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March 2021 Issue Eighteen RKLT newsletter Message from the CEO The first anniversary of the COVID pandemic is with us This has only been possible because of the combined and many will be taking time to reflect on the impact efforts of all of you across our Trust who have risen that it has had on so many. Over 126,000 lives lost, to the challenge magnificently. The articles in this many more suffering serious illness and countless newsletter tell a story of creativity, positivity and numbers grieving for those lost to this dreadful disease. opportunities taken. They tell the story of a team And then there are the jobs lost, the loneliness and committed to helping all children get through these missed milestones and of course disrupted education. challenging times and make a success of the better Through almost all of this period our schools have times to come. shone like beacons in the darkness, havens of positivity Many thanks on behalf of the Trustees and I hope you and focal points for our communities. Schools haven’t enjoy your Easter break. ‘just’ delivered remote learning they have looked after vulnerable families, fed the hungry, provided solace to the suffering and mass testing when required. They Richard Sheriff have also been oasis of joy in what has at times felt like a very dark world. Supporting Leeds North and West Food Bank - Crawshaw On Friday 12th December, our Head of Earth House Mr Murtagh, ably supported by our student council, ran our Christmas jumper day in support of the Leeds North and West foodbank. The staff at the food bank were overwhelmed asking “is this more than one high school’s donation?”, going on to state that usually they fill one big pallet, we actually managed to fill 4 pallets at the food bank after filling the minibus to the roof! Paul O’Brien Water bottles for all students at Crawshaw Academy In 2019 our student council expressed a strong desire for our school to be greener, and conversations progressed to specifically how could we reduce our school’s carbon footprint. From this, a suggestion was made to give a school issued water bottle to every student, in order to directly reduce the amount of plastic waste we generate. Although the idea stalled somewhat as a result of the pandemic, the tenacity of Anne Giliker (thanks again, Anne!) meant we finally reached our target sponsorship and took delivery of 1,000 water bottles earlier this year. A really big thank you to all of our sponsors – Konica Minolta, Whites Bakery, J&S Foods, Livewell vending and Zenergi. Paul O’Brien Coppice Valley Primary awarded Gold Mental Health award Coppice Valley Primary school has create our mental health provision.” The award was established by been awarded the School Mental the Carnegie Centre of Excellence Sam Wright, pupil wellbeing worker Health Award Gold standard for for Mental Health in Schools – part said: “Working towards the award its outstanding mental health of Leeds Beckett University – and over the last year gave me the and wellbeing provision which is social enterprise Minds Ahead. It perfect opportunity to audit our delivered by the Carnegie Centre aims to strengthen pupils’ mental mental health provision for the of Excellence for Mental Health in health by supporting schools to whole school. I was able to see Schools. make a positive change at all levels what we were doing well and of the UK’s education system, The school provides a wide range which areas we could improve on. improving students’ outcomes and of activities to boost the wellbeing We’ve built a robust offer for all our life chances. of pupils and staff, including children through the process.” mindfulness sessions, a whole Professor Damien Page, Dean of school mental health curriculum Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School and working closely with local of Education, said: “Achieving this services like Compass Buzz and award is not just recognition of a Children & Adolescent Mental whole-school approach to mental Health Services. health, it’s a recognition of the school’s commitment to improving The school has also created a the life chances of children. bespoke mental health offer to support pupils in need of “We’re truly proud to have worked individualised support. They have with Coppice Valley in this vital published a Mental Health & Part of the mental health and work and look forward to further Wellbeing Provision document for wellbeing provision is the weekly collaboration.” parents and a child-friendly version Personal, Social & Health Education Nationally, more than 800 schools for pupils. This gives details of lesson which includes essential have signed up to take part in the support available from the school learning for all children of all ages mental health award. and pathways to external services. about ways to look after our mental health. Each year, the school Dean Johnstone, founder and CEO Head teacher, Emma Meadus celebrates Children’s Mental Health of Minds Ahead said: “This award said: “I am extremely proud of the Week with a series of special shines a light on the excellent mental health offer we provide events including workshops about work schools are doing to promote at Coppice Valley for all pupils. the Five Ways to Wellbeing, family mental health for their community Achieving this award is a fantastic breakfasts and meditation in our of children and adults.” recognition of all the hard work of wildlife area. the whole school community to Emma Meadus March 2021 Issue Eighteen Page 2 Positive Parent The Remarkables Feedback for TLA from HGS Temple Learning Academy recently Neil Renton, Headteacher at completed a parent and carer Harrogate Grammar School, talks survey to gain feedback on how about reframing the narrative they are approaching remote around UK education and not labelling our children as the education. This feedback was very ‘Covid generation’ but as ‘The positive and complimentary which Remarkables’. Please click on the champions the hard work and link to read his full publishedc efforts staff are putting in to remote article: education to support students during lockdown. https://www.positive.news/ opinion/why-we-shouldnt- Andrea Smith call-todays-children-the-covid- generation-but-the-remarkables/ Developing the learning environment at Colton Primary School As we have created our ‘Curriculum a bit of a ‘Wow’ factor. We have ‘lightbulb’ moments when the for Life,’ we have made lots of links transformed some of our walls visual representation helped the to local history and geography. We and are absolutely thrilled with children realise that our original wanted to support the children to the results. Our history timeline school building opened in Victorian develop a sense of place and how and local area map both contain Times and that was before the people and events in the past have key locations and events which two World Wars! I am really looking shaped Leeds and our lives today. are taught in our curriculum such forward to seeing the reaction of as: the Bristol Bus Riots, Middleton the rest of the children. We found a company who will Railway and the Barnbow disaster. work with you to create bespoke If anyone would like more details, artwork which we felt would not The children who returned to school please feel free to get in touch. only support our unique curriculum, in January were amazed and Caroline Johnson but which would also really develop couldn’t believe the transformation. the learning environment and add We have already had some March 2021 Issue Eighteen Page 3 Wellbeing week in central Catering As part of the annual Wellbeing RKLT Chef Heather Week, the RKLT Central Catering Mitchell hand made Team worked with individual school over 80 portions of kitchens to produce a range of fresh pizza dough initiatives for staff & students. and toppings to be Meadowfield Primary taken home and School baked with the family. Meadowfield Catering Team put on two wonderful staff breakfasts, The students didn’t miss out either- inviting teaching and operational fruit kebabs and smoothies were staff members to enjoy a range of delivered to classrooms as an delicious treats. afternoon treat and fruit baskets sent home to those not in school. Whitkirk Primary Whitkirk Primary launched their first “Click & Collect” initiative, allowing parents to purchase Pizza Making Kits through their school meals account and collect at the end of the school day. Health and Wellbeing week at Whitkirk Primary The final week of half term was is going from the beginning to the Health and Wellbeing Week. This end of the day; a yoga session, the was a great opportunity for us all Whitkirk mile and a range of creative to really tune into our health and tasks to try and help children learn wellbeing - children and adults alike. a new skill! At the end of the week, Each day had a particular theme, e.g. members of our school community Healthy Minds, Healthy Connections were able to purchase a pizza kit for and there was a variety of activities children and their families to bake for children and adults to take part together at home. It was a fabulous in that will help them engage with week and gave everybody a little these themes. Some of these bit of encouragement to put their activities included a whole school screens to one side for a little bit of Danceathon where we worked as a light relief! Whitkirk team to keep the dancing Miss Odor Safeguarding at Crawshaw Period Poverty Scheme We were delighted to be Leeds Virtual School Conference Mrs Bentley. at Crawshaw, recently involved in the organisation of on Friday 26th February where successfully applied for £1500 in funding the the supervision training for key Alison Finley talked about some period poverty scheme.