Category Archives: Headteacher’s Weekly Blog

Hello everyone, welcome to our blog.  I would like to wish you and your families a very happy New Year.  I hope you have had a wonderful break. It was lovely to see the children returning to school, ready to begin an exciting new term. On behalf of all the staff, I would like to say thank you for all the cards and presents that we were given from the children. We were all very touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.

This week at Copthorne

Reading Challenge Club

On Monday we begin the start of our Reading Challenge Club.  Several of our KS2 children have been provided with a copy of a book which they have been given between 4 and 6 weeks to read.  At the end of that time they will attend a special ‘afternoon tea’ with me in my office, during which we will discuss the book in detail. The children will be provided with a special notebook in which to record thoughts and views about the book, along with any new vocabulary and its meaning that children may come across while reading the text.  I am sure the children will enjoy this opportunity and I look forward to working with them to extend their reading skills even further.

Alhambra Theatre Trip

Year 3 have been selected to visit the Alhambra Theatre on Friday 8th January.  They will be watching the wonderful Jack and the Beanstalk.  I know that the children are really excited about watching the performance and hope they have a fantastic time.

Year 4 Forest School

Forest Schools will resume on Friday for Year 4.  The children will go to St Ives in Bingley to take part in Forest School activities as part of their work in class.  The weather has now turned much colder so children will need to be wrapped up warmly. I am looking forward to hearing all about their adventures.

Exceed NQT Training

As part of our work with the Exceed Alliance, we are delivering  bespoke, professional development for all the newly qualified teachers working in the 7 schools. On Wednesday of this week we will be both hosting and, alongside staff from Horton Grange,  delivering training on Assessment for Learning and Mastery in Maths. This training ensures that our staff are highly skilled and able to provide the very best learning opportunities for our children. 

I hope you have a lovely week.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to our blog.  Our Christmas celebrations, followed by the school holidays will soon be upon us. Please see below the arrangements for the rest of this half term.

Closure of rear gate/playground

Unfortunately, as you are aware, there is a growing build-up of mud leading into the back playground from the Alexandra Street entrance.  This is due to the constant movement of construction traffic combined with the effects of on-going poor weather conditions.  In spite of the construction staff’s best efforts, it is proving very difficult to keep the levels of mud under control.

In response to your concerns, therefore, we have made the decision to keep the gate on Alexandra St permanently locked from tomorrow, Friday 4^th December.  Families living at the back of school will still be able to access school through the MUGA pitch and the rear gate.

We hope that this will drastically reduce the issues caused by mud and thank you, once again, for your continued support.  I would also like to request that, if you have any concerns related to the building work, you contact the school office rather than the construction site staff.  We will ensure that your concerns are passed on through the correct channels.

Early Essence Workshop

On Wednesday 9th December, we will be holding two Early Essence workshops for Nursery parents between 9-10am and 12pm-1pm.  Early Essence is the tool we use to create your child’s personal learning journey. At the workshop you will be given your own personal login for Early Essence, a booklet to help you use it at home and be shown how to access and use the site.

This is a very special and important time for you and your child as they start their education.  By using your login to access your child’s ‘Learning Journey’, you will be able to see how they are learning at school.  You can add to the ‘Learning Journey’ by uploading photographs and comments to tell us the lovely things you have done at home to help their development.

Christmas Events at Copthorne

During the week commencing Monday 14^th December, the following events will be taking place in school for our children. 

Monday 14^th December: Magical Monday: Wear a crown or tiara like one of the 3 kings.  All children will watch a pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

Tuesday 15^th December: Tinsel Tuesday: Wear something sparkly e.g. a piece of tinsel.  

 Wednesday 16^th December: Wrapping Paper Wednesday: Wear a paper hat made from wrapping paper.  Children will be having their Christmas lunch today. If your child does not usually have a school lunch but would like a Christmas dinner then please order this through the school office by Friday 11th December. Thank you.

Thursday 17^th December: Trimmings Thursday: Decorate yourself with a Christmas bauble or tree decoration.  Please avoid those baubles which may shatter!

 The school Nativity plays will take place today at 9.15am and 2pm.  This year our Nursery Children will be leading this production.  Parents, carers and family members are invited to come along to watch what I am sure will be a lovely performance.

Friday 18^th December: Festive Friday:  This will be a non-uniform day. Wear your party clothes or a Christmas jumper for our Christmas celebrations.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello and welcome to another week at Copthorne.  How quickly this year is going by, I cannot believe we are going to be in the month of December this week.  Please see below for events that are happening in school this week.

This week at Copthorne

Year 5 Visit to Leeds City Museum

On Tuesday 1st December, 5 willow will be travelling to Leeds City Museum as part of their Copthorne Curriculum theme ‘Age of Empires’. Whilst at the Museum, the children will be taking part in Ancient Greek workshops as well as handling artifacts and exploring the galleries.  I know the children will learn lots of interesting facts while visiting the museum.

KS2 Boccia Competition

Mr A Khan will be taking a group of KS2 children to Grange Technology to take part in a Boccia competition.  Boccia is a game that is similar to bowls and is an all inclusive sport.  The children have been practising very hard and we wish them the very best of luck.  Go Copthorne!

White Scar Caves – Year 3

3 Alder will be visiting White Scar Caves at Ingleton on Wednesday 2nd December.  This visit has been arranged to link in in with the science and Copthorne Curriculum topic ‘Rocks and the Stone Age’. The children will be exploring in caves and also looking at difference types of features such as stalagmites and stalactites.  I am sure the children will have a fantastic day.

York’s Chocolate Story

As part of their curriculum, Year 6 are learning about Ancient Maya.  We have organised a visit to York’s Chocolate Story on Thursday 3rd December where they will participate in an educational workshop.  This will give the children a unique insight into the Mayan civilisation for whom chocolate was an integral part of life.  I hope the children have a fantastic day and hopefully they may bring the rest of school a treat back – in the form of chocolate of course!

Events for your diary

Nursery Parents’ Workshop – Wednesday 9th December, 9-10am and 12-1pm

I hope you have a lovely week

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone and I hope you have had a restful weekend and have managed to keep warm now that the weather has turned chilly!

Children in Need

I am delighted to inform you that the total amount raised for BBC Children in Need was £518.13.  Thank you, as always, for your generousity and kindness shown for this wonderful worthwhile charity.

This week at Copthorne

Closure of back playground – Tuesday 24th November, 2015

Unfortunately, due to the delivery of building supplies for our new 2 year-old building, we have no alternative but to close the back playground again on Tuesday 24th November.  The only access into school on Tuesday will be through the entrance on All Saints Road.  Please could parents and children follow the routines that were put in place when the playground was closed last time. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and also for the state of the pathways around the side of school.  We have experienced very poor weather lately, thus making the paths very muddy.  The contractors are aware of this and are currently in the process of making the paths more accessible. 

Once again, please accept our apologies and thank you for your continued support.

Year 1 Multi Sports Activity

Several of our Year 1 children will be participating in a multi sports activity at Grange Technology College on Monday along with other local primary school children.  During the activities pupils will be using skills like running, catching, jumping and balancing. I am sure the children will have a fun time as well as getting lots of exercise.

Year 6 visit to Buddha Land

On Monday  and Wednesday this week, Year 6 children will be visiting Buddha Land.  The visit has been arranged as part of the children’s learning in RE and in order to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum.  During the visit the children will have the opportunity to listen to a talk about Buddhism, through which they will learn about the life of Buddha, his teachings and modern day Buddhist way of life.  This will happen within a real Buddhist setting which includes a meditation room and Buddhist statues.  I hope the children find this visit very informative and factful.

 4 Poplar visit to Cartwright Hall

We have arranged for the children in 4 Poplar to visit the David Hockney exhibition at Cartwright Hall on Tuesday.  This visit is part of the children’s linking schools experience.  They will spend the day with children from All Saints Primary School in Ilkley.  At the exhibition there will be various art related workshops which will provide our children with the opportunity to develop social and team building skills.  Have a great day Year 4!

 Year 3 at Forest Schools

On Tuesday and Wednesday, groups of children in Year 3 will be going to St Ives in Bingley with Mrs Robinson as part of the Forest Schools project.  They will be taking part in stone age activities such as pretending to be hunter gatherers, making replica spears and lighting fires to cook on. This visit forms part of their Copthorne Curriculum and will be a valuable experience for the children.  I know that the children will have a fantastic time.

I hope you have a lovely week.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello and a very warm welcome to you all. Please see below for events that are happening in school this week.

Two year old nursery building

Thank you to all the parents and carers for your co-operation last week whilst the steel girders for our new nursery building were being delivered.  Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions the girders could not be delivered on Monday so we had no choice but to close the back playground last Wednesday. Once again thank you for your understanding and continuing support.

Children in Need

I would like to say a big thank you to all the children and parents for making a really big effort last Friday for Children in Need.   This is a wonderful charity which helps lots of unfortunate children in our Country.  Once we know the total amount raised I will let you know.  

This week at Copthorne

Year 3 Residential:  Bewerley Park

Today, 15 of our Year 3 pupils will be taking part in a residential trip along with other children from the Exceed group.  The children will be staying at Bewerley Park in North Yorkshire until Wednesday and will be accompanied by Mrs Robinson and Miss Austin. The other schools involved in this trip will be Horton Grange, Farnham and Princeville Primary School.  This residential is a wonderful opportunity for our children to stay away from home for a short time with their classmates and to experience a fantastic range of activities. From past visits, we have found that the children have an amazing time and develop so much confidence and independence by taking part.  I hope they have a fantastic learning experience and have lots of fun!

Exceed Football League Game

Our Football team along with Mr A Khan will travel to Grange Technology on Thursday to play against Farnham Primary School in an Exceed Football league game.  Good luck Copthorne, the whole school wishes you well.

Anti-Bullying Week

This week is Anti-Bullying week and we have loads of activities planned for the children which will promote the anti-bullying message. These include:

. a ‘Make a Noise about Bullying’ graffiti wall in the hall, where children will be able to write their anti-bullying messages and show their commitment to stamping out all forms of bullying

. a special assembly, exploring what bullying is and how to tackle it effectively

. an anti-bullying film-making competition for each class 

.  ‘Bullying Concerns’ clinics held at lunchtimes by Befrienders from Years 5 and 6

. A ‘You are Wonderful…’ wall where children can post generic, positive messages to all children in out school

I this will be a wonderful week and we look forward to working together to stamp out bullying.

Thank you for visiting our blog, please come back next week!

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone and I hope you have had a lovely weekend with your families.

This week at Copthorne

Closure of back playground: Monday 9th November

As you will see, the building work for our two year old provision is well under way.  I am writing to inform you that on Monday 9^th November, the builders will be taking delivery of steel girders all day.  This involves the use of a crane/heavy lifting equipment.  In order to ensure our children’s safety, the back playground and back entrance into school on Alexandra St will be out of use for the entire day.

The only access into school on Monday will be through the entrances on All Saints Road.  Families living at the back of school will therefore need to walk all the way round and use the front entrance.  We therefore recommend that these families leave home slightly earlier to allow extra time for the journey.  I would ask that you do not use the car park as an entrance and, instead,  walk down the pathways that lead into the front playground.

We apologise, wholeheartedly, for any inconvenience that this may cause but I’m sure that you understand that these arrangements are necessary in order to keep our children safe.

Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

Hawkshead Residential

Last week was an extremely exciting one for our Year 6 pupils as they spent 3 days at Hawkshead in the Lake District.  On their arrival at Windermere, staff and pupils  took a ferry cruise to the Lakes Aquarium on the opposite shore and then drove to Grizedale Forest where they went to the Go Ape Adventure Centre. The children all experienced the zip wire, the Tarzan swing, the high ropes and then had a lovely walk in the forest. 

The second day of the residential was spent taking part in horse riding and archery sessions as well as team-building activities.  The children were an absolute credit to their families and to Copthorne as their manners and conduct were so good. We were all very proud of them. 

The whole group returned to school safe and sound, late on Friday afternoon, keen to tell their families about their experiences and, staff included, ready for a big sleep after their adventures. Thank you to all the staff who organised and took part in the residential: Mr Darr, Miss Wood, Miss Nelson, Mrs Akhtar, Mrs Robinson, Mr H Khan, Mr A Khan and Miss Parveen. We also want to thank Mrs Nisar for driving to Hawkshead to drop off/collect our children. We really apreciate the time you all gave to make sure that our children had such a wonderful experience. You deserve a well earned rest!

I hope you have a lovely week ahead.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everybody and I hope you have all had a wonderful break and enjoyed spending this time with your families.  We have a very busy few weeks coming up so keep on reading our blog to keep informed of some exciting events.

Football Crazy!

Our school football teams were very busy last half term, they competed in various competitions and I am delighted to report on their performance.  On 22nd October the Year 5 & 6 school football team played against Crossley Hall Primary at Grange Technology College in the Exceed football league and took first place.  On the 12th October our Year 3 football team attended a football competition arranged by Grange and we won all our games, taking 1st place in the competition.  On the 5th October our Year 4 pupils attended a football competition and came third.  Well done to all our pupils, who are wonderful ambassadors for our school. I would also like to thank Mr A Khan for taking our pupils to these events which our children love.

Befrienders

We have recently set up a befrienders scheme in school.  The befrienders are there if any of our children are feeling upset or need a helping hand.  They are easily recognisable as they will be wearing blue caps. Our befrienders are having weekly meetings with Mr A Khan to ensure all our pupils feel happy and safe in school. They have also buddied up with lunchtime monitors and have a presence in Reception to help keep the Hazel and Nutmeg children smiling.

This week at Copthorne

Year 6 Residential

From Wednesday 4th November to Friday 6th November, 52  of our Year 6 pupils (the largest number of pupils ever to take part) will be taking part in the residential visit to Hawkshead in the Lake District.  The children will be accompanied by staff from our school.

This trip is very important in helping our children work together as a team and in giving them the opportunity to stay away from home for the first time in a safe but new environment. During their stay the children will be carrying out work to extend their learning in a number of curriculum areas including Geography, History and Art.  They will be taking part in activities such as horse riding, archery and will be going on a ferry cruise to visit an aquarium. We wish all the pupils and staff an enjoyable trip and I look forward to hearing all about their adventures on their return.

4 Poplar’s visit to Eureka!

The children in 4 Poplar will be visiting Eureka Children’s Museum in Halifax on Thursday 5th November.  The visit has been arranged as part of the science topic for next half term. Eureka is a fun, interactive children’s museum and educational charity based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where children play to learn. I am sure our children will learn lots of interesting information to help them with their learning.

Dates for your diary

Year 3 Diwali Assembly: 6th November, 2015 – 9.15am and 2.15pm

Year 3 Residential trip to Bewerley Park: 7th November, 2015.

I hope you all have a super week.

 Mrs Shepherd

Hello and thank you for looking at our blog.  I hope you have had a lovely weekend and are looking forward to enjoying some time with your families during half term.  School will close this Friday 23rd October at 3pm and re-open on Monday 2nd November at the normal time.

McMillan Cancer Support

I would like to thank everybody who kindly donated or supported our McMillan Coffee morning last week.  The total amount raised was £185.69.  These funds are needed to make sure families are supported through treatment and beyond at one of the most distressing times of their lives.  Once again, on behalf of the charity, thank you so much for your generous donations.

Two year old provision building work

Building work on our extension for two year olds is due to commence today and we are very excited about this development.  As with previous building projects, we will do our utmost to ensure that no disruption is caused to our childrens’ learning.  I will keep you informed of progress on an on-going basis.

Firefighters’ Charity Collection

Thank you to everybody who brought in unwanted bags of clothing for the Firefighters’ charity collection.  The response, as always, was fantastic.  The total amount raised was £66.50, with £16 going towards the firefighters charity and the rest towards school funds.  We value your help in raising funds which will allow us to provide even more stimulating experiences for Copthorne’s children whilst supporting the fire fighters who provide such a valuable service to us all.

This week at Copthorne

Parents’ Evening

Our annual reporting to parents will take place on Thursday 22nd October from 3.15pm – 6pm.  You should have already received a letter last week asking you to make an appointment to come and speak to the class teacher.  We are looking forward to seeing as many parents as possible at the first parents’ evening of this academic year.  During the evening you will have the opportunity to talk to your child’s class teacher about how your child has settled into his/her new class, hear about his/her targets for this term and look at the wonderful work the children have been producing.  I will also be collecting your views and ideas for Copthorne during the evening. I look forward to seeing you there.

Exceed Football League Game

On Thursday 22nd October, our football team will play against Crossley Hall Primary School in the Exceed football league.  They will play the match at Grange Technology and will be accompanied by Mr A Khan.  We wish the team the very best of luck and I am sure, as usual, they will be fantastic ambassadors for our school.  Go Copthorne!!

I hope you all have a lovely week ahead and a happy half term.  As I mentioned above, school will re-open again on Monday 2nd November at the usual time.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone and welcome to our blog.  I know that many of you will be getting ready to celebrate the special feast of Eid-Al-Adha.  School will be closed from Wednesday 23^rd    to Friday 25^th September inclusive.  These are the only dates during which children should be absent for Eid. We hope that you will enjoy this special time together.

Events for your diary

School Photographs for the whole school

On Monday 28^th September, the school photographer will be in school. The photographer will take individual portrait-style photos of each child.  If you wish, your children can also be photographed in groups with their brothers, sisters and family members.  If you would like to take advantage of this service, these photos will be taken from 3.00pm–4.30pm on the day.

I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family over the next few days and I look forward to seeing the children back to school at the usual time on Monday 28th September.

Have a lovely week.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone and I hope you have had a lovely weekend.  I can’t believe how quickly the last 2 weeks and gone by.  Our children have settled to learning and its is great to see them working so hard in their new classes.

This week at Copthorne

Year 2 Parents’ Meeting

On Tuesday 15th September  Year 2 parents are invited to attend a short meeting to discuss the expectations of pupils as regards work, behaviour and homework. You will also be given advice about supporting your child’s learning at home and also the importance of reading at home.  The meeting will be held at 9.00am.  We look forward to seeing as many parents as possible.

Thackray Museum Visit

We have arranged to take children in Year 2 to the Thackray Museum in Leeds on Wednesday 16th September .  This visit has been arranged in order to support the work they are doing around the theme of  Florence Nightingale.  I am sure the children will have a fantastic day and learn a great deal.

Phonics Meeting for Reception Parents

On Thursday 17th September there will be a another chance for parents to attend a meeting to find out how they can support their child now that they have moved into  Reception class.  This meeting is for parents who could not attend the meeting that was held last week and it is very important that Reception parents attend.  It will be the last chance to receive a support pack for your child. 

Return of Forest Schools

This Friday, 18th September, we see the return of Forest Schools.  Pupils in 4 Beech will take part in the sessions every Friday for six weeks.  These sessions play a very important part in the childrens’ learning and form part of the Copthorne Curriculum.   This is always a popular trip with our children who will take part in activities to build their self-esteem and confidence in an outdoor environment. All learning during the day takes place outside where the children learn woodland craft and explore the woods. Through such activities the children also develop care and responsibility for our environment. I am sure they will have a fantastic time and I look forward to hearing all about their adventures on their return to school.

Dates for your Diary

School Closed for Eid: Wednesday 23rd September to Friday 25th September inclusive

School Photographs for all:  Monday 28th September

McMillan Coffee Morning: Friday 2nd October 

Wishing you a lovely week.

Mrs Shepherd