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Important Note:
This is a text and image only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.
Weekly Newsletter - 16th January 2026
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was teaching in Class 6, I had a great day. Thank you Class 6.
The St Bart’s way – we are really pleased with how well the children are walking round school and listening in lessons. We have completed some Maths observations and the children have been fantastic in class.
Social Media:
Snapchat and other social media platforms and sites- Facebook etc are not suitable for primary school children, as most carry a minimum age requirement of 13 to comply with data protection and privacy laws. Through these sites and apps children may be exposed to many risks as many of the sites are unregulated and unmonitored, so individuals are free to post inappropriate content.
The main issues are:
- Disappearing Content: The "disappearing" nature of Snaps can give children a false sense of security, leading them to share images they may later regret.
- Location Sharing: The "Snap Map" feature can share a child's exact location with their contacts by default unless "Ghost Mode" is enabled.
- Stranger Contact: Although there are protections for users under 18, younger children may still receive friend requests or messages from people they do not know.
- Exposure to Harmful Content: Automated algorithms and the "Discover" section can expose children to mature content, including inappropriate language or imagery.
Following recent incidents which have involved children from school being exposed to harmful content whilst online at home, school would advise parents not to allow their children to access these sites and apps and ensure that they have appropriate internet filters at home and regularly monitor their child’s online activity. Whilst school teaches about the dangers that these apps and sites may present it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children are not engaging in risky behaviours online. If you require any advice on how to protect your child online, please see the school website or speak to a member of staff.
Holiday Scheme - During February half term, school will be running a Healthy Holiday scheme. This is a government funded scheme, aimed at families who are eligible for Free School Meals. Children must be registered on the Leeds City Council Healthy Holidays site. Once a child has been registered, parents will then need to book them onto the scheme on the same site, by searching St Bartholomew’s. Due to the funding criteria, it is essential that if you book a place for your child that they attend for every session booked and that they attend for the full day. If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please see Miss Lawson. The holiday scheme booking system will be ‘live’ from Monday 19th January.
Breakfast and After School Club – If you need child care for your child we have a small amount of places and time slots available in breakfast and after school club, please call at the office to pick up an application form.
Bedding – We have been donated a small amount of single duvets, single duvet covers and some pillows. If you are interested, please see Miss Lawson.
Attendance
We expect all children to be in school every day and on time. 8.30am for Nursery, 12.30pm in the afternoon and by 8.50am for the rest of school. Thank you
Last week’s attendance (5th January – 9th January)
- Nursery: 91.5%
- Reception: 90.5%
- Years 1 to 6: 94.5%
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 4 – 96.3%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 10 -99.2%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 12 – 97%
Well done to the best classes:
- KS1 – Class 3
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 11
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 13
Headteachers Awards – Well done to the children who have had a great week in school.
- Class 7 Harry
- Class 7 Pablo
- Class 7 Alima
- Class 8 Aniya
- Class 8 Lilah
- Class 8 Fabian
- Class 9 Kayke
- Class 9 Saidarsh
- Class 9 Abdur
- Class 10 Olaf
- Class 10 Bella
- Class 10 Kelechi
- Class 11 Alyssia
- Class 11 Andrzej
- Class 11 Rimshah
Weekly Round Up
Nursery – This week we have been learning about penguins. Our focus story has been 'Lost and found'. We learnt what float and sink means and did an experiment to check which objects may float or sink. We practice writing some letters of our names and clapped syllables in our names too. In Maths we were counting penguins and matching the amount with the right numeral. We have learnt '5 little penguins' song using Makaton language. We also made little boats for a penguin using 2D shapes.
Reception – This week in Reception we have been learning about what maps are used for. We enjoyed looking at a map of the world and finding the United Kingdom. We have talked a lot about where we live and our journey to school and have created our own maps using photographs of the local area, building blocks and large paper. In Maths we have been matching numerals to quantity and ordering numbers and amounts. We have used cubes to make towers of amounts to 5 and put them in the right order using their size to help us. We have really enjoyed gymnastics in P.E this week and worked hard to create the scorpion pose and the caterpillar pose with our bodies.
Years 1 & 2 – This week in Maths the children in Year 1 have been using number lines to place numbers to 20. They have estimated where numbers will go and have looked closely at the order of numbers to 20 thinking which numbers are larger and which are smaller. Children in Year 2 have been learning about money this week in Maths. They have identified different coins and notes and used their adding and subtraction knowledge to add amounts of money and find change.
Years 3 & 4 –Year 3 -This week, Year 3 have enjoyed using inverted commas to write speech from the Iron Man. In History, we have been learning about Boudica and how she rules against the Romans. In RE, we have been learning about the story of Noah and the Arc and retelling the story. In Maths, we have been looking at written methods for multiplication before moving onto division. In Science, we enjoyed experimenting with reflective materials.
Year 4 - This week we have been writing a ship log about a travel across the sea. In History, we have been learning about Otzi the ice-man. He was preserved in ice and we have been looking at how things can be preserved. In Science, we have been planning an experiment, looking at what material would be most appropriate for an umbrella. In RE, we enjoyed looking at Guru Nanak and what he did.
Years 5 & 6 - Lessons: In Science, we have started our topic about properties of materials. We have enjoyed feeling different items in bags and deciphering what the items were based on their properties. In Art, we are looking forward to creating a sea creature sculpture from single use plastic to highlight the impact single use plastic has on our oceans. Click on the following links below to catch-up on the latest news in Years 5 & 6:
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-5
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-6
The Deep - Thank you to all the families who have made a voluntary contribution, including contributions since the last newsletter – your support is greatly appreciated. We are still accepting contributions, and any amount you can give will make a difference.
Upcoming ‘The Deep’ Trip dates:
- Monday 19th January – Class 16
- Thursday 22nd January – Class 13
- Monday 26th January – Class 12
- Thursday 29th January – Class 14
Homework: Homework is given on Mondays and must be completed by the following Monday. Each week, children will be expected to complete homework on Emile (with tasks set in Grammar, Punctuation and Maths) and Oxford Owl (tasks set in Spelling). Spelling Homework will be set from Monday. Children will also be encouraged to use Reading Plus at home to support their reading development. Children who complete all their homework will be rewarded with a longer lunchtime on Friday.
Year 6 SATs Week - Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 11th May 2025. It is vital that all children in Year 6 attend school that week. The test timetable will be as follows:
- Monday 11th May: Grammar, punctuation & spelling
- Tuesday 12th May: Reading
- Wednesday 13th May: Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May: Reasoning
School Dates 2025 -2026:
- Monday 19th January 2026 The Deep Class 16
- Thursday 22nd January 2026 The Deep Class 13
- Monday 26th January 2026 The Deep Class 12
- Thursday 29th January 2026 The Deep Class 14
- Tuesday 3rd February 2025 Year 2 -Classes 5 and 6 Great Fire of London Workshops
- Friday 13th February 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 23rd February 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 20th March 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Wednesday 1st April 2025 Year 1 Farm Visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2025 Year 1 Farm Visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 20th April 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Monday 4th May 2026 School Closed May Bank Holiday
- Monday 11th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling
- Tuesday 12th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reading
- Wednesday 13th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reasoning
- Friday 22nd May 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 1st June 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 12th June 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Monday 15th June 2025 Seaside Visit - Class 5
- Thursday 18th June 2025 Seaside Visit - Class 6
- Friday 17th July 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm