Hello and welcome to another exciting week at Copthorne. This week we have received some wonderful news this week regarding two year old provision at Copthorne. Please see the section below for more information.
Two Year old Provision
I am delighted to inform you that we have been successful in our bid to develop provision for Early Education for two years olds at Copthorne. This will comprise a purpose built new build of which will be an extension to our current building and will allow us to provide 48, two year old places. (24 morning places and 24 afternoon places). The build will be overseen by Bradford Council’s Education Buildings team and we expect that this will be ready to open well before the end of the next academic year. I know that many of you, like me, will be delighted by this news as it will allow us to provide two year olds in our community with a firm foundation for their future education. I will keep you informed of all our building news as plans progress.
We have recently had a number of our children trying to ‘friend’ members of staff via Facebook. I would ask that you check to ensure that your child does not have access to Facebook. Firstly, it is illegal for any child under the age of 13 to access Facebook or to have a Facebook account. School will have no alternative but to contact the police where we find out that a child at Copthorne has a Facebook account. Also, it is important that children do not attempt to ‘friend’ members of staff, either when they are still at school or when they leave Copthorne. Staff cannot be friends with children on Facebook and this rule exists in order to safeguard both our children and staff. Thank you so much for your support in this matter.
Home Dinners
We are very pleased that the majority of our children now stay for school dinners. Having a school lunch really supports our children’s social development and provides them with a healthy meal each day. Please be aware that if your child does go home for lunch, he/she must be collected by an adult regardless of his/her year group. This is to ensure the safeguarding of all our children.
Uniform
I would be very grateful if you could ensure that your children are coming to school in the correct uniform. A number of children at present are wearing shoes that are not part of school uniform. All shoes should be plain black school shoes. Girls’ shoes should not have heels and sparkles etc and boys shoes should not be trainers. Haircuts which involve ‘tramlines’ are not acceptable and the same blade should be used for the whole cut. Children who come to school with unacceptable haircuts will be sent home until they come to school with a haircut that complies with school rules.
Also, a number of our girls are coming to school wearing scarves in a wide variety of colours and patterns. The school uniform policy states that, if a child wishes to wear a school scarf then this must be short and plain (not patterned) and either royal blue or white. No other colour is acceptable. In addition, some girls are fastening their scarves with long pins which can be very dangerous. Please ensure that if a pin is needed this is a hair clip or a safety pin. Scarves that are acceptable are available to buy from the school office.
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Last week our Reception classes visited the local Asda as part of their current topic ‘Food Glorious Food’. While they were there they looked at different types of fruit and were given information from the store’s staff about where the fruit comes from. The children had a fantastic time and asked lots of questions and were a real credit to our school. They were rewarded with cookies from the store. I would like to say a big thank you to the staff at Asda for their generosity and hospitality.
Archery Competition
Last week, our archery team took part in a competition at the Khidmat Centre. The competition was a huge success with 6 teams of archers attending from 4 different schools. Copthorne entered 2 teams. All the archers that attended the competition had the opportunity to use the archery skills they have learnt in their schools and showed great sportsmanship on the day. I am delighted to inform you that Copthorne won the overall competition and were also awarded trophies for the highest scorer, second highest scorer and third highest scorer of the competition. Crossley Hall came in second place, Lidget Green third and St Oswalds fourth. Well done to all the archers that took part in the competition, you are a real credit to your schools.
This week at Copthorne
Year 3 Visit to White Scar Caves
On Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March, Year 3 are planning a visit to White Scar Caves at Ingleton, North Yorkshire. This visit will link in with the science theme, ‘Rocks’ and the Copthorne Curriculum teme ‘Meet the Flintstones. The children will be going underground and looking at different types of rocks. This will be a very exciting day for the children and I am sure they will have an amazing time.
Year 6 visit to Headingley Cricket Ground
We are pleased to be taking the children in 6 Chestnut to a cricket education day at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds on Wednesday 18th March. The day will consist of a classroom session linking cricket, English and ICT, and a further session of cricket based activities as well as a tour of the Headingley Cricket Ground. This visit is always a popular trip which the children enjoy and I am sure they will have a lovely day.
Dates for Your Diary
Fruit & Milk Money For Next Term
Fruit and milk money is now due for next term. The cost of fruit for next term is £8.00 and the cost for milk is £10. If you would like your child to have fruit or milk, please send your money in an envelope clearly labelled with your child’s name and class no later than Monday 23rd March, alternatively this can be paid via your parentpay account.
Firefighters Charity Collection – Thursday 26th March 2015
On Thursday 26th March, 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. Over the next couple of weeks 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 Thursday 26th March. 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 hope you have a lovely week.
Mrs Shepherd