Year Seven Parents Meeting 7 th September 2015

Areas of Learning Language and Literacy Maths and Numeracy The World Around Us The Arts (Music/Drama/Art) Personal Development and Mutual Understanding- linked with Paths Physical Education Religious Education Personal Skills & Capabilities

Equipment Blue/black handwriting pens Pencils and colouring pencils Rubber, sharpener 30cm ruler Scissors Glue Highlighters Dictionary Pens for marking – red/green/purple Year 6 Booklet

Organisation & Preparation… Maths/ English alternate nights (Extra homework for AQE) Spellings and Vocabulary Reading Learning homework Tables? Equipment Homework Well rested Breakfast Healthy Break Water

Self -Esteem Good Citizen Award Achievements Paths Pals Peer mediation Assemblies Year 1 helpers Dyslexia Friendly School Heart Start Inter School Events

PATHS® Curriculum Key Stage 2

Barnardo’s NI Barnardo’s NI aims to provide children and young people with a brighter future through the social and emotional learning curriculum (PATHS).

What is PATHS®? P romoting A lternative Th inking S trategies A highly recognised Social and Emotional learning programme which covers the PDMU curriculum. ( With the exception of the health and safety aspect, as this is not fully explicit.) Whole school Curriculum with 5 Key Concepts: ―Self-Esteem ―Emotional Understanding ―Self-Control ―Social Problem-Solving ―Peer Relationships

Find Out More To support us in implementing PATHS® we have a PATHS® Coach from Barnardo’s NI- Lindsay McSparron. Lindsay will be with us in October to share more about the programme. Date in October to be confirmed. You can also find out more via the PATHS® Website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

A few reminders… Achievements- last Wednesday of month Dinners - £2.50 Healthy break Munch Box Challenge Extra Curricular Activities Mobile phones Portable games –are not allowed in school Inhalers/ medication Parent volunteers Up to date contact details

Maths Arrangements Year 7 are split into groups to meet the demands of the curriculum Children taught mental strategies, number, topic work and skills during the week. Focus on application and use of Maths Prepares children for secondary education/organisational skills Current arrangements are for this term and will be reviewed after Christmas

Autumn Term Maths- combination of number and topic work World Around Us – Dynamic Earth PDMU –taught through Paths Literacy- Writing alongside grammar and comprehension. Focus to develop understanding of text. Looking at thinking skills and personal capabilities across the curriculum.

Spring Term Maths- combination of number and topic work. Children encouraged to focus on application of their knowledge. World Around Us – On the Move, India Literacy- focus shifts to writing, assessment requirements Technology/K’Nex Young Enterprise- to be confirmed

Learning Styles Lessons take into account pupils different learning style, use different methods of recording and differentiation of tasks Multiple Intelligences auditory visual kinaesthetic

Various Ways of Recording Mindmaps Highlighting text Mnemonics “Rich” pictures Venn diagrams Bullet points

Rich pictures Tables Visual tables

Computer Based Assessment Replaced INCAs Completed two years ago, no formal feedback was given. Maths/English - NINA and NILA No revision required Completed end of September Feedback- for school use only.

Key Stage Assessment Marks child’s progress from Yr1 Summing up of child’s level Maths English Most achieve levels 3-4 in Year 7 Levels are very broad and results are recorded on end of year reports and forwarded to secondary schools ICT will now be formally assessed and levels recorded

Summer Term World Around Us –Up in The Air PDMU – Changing Schools, Moving On P.E – Sports Day, Athletics, Cricket, Rounders Interschool competitions – football, rugby, netball, hockey

School Trip School trip to be confirmed! Morecombe? Northumbria? Cost last year £320 Pupils have the opportunity to show and gain independence Fun and educational activities Info to follow soon For those who choose not to go - activities are less formal – visits and visitors

Record of Achievement Final major task of the year Record their feelings, memories and successes In/out of school Photos, certificates Passed on to secondary schools and a lovely reminder of a child’s primary school years

Finally.. Hope that pupils will leave us prepared for the next step to secondary school We are here to help and support your child in any way we can – please do feel free to contact us any time

AQE Closing Date: Friday 11 th September Preparation work starting in full next week:- Monday 15 th September. Friday mornings with Miss Funston, Friday 11 th September. Test Dates: Saturday 7 th November 2015 Saturday 21 st November 2015 Saturday 28 th November 2015 Arrangements subject to change Previous tests to be done at school

WHY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL IS SO IMPORTANT – Excellent attendance at school is important to allow a child or young person to fulfil their potential. Every single day a child is absent from school equates to a day of lost learning. Attendance percentages can be misleading.

100% Attendance0 Days MissedExcellent 95% Attendance9 Days of Absence 1 Week and 4 Days of Learning Missed Satisfactory 90% Attendance19 Days of Absence 3 Weeks and 4 Days of Learning Missed Poor 85% Attendance28 Days of Absence 5 Weeks and 3 Days of Learning Missed Very Poor 80% Attendance38 Days of Absence 7 Weeks and 3 Days of Learning Missed Unacceptable 75% Attendance46 Days of Absence 9 Weeks and 1 Day of Learning Missed Unacceptable

For some parents, 90% may seem like an acceptable level of attendance, but the reality is that 90% attendance means that your child will miss half a school day each week or 19 days of school during the school year – that’s nearly 4 school weeks.

DENI are monitoring attendance much more closely than ever before. Each month the EA Western Area EWO (Educational Welfare Officer) visits the school to monitor attendance. Therefore during the year if you child hits any of the above attendance levels you will be informed so you too are aware of how much learning time this equates to.