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This week the National Literacy Trust published their annual report ‘The Annual Literacy Survey’ which revealed some concerning data about writing, particularly on the topic of children writing in their free time. The report used data from 76,131 school children aged 5-18 and evidenced that writing enjoyment levels are at their lowest since 2010. Fewer than 3 in 10 (28.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they enjoy writing in their free time. Levels of writing enjoyment have decreased by 18.1 percentage points over the past 14 years, with levels decreasing by 5.9 percentage points over the past year alone. Enjoyment levels dropped for all children and young people in 2024, but the drop was particularly pronounced for boys aged 5 to 8, with levels decreasing by 11.9 percentage points between 2023 and 2024. Just 1 in 9 (11.1%) children said they wrote something daily in their free time. Of children and young people aged 8 to 18 who wrote at least once a month, 3 in 5 (59.1%) did so to be creative, while 1 in 2 (52.8%) wrote to express their ideas and imagination (52.8%) or their thoughts and feelings (47.7%). Many also wrote to support their mental wellbeing, with 2 in 5 (40.4%) writing to relax and 1 in 3 (33.1%) because it made them feel happy.
Writing is a powerful way to express ideas and thoughts, create and imagine, but is also a skill requiring multiple demands all at the same time. Two years ago, we chose writing as one of the priorities on our school improvement plan. We based our plan on Alex Quigley’s research and his book ‘Closing the Writing Gap’ to inform our approach. We selected three strands to work on to empower our children to become confident and proficient writers. These were; handwriting, as once mastered and automatic, this demand is removed from the writing process; spelling, as this often causes anxiety for children and diverts their attention from the creative and imaginative aspects, and finally crafting great sentences, so that by understanding how to ‘build’ sentences they could express their thoughts and ideas. The project has proved to be a success and to further enhance it, we introduced Colour Semantics this year, an approach that uses colours to categorise different types of words. You can read more about it here and try it at home with your child Colourful Semantics: A teacher's guide (structurallearning.com).
When we free children from some of the difficult aspects of writing we open the door to creativity and hopefully enjoyment. I hope that many of your children choose to write at home in whatever form suits them. Going around the classrooms earlier this week, I saw the progression of writing from Reception upwards and I’m often visited by the children keen to read me their latest written creations, always beaming with pride and satisfaction. On 19th June we will be taking part in National Writing Day which is an annual celebration of the power of writing creatively, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to try writing for fun and self-expression. This occasion provides a great opportunity to celebrate the reasons why young people writeincluding creativity, mental wellbeing, and social action or connection - and to encourage everyone to find their own writing motivation and voice. It’s our job as adults to model writing for enjoyment and provide low stakes opportunities for our children to write for pleasure.
swimming galas. Sadly, I was unable to attend but hearing all achievements children and each other.
the events were meticulously organised and the children so well prepared. We are fortunate to have an excellent team of swimming teachers led by our Head of
you to Ian and all the pool and teaching staff who organised and ran the event. events.
This week we sent home a QR code and a poster for the whole school walk that takes place on Friday 28th June. Children from 2-18 will be walking different routes back to school to raise money for MND, Mind and the Keys for Life. The event is aiming to raise funds but also to provide an opportunity to come together as a school community.
I hope that you all have a lovely weekend.
No: 30 Friday 7 June 2024
DIARY FOR WEEK COMMENCING 10 June 2024
School Council Year 1 Lexia Year 2 Art
Year 3 Cricket*
Year 1, 2 & 3 Lioness Football*
Year 1, 2 & 3 ASC
Year 1 Outdoor Games
Year 1 Wellbeing
Year 2 Cricket*
Year 2 STEM
Year 3 Tennis*
Year 3 Swimming
Year 2 & 3 Dance*
Year 2 & 3 French
Year 1, 2 & 3 ASC
Year 1 Football*
Year 1 Yoga*
Year 2 & 3 Choir - CANCELLED
Year 1, 2 & 3 ASC
Year 1 Clay Craft
Year 1 Board Games
Year 2 Tennis*
Year 2 Cooking
Year 3 Athletics
Year 3 Sewing
Year 3 STEM
Year 2 & 3 European Languages & Cultures
Year 1, 2 & 3 ASC
Year 1 Dance*
Year 1 Cricket*
Year 2 Board Games
Year 3 VR
Year 2 & 3 Football*
Year 1, 2 & 3 ASC
Newsletter
CoMPasS
M O N D A Y
T U E S D
A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F
D
R I
A Y
SCHOOL COUNCIL
This week in Council we were inspired by our visit to Mrs Hall in 13-18 to go on a litter picking walk to keep our school environment tidy and clean.
We borrowed her litter picking arms and worked with great enthusiasm to collect rubbish!
We were amazed by how much litter we found even in a short time.
Well done council, great work!
MUSIC
Instrumental Lessons in School for the Autumn Term
As we head to the end of term, I will be starting to talk to the children in Reception to Year 2 about the different instruments available to learn from September. If your child is already learning an instrument in school and you would like them to continue, you do not need to do anything.
If your child is currently in Year 1 and has been learning the recorder, please note their lesson will become a 30min lesson from September unless you wish to give notice.
In Year 2 we usually recommend only having lessons on one musical instrument.
In Year 3, we can discuss pupils having lessons on two instruments where appropriate.
If you would like to give notice on music lessons, please do so by emailing a.hayden@stpetersyork.org.uk.
If you would like to sign your child up to learn a new instrument, please fill in the following form St Peter's 2-8: Request for Music Lessons (office.com).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Mrs Hayden.
Individual Music lessons are offered for the following instruments:
Year 1 - recorders, taught in pairs. Please note you do not need to sort out a pair of children to sign your child up, our recorder teacher will sort the pairings out in September. The cost for Year 1 lessons are £12.75 per lesson.
Year 2 and 3 lessons are all taught as individual lessons on the following instruments:
• Year 2 - Recorder, piano, violin, drums, cello and guitar
Year 3 - Recorder, piano, violin, cello, guitar, flute, clarinet, pocket cornet (smaller version of a cornet/trumpet, once the child has grown enough, they can transfer onto a full sized instrument easily) or pbone (lighter version of a trombone - students once grown enough can easily transfer onto a trombone from this instrument) and drums.
The fees for 2024/25 lessons in Year 2 and 3 are:
£25.50 per 30-minute lesson. Hire charge of £37 per term where appropriate. Please note we do not hire recorders, guitars or pianos.
Whole School Fundraiser
As you are aware, on Friday 28 June we are asking all pupils and staff and OPs to participate in a whole school sponsored walk, run or swim. Some will not be able to take part on the day but may still plan an activity of their own choice. No enterprise is too small, and every effort is worthwhile.
This is intended to be a pupil led fundraising day so we hope they will find lots of innovative ways to raise their sponsorship money.
If each pupil raises £10, we will be able to donate over £12,000! All money raised will be split equally across the following organisations:
• The Island
• York Mind
• MND Association Rob Burrow Campaign
• My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
• St Peter’s School Keys for Life Bursary Campaign
Fundraising is gathering pace with well over £500 raised already for good causes. Thank you to all who have donated so far!
A reminder that you are able to pay in your sponsorship money or donate on our fundraising page here.
This year’s much anticipated Cabaret concerts will be happening on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th June. With acts including the Swing Band, School Choir, Chamber Choir, and Upper Sixth Form soloists, it promises to be a fun filled evening of pop and jazz performances.
Everyone is warmly invited to attend – please see below for ticket links. We will have downstairs table seating, as well as upper gallery seating, in a jazz club style. You are welcome to a complimentary drink upon arrival, and the evening will be supplemented by a cash bar and raffle, as in previous years.
Tickets available here:
Cabaret 1
Cabaret 2
We look forward to seeing you there! Please direct any questions to b.rice@stpetersyork.org.uk
York Tennis Club is hosting an Open Day this Sunday with free sessions for juniors, adults and the opportunity for people to use the great facilities to play as a family.
Please follow the link to book your free place York Tennis Club / York Tennis Club / Events and take advantage of the special membership offers on the day.
SUMMER CAMPS 2024
United Education
We are very pleased to be partnering with United Education, who offer a plethora of activities ranging from sports and arts to science experiments and more, ensuring that there’s something enticing for every camper. To find out more from them and for booking links, please see our dedicated page HERE.
Upcoming Holiday Camp Details
Mark your calendars! Our camp will kick off on 15th July and run through 2nd August.
Helpful links
Preparing for a Safe and Enjoyable Adventure Camp Experience - Adventure Camps (adventure-camps.co.uk)
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Our Holiday CampAdventure Camps (adventure-camps.co.uk)
EXPLORERS AND DANCERS SUMMER PROJECT!
3 days of creative play, movement and dance. The project will take place at York Dance Space's studio as well as in St Nicks Nature Reserve which is a 5 minute walk from the studio. Dancers will need to bring a pack lunch and water bottle each day and have appropriate footwear for dancing outdoors.
WEDNESDAY 24TH JULY - FRIDAY 26TH JULY
10am - 2.30pm
(There will be a short sharing on the Friday at around 2pm)
£35 for the whole project
£60 for 2 siblings
Booking link and info here! https://square.link/u/FywIUcPJ
Lieutenant Colonel Barney Barnbrook
Regional Director North East and Yorkshire TAPiTAG
Join us for the Yorkshire Big Curry Lunch on Thursday 13th June at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York. For more information, please visit our microsite:
The Yorkshire Big Curry Lunch 2024 - Army Benevolent
