And just like that, half the school year is over already! Time certainly has flown. Hopefully, the last of winter will fly by too and we will have some warm weather to look forward to.
I hope that you all have a fantastic half term break and look forward to seeing you all back on Tuesday 25th February.
Mr M Aggus
Diary Dates
February
- Monday 17th - Friday 21st - Half Term
- Monday 24th - INSET Day
- Wednesday 26th - Year 6 Netball Competition
- Year 5 Girls' Visit to WHSG
- Thursday 27th - Year 6 Netball Festival @ Alleyn Court
- Toy Swap
- Friday 28th - Year 3/4 Girls' Football Competition
- School Nurse drop-ins for Parents
March
- Monday 3rd - Year 3 Dogs Trust visit
- Year 5/6 Football Fixture v Fairways
- Tuesday 4th - Southend Makes Music
- Wednesday 5th - General Knowledge Quiz Club Area Heat
- Coastal Schools - 4E
- Thursday 6th - Year 4 Colchester Castle
- Year 5/6 Quad Kids Trial
- World Book Day
- Friday 7th - Year 6 Dragonball Competition
- Monday 10th - Year 3/4 Boys' Football
- Parent Council Meeting 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Tuesday 11th - Year 6 Openroad Drug Safety Workshop
- Wednesday 12th - Years 3-5 assessments until Friday 21st
- Year 4 Tag Rugby Competition
- Thursday 13th - Year 5/6 Boys' Football V Greenways
- Tuesday 18th - Year 6 Openroad Drug Safety Workshop
- Wednesday 19th - Year 5/6 Sports Hall Finals
- Coastal Schools - 4B
- Thursday 20th - Cross Country training Essex Final Squad
- Year 3/4 Quad Kids Trials
- Coastal Schools - 4C
- Friday 21st - Comic Relief (non-uniform and crazy hair day)
- Monday 24th - Year 6 Mock SATs Week
- Tuesday 25th - Year 6 Girls' Netball League
- Year 4 presentation @ 2pm (4B & 4C)
- Thursday 27th - Year 4 presentation @ 2pm (4E & 4SW)
- Friday 28th - Year 5/6 Aquathlon
April
- Tuesday 1st - Learning Conferences
- Wednesday 2nd - Cross Country Essex Finals
- Coastal Schools - 4SW (missed from last term)
- Friday 4th - Y5/6 Padel Competition
- Thursday 3rd - Learning Conferences
- Monday 7th - Monday 21st - Easter Holidays
- Thursday 24th - Year 5 Transition and Selection meeting (for current Year 4 parents) 7.30pm - 8.30pm
- Friday 25th - Year 3/4 Tennis Competition @ 9am
- Year 5/6 Tennis Competition @ 12.15pm
- Monday 28th - Year 5 Geography Field Trip
- Wednesday 30th - Year 3/4 Quad Kids
May
- Thursday 1st - Dance Festival @ Alleyn Court
- Wednesday 7th - Year 5/6 Quad Kids
- Monday 12th - Year 6 SATs Week
- Tuesday 20th - Year 3 Presentation @ 2pm (3M & 3S)
- Wednesday 21st - Maths Quiz Club Area Heat
- Swimming Gala @ Garon Park
- Thursday 22nd - Year 3 Presentation @ 2pm (3T & 3H)
- Friday 23rd - Year 6 Rounders Festival
- Monday 26th - Friday 30th - Half Term
June
- Monday 2nd - INSET Day
- Wednesday 4th - Year 6 Cricket Competition (boys)
- Thursday 5th - Year 6 Cricket Competition (girls)
- Friday 6th - Careers Day
- Monday 9th - Wednesday 18th - Assessments in Years 3 - 5
- Seesma Concert - 7pm - 9.30pm
- Monday 9th - Thursday 19th - Year 6 Bikeability
- Wednesday 11th - Borough Sports
- Thursday 12th - Year 4 Transition
- Monday 23rd - Friday 27th - Ilam Hall Residential and Southend Activity Week
- Tuesday 24th - Super Sports - Track
- Year 6 Induction King John
- Wednesday 25th - Super Sports - Field
- Year 6 Induction King John
July
- Friday 4th - Year 6-7 Transition Day
- Monday 7th - Sports Day
- Tuesday 15th - Open Evening 5pm - 7pm
- Friday 18th - Annual School Reports
- Monday 21st - Year 6 Swimming Gala
- Wednesday 23rd - Last day of term
Year 3
It has been a very busy final week of this half term in Year 3. In English, the children were introduced to the book, The Wolf, The Duck and The Mouse by Mac Barnett. This book is a Pourquoi story which is a fictional narrative that explains why something is the way it is. This particular story explores why the wolf howls. The children have explored the characters and created plausible conversations between the duck and the mouse whilst they were dining inside the wolf’s stomach.
Liquids and potions have been the focus in maths this week whilst the children have been learning about capacity and volume. They have learnt how to read different scales and convert between millilitres and litres. The children explored the capacity of different sized containers and had the opportunity to create a magic potion and draw diagrams using a measuring scale to represent the amounts of each liquid added.
There has been much tearing and sticking this week in Connected Curriculum lessons as the children’s collages have begun to take shape. Applying all the different techniques such as twisting, fringing and tearing, the children have created Greek landscapes as a background ready for their Greek temples to be added.
Thank you for supporting your children with practising spellings, reading daily and logging into Times Tables Rocks Stars. We would like to wish you and your families a restful and healthy break
Letters sent home this week
Year 4
Once again, we have come to the end of an action-packed week where the children have worked very hard indeed.
In English, the focus on instructional texts has continued. Using the features checklist, the children have planned, written and edited instructions about how to play a well-known game. Using their completed piece of writing, the children were able to assess the reliability of their work by playing the game using the instructions they had written.
As mathematicians, there has been continued emphasis on multiplication and division. The children have revised their multiplication and division skills by engaging in a range of activities and playing a variety of games. Some groups have also practised the formal written method for division and used this knowledge to solve a range of multiplication and division problems.
In science, the children investigated evaporation using a variety of wet socks which were placed in different areas! The children had to consider the importance of a fair test and predict which socks would evaporate the quickest and why.
Great fun was had in our Connected Curriculum lessons this week. The children used our pupil kitchen and worked in groups to prepare their pizza dough bases. They have now taken them home to add their chosen toppings, whilst referring to their original design. We look forward to seeing their uploaded photos and reading their evaluations on Showbie.
Through initial discussions, we have also been learning who the Romans were and why they came to Britain. The children have begun to justify what they thought were the three main reasons that the Romans invaded.
Year 5
Although the half-term break is certainly welcome, it does seem like only moments ago that we returned from the Christmas break. Looking back over this half-term, the children have had wonderful experiences in all of their lessons, including our wonderful trip to the Natural History Museum.
Our Layered Reading lessons focused on plots and schemes within the story of The Tempest. They considered the types of scenarios in which the different characters found themselves. Based on their knowledge of the people from previous study, they predicted what they thought each character might do immediately and at the end of the tale. In other English lessons, we looked at the difference between formal and informal language both in speech and writing, creating a continuum from slang words to the highest level of formality considering to whom and in which setting this might be used. The children also very much enjoyed learning about the type of insults Shakespeare used both in his writing and in everyday language. Using a scene from The Tempest where two of the characters insult another character calling him a liar, the children were then asked to write an informal ‘text’ message as the character who had been insulted. This caused great hilarity and was great fun. Finally, the children practised their formal language by writing a letter as one of the characters who believes himself now to be a king to ingratiate himself with his future subjects.
During maths lessons in some classes, the children have been ordering decimals and converting fractions, understanding that these could be written as fractions, decimals and percentages. They ended the week by finding percentages of amounts. In other classes, the children practised dividing 2 digit numbers by 1 digit using informal methods including number lines.
In science lessons, using their homework to assist their knowledge, the children have been able to identify the phases of the moon and draw and label diagrams demonstrating their understanding. They also considered a big question that linked to the phases of the moon about why the date of Easter changes each year.
The Lego WeDo has been out in the classrooms this week - much to the great excitement of the children. Using their learning from our visit from Mr Gauntlett about flood barriers, the children built and programmed a flood barrier, investigating the effect of adding sensors. They also reflected upon their programming and building skills and discussed potential improvements they would like to make. Looking at their work, we believe that we might have some future flood defence engineers in the making!
We wish you and the children a safe, happy and relaxing half-term and look forward to welcoming them back to school on Tuesday 26th February.
Letters sent home today
Year 6
The children's work within English has had a highly personal focus due to the fact that they have been planning and writing personal recounts relating to a highly emotive day in their own lives. As writers, they have incorporated sophisticated techniques, which has enabled them to produce work of their highest standards. As teachers, it has been lovely to be able to share in some of their memories, whether they have been positive or, in many cases, challenging. We would like to thank the pupils for allowing us to be a part of their story.
In Connected Curriculum, they have been working industriously in an attempt to complete their rainforest artwork – there have been many great skills demonstrated along with high levels of creativity and a desire to refine and improve their work.
As scientists, the children have deepened their understanding of the contributions of Edward Jenner: a key scientist. Exploring his pivotal role in the development of vaccinations, they gained insights into scientific inquiry and the lasting impact of Jenner's work on public health.
We would like to thank the pupils for all of their hard work and we hope that they have enjoyed another memorable half-term in Year 6. We hope that they have an enjoyable break, get the rest that they need and are able to hit the ground running when we return to school.
Letters sent home this week
Online Safety
Over the years, Fortnite has become a household name in the gaming community. It was one of the first titles in the Battle Royale sub-genre, where players are thrown into a chaotic free-for-all on a sprawling map and fight until only one remains. Its cartoonish presentation and satisfying game-play loop make it a potentially attractive choice for young players.
However, it’s important to remember that online safety risks are always present – especially in multiplayer games – and Fortnite is no exception. This free guide, put together with expert input, tells you all you need to know about the safety concerns of this popular title and offers advice on how to protect children and young people as they enjoy the game
Safer Internet Day
Tuesday was Safer Internet Day. The event is supported across the globe and helps to promote the safe use of the internet. The children completed a range of activities around this year's theme of “Too good to be true, protecting ourselves from online scams.” Through the morning, the children engaged in practical activities to develop their ability to spot ways people try to trick others through scams. Additionally, in each of the year groups, they learnt about phishing and scams in an age appropriate way. Year 4 took part in a live lesson to learn about how Cyber security works and how to keep themselves safe online. Years 3 and 5 took part in a BBC presented live lesson looking at scams, phishing and how to protect themselves by not sharing personal information. On Wednesday, Year 6 experienced a fantastic and informative workshop run by Essex County Fire and Rescue.
As well as the weekly guides we provide on different areas of online safety, we ask anyone who has not joined the The National Online Safety (part of the National College) to sign up, using the following link: https://nationalcollege.com/enrol/west-leigh-junior-school
Once you’re set up, you’ll be able to choose ‘Parent/Carer’ as your user type and get instant access to hundreds of courses, explanatory videos, online safety guides, free training and resources. Topics range from understanding apps like Fortnite and how to recognise the signs of online harm and what you can do to help.
Joint School Council Meeting
Last Friday, the School Councils from both the Infant and Junior schools joined together to decide on a theme for our upcoming Red Nose Day charity fundraiser.
It was wonderful to see the children working together on a shared theme and we look forward to many more collaborative opportunities in the future.
After lots of careful consideration, the School Councils decided that March 21st would be a non-uniform day with the addition of crazy hair, to raise money for Comic Relief.
Girls' Dodgeball Festival
On Tuesday 11th February, six girls from Year 5 and 6 took part in the girls’ dodgeball festival where they played six matches, each consisting of three rounds lasting two minutes. The team put to work their dodging skills by ducking, jumping and sliding out of the way of the dodgeballs, along with their throwing skills, putting power into their throws and working together to get the other team’s players out of the game. The team played with great enthusiasm and really enjoyed this opportunity to play against other schools.
Year 6 Netball League
On Tuesday and Thursday this week, the Year 6 girls played in the 2nd round of the netball leagues. On Tuesday, they played 5 games winning 4 and losing one. On Thursday, they played 4 games losing two and drawing two.
Both teams played very well and improved as the games went on, in very cold conditions!
Well done to all.
Year 3/4 Boys' Football v Chalkwell
A team of enthusiastic, determined and skilful footballers competed in a friendly match against Chalkwell on Tuesday. Despite having never played together, the team showed exceptional teamwork to ensure every blade of grass was covered across the pitch! There were fantastic attacking moments, defensive masterclasses and silky dribbles all across the pitch. The match finished 2-2, which was a fair result for both teams. Miss Fletcher was very impressed with the team and we look forward to the boys representing the school again soon!
Year 5/6 Boys' Football v St Anne Line
It was cup quarter final day on Thursday and what an exciting and quite unbelievable game we experienced! After a goalless and tightly contested first half, St Anne Line stormed into a 3-0 lead early in the second half all but ending West Leigh's chances of reaching the semi-finals... However, West Leigh rallied together to incredibly pull the game back to 3-3! With West Leigh now on the front foot, the game headed for extra time. We then took a 4-3 lead before conceding again, which meant it was time for the dreaded penalty shootout! West Leigh held their nerve and won 4-3 on penalties! A truly outstanding game of football and we await to see who we will play in the semi-finals!
Animals in Action Photography Competition
Thank-you to everyone who took part in our Portico Photography competition over the summer holidays. As a trust, we received a wonderful collection of animals in action. We are delighted to announce that West Leigh had two winners!
Congratulations to the Animal in Action winner, Violet Harris in 6W, with her entry, These birds are nuts!
Also, congratulations to our 1st place runner up, Tess Borkett in 4E with, Go Ape!
Food Tasting Session
Is your child a fussy eater or do they not have a good relationship with food? Please sign them up for food tasting sessions with Mrs Atkin. We will start after half term and continue into the Summer term. You will then be invited in for some cooking sessions with your children during June/July to finish off the course. The children will be tasting different fruits and vegetables, cooked and raw along with tasty snacks and meals. There is no charge for the food tasting but there is a small charge for the cooking sessions to cover the cost of the ingredients. It is a fun time and the children may change their habits!
You can register your child’s interest by emailing into the school office.
Inspirational Person
Thank you to all of those who submitted entries for last half term's Showbie challenge - it was fantastic to see all of the quotes about integrity presented in such interesting and creative ways. Some of the entries are shown below.
This half term, we have looked at the achievements of Ryan Hreljac. Whilst at school, he learned about the scarcity of water in some countries. He decided to do something about it - raising thousands of dollars to buy wells and even inspiring others to join him. We discussed the different Golden Values that he demonstrated, and concluded that his actions actually demonstrated all three!
Ryan demonstrated commitment and responsibility – it took him a long time to save the money needed for a well. He could have given up at any point, but he kept going. He recognised that it was not fair that he had easy access to water whilst others did not and set about trying to change that, showing integrity. Finally, Ryan showed compassion and concern for others; he was upset at the thought that other people did not have the essential water that they needed. By empathising with them, he was able to help.
This half term's Showbie challenge is to look at all of the tips on Ryan’s website for different ways that we can conserve water. Choose some of these tips and make a poster to share this information with others. The link and further information can be found in the 'Inspirational People' folder on Showbie.
Dinner Menu
Week 1
Monday - INSET DAY
Tuesday - All Day Breakfast (Sausage, Baked Beans and Hash Brown) - Vegetarian All Day Breakfast (Vegetarian Sausage, Baked Beans, Hash Brown) - Granary Baguette with Cheese - Scrambled Egg, Mushrooms, Tomatoes and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruity Flapjack
Wednesday - Traditional Roast Chicken - Roast Quorn in Gravy - Roast Quorn in Gravy - Granary Baguette with Egg Mayonnaise - Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Carrots/ Peas and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit - Yoghurt or Banana Cake
Thursday - Sweet and Sour Pork - 5 Beans and Vegetables in a Sweet and Sour Sauce - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Rice, Mixed Vegetables and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Carrot Cake
Friday - 100% Fish Fingers - Vegetable Fingers - Wholemeal Wrap with Salmon and Sweetcorn - Potato Wedges, Sweetcorn/Peas and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Jelly
Don't forget to check out our new online bookshop here.
Swimming
Please ensure that your child has their full kit with them on swimming days as we will no longer be phoning home for forgotten kits.
Monday
- 3H
- 4B
- 4SW
Tuesday
- 3M
- 5L
- 5K
Wednesday
- 3S
- 4C
- 3T
Thursday
- 5G
- 5F
Friday
- 6D
- 6A
- 4E
- 6P
- 6W
PE Lessons
Please ensure that your child is wearing their full kit on PE days as we will no longer be phoning home for forgotten kits.
Second Half Term:
3M
- Indoor PE: Wednesday
- Outdoor PE: Friday
3S
- Indoor PE: Tuesday
- Outdoor PE: Thursday
3H
- Indoor PE: Tuesday
- Outdoor PE: Friday
3T
- Indoor PE: Monday
- Outdoor PE: Thursday
4B
- Indoor PE: Wednesday
- Outdoor PE: Thursday
4E
- Indoor PE: Monday
- Outdoor PE: Tuesday
4SW
- Indoor PE: Friday
- Outdoor PE: Tuesday
4C
- Indoor PE: Monday
- Outdoor PE: Thursday
5K
- Indoor PE: Friday
- Outdoor PE: Monday
5F
- Indoor PE: Friday
- Outdoor PE: Wednesday
5L
- Indoor PE: Thursday
- Outdoor PE: Monday
5G
- Indoor PE: Tuesday
- Outdoor PE: Monday
6D
- Indoor PE: Wednesday
- Outdoor PE: Monday
6A
- Indoor PE: Thursday
- Outdoor PE: Tuesday
6P
- Indoor PE: Thursday
- Outdoor PE: Monday
6W
- Indoor PE: Thursday
- Outdoor PE: Tuesday
Attendance
Congratulations to 3H who achieved the highest attendance this week with 98.48%.
Awards
This week, Stanley Care from 6W was awarded the Most Improved in Sport award, for demonstrating tremendous leadership and determination when playing for the school football team, adopting a new role as a defender.
Sophie Smith from 3H was awarded the Sports Performer of the Week award, for working independently to improve her scores across a range of athletics events.
Messages from FOWLS
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 4E, 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
NHS Pharmacy First Service
Did you know that the NHS Pharmacy First Service enables children and adults to get convenient access to healthcare advice and treatment where appropriate, for seven common conditions without the potential delay of having to wait for a GP appointment? Accessing the service may help children feel better and get back to school as quickly as possible, as well as supporting parents/carers to also get better if they are unwell with one of the conditions covered under the service.
There is no need to make an appointment; parents or carers can pop into their local Boots pharmacy with their child and ask for help under the service.
Support for the following conditions can be accessed under the service, free of charge (unless NHS prescription charges apply):
Credits:
Created with images by Kenny - "Female teen using laptop for safer internet day awareness" • Maria - "Food and drink" • epicraw - "Close up man hands holding champion golden trophy on transparent background Generative AI"