Monthly Archives: October 2014

Hello everybody and welcome to our school blog.  It is the last week of this half term and  I can hardly believe how quickly it has gone  All the children have worked really hard and have settled well in their new classes. It is lovely to see them so happy. School will close at 3pm this Friday, 24th October and re-open at the normal time on Monday 3rd November.

Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank Collection On behalf of Miss Azzopardi, I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who has supported this wonderful charity by sending in items of food. The response has been absolutely fantastic and as always your generousity has been amazing.   A representative of the charity will be collecting the food today after leading an assembly for our children.

This week at Copthorne

Stephen Lawrence Week This week is Stephen Lawrence week.  Throughout the week we will be learning more about the countries in our world and how everyone in it is different and special in their own way.  On Tuesday we will be holding our first Diversity Day, during which, the children will be working alongside different teachers and children from all year groups across the school.  Drummers Unite will be coming into school to run different workshops  where the children will have the opportunity to experience African dancing and learn how to play an African drum.

Parents’ Evening

Our annual reporting to parents will take place on Thursday 23^rd 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.

“Hola” from Year 2!

On Monday 20^th October, children in Year 2 will be having a Spanish Day. The children are not required to wear school uniform on that day but must wear red items of clothing with a Spanish theme. The children will be cooking and tasting traditional Spanish food, speaking Spanish and dancing and listening to Spanish music.  The children have also been learning simple phrases at home and at school which they will be demonstrating on Monday.  I am looking forward to visiting their classes and joining in with their learning.  Have a fun day Year 2! You will have lots to share with our Spanish visitors from the Comenius project when they join us in December.

Exceed Football Competition

Last Monday our Year 3/4 football team took part in an Exceed Football competition.  The team played really well and overall came fourth in the competition. Mr Khan said that the team showed really good sportsmanship and they were a credit to our school. On Wednesday of this week our Year 5/6 football team will compete against Lidget Green Primary School.  We wish them all the best and are behind them all the way.

Diwali Assembly

On Friday our Year 3 pupils will be performing their Diwali assembly in front of the whole school and their parents. We are all thoroughly looking forward to learning all about the Hindu culture and Diwali festival.  The assemblies will be at 9.15am and 2.30pm and all parents and carers are invited.  It would be lovely if as many of you as possible could join us. 

Events for your diary

Fire fighters’ Charity Collection

On Tuesday 4th November, we will be carrying out a collection of unwanted or used clothes, shoes, belts and handbags in order to raise money for the Fire Fighters’ Charity and the school fund.  Later this week you will be receiving a letter and a collection bag which is to be filled with the items listed above – please feel free to fill as many additional bags as you can (bin bags can be used). We would be grateful if you could also ask other members of your family and our community to fill bags for us. Please ensure that only items on the list are included: no bric-a-brac, household items or toys please. The bags should be brought into school by 9:00am on Tuesday 4th November 2014. 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.

I would like to wish you all a lovely holiday and hope that you have an enjoyable break with your families. Thank you for your continuing support this half term.

Mrs Shepherd

Hello everyone, I hope you have had an enjoyable weekend and are ready to begin a new week.  The weeks seem to be passing by very quickly and it is hard to believe that we will be breaking up for the October break in two weeks time. The weather has now turned extremely autumnal so I hope you are all wrapping up and keeping warm.

This week at Copthorne:

Year 1 visit Saltaire Canal

This week, as part of their Netherlands theme geography focus, Year 1 will be visiting the Saltaire Canal.  The children will be comparing the local area at Saltaire with the canals in Holland and then writing recounts about their visit.  I know the children are really excited about this trip and I hope that they have a great day.  1 Oak will going to the canal on Tuesday and the visit for 1 Ash will take place on Wednesday.  Have a great time Year 1!

Support for the Food Bank

This year our school will be supporting the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank. This is a charity which provides food bags to Bradford families who are struggling to feed themselves and their children. The charity is the only registered food bank in the Bradford area and is entirely reliant on donations of food. The demand for this service has increased dramatically over the last few years.  In 2004 the charity distributed 300 bags but this year 5,852 have already been given out, with over 1,000 in July alone. Therefore, we are asking children and their families to donate any of the items listed below, bringing them into school from tomorrow, Tuesday 14^th October to Monday 20^th October, where the food you have generously donated will be collected by a representative of the food bank. We will be collecting tinned and dry foods such as: Rice, pasta, flour, sugar, jam, tinned vegetables and tinned fruit.  There will be a competition to see which class can collect the most items, with the winning class receiving reward time in school. This type of activity is a very important part of our children’s education at Copthorne, teaching them to think about and support others less fortunate than themselves. Thank you as always for your continued support and kind donations. 

Science Afternoon Tea

On Wednesday 15th October, I will be having afternoon tea with a group of our children representing each year group. During our meeting we will be talking about what the children have been learning about in Science. This will be the second  meeting I will be holding with the children and am looking forward to hearing about their understanding of and views on this important area of the curriculum. The first meeting proved very successful and was such a pleasure to hear the children’s views and comments about History in our school.  I am sure this meeting will be very enjoyable and am really looking forward to chatting with the children.

Dates for your Diary:

Fire fighters’ Clothing Collection : 4th November 2014

Parents’ Evening: Thursday 23^rd October 2014, 3-6pm

Have a great week everyone.

Mrs Shepherd

I hope you all had a lovely , extra long weekend celebrating Eid with your families. It was lovely to see our children so excited about Eid and looking so smart in their Eid clothes last Friday.

McMillan Coffee Morning

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came in to school last Tuesday and supported our coffee morning.  Also, thank you to everyone who baked and brought some delicious buns and cakes in.  The hall looked like a scene from the Great British Bake Off!  It was a lovely morning and we managed to raise just over £200 which is fantastic.  We will be sending this money off to McMillan Cancer Research this week.  Once again thank you, as always, for your support.

This week at Copthorne:-

Breakfast/Tuck Shop

As you know, here at Copthorne, we are always looking for ways to further support our children and their families.  We are aware that mornings can be a very busy time for families and there is not always the opportunity for breakfast.  We will, therefore, in addition to the usual breakfast club arrangements, now be selling cereal/breakfast bars and cartons of fresh juice in the playground from 8.15am each day.  The cost for these items will be; cereal/breakfast bar – 40p and cartons of juice 20p.  These items will be on sale from Tuesday 7th October in the front playground.  If your child wishes to buy these items, please ensure they have the correct money with them each day. 

Julia Donaldson Exhibition

On Wednesday, our Reception classes will visit the Julia Donaldson exhibition at Cartwright Hall.  Julia Donaldson is the very talented author of wonderful books such as “The Gruffalo”, “Room on a Broom” and “The Troll”.  The children will spend the afternoon at the exhibition where they will have the opportunity to take part in role play activities and learn about the author.  I am sure they will have a fantastic time taking part in the activities that have been arranged for them.

Forest Schools

On Friday, our Year 4 pupils will continue with their Forest School adventures. I am sure that the children will have a wonderful time in the fresh air, developing their investigative and team work skills whilst caring for the environment.

I hope you have an enjoyable week

Mrs Shepherd