Celebrating Success
Jeevan, in Year 5, is going for his black belt in taekondo. As part of the grading he has written an essay that he would like to share with the Scholes community:
Why I want to be a Black Belt in Taekwondo
As a ten year old boy who loves martial arts, earning a black belt is my biggest dream! It’s not just a cool belt, it’s about what it represents. To me, a black belt means I’ve worked hard, learned a lot, and become stronger, both inside and outside.
Having a black belt shows that I’ve practiced a lot. Every punch, kick, and block takes a lot of practice to get right. Sometimes I make mistakes, but that’s okay because it helps me learn. I imagine wearing a black belt and feeling proud of all the effort and time I’ve put into training. It’s like a trophy, but even better because I can wear it!
Also, a black belt means I’ve learned to be disciplined. In Taekwondo, I need to listen carefully, follow instructions, and respect my teachers and classmates. This has helped me become more focused in school and at home too. I’ve learned that to achieve something great, like a black belt, I need to stay dedicated and work hard, even when it’s tough.
Being brave is another reason I want a black belt. Sometimes learning new moves can be scary, and sparring with partners can be intimidating. But Taekwondo has taught me to face my fears. Earning a black belt would show that I’ve overcome many challenges and become braver. It’s not just about fighting, it’s about having the courage to keep trying, even when I’m afraid.
A black belt also means I can help others. In class, I see people with black belts teaching and helping younger students. I want to be like them. It feels good to share what I’ve learned and to encourage others to keep going, even when it’s hard. Being a black belt is like being a leader, and I want to inspire others by showing them what they can achieve if they don’t give up.
Lastly, I believe having a black belt will make me a better person. It’s not just about being strong in fighting, it’s about being kind, respectful, and patient. Martial arts teach important values, like how to be a good friend and how to stand up for what’s right. I think being a black belt means carrying these values everywhere, not just in the dojang.
A black belt is more than just a belt. It represents hard work, discipline, bravery, the joy of helping others, and becoming a better person. I can’t wait for the day I earn my black belt, but I also know that the journey doesn’t end there. It’s just the beginning of continuing to learn, grow, and maybe one day helping others achieve their dream.
Computing: making our own version of Times Tables Rock Stars.
Children in year 5/6 have been learning how to use Scratch to create their own Times Tables Rock Stars game. Children have learned how to use repetition to simplify their algorithm and create variables such as timers or number generators.
Help at home: have a go at exploring scratch with your child. Are there any other games that you want to make? It might be a maze game or a playform game. Discuss the skills needed to code your own game.
Computing!
In Year 5/6, our topic this half term is Comptuing.
We’ve been using Scratch programming software to create our own algorithms to instruct sprites (2d characters in computer games) to execute certain instructions.
Repetition
Firstly, we designed a program which instructed a sprite to climb up some stairs, say hello to another sprite before then returning down the stairs.
Selection
Next, we designed a chat bot game where sprites asked us questions and depending on if our answer was correct or not, a message displaying ‘Well done’ or ‘Unlucky’ was shown as well as a sound being made.
Variables
After that, we added variables to our chat bot game. These included the number of points for a correct answer or lives decreasing for a wrong answer.
Help at home:
Have a look at this computing display from one of the 5/6 classes.
Help at home by asking your child to explain the what you can see in the picture to consolidate their learning!
Year 5 Theatre Visit
We were very lucky to take year 5 to John Smeaton today to watch their version of Beauty and the Beast. This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to see what facilities there are at a local high school but also to experience what it would be like if they were to study drama at secondary school. The students were absolutely fantastic and the performance was very memorable. The acting was great and the singing was super, with a lot of the children performing solos. It definitely taught our children the importance of self-confidence, hard work and teamwork. Our children behaved so well and even helped to tidy up before we left. They represented our school brilliantly.
Debating
Three year 5 children were selected to take part in an interschool debating competition. 14 schools took part in the debate at Wigton Moor Primary School.
The debate topic had many views: Should zoos be abolished?
The children said ithat overall it was a very good experience.
Help at home: What are your child’s views on zoos? Debating at home while having dinner or on a car journey can help develop good oracy skills.
The children represented our school with pride. Well done.
Year 6 Football Tournament
Last night, our year 6 footballers went to Wetherby High School to take part in a tournament against other local schools. It was the first opportunity that our girls team have had to play against other teams. Everybody played fantastically and it was great to see Scholes embrace mixed gender football teams. Whilst we didn’t win any trophies, there were lots of goals scored and loads of great teamwork. Harry worked hard throughout, to the point where he was exhausted and Lily saved some great shots in goal.
A fantastic effort by everyone! Thanks also to the parents who transported the children and stood in the drizzle for 2 hours – you are amazing too!
Topic: computing
This week in topic we have been powering up the laptops again. Our current learning is all about computing and how to create programs. Using the Scratch platform we have been creating our own chat bot games. These are interactive games that allow a player to answer questions. This children needed to use selection to choose the correct blocks and build the algorithm for their game. The children also needed to select a background and a sprite (character). We will continue to work on our projects and we will debug any issues with our games.
Help at home: Can you help your child learn our computing vocabulary?
I Asked The River by Valerie Bloom
In this week’s reading skills lessons, we are reading the poem: I Asked the River by Valerie Bloom.
So far, we’ve enjoyed the poem and discussed:
– the rhyming sequence
– how it makes us feel
– the links it has to global issues
– any questions we have about it
– any vocabulary we’re curious about
– our likes and dislikes
– what connections we have to it (things we’ve previously read, seen or done)
Enjoy the poem below!
Help at home: Practise reading this poem with your child and make up some retrieval or interpret questions to check your child’s understanding. Some examples could be:
Who did the river have to meet?
When did the river have lunch with the sea?
Why does the river only foam and seethe from stanza eight?
Writing
Year 5/6 have been writing their own tension building texts this week. We used a video called Francis as inspiration. We talked about the use of figurative language, short snappy sentences and repetition to help put the reader on the edge of their seat.
Help at home: Use your child’s favourite TV show or film as a stimulus. Can they write in the same style? What language has been used? How does this help create the world of the show?
PE – yoga
Tuesday saw 5,6B having a go at yoga. We began the session with some breathing exercises to some relaxing music. We then began to learn some yoga poses such as river and tree. These are based on stretching and balancing and were actually very tricky. We also did some poses that involved working with a partner and it was great to see the children working together. By the end of the session we were very relaxed and chilled!
