, and a real treat for the Infant School children.
Well done, Eddie, for spreading joy and keeping this much-loved tradition alive!
Sports News
Year 6 Essex Cricket Finals
On Tuesday, ten Year 6 boys played in the Essex county finals U11 open dynamos competition at Billericay cricket club. On such a scorching hot day, they managed to play some amazing cricket.
- West Leigh V. St. Nicholas: 119-74
- West Leigh V. Greenleaf Primary: 87-57
- West Leigh V. James Oglethorpe School 73-105
- West Leigh V. St. Thomas More Primary - 85-82
Through to the final of division 1, it had now reached 33 degrees! With some excellent batting and bowling on display, we were beaten in the final by St Aubyns from Woodford.
The boys should be extremely proud of themselves today; they showed resilience, team spirit and determination in very difficult conditions and came 6th overall across Essex.
Well done boys!
Summer Term Inspirational Person
This half term's inspirational person is Katie Stagliano, who founded the charity Katie's Krops at a young age. Her work all started with a school project - growing a cabbage! She managed to grow an enormous cabbage which she donated to feed the homeless. When she realised that her cabbage had helped provide meals to 275 people, she started to wonder what a whole garden might do. After setting up a garden in her school, Katie's project grew until she had young people across America creating their own gardens and donating the produce. Her empathy, compassion and selflessness have inspired us all!
The challenge for this half term can be found on Showbie - don't forget that there are prizes available! Children should design a garden or allotment that could be used to grow crops to feed people who do not have enough money to buy food. They can upload their design to Showbie or hand it in to Mrs London.
Dinner Menu
Week 2
Monday - Sports Day Picnic
Tuesday - Chinese Chicken Curry - Chinese Vegetable Curry - Granary Baguette with Cheese - Steamed Rice and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Biscuit
Wednesday - Pork Sausage Toad in the Hole with Gravy - Vegan Sausage Toad in the Hole with Gravy - Granary Baguette with Tuna Mayonnaise - Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Cornflake Crunch
Thursday
Friday - Margherita Pizza with Chunky Chips - Vegan Pizza with Chunky Chips - Wholemeal Wrap with Salmon and Sweetcorn with Tortilla Chips - Homemade Coleslaw and Salad Bar - Fresh fruit, Yoghurt or Fruity Jelly
Don't forget to check out our new online bookshop here.
House Points
Achievements
Outside Achievement – William
We’re very proud to share a fantastic outside achievement from William in Year 5.
William recently competed in the Hoddesdon Summer Sprint swimming gala – his first competition in some time, due to his club temporarily relocating while their usual pool in Basildon undergoes refurbishment.
Despite the disruption, William rose to the challenge brilliantly, achieving Gold in the 50m backstroke and Silver in the 100m individual medley, competing against nearly 30 swimmers in each event. He also secured three new personal best times across the gala.
William shows incredible commitment to his sport, training several times a week – often starting his day as early as 4.50am to make it to the pool. A huge well done to William for his hard work, determination, and resilience. We’re all very proud of you!
Messages from FOWLS
Parent Council
The full list of councillors, along with their email addresses if you wish to contact them, can be found on our school website. The minutes from our meetings are also published on this page, which can be found using the following link: https://www.westleighjunior.co.uk/parent-council
A reminder that answers to many of the previously discussed items at parent council can be found on the 'hot topics' section of our website: https://www.westleighjunior.co.uk/hot-topics
This includes subjects such as lost property, lunchtime arrangements, clubs and much more.
We still have vacancies in 4C and 6P - if you are able to spare an evening each term to represent your class, it would be of great benefit to the school. Our meetings are held at 4.30pm and councillors are able to use our After School Club, free of charge to assist with child care during the meeting. Please contact Mrs London if you are able to volunteer.
Community News
We've created a dedicated space on our website to share flyers for local events and community support. Click the link below to explore what's happening in our area.
Autumn 1 Term Diary Dates
September
- Monday 1st - INSET Day
- Monday 8th - Swimming restarts
- Wednesday 17th - Friday 19th - Year 5 Residential
October
- Monday 27th - Friday 31st - Half Term
November
- Tuesday 11th - Flu Immunisations
- Wednesday 19th - Year 6 - Young Shakespeare Macbeth
- Monday 24th - Friday 28th - Book Fair
December
- Friday 19th - INSET DAY
- Monday 22nd - Friday 2nd January - Christmas Break
Credits:
Created with images by Christy Thompson - "make a date" • Pixel-Shot - "Female hands with newspapers on color background" • Kaspars Grinvalds - "Tablet with sports news website on stack of newspapers. All contents are made up." • Brian Jackson - "Calendar appointment"