Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a wonderful final week of the year. We were so pleased that the sun shone for our sports morning and our picnic lunch afterwards. The children looked as if they’d had a thoroughly enjoyable time.
Our week has culminated in a terrific Year 6 final presentation. We wish our Year 6 leavers best wishes as they move onto their new schools in September.
I would also like to extend huge thanks for your generosity. I was overwhelmed with the gifts I received and will cherish them forever.
Best wishes for a wonderful summer break,
Mrs Woolf
Executive Headteacher
Diary Dates
Please note that there will be no After School Club on the last day of each term.
September 2024
- Tuesday 3rd - INSET DAY
- Wednesday 4th - First day of academic year
- Monday 9th - Year 5 Repeating History workshop 5K & 5F
- Tuesday 10th - Year 5 Repeating History workshop 5G & 5L
- Thursday 12th - Year 5/6 Cross Country Trials
- Wednesday 18th - Boys' Table Tennis Competition AM
- Girls' Table Tennis Competition PM
- Thursday 19th - Year 3/4 Cross Country Trails
- Thursday 26th - Cross Country Squad Training
October
- Thursday 3rd - Cross Country Squad Training
- Tuesday 8th - Portico Sports Day
- Wednesday 9th - Year 5/6 Tag Rugby B Competition
- Thursday 10th - Cross Country Squad Training
- Friday 11th - Southend Cross Country Competition
- Wednesday 16th - Year 5/6 Tag Rugby A Competition
- Friday 18th - Year 5/6 Girls' Football Competition
- Tuesday 22nd - Year 6 Girls' Netball League Fixtures
- Parent Consultations
- Thursday 24th - Parent Consultations
- Friday 25th - INSET Day
- Monday 28th - Friday 1st November - Half Term
November
- Wednesday 6th - Year 6 Basketball Competition
- Tuesday 12th - Year 5 Performance to Parents
- Thursday 14th - Year 5 Performance to Parents
- Friday 15th - Year 5/6 Southend Football Competition
- Wednesday 20th - Assessments until Friday 29th
- Flu Immunisations
- Year 3/4
- Saturday 30th - FOWLS Christmas fayre
December
- Tuesday 10th - Carol Concert @ St. Margaret's 7pm
- Thursday 12th - Late Book Look 6pm - 7pm
- Friday 13th - FOWLS Christmas Gift Sale
- Thursday 19th - last day of term - no After School Club
- Friday 20th - 3rd January - Christmas Holidays
January
February
- Thursday 13th - Late Book Look 6pm - 7pm
March
- Wednesday 12th - Years 3-5 assessments until Friday 21st
- Monday 24th - Year 6 Mock Week
April
- Tuesday 1st - Learning Conferences
- Thursday 3rd - Learning Conferences
May
- Monday 12th - Year 6 SATs Week
June
- Monday 9th - Assessments in Years 3 - 5
- Monday 23rd - Friday 27th - Ilam Hall Residential and Southend Activity Week
July
- Tuesday 15th - Open Evening 5pm - 7pm
- Friday 18th - Annual School Reports
- Wednesday 23rd - Last day of term
Year 3
With this being the final newsletter of the academic year, we would like to firstly thank you all for your support. You have made it possible for us to go on many trips this year, helped to create Christmas decorations, provided costumes and supported charity events but most importantly, ensured your children have arrived at school well equipped and ready to learn. A very big thank you to all our parent helpers who have come into school and assisted with the children’s reading or with administration tasks - your help has been greatly appreciated and we hope to see you back in September if you can spare some time. It has been a busy last week of term Including sports morning, a lovely picnic lunch on the playground, parties and leavers' presentations. The children are certainly ready for a well-earned rest. We have been very pleased with the children’s conduct and progress this year and looking in the classrooms, it is clear the children are ready to move up into Year 4. Finally, we would like to wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer with your families.
Year 4
It is with a heavy heart that we embark on our final newsletter of this year which has seemed to fly by. Looking back, it has been a wonderful year, full of great fun and hard work and we are happy to send the children to Year 5 for a host of exciting and new experiences, knowing they will rise to the challenge, but sad not to be part of their ongoing learning journeys. We were immensely pleased that so many of you came to the Open Evening last week and it was heart-warming to see the children so proud to show off their creativity and hard work. We would also like to offer a huge thank you to you, for all your support and help. Our Christmas decoration morning and trips to Coastal Schools and our Southend field study could not have happened without the time you gave up to accompany us. The sports morning on Tuesday was also a huge success and it was wonderful to see so many of you there to give your encouragement. In addition to our sports morning, the Year 6 leavers' assembly and class parties, work has still been ongoing, with the children finishing their debates about animals in captivity. They have also finalised the pitches for their fairground rides.
We wish you and all of the children a happy, restful holiday full of marvellous opportunities and making memories to last a lifetime. With our best wishes – The Year Four Team x
Year 5
As our final week in Year 5 comes to an end, the children have continued to show dedication and enthusiasm in their studies and activities. Our exploration of the Anglo-Saxons concluded with an in-depth look at the Bayeux Tapestry. The children thoroughly enjoyed delving into the story of the three kings and discussing the battle in detail. They culminated their learning by creating their own versions of the Tapestry, ensuring they portrayed the Normans and Saxons as authentically as possible.
The children's investigative skills were also put to the test as they researched two prominent scientists: Spencer Silva and Ruth Benerito. It was wonderful to observe them working collaboratively in groups to create presentations that highlighted Silva's invention of adhesives for post-it notes and Benerito's method for creating wrinkle-resistant cotton. This exercise not only enhanced their research skills but also fostered teamwork and communication.
To celebrate our year and the children's success, we held a delightful party. One room was dedicated to classic party games, another to stop motion animation, and a third provided a relaxing environment with colouring activities and soothing music. Additionally, a fourth room allowed the children to test their architectural and problem-solving skills by creating structures from newspaper without any helpful tools such as glue. This celebration allowed the children to unwind and enjoy the fruits of their hard work throughout the year.
The determination and curiosity shown by the children throughout Year 5 have been commendable. We look forward to observing their continued growth and the upholding of West Leigh's values as they move forward into Year 6.
Year 6
Sports Day
After lots of worrying about the weather on Monday night, what a wonderful Sports Day we had on Tuesday at Belfairs! It was fantastic to finally get through a Sports Day with everyone there to spectate and cheer the children on. There was a brilliant display of sprinting, relay baton changeovers, sack racing, giant egg and spoon races, dives for the finish line and much more! The determination of West Leigh children really cannot be matched! We were so proud of the sportsmanship and support shown by the children throughout the morning, and it was a joy to see just how much they enjoyed themselves in each event. Pegasus and Wyvern took a big lead into Sports Day after winning many of our house team events throughout the year, but it was Phoenix who came out on top, winning Sports Day for the second year running! The day wouldn't have been a success without the help of our tremendous Year 6 Sports Captains who delivered a warm-up to kick off the day and helped lead events. Thank you to all the parents for their support at Sports Day and at the various sporting events this year. It has been a wonderful year of sport for West Leigh and we can’t wait to do it all over again in September!
Anti-Bullying Ambassadors
On Wednesday, ten children from Years 4 and 5 attended a full day of training to learn how to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors for West Leigh. The children spent the day carrying out various activities with pupils from other local schools, including role play, creating posters and even learning sign language. They applied their new skills to a variety of different scenarios and have generated an action plan that they will be implementing when we return in September. Well done Anti-Bullying Ambassadors - you represented the school beautifully and we know you will carry out your new roles enthusiastically throughout the next year.
Key Notices this Week
Attendance Changes: There are changes coming in September regarding unauthorised absences (including holidays) and penalty fines. Please keep your eyes open and keep checking the attendance section of the website for more details.
School Payments: Please ensure that all debts are cleared before the start of the summer holidays, including school meals, Breakfast Club, After School Club, extra-curricular clubs, trips, swimming contributions, 11+ Summer school and residential instalments.
Don't forget to check out our new online bookshop here.
House Points
End of Year House Points
FRIENDS OF WEST LEIGH SCHOOLS (FOWLS)
From all of us here at FOWLS, we want to wish you the very best Summer 2024!!
Luckily our work doesn't stop here! Please see below a list of great discounted offers you can benefit from right through the summer holiday.
And just to remind you we are still looking to recruit the following volunteers for September onwards:-
Are you able to help us expand? We desperately need volunteers with varying skill sets and even if you could just spare an hour a week, we can still use you. Below are a list of key current vacancies, so if you can help in any way to enhance the children's experience at West Leigh, please email us at friendsofwls@outlook.com or contact us via facebook/Friends of West Leigh Schools.
- Treasurer
- Ticket Fundraiser
- Fayre/Raffle Co-ordinator
Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped at the Summer Fayre - this event wouldn't have even taken place without you amazing volunteers who gave up your time. So a huge thank you to you all. We are also delighted to announce that we now have a date confirmed for the Xmas Fayre which will be held on 30th November. Please put this date in your diaries and be ready to hopefully volunteer once again.