William Barcroft Junior School

'Success and happiness for all'

Message from the Principal:

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to this week’s newsletter. I can’t believe writing this that we are now halfway through the school year already! We have been busy working on our community value this term, with our second team (this time year 5/6) achieving the ‘most honest award’ at their dodgeball competition which is fabulous. Our girls’ football team have also impressed and have been chosen to be flagbearers at the next Grimsby Town home game, so please look out for them if you attend.

We had a day with local artist Francesca Young this week, focusing on our community and producing some fabulous artwork which you can see examples of below. I’ve also loved watching the ‘delight and joy’ in year 3 as they enjoyed sculpting their clay models of Old Clee Church after their visit.

You may have seen some builders and decorators around school in the last week or so. Just to keep you in the loop, we are re-configuring our Woodland room which will now be our new inclusion room with sensory space known as The Lily Pad. This will be ready to open on the first day back after the holidays.

We had a whole school focus on Safer Internet Day this week, where we re-enforced the key messages that we teach throughout our computing and PSHCE lessons. Please see below for websites which offer further support on this, or please get in touch if you have any concerns about your child’s online safety.

Finally, thank you for supporting our fundraising today, with the donations for heart biscuits going to the British Heart Foundation. The children enjoyed this end of term treat and the pupil governors will present our donation after the holidays.

Please enjoy looking through the newsletter and have a lovely half term break. I look forward to welcoming children back on Monday 24 th February.

S Sargent

Principal

All classes across school have been working hard as a community to ensure they are in school every day this term.

Congratulations to 3L and 4B in lower school who have drawn and 5S in upper school who achieved the most 100% attendance days as a class this half term.

Both classes were rewarded with a popcorn surprise on the last day of term.

Spring Term

Monday 24th February - School reopens for children

Thursday 27th February - Maths Challenge

Wednesday 5th March - #letgirlsplay Football Event at Clee Fields

Friday 7th March - World Book Day

Monday 10th March - Friday 14th March - Science Week

Wednesday 12th March - Cross Country at Weelsby Woods

Thursday 13th March - Year 5 IntoUniversity

Friday 21st March - World Poetry Day

Wednesday 26th March - Year 4 Learning Showcase

Friday 28th March - Year 3 Learning Showcase

Wednesday 2nd April - Year 5 Learning Showcase

Thursday 3rd April - Year 6 Learning Showcase

Friday 4th April - Last day of term - 2pm finish

Summer Term

Tuesday 22nd April - School reopens for children

Monday 5th May - Bank holiday - school closed

Tuesday 6th May - Year 3 and Year 4 IntoUniversity day

Tuesday 13th May - Thursday 15th May - Year 5 IntoUniversity days

Friday 23rd May - Last day of term

Monday 2nd June - School reopens for children

Monday 2nd June - School photographs

Friday 13th June - School closed - training day

Wednesday 25th June - Junior Singing Festival

Monday 1st July - Year 6 transition workshop

Friday 18th July - Last day of term - 2pm finish

General Information

Please do not ride bikes and scooters on the school grounds, this is for children and adults. This is for the safety of our children, thank you.
Please note, electric scooters are not allowed on the school site due to health and safety regulations and not having the facilities to store them in school.
Please do not bring pets onto the school site due to health and safety regulations.

PE kit MUST be brought to school on your child's PE days,

Year 3 and Year 5 will have PE Tuesday and Thursday

Year 4 and Year 6 will have PE Monday and Wednesday

WBJS Newsround from the Pupil Governors

YEAR 3

In English we have continued reading the Butterfly Lion. My favourite part is Bertie and the lions relationship.

In maths we have been learning about different fractions such as quarters, halves and thirds. We've also been learning how to tell the time to the o'clock, quarter past and half past.

During the afternoons, we have been sculpting Old Clee Church following our visit. We are using sculpting tools to add detail.

Ethan, Year 3.

YEAR 4

We have written a letter to a local supermarket in Stromhead (from the Song of a Dolphin Boy) trying to persuade them not to let off 5000 balloons on their opening day. This is because the dolphins mistake the balloons landing in the ocean for jellyfish and they are digesting them.

In science we have been observing puddles over time to see if the water is evaporating. Using this knowledge, we have then learned about the water cycle and how the water we drink is the same water that the dinosaurs drank!

Annabelle, Year 4.

YEAR 5

Alongside reading Harry Potter, we have been writing short stories about the quidditch game.

In maths we have been practising our fractions skills and applying these to percentages and decimals.

Science has been fun this week as we have been learning about pulleys, gears and levers. In one lesson we made catapults as an example of a lever.

In PE we have been continuing to practise and develop our tennis skill outside and have been learning new stretch and balance techniques inside.

Sophia, Year 5.

YEAR 6

We have been writing poetry based on the powerful poem 'In Flanders Field'.

In PSHCE we have been talking about how to keep ourselves safe online due to it being Safer Internet Day on Tuesday. We've also completed some work based on community for our exhibition on Thursday afternoon.

In science we have been using our pattern seeking and fair testing skills to see how light travels and how shadows can change shape and size.

Molly, Year 6.

Barcroft Stars

Every Friday, we celebrate the fantastic work and attitudes of our children during our Star of the Week assembly. Each teacher presents their Star of the Week, Reader of the Week and TTRS of the Week whilst our Learning Mentors award fastasic behaviour and kindess on the playground. We also celebrate our birthdays in style with a whole school sing-song and give out spot prizes for fantastic work and home reading.

If your child is chosen for this assembly, you will receive a message no later than Thursday. If you wish to attend, the assembly times are as follows:

Year 3 and Year 4 - 8.55am

Year 5 and Year 6 - 9.55am

Home Reading

Please can we remind all parents that children are required to read 3 times a week at home and their reading record is expected in school every day. There are a multitude of beneficial reasons why children should read at home: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. It is essential that we are providing children with the time to explore stories, giving them time and full attention when reading them a story, asking questions to support comprehension and clear routines. Reading at home builds self-esteem, vocabulary, feeds imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns. Not to mention that it supports all areas of the curriculum and increases progress, development and understanding. We offer a well-stocked library and purple area which provides reading books to take home and children are rewarded when completing 3 home reads.

Thank you for your support with this.

World Book Day

This year, we will be celebrating World Book day on Friday 7th March. Your child is invited to dress up as a book character that gives them Delight and Joy! This will be a competition! There will be a prize in each year group for the best costume. We have lots of exciting activities planned including 'Drop Everything and Read' throughout the day, sweet treats, drama activities and art projects: this is a day to celebrate reading! Mrs McGrath is currently working with the Reading Champions to create a fun-filled day.

Dodgeball Tournament

On Thursday 30 th January, our year 3 and 4 dodgeball team went to Oasis Academy Immingham for a tournament against 11 other schools. They finished 4 th in their group and were identified as the most honest schools. As a result, they were rewarded with medals and were complimented by Oasis Academy Immingham sport leaders. The team definitely improved as the competition progressed with Harry and Arlo in Year 4 standing out massively. All children thoroughly enjoyed the event and represented the school impeccably.

On Thursday 6 th February, our year 5 and 6 dodgeball team went to Oasis Academy Wintringham for a tournament against 11 other schools. They finished 3 rd in their group and were also identified as the most honest school. As a result, they too were rewarded with medals. The team did really well and on a few occasions, found ourselves one against 5. Ronnie and Demi from year 5 did excellently as they had to face an entire team by themselves at one point. Ronnie managed to eliminate 4 other players on his own before eventually being hit out.

Both teams were amazing and this was evident in the medals they took home for honesty. The leader of the event mentioned that it proves how amazing our children are to be recognised at both events by different schools. You have made Mr Dawes and Mrs Sargent very proud!

Year 5 and 6 Girls Primary Stars Football Tournament

On Monday 3 rd February, our girls competed in a tournament ran by Grimsby Town with the opportunity to represent Grimsby Town at a regional tournament in Hull. The girls had their best tournament to date! In the first game, the girls lost the old-fashioned England way (you guessed it – on penalties) to the eventual winners Welholme Primary. The game was a stalemate and ended 0-0 with neither side threatening too much. We then had a game break where the girls regrouped with Mr Dawes and were given some instructions to follow by the manager. The instructions were clear: to press the other team more to win the ball back. In the second game, the girls did just that and Lilley scored the winner by stealing the ball from the defender and slotting the ball home past the opposition keeper. William Barcroft won 1-0. In the third game, the girls were becoming more confident with the instructions given and thrashed the opposition 4-0. Lola scored two from midfield and Ava scored 2. Fantastic display to get all 3 points. In the final game, the girls were rampant and won 3-0 with Ria scoring 2 and Ava scoring another. The girls pressed extremely well and didn’t give the opposition any chance on the ball. The tournament ended and the girls came 2 nd overall. They did get rewarded with free tickets to Grimsby Town vs Fleetwood Town on the 22nd February with opportunities to be flag bearers.

Overall, an excellent tournament, where the girls scored 8 goals and conceded 0 goals throughout the competition. A massive shout out to our defence of goalkeeper Savannah and defenders Anne and Esmai. Esmai won Mr Dawes’ player of the tournament with her excellent defending and bravery – especially in a new position under Anne’s wing. Thank you to our parents and carers, who spectated. It was massively appreciated and you were treated to a spectacle!

Local Artist workshop Francesca Young

On Monday, we enjoyed a special visit from local artist, Francesca Young, who delivered an exciting assembly telling us all about her fantastic art work. During the day, year 5 and year 6 children took part in workshops learning how to paint and draw in her style. Here are some examples of the fabulous work that was created!

British heart foundation fund raising

At the start of the year, the children came together to choose 4 charities to support this year. On Friday 14th February, we raised money for The British Heart Foundation by selling valentines cookies for 50p at break time.

Thank you for your continued support in raising money for these charities chosen by our children.

Pupil voice groups - Community

Art Ambassadors

The art ambassadors have been working on bringing more art to the outdoors at break times and asking children around school what type of activities they would like. They also helped Mrs Burman set up the exhibition on Thursday!

Wraparound care

See information below regarding wraparound childcare support.

If you require wrap around care after school, please contact Clee Kids Club who collect from our school office at 3.15pm and offer childcare until 6pm daily.

www.cleekidsclub.co.uk/

Follow this link to visit the safeguarding section of our website, and for a copy of our Safeguarding and Child Protection policy. https://wba.harbourlearningtrust.com/our-academy/safeguarding/

SAFEGUARDING AND SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES

At Harbour Learning Trust safeguarding our pupils and supporting our families remains a high priority over the half term holidays.

What To Do If You're WorriedAbout A Child?

Should you have any safeguarding concerns around your own child, or any child, please contact the local authority safeguarding hub:

• NELC Integrated Front Door

https://www.safernel.co.uk/report-a-concern

Tel: 01472 326292 (option 2)

Therapy Dogs Nationwide

Therapy Dogs Nationwide is a national charity where volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to provide comfort, distraction and stimulations to children and adults. Luckily for us we have Kim and Ralph the golden labrador come into our school to read with the children. Ralph attends WBJS every week and the children absolutely adore their furry friend!

Fostering bright futures

Change the life of a local child, be a foster carer. Enquire today Fostering in North East Lincolnshire | NELC

As a foster friendly school, we want to raise awareness of the need for local foster carers to come forward in the area. If you think you can make a positive difference to a child’s life, enquire today. Fostering in North East Lincolnshire | NELC https://youtu.be/sNXx6dycp3Y

Online Safety

On Tuesday 11th February our children celebrated Safer Internet Day. Our digital leaders confidently held their first whole school assembly based on scamming and it was great to see their confidence growing. They asked our students if they had ever been scammed, discussed what it looked like and what we can do to protect ourselves.

Our pupils also carried out activities throughout the day based on phishing and protecting our online identity. Our digital leaders supported in their classrooms and reminded children of their trusted adults in school and at home.