Spring School Dinner Menu
Headteacher’s Update: January 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for your cooperation and support. Despite Covid, the vast majority of pupils have high attendance to date and over 95%. We are writing to and ringing parents where we are particularly worried as attendance is below 90% and classed as persistent absence. For many this is because holidays/leave has been taken to other countries during term time. In many cases families have had difficulty returning to England because of cancelled flights or Covid restrictions. Please do not book flights in term time as it results in a serious detrimental effect on your child’s education. Attendance at school is the single most important aspect of education.
Reading for pleasure and enjoyment of reading enables pupils to be successful in all aspects of school work. Please read to your child, please support your child to read at home at least 3 times during the week – any book – fiction, non-fiction, library book. By Year 6 children should be reading longer texts for pleasure and sustaining reading beyond a 20 minute slot. Please speak to myself or your child’s class teacher if you are having difficulties in getting your child to read with you.
A number of trips and visits have taken place since the start of term – Year 3 to the Discovery Museum for rocks and soil their science project and Year 5 to Armley Mills.
Just a polite reminder that key Stage 2 use a cartridge pen in school – please can you ensure that your child has their own. Thank you.
Finally, Covid cases in school are fluctuating. This week there are 5 children off school. Thank you for being vigilant and for spotting cases. Please continue to wear a mask around the school building and when speaking to staff in the playground. Once again, I will pass on the message we are asked to communicate – please get your vaccinations – it is not too late. A majority of staff have had their 3 vaccinations and because of this there is much less disruption to teaching. We have the staff to thank for this.
Best wishes,
J. Turner
Additional Parent Update
Covid Infections amongst teachers
Dear Parents/Carers,
Following my update we are now at the stage of 4 teachers who will be absent this week. It means that some classes will be put together where we have small numbers in a class. This is a temporary arrangement. The Headteacher and deputies are teaching 3AB and some Y4 will be joining this Y3 class of 20. All classes are being taught by teachers and I can assure you that there will be no marking of time at any stage. I can also reassure you that pupils will be in school at all times for their learning.
Any plans will be in the best interests of pupils and the curriculum will be taught in full.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Best wishes,
J Turner
Headteacher Update
School Start Tuesday 4 January 8.30 (8.40 start)
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Happy New Year 2022!
I hope that you are all well and that the break has been a peaceful and happy time with your families and friends both for those of you celebrating Christmas and for those enjoying a rest and winter re-charge and break.
Ahead of the new term and year please can I ask for your continued support and vigilance with Covid. If you have tests please check that your children are well. Please check colds, headaches, temperatures so that children are covid free in school. We want good attendance but not Covid attendance. We are starting the term with two absent teachers and it is most important that we can keep lessons and learning normal. We want minimal disruption. Inevitably leaders and teachers in school will need to work harder to cover classes and ensure high quality work. Please, if you have not yet done so get your vaccinations and boosters – I have been asked to reiterate this national message. (We know that those in hospital ICU are largely the unvaccinated.) There are no changes to picking up after school but please wear a face covering on the site.
Please ring or email if you need to contact us.
Clubs start week 17 January
Reading 10 January.
We always work as a good team so thank-you in advance for your cooperation and support.
Best wishes,
J. Turner
Headteacher’s Update 16 December 2021
Break up for the holiday Friday 17th December and return to school on Tuesday 4th January 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Just to finally wish you a restful and peaceful holiday at the closing of the year and best wishes for 2022. I was delighted with the number of parents at the ‘Winter Celebration,’ concert and at the musical performance of our orchestra. Both were very enjoyable events. It was great to see FAB (Friends At Beecroft) out there helping with refreshments and the organisation. We have really missed our working together over the Covid period.
Thank you for your generosity:
Children in Need: £483.85
Save The Children: £165.50
Sporting Success: Hit The Ground Running: All classes took part in this challenge and pupils set themselves a target of 100miles or 400 miles (over 2 weeks) for their class. Beecroft dominated the South and West Yorkshire Leader Board coming in the top 10 and often first in all classes. Pupils were very enthusiastic and the whole challenge was a great success. More challenges are planned in the future.
Have a safe and restful break,
Best wishes,
J. Turner
Sports Update – Beecroft Primary – December 2021
Girls’ football
Another 14 girls took part in competitive matches in the latest girls’ football gala at Carr Manor Primary School.
Again free transport was provided to the girls, by our school, via mini bus from Health For All.
The girls played 9 matches in total and there was a visible improvement in their play from their continued hard work in training. They managed to draw three matches and win two, beating both Talbot Primary School and Richmond House in some hard fought games.
If there are any more Key Stage 2 girls who want to join Football Club on Monday, please see Mr Campbell. The more the merrier!
Boys’ Football
Unfortunately the boys had two fixtures cancelled due to adverse weather this half trem. But we already have a fixture booked in for January, for U10s and U11s, which will definitely go ahead. These games are to be played indoors at Kirkstall Leisure Centre vs St Stephens.
Multi Skills Festival
14 children form Year 2EE visit Bankside Primary School to take part in a Multi Skills Festival last Thursday. This involved a range of new games and skills, practising aiming, sending, receiving and coordination. The children were provided with free travel by mini bus.
Hit The Ground Running Challenge
Our children from R- Y6 have enjoyed taking part in the Running challenge and we were proud to see our classes dominating the West Yorkshire leader boards. On average as a school children were running 5.6 miles a week! Children have enjoyed working towards their Christmas Badges with the top award being the North Pole badge, where over two weeks classes had to run 400 miles collectively!
Sports Update – Beecroft Primary
Girls’ football
This year we have joined the Barclays Girls’ Football Partnership, which is a pledge to provide more opportunities for our girls to learn and play football.
Our Year5 girls (14 children) took part in the ‘This Girl Can’ Football Festival at Carr Manor School, where they enjoyed seven games of football vs schools from across Leeds.
Their first win came against Meanwood C of E, who they beat 1 nil in a hard fought game. It was many of the girls’ first time playing football and for all, their first time playing competitive matches.
Boys Football
Our U11 boys team got their season off to a flying start with a 2 -1 victory vs Sacred Heart. It was a thrilling game, with a last minute penalty to win it.
Brownlee Challenge
Over the course of the first half term children from Y1-6, chose focus sport skills and set their own targets to beat. The events included skipping, running, speed bounce, bat and ball and even catching. All children have practised hard in both PE lessons and playtimes to make progress in their chosen sport and achieve a personal best. Children who made the most progress in their event were awarded Brownlee Medals.
Hit The Ground Running Challenge
Our children from R- Y6 are taking part in the Yorkshire Sports ‘Hit The Ground Running’ challenge, from Mon 22nd November – Monday 13th December. Classes will be logging their miles run each day and each class’s average miles run per child will be entered on the Leeds Schools Leader Board. There will be rewards too with the upcoming Santa and Elf Badge challenge.
After School Clubs
The response to our free after school clubs programme has been excellent with nearly all children now taking part in clubs including: Football, Netball, Nature, Drama, First Aid, Sports Leaders, Dance, Relaxation, Wellbeing, Aerobics and even Puzzle Club. If you still wish for your child to join a club please email the school office or see Mr Campbell.
Upcoming Fixtures
U11 Girls Football Tournament – @Carr Manor – Thursday 2nd December 1-3pm
U11 Boys Football vs Kirkstall St Stephens- TBC
KS1 Multi-skills Festival@ Bankside Primary- Thursday 9th December 3.30pm – 4.45pm
School Uniform
If you wish to order school uniform for September please complete the order form and return it to school by Tuesday 13th July. Please send the correct amount either cash or cheque (cheques made payable to Beecroft Primary School) with the order in an envelope with your child’s name and class on it.
Clothing will be available for collection as follows: On the training day Tuesday 7th September 2021 (between 12:00 noon and 1.00pm)
When purchasing school uniform, please remember (no fashion items) school uniform is as follows:
Navy blue sweatshirt or cardigan with school logo purchased through school at cost price.
Navy blue or grey school trousers, skirt or pinafore
Pale blue or white polo shirt
White, navy blue, grey tights or socks
Blue and white check summer dress
Black pumps
Black school shoes – safe for playground {no high heels}
P.E. Kit
Black or navy/blue shorts
Plain white round neck T shirt
Thank you
Parents Sign Up – National Online Safety
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/beecroft-primary-school
Dear Parents & Carers,
The online world is posing an ever-increasing risk to children, and it is important that schools, parents and carers work together to take an active role in teaching children about online dangers.
Learning how to act safely when using the internet is an incredibly important part of safeguarding our children. The whole school is currently working on a project about various aspects of age appropriate online safety; all children are learning our ‘SMART with a heart’ rules in class-to help keep them safe. We are therefore delighted to announce that Beecroft Primary have shown our commitment to protecting our pupils online by working with National Online Safety- providing resources for all parents and carers: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/beecroft-primary-school.
The resources include Parents & Carers courses (presented by Myleene Klass), online video resources and weekly guides covering a huge range of topics.
To create your account, please follow https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/beecroft-primary-school and complete your details. When you’re set up, you’ll be able to set ‘Parent/Carer’ as your user type. You can also access the National Online Safety online via any device- including via the brand-new smartphone app. To download the app, please go to: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/national-onlinesafety/id1530342372 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nationaleducationgroup.nos
Yours sincerely, Mr Campbell
Summer Reading Challenge
We are asking all our children to take part in the Summer Reading Wild World Heroes Challenge, as reading is a vital skill for learning and is the most important thing for your child to practise at home. The challenge is launched on Saturday 10th July and is an excellent way to keep your child engaged with their reading over the summer break.
The challenge is to go to your local library and read 6 books over the summer holidays; however, this year children can also set their own personal goals and read books online for FREE too! It is easy to take part in and you can choose whether to do so in person at the local library or online @ https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ .
On completing the challenge each child will receive a medal/certificate from the library. They will also receive 30 colour points at school if they bring in their medal/certificate by Monday 13th September 2021 and be entered into a prize draw.
If children are entering online and completing online tasks such as reviews and recommendations, please monitor this and discuss the SMART rules with your child – an emphasis needs to be on R for respect, making sure what they post is kind/respectful.
Our local library is Headingley (a half hour walk from school), however it does not matter which library you choose books from and return them.
Have a great summer holiday and good luck with the challenge!