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Competition - Spring 2 Diary Dates - Year 3 - Year 4 - Year 5
Year 6 - Online Safety - Dinner Menu - Sports News - School News
Online Bookshop - Inspirational Person - Attendance - Outside Achievements
House Points - Sports Awards - Community News - Summer 1 Diary Dates
Year 3
This week, we have finished reading Beasts of Olympus. The children were thrilled to discover that Demon was made the Official Beastkeeper to the Gods, and that Pan turned out to be a very proud dad! It sparked some great discussions and enthusiasm for reading. We wrote letters, from Demon to his mother, about his experience of looking after the animals. The children loved sharing their thoughts on the various beasts and the magical medicine box. In Design and Technology lessons, we have been working hard on sewing our ambrosia bags. The children have been practising key skills such as hemming, attaching logos, and creating strong seams. They have learnt various stitches including the running stitch, back stitch and some children even attempted a blanket stitch! Watching the children sew was like supervising a team of tiny fashion designers—equal parts creativity, concentration, and the occasional dramatic battle with a very stubborn piece of thread! In maths, we have been focusing on fractions. The children have been learning to find equivalent fractions, as well as adding and subtracting them. We have also been working on finding fractions of amounts, building confidence with these important skills. We have also been concluding our investigations into which magnet is the strongest in science lessons, presenting our findings clearly using bar charts. Learning to conclude our scientific investigations turned the children into mini detectives—piecing together clues, making sense of their results, and proudly announcing their findings like they’d just solved a great mystery!
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 lessons, the children were introduced to the poem, The Jabberwocky and have studied the language within it. Using their knowledge of word classes, they categorised the nonsense words and learnt about portmanteau. They went on to create their own nonsense words to describe a character and its setting. The children have also begun to plan a sequel to the original poem, ready to refine and complete next week. As mathematicians, there has been further emphasis on time. Using their knowledge from the previous week, the children have continued to read time on both analogue and digital clocks. Some groups have also been introduced to 12 and 24 hour digital time, how this is represented on a digital clock and how this can be used to show durations of time. In science, the children completed an end-of-unit knowledge quiz on states of matter. This gave them the opportunity to revisit and apply their learning, while also developing their retrieval skills and strengthening their understanding of key concepts. As historians, we have discussed the structure of Roman roads, used maps to find Roman towns and identified their modern names. The children have also explored and located the Roman roads which link them. We have also studied some Latin - one of the Roman's many legacies. The children explored the meanings of the prefixes of some words and have worked in groups to generate versions of their own, with a Latin twist. Roman mosaics have inspired the children as artists. After examining some examples of mosaics, they used an app to experiment with designs and patterns, which they are applying to create a mosaic image.
Letters sent home this week
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
How on earth is there only one more week of the term to go? But really it should be no surprise as in Year 5 we have continued to pack in so many exciting learning opportunities. At the start of the week, we revisited our disaster text, exploring how authors use language for effect, including personification, alliteration, and comparative and superlative adjectives. The children also examined how writing in the second person creates empathy and makes the reader feel directly addressed. Linking to our art project on Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa, the children applied their creative writing skills by imagining characters facing a tsunami of plastic, planning how the story might continue. We then moved on to literal and figurative language, reviewing simile, metaphor, personification and hyperbole. The children wrote vivid descriptions of the destruction such a wave could cause to people and the environment and also revisited how to punctuate speech accurately. They concluded by developing abstract nouns through personification to evoke a strong, emotional response from the reader. With all their hard work, we are confident their final stories will be rich in detail and full of language features to captivate even the most discerning readers. In maths lessons, we have reviewed and revised the children’s knowledge of time and duration including converting between units. This has also enabled us to ensure that the children are confident in telling the time accurately. Using number lines to calculate time differences, they confidently practised using all four operations to solve problems involving conversions and other measures. The Great Wave also featured in our learning during art lessons. Moving on from last week’s colour studies, the children considered how line is used within the wood block printing of Hokusai. They created a celebration of line, considering their starting and end points and experimented with lines of different thicknesses to evoke different emotional reactions. Utilising these skills has enabled the children to plan out their homage to the original, sketching in the key elements and beginning to lay down their background colours. We are excited to see how each artwork develops over the coming week.
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
Year 6 have enjoyed a creative and thought-provoking week, applying their skills across a range of subjects. In English, pupils have been planning imaginative reports based on their own invented Flanimals. They demonstrated excellent creativity in designing unique creatures, before beginning to write their ideas through structured, informative writing. In Connected Curriculum, pupils developed their understanding of global trade. They explored how goods are produced, transported and sold across the world, considering the links between countries and the impact this has on economies and environments. Pupils showed thoughtful awareness of how everyday items connect us to people and places around the globe, further developing their map skills. In Design and Technology lessons, pupils applied their knowledge of electrical circuits to design their own electronic games, inspired by rainforest themes. They carefully considered how circuits can be used to make their games interactive, combining creativity with technical understanding. Their ideas were imaginative and demonstrated a strong grasp of both design and functionality. Across all areas, pupils have continued to demonstrate imagination, curiosity and a growing confidence in applying their learning in purposeful and engaging ways.
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
Violent clips, online ‘wars’, and shock-value challenges can spread rapidly across social media feeds – often appearing in front of young people who weren’t actively looking for them. This guide explains how algorithms, messaging groups and viral trends can expose children to real-world violence online, sometimes normalising harmful behaviour or encouraging risky offline actions. It also highlights the emotional, social and legal risks linked to engaging with violent content. From anxiety and community fear to the dangers of sharing or promoting violent posts, the guide offers practical advice for parents on discussing online safety, understanding the law, and helping young people respond positively and responsibly.
Dinner Menu
Week 2
Monday - Homemade Marconi Cheese with Garlic Bread - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Granary Baguette with Cheese - Sweetcorn and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Raspberry Mousse Tuesday - Pork Sausage - Vegan Sausage - Granary Baguette with Egg Mayonnaise - Yorkshire Pudding, Mashed Potatoes, Garden Peas and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Fruit Jelly Wednesday - Pork Meatballs in Tomato Gravy - Vegan Meatballs in Tomato Gravy - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Wholemeal Pasta, Sweetcorn and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Cherry Flapjack Thursday - Chicken Curry - Cauliflower and Vegetable Curry - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans, Cheese or Tuna Mayonnaise - Rice, Nan Bread and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Chocolate Prune Cake with Chocolate Custard Friday - Battered Chicken Steaks - Vegan no Chicken Steak - Granary Baguette with Salmon and Sweetcorn - Diced Potatoes, Spaghetti Hoops and Salad Bar - Fresh Fruit, Yoghurt or Ice Cream
Sports News
Athletics Trials:
Well done to all of the children who attended their year group athletics trials. We had 241 children attend in total! The standard across the school is truly exceptional! Letters will be given out before the Easter holidays inviting some children to join athletics club.
Netball League match
On Monday, the Year 6 girls’ netball team played their final round of league matches, bringing the season to an exciting close. The team got off to a fantastic start with a confident 6–1 victory over Our Lady of Lourdes, demonstrating strong attacking play and excellent teamwork. They went on to face Alleyn Court, Greenways, Chalkwell and Thorpe Hall in a series of closely contested matches. Despite narrowly losing these games, the girls showed great determination, resilience, and skill throughout. They finished the day on a high with a well-earned 2–1 win against St George’s, rounding off their final matches with a strong performance. Well done to all the girls involved for their commitment, teamwork, and positive attitude throughout the season—you should all be very proud of your efforts!
Year 5/6 Sportshall Athletics Essex Finals
A huge well done to the Year 5/6 Sportshall Athletics squad who competed in the Essex finals on Wednesday. This is an exciting team event where each child can only participate in a maximum of two track and two field events. The children all performed amazingly in their events. Just qualifying for this competition is a tremendous achievement! They showed great determination and resilience throughout the competition. West Leigh finished in 5th place - our joint best result at the Essex finals!
Netball League match
On Thursday, eight Year 6 girls travelled to Cecil Jones Academy to take part in the final round of this year’s league matches. The team showed great determination and teamwork throughout the day, competing in five highly competitive games against strong opposition. Each match provided a valuable opportunity for the girls to develop their skills, build confidence, and support one another on and off the court. After a series of closely fought games, the girls finished the league in an impressive 5th position. This was a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work, resilience, and positive attitude throughout the competition. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved, and the girls should be extremely proud of their efforts. Well done to all!
Cup Finalists
West Leigh played against Long Ridings this afternoon in the semi-finals of the Jim Smith Essex Cup. It was an incredibly tight battle between the teams played with good sportsmanship throughout. The West Leigh boys ran their socks off from start to finish and played some incredible football. With just a few minutes to go, George Sewell scored the winner after Ted Dennahy's shot managed to bounce off both posts! West Leigh held on to the final whistle and will now play Lee Chapel in the final at Aveley FC in April. Go West Leigh!!
Year 5/6 Boys’ Football v Greenways
There was a huge win for the Year 5/6 boys’ team to finish their 25/26 league campaign. West Leigh were 7-1 winners against Greenways. After conceding very early in the game, West Leigh didn't let this affect them and fought back with six goals from George and another from Jacob. This was their final league game and they now need to wait for the results of other teams to come in, to find out where they have finished in the league.
School News
Newsies Jr
On 12th–14th March, our talented pupils took Newsies Jr to the stage at the theatre of Belfairs Academy for four truly memorable performances. The journey began with a Thursday afternoon technical rehearsal, where pupils had limited time to adjust to the new venue. Despite this, their focus was superb. This was the first opportunity to fully realise the immersive elements of the production - features that had not been possible to rehearse beforehand, and the company rose impressively to the challenge. Our cast comprised an incredible 87 pupils from across Years 3 to 6, all of whom had dedicated months of hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to the production. As the performances progressed, it was clear to see how confidently they adapted to the new stage, refining entrances, exits and stagecraft with each show. The improvement across the run was remarkable. A key message throughout rehearsals was the importance of every individual within the company. This was evident on stage: the success of Newsies Jr. was built on teamwork, mutual support and a shared sense of purpose. Artistically, the production was a great success, something further reflected in the accompanying National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) review, which offers an impartial and professional perspective on the show. Behind the scenes, our technical team played a pivotal role. Supporting sound, lighting and AV, pupils took on significant responsibility - often managing key elements independently during live performances with impressive professionalism. We are immensely proud of every member of the company. Together, they created something truly special and rose to a challenge well beyond their years. While there is a sense of sadness that the journey has come to an end, the memories made will last for years to come and, we hope, will inspire a continued passion for the performing arts.
Photos will be available to purchase after the Easter break.
Red Nose Day Bake Off
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting charities throughout the year, West Leigh was a sea of red today as the children arrived in their brightest tops and boldest accessories for Comic Relief. The energy around the school was fantastic! To make the day even more memorable, the children were treated to a very special Friday assembly: the West Leigh Comic Relief Bake Off! Members of staff stepped up to the challenge, presenting their creations with plenty of flair, enthusiasm, and… varying levels of baking expertise! The children (and staff!) thoroughly enjoyed the fun, laughter, and impressive creativity on display - although we’re not entirely sure all entries would pass the scrutiny of a real Bake Off judge! Thank you for all the generous donations received today. Your support will make a meaningful difference to an important cause.
Year 5 Trip to the Globe Theatre
This week, Year 5 enjoyed a fantastic trip to the renowned Globe Theatre. Their adventure began with a scenic walk through the streets of London, where they excitedly pointed out famous landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral. A particular highlight was spotting Tower Bridge as we made our way across the Millennium Bridge. Upon arriving at the Globe, the children took part in a guided tour and talk from the middle gallery, giving them a wonderful insight into the theatre’s rich history and unique design. On Monday, we were also incredibly fortunate to watch part of a Romeo and Juliet rehearsal—an unforgettable experience that brought Shakespeare’s work to life right before their eyes. Following the tour, the children participated in an engaging drama workshop linked to their current text, The Tempest. It was a joy to see them explore the characters creatively and bring the story to life through movement and performance. As always, the children represented our school beautifully, showing impeccable behaviour throughout the day. We are incredibly proud of them.
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!
Outside Achievements
Sienna brings home Bronze at the London Olympic dive pool
Sienna competed at the London Aquatics Centre, Stratford last weekend, representing Southend Diving school, bringing home a bronze medal, AND qualifying for the National finals this July. It was a gruelling and intense 8 hour competition of training and competing which ran over by nearly 4 hours! Sienna demonstrated resilience in the most challenging circumstances. She remained calm and focused throughout. We are extremely proud of this massive achievement in her diving journey.
Sports Awards
Most Improved in Sport and PE: Joshua Hackford (5A) for improving not only his only relay changeover skills but his whole team’s performance in PE.
Sports Performer of the Week: Ralph Warman (5A) for scoring a fantastic free-kick into the top corner at this week’s Year 5/6 football event.
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
Credits:
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."