Find out what's happening in school:

• Y5/6 Inspire events - Oracy

  Sun 09 Feb 2020

  This year's Inspire events have a 'curriculum' theme. Last week's Year 5/6 events were very well attended - thank you to all those who were able to take time out of their day to come along. It was lovely to be able to speak to parents and carers about how we develop vocabulary, skills and knowledge across the different curriculum areas, and how we use weekly 'blocks' of teaching to be able to take a more in-depth approach. This was then demonstrated through a wide variety of 'oracy' tasks, which matched that week's curriculum focus in Y5/6. It was clear from the comments and the feedback forms that the event was much appreciated by the parents/carers, and that a large number really appreciated the opportunity to talk with their children in a variety of structured games and activities. Thank you again to all those who came!

   

  A small selection of the positive feedback we received is included below:

  Did you enjoy the event? If so, why?

  Yes! Very well planned and the kids clearly loved it too. This is a great school – keep up the good work.

  Yes – great to spend time on a one-to-one basis with no distractions that we have when we are at home.

  Yes, it was nice to see what happens in school as I get very little information from my child.

  Yes. It’s the most interaction I’ve had with my child since she got a phone.

  Good fun – my child is starting to use reasoned arguments at home, so good to see skills built on in school, and nice to be a part of what is being undertaken and learnt in school.

  Yes, I enjoyed the quality time with my child and the interaction.

  It was great to see the children debating and discussing different topics. They had chance to reason with one another and get their point across in different ways.

  Yes, spending time with my child in her learning environment is very special. I enjoy seeing what they do.

  Yes – was good to interact with my daughter. Don’t do much at home as phones and laptops seem to come first these days!

   

  Do you feel that you learned more about your child’s educational experience at Strawberry Fields?

  Yes, I like the idea of a topic for a whole week to get a more in depth feel for the subject.

  Absolutely!

  Yes – interesting to see how the curriculum is being applied with focused weeks.

  Yes, definitely.

  Yes, the block teaching sounds like an interesting approach and not something I have known before.

   

  Do you feel you have a better understanding of how the wider curriculum is being taught at Strawberry Fields?

  Today’s activities about oracy were brilliant, hopefully my child will become a more confident speaker.

  It has helped me to better understand what my children are doing and why. It will help me to join in.

  Yes. Very impressed and will help her in the future, especially how to articulate herself.

  Absolutely, and I think this is a fantastic approach.

   

  Was the information about how we teach ‘knowledge’, ‘skills’ and ‘vocabulary’ helpful?

  It was, it gave a great insight and we are thankful for that.

  Very much so. Something that I can now use at home and help build on.

  Yes, although not convinced my girl needs to sharpen her debating skills!!

  Yes because it makes a bit more sense of the vocabulary she comes out with!

   

  Do you have any further comments?

  It’s great how to school involves parents with their children’s learning.

  Thank you for setting up these events. I always find them useful. Keep up the hard work!

  Really good idea to invite parents/family. Thank you.

  Thank you for inviting us. We have really enjoyed it.

  Just a well done. My daughter is really enjoying school and always has!

  This is always a very valuable experience in school – thank you!

  I really enjoyed this experience. So relaxing and very informal. Thank you.

  We have enjoyed the Inspires throughout the years.

  Brilliant morning – should be more often.

  Thank you!

  

• Curling

  Sun 09 Feb 2020 Mr B
  Last week, twelve children from Year Three went to Garforth Academy to represent the school in a curling competition. The children were fantastic and we are very proud that one of our teams finished second in the whole competition! Thank you to Mrs. Driscoll and Mrs. Gerrard for taking the children.

• Careers Fair

  Wed 05 Feb 2020

  Last week was held our careers fair. All children from Year 1 - 6 were able to come to the hall and speak with different people about the jobs they do. Like last year, we had a wide mix of careers including: a train guard, a professional rugby-player and sports coach, a speech therapist, an oil and gas engineer, two beauticians, two police officers, a volunteer who works with the homeless, a human resources manager and a clinical psychologist. The children were very interested to have the opportunity to speak to so many different people and asked lots of sensible and relevant questions.

  Thank you to all those parents and community members who supported us with this. Events like these would not work without your help!

  

• Y5/6 mixed rugby

  Mon 03 Feb 2020 Mr B
  Well done to our mixed Y5/6 rugby teams, who represented the school at the Garforth Tigers rugby tournament last week. Despite bitter cold and some difficulties getting to the venue, they played really well. Both teams won games, with one team finishing unbeaten and extremely unlucky not to qualify for the final. Thank you to the children who braved the cold, and to Miss Chermside and Stacey from Elite who did so too to enable the children to participate!

• Holocaust Memorial Exhibition at Garforth Library

  Mon 03 Feb 2020 Mr B

  Monday 27th January marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Russian soldiers. We discussed with Garforth Library the possibility of holding an exhibition of some of our work, created following our Year 5/6 visit to the National Holocaust Memorial Museum near Newark. 

  The children in all three Year 5/6 classes created written work, poetry and artwork relating specifically to the Holocaust, as well as to wider themes of peace, war and refugees. The work is now on display in the library, where it will remain until the Easter holidays. By Easter, all children in Year 5/6 will have a piece of work included in the display. We hope the work conveys a message of respect, peace and hope for a better future.

  We 'launched' the exhibition at the 'Garforth Social' event, on Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27th. Twelve children from year five and six hosted around 30 members of the public, explaining their work and what they had learned during their topic, and answering questions. We were very proud of our children and grateful to the members of the public who came along to see the children's work and to speak to them.

  As ever, we had many positive comments from the exhibition visitors and the library staff about the behaviour of our children, but also about how respectful, eloquent and knowledgeable they were when dealing with such sensitive material.