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Newsies Jr Tickets on Sale
The Newsies Jr tickets are now available to purchase from the school office. The show features children from across the whole school and is guaranteed to be brilliant if previous West Leigh Productions are anything to go by. Don't miss out.
Portico Writing Competition
We are delighted to launch our Trust-wide Writing Competition, open to every child in Year 3 to Year 6 across all of our schools! This exciting celebration of creativity offers a writing challenge designed to inspire imagination and showcase brilliant storytelling. Year 3 & 4 pupils are invited to write “The Storm That Changed Everything” - a dramatic story about a powerful storm that transforms life as it was. Will it bring danger, loss, hope… or a brand-new beginning? Year 5 & 6 pupils will write a story that begins with a warning. The warning could be spoken, written, mysterious or frightening, but it must matter. We are looking for atmosphere, emotion and creativity. Whether through gripping openings, powerful description, ambitious vocabulary or carefully crafted tension, we can’t wait to see our pupils’ ideas come to life. This competition is open to every child across the Trust, and we strongly encourage everyone to take part. ✨ Every child who enters will receive a bookmark to celebrate their participation. 🏆 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded in each phase. 📅 Closing date: 18th March
Spring 2 Term Diary Dates
March
- Monday 9th - Year 3-5 assessments
- Newsies rehearsal
- Tuesday 10th - Science Quiz Club Area Heat
- Year 3/4 Sportshall Athletics
- Therapy Dog visit
- Year 5 Athletics Trials
- Wednesday 11th - Year 4 Tag Rugby Competition
- Year 6 Athletics Trials
- Thursday 12th - Jazz Workshops Year 3
- Newsies Jr Production - Belfairs Academy
- Essex Cross Country Squad Training
- Friday 13th -'Significant Female' Sale
- Newsies Jr Production - Belfairs Academy
- Saturday 14th - Newsies Jr Production - Belfairs Academy
- Monday 16th - 5A and 5G visit to The Globe Theatre
- Break dancing Enrichment Day
- Public Speaking Competition - postponed until summer term
- Tuesday 17th - Year 5/6 Boys' Football League Game at Shoeburyness High School
- Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 18th - Year 5/6 Sportshall Athletics Final
- Thursday 19th - 5N and 5F visit to The Globe Theatre
- Essex Cross Country Squad Training
- Friday 20th - Comic Relief: non-uniform
- Tuesday 24th - Learning Conferences
- Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 25th - Essex Cross Country Final
- Thursday 26th - Portico Football Festival
- Learning Conferences
- Friday 27th - Trip to Garons Park
- Year 5/6 Aquathlon
- Last Day of Term
Year 3
It has been a very busy week in Year 3 and the children have all worked incredibly hard during test week, demonstrating their learning in English, maths and spelling from this term. We are very proud of the effort and determination they have shown. This week, we were delighted to welcome visitors from the Southend Jazz Centre, who hosted an exciting improvisation assembly. It was a fantastic experience and gave the children a chance to explore jazz music in a fun and engaging way. They will be returning next week for a follow-up workshop, where the children will have another opportunity to learn more about jazz and take part in further musical activities. In history lessons, the children worked collaboratively in groups to create a Greek Legacy research project. Each group focused on a legacy from ancient Greece that they believe has had a significant impact on life today. Using their knowledge of non-chronological reports, they carefully planned and designed informative posters to present their research. In science, the children continued their investigations into magnets, exploring which materials are magnetic. They particularly enjoyed the practical investigation, testing different objects around the classroom. They were fascinated to discover that some coins are magnetic while others are not, depending on the materials they are made from. The children also thoroughly enjoyed celebrating World Book Day. It was wonderful to see them dressed as favourite characters or wearing comfortable clothes while sharing their love of reading and favourite books. We hope you all have a lovely and restful weekend.
PE Days Spring 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 built upon their previous knowledge of Boudicca. Applying their learning, they created an inspiring and powerful speech that Boudicca might have made to her tribe to inspire them. As well as completing tests in mathematics, there has been a continuous focus on multiplication and division. The children have used various methods to solve problems; however, they should continue to work on rapid recall of multiplication facts. The emphasis in science has been on the water cycle. The children applied their previous knowledge of evaporation, condensation and precipitation to explain the process using the correct scientific vocabulary in the form of a labelled diagram. As historians, the children used a range of sources to research both Roman soldiers and Celtic warriors. They used reasoning skills to justify who they believed to be better fighters and why. They also researched what life was like under Roman rule and compared aspects such as housing, religion, Roman baths and roads with other historical periods. Just for next week, 4B will be swimming on Tuesday NOT on Monday.
PE Days Spring 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
The warmer sunshine this week has certainly lifted spirits, bringing wide smiles from teachers and children alike. Year 5 have approached the first week of their tests with resilience and calm, working diligently through their spelling, reading and GPS papers. We are very proud of their positive attitude and dedication. We are nearing the end of our journey through Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Drawing on their learning about persuasive language, passive voice and discussion texts, the children have written thoughtful responses to the question, “Is Prospero guilty of treating Caliban badly?” They explored both sides of the argument using ambitious vocabulary and persuasive structures - there are certainly some budding politicians and barristers among them! In maths, we began the week exploring angles using a clock face before revisiting perimeter and area. The children challenged themselves to calculate missing lengths, widths and areas and finished by tackling more complex rectilinear shapes while reviewing recent learning for next week’s tests. In science, the children learned about gestation periods and researched examples across different mammals. They plotted their findings in a range of graphs, looking for patterns, discussing what the data showed and considering the reliability of their sources. Our Connected Curriculum returned to a history focus, where the children revisited their Year 4 learning on the Romans. They explored the eruption of Vesuvius in 79CE and its impact on Pompeii. They examined a range of evidence—artefacts, written accounts and a short simulation—classifying each as a primary or secondary source and judging how rich, reliable and relevant it was. The lesson stretched both their thinking and debate skills.
PE Days Spring 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
This week, pupils have continued to engage thoughtfully with their learning across the curriculum. In geography, they explored the impact of humans on rainforest environments, with a particular focus on deforestation. Pupils considered both the advantages and disadvantages of human activity in these regions, recognising the complex balance between economic development and environmental conservation. They demonstrated mature thinking as they weighed up arguments for and against these changes. In English, they have continued to develop their reading skills through exposure to a wide range of engaging and varied texts, including both fiction and non-fiction. They have been encouraged to analyse language, consider authors’ viewpoints and deepen their understanding of different styles of writing. Science lessons have focused on evolution and inheritance. Pupils learned how inherited features can become more common over time as a result of survival of the fittest, leading to species gradually evolving. They explored how advantageous characteristics improve an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction, helping them to understand how species change over long periods of time. In maths, revision has now begun in earnest, with a focus this week on aspects of geometry. Pupils have been applying their knowledge to increasingly challenging problem-solving activities, encouraging them to think carefully about the strategies needed to reach accurate solutions. As part of our celebrations for World Book Day, pupils also enjoyed spending time reading with children in the infant school. This was a lovely opportunity for Year 6 to share their enthusiasm for reading while supporting younger pupils in developing their own enjoyment of books.
PE Days Spring 2
6D
- Indoor - Wednesday
- Outdoor - Monday
6K
- Indoor - Thursday
- Outdoor - Tuesday
6W
- Indoor - Thursday
- Outdoor - Tuesday
6S
- Indoor - Thursday
- Outdoor - Monday
Swimming
- 6D - Thursday
- 6S - Friday
- 6K - Friday
- 6W - Friday
Online Safety
With reading for pleasure in decline, this practical guide offers ten thoughtful ways to reignite children’s enthusiasm for books. From valuing all forms of reading to broadening access to diverse materials, it explores how adults can nurture positive reading habits both at home and in school. Digital tools, audiobooks and augmented reality are also considered as engaging ways to support today’s readers. It also highlights the power of social connection – recommending books, reading together and meeting authors – alongside the importance of modelling reading ourselves. With expert insight from literacy specialist Carl Pattison, this edition provides supportive, achievable ideas to help young people reconnect with reading and see it as a meaningful part of everyday life.
Dinner Menu
Week 3
Monday - Homemade Creamy Cheese & Vegetable Wholemeal Pasta - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Granary Baguette with Egg Mayonnaise - Sweetcorn, Coleslaw and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Cocktail Tuesday - Pork Sausage - Vegan Sausage - Granary Baguette with Cheese - Saute Potatoes, Baked Beans and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Sprinkle Cake Wednesday - Mrs Maddin’s Chicken & Ham Pie - Cheese, Onion and Potato Pie - Granary Baguette with Tuna Mayonnaise Mash Potato, Peas and Sweetcorn and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruity Shortbread Thursday - Homemade Beef and Spaghetti Bolognaise - Vegetable and Quorn Spaghetti Bolognaise - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Sponge Friday - Cheese & Tomato Pizza with Tortilla Chips - Vegan Pizza with Tortilla Chips - Wholemeal Wrap with Salmon and Sweetcorn - Coleslaw and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Doughnuts
Sports News
Girls' Football v Greenways
The girls’ football team played their second league match on Thursday against Greenways. West Leigh got off to a great start, scoring an early goal in the first few minutes of the game. They continued to apply strong pressure throughout the first half and scored a second goal before half time. The team continued to play with confidence in the second half and kept their heads high after conceding a goal. The team reset and demonstrated strong defending and superb tackles, helping them to score another two goals. In the closing seconds of the game, Greenways managed to find a gap in our defence to score. With the final whistle blown, West Leigh won 4-2: a fantastic result ahead of their next game against Thorpe Hall.
Netball Friendly
On Wednesday, eleven Year 5/6 girls were invited to play a friendly netball match against St. Michael's School. We played both their A and B teams, showing some excellent defending and attacking skills and winning both games. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are improving after every game. Well done to all and thank you to St Michael's - especially for the half-time oranges!
School News
Waterstones Visit
A group of our Year 3 pupils enjoyed a visit to Waterstones this week, where they had the exciting opportunity to help choose new books for our school library. The children explored the shelves, shared their recommendations and carefully selected titles they thought other pupils would enjoy reading. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm for books and their thoughtful choices. Involving pupils in selecting library books helps ensure our collection reflects their interests and encourages a love of reading across the school. We look forward to offering the same opportunity to other year groups in the coming weeks as they also take part in choosing new books for our library.
Years 3 & 4 Improvise with Boomwhackers!
On Thursday, the lower school hall was a sea of Boomwhackers when Rhythm Connections visited to host a jazz workshop called 'Let's Improvise!' Marc and his team worked with all the children in Years 3 and 4 to host a performance of 3-piece jazz which the children contributed to with their own compositions using the Boomwhackers. The children followed their instructions really well to develop improvisations using the pentatonic scale and many of them had the opportunity to lead the Boomwhacker orchestra from the front! The sound was so majestic as it echoed around the corridors of the school. Next week, Rhythm Connections will return to work with each Year 3 class in turn to give them an opportunity to learn more about jazz and music improvisation.
Inspirational Person - Bethany Hamilton
Last half term's Showbie challenge was taken up by so many children and hopefully we have managed to make a difference to the planet through our actions. As part of their challenge, Fearne and Jude Rochester asked us to share the link to the following petition for a new law called the Living Planet Act, so that as many parents as possible can sign up: https://www.wwf.org.uk/act/living-planet-act This half term, our inspirational person is Bethany Hamilton. Bethany’s story is one of courage, determination and heart. After losing her arm in a shark attack at the age of 13, she showed incredible resilience by returning to the sport she loved and continuing to compete at the highest level. Rather than giving up, she chose to face her challenges with bravery and a positive mindset. Bethany reflects our school values in powerful ways. We thought about a new way to define integrity: staying true to who you are, even when life becomes incredibly difficult. Bethany didn’t give up on her passion and she continued to work hard – when in fact, no-one would have blamed her for quitting! Just like Bethany riding a wave, we all have challenges to face. And even if the wave feels big and scary, we can be brave enough to try again. The challenge for this half term is to use the surfboard template on Showbie to create a ‘Golden Values’ surfboard. This could be decorated with words to represent the values, symbols or even a personal goal that you are surfing towards!
Sports Awards
Most Improved in Sport and PE: Felicity Myall (3T) for improving her all round football ability throughout the day at the Year 3/4 girls’ Southend football competition.
Sports Performer of the Week: Harry Bates (5A) for demonstrating an excellent technique when using the shot put in PE!
Outside Achievement
School Celebrates Gabby’s Gold Medal Success Everyone at our school is incredibly proud of Gabby, who achieved an outstanding success at her recent karate competition this weekend. Gabby competed in her belt category against eight other talented children and showed tremendous skill, focus and determination throughout the event. After a series of impressive performances, she was awarded the gold medal: an amazing accomplishment and a true testament to her hard work and commitment.
Felicity Shines Again in Lead Role on Stage We are absolutely delighted to celebrate Felicity Myall’s latest achievement in the performing arts. This weekend, Felicity performed her second lead role, taking to the stage as “Nemo” in Finding Nemo Jr with her theatre club, Theatre Train Leigh on Sea. Performing a lead role is a huge accomplishment, and Felicity has shown tremendous dedication, confidence and talent throughout the production. We are so proud of Felicity’s continued success on stage. Keep it up, Felicity - you did an incredible job!
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.
Summer 1 Term Diary Dates
April
- Monday 13th - Children return to school
- Tuesday 14th - Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 15th - Year 3 Sports Enrichment Day
- Thursday 16th - Class photos
- Friday 17th - Year 5/6 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Swim Squad Training
- Year 5/6 Padel Competition
- Tuesday 21st - Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 22nd - Year 6 Book Look
- Year 6 Boys' Cricket Competition
- Thursday 23rd - Year 6 Girls' Cricket Competition
- Friday 24th - Year 5/6 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Tennis Competition
- Year 5/6 Tennis Competition
- Tuesday 28th - Portico Multi Sports Festival
- Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 29th - Year 5 Book Look
- Year 5/6 Quad Kids Competition
- Thursday 30th - Creative Dance Festival
May
- Friday 1st - Year 5/6 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Swim Squad Training
- Monday 4th - Bank Holiday Monday
- Tuesday 5th - Therapy Dog Visit
- Wednesday 6th - Year 4 Book Look
- Year 5 IndiRock Visit
- Year 3/4 Quad Kids Competition
- Friday 8th - Year 5/6 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Swim Squad Training
- Monday 11th - Thursday 14th - Year 6 SATs
- Tuesday 12th - Therapy Dog Visit
- Friday 15th - Year 5/6 Swim Squad Training
- Year 3/4 Swim Squad Training
- Tuesday 19th - Therapy Dog Visit
- 4B & 4C Performance
- Wednesday 20th - Year 5 IndiRock
- Swim Gala
- Thursday 21st - SEEMSMA Rehearsals
- 4E & 4SW Performance
- Friday 22nd - Big Art Adventure Day
- Monday 25th - Friday 29th - Half Term
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Created with images by mnirat - "Closeup Colorful drawing pins on Calendar page with date." • tatomm - "close up of calendar on the orange table background, planning for business meeting or travel planning concept" • ImageFlow - "Kid boy with phone, cybersecurity hologram and padlock circuit" • ercan senkaya - "full lunch service station" • Kaspars Grinvalds - "Tablet with sports news website on stack of newspapers.,All contents are made up." • deeaf - "News word on table" • Dusan Petkovic - "Adorable curious caucasian little girl with eyeglasses standing in bookstore and reading interesting book. All around are books on shelves." • New Africa - "Trophy and confetti on light background, top view with space for text.,Victory concept" • mnirat - "Closeup Colorful drawing pins on Calendar page with date."