In life, we often face challenges that take us out of our comfort zone. Often it is these situations that have the most significant impact upon our personal development and wellbeing. In the last week of term, our Y3 class visited Stump Cross Taverns in Nidderdale and went underground into a real life cave! This was part of their really exciting topic on rocks and soils. It was the first time the teachers had run the trip and, along with the children, there was some nervousness in the air. It was going to be cold, wet and dark and Mr Popple was not allowed to wear his crocs! What was the outcome of the day? Well, it was Mr Popple's best school trip ever, for starters, and most importantly, the children loved it and were buzzing with pride about going down and full of fossil facts! Did you know that they are going to reintroduce the Woolly Mamouth using carbon from fossils? That was Basil's best fact! 

Not to be outdone, our Y6 class visited the Media Museum in Bradford as well last week. If you didn't know, it has had a bit of a makeover with Bradford being the City of Culture. This visit was supporting learning in Art, which is a unit on digital art. What the children have produced is incredible, so creative. 

As I am writing this at the end of the half-term holiday, I am assuming that, like myself, everyone has had a relaxing, safe and fun break away from the school routine! However, it is always exciting before the start of a new half-term, eager to see the children again and hearing their stories.

For my family, last week, we were out on our wheels every day, in all kinds of weather, putting in some miles around Lancashire. Going over the Pennines to ride may seem an unusual choice seeing as though we do live in beautiful Yorkshire, the centre of British Cycling. But, cycling with an eleven-year-old, the roads in Lancashire are far quieter, and there has been extensive investment in cycle networks/pathways and, thus far, safer riding.  Apart from when she did nearly end up in the Lancaster canal one day, with a split-second lapse in concentration! To me, being able to ride a bike, along with swimming, are important life skills, and we have a commitment to ensure all children can do both well, by the time they leave Westroyd.  I am lucky to have a longstanding relationship with Cycle North, who we welcomed into school last week to get the children in Y2 riding a pedal bike. They are back to work with Y4 in two weeks, so that the children are confident with Bikeability one before full road Bikeability training in Y6. If I was going to give any parents advice about getting children riding, it would be, don’t put them on a bike with stabilisers! They provide a false sense of balance and security. Balance bikes are the way to go, and it is then an easy, very swift transition to a pedal bike.

This term is probably the best and busiest term in a primary school, for events and excitement.  Especially if you are like Mrs Hollingshead and incredibly sentimental about all things Christmas! She is already planning the tree dressing assembly! Mr Clough and Miss Connell are building on the success of their entertaining sheep-themed show last year, and already have their rehearsal schedule planned for this year's show. Knowing how much Mr Clough has an eye for fun and what strong unique characters we have in our Y1 and Y2 cohorts, I think we all need to look forward to that one!

As there are many, many events coming up this half-term and I know, especially if you have children in other schools, it is a full-time job keeping on top of everything!  I am in the same situation. I get it, juggling work calendars and family calendars is a challenge. At Westroyd, we do try to make it as easy as we can and give as much notice as we can.  So, a reminder, all dates are on the website calendar, which you can link to your own family calendar. We put all dates in the half-termly newsletter, with new or amended dates highlighted, and we send out a weekly what is on newsletter. Look out for the weekly what is on, as this is like your final reminder of what is about to happen. I always think in case you have missed something. 

So roll on Monday morning, we have had a new IT server over the break and a new wall, to enable us to extend our nursery provision. Let's get cracking!