Newsletters

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was lovely to see so many of you at this week's curriculum information evenings. Over 250 parents attended across the week and the feedback was very positive. I hope you felt it was a useful opportunity to hear a little about our school strategy and forthcoming school expansion as well as the day-to-day workings of life in the classroom. More importantly perhaps, the meetings provided a much-needed opportunity for parents to re-connect with teachers and with other parents after such a long period of operating remotely. 

If you were unable to attend the meetings, class presentations are available HERE. Please do contact class teachers directly if you have a question about classroom routines and expectations. One theme of the evening was our continued use of Teams for sharing spellings, homework and so on.

As you would expect, we are encouraging Teams because it saves paper, reduces time spent sticking sheets into books and ensures that work doesn't go missing. If you have any questions about using Teams, please click here for a Useful Parent Guide.

At the curriculum information evenings, I also mentioned our forthcoming parents' workshops which are designed to support parents in dealing with some of the challenges we all face: how to help your child with homework, talk about puberty, manage anxiety, stay safe online, eat a balanced diet and so on. Our plan is to hold a monthly workshop with a 'key speaker' sharing their expertise and providing useful strategies for parents. We will be issuing dates for these workshops in the next couple of weeks and look forward to hearing your feedback on the usefulness of these workshops.

Reception workshops

All reception parents are invited to additional workshops over the coming weeks focusing on the teaching of reading, spelling and maths in the Early years. The emphasis will be very much centred on what these subjects look and feel like in reception and will outline ways which parents can support learning at home.

Letters will be emailed to all reception parents shortly detailing dates and timings. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meetings. For those who are unable to attend, all presentations will be available on our website.

Reception Learning Page 

In Reception, this year, we are starting a learning page on the school website, to share things the children have been learning. 

It is to enable parents to talk to their children about their day and help them at home. We appreciate that children in Reception don’t always want to discuss what they have been learning at the end of a busy day when they are feeling tired, or they might not remember what they’ve learnt but as parents you are often keen to know. 

Hopefully this new page should fill some of the gaps that you have.  

Each Friday we will share some of the learning experiences that the children have been involved in. It may include which sounds they have learnt in phonics, the topic they have been working on in maths or other areas of learning. We will also include other useful information or links to support you at home.  

To access this page, click HERE. 

Reception 2022 Open Days

If you have a child who is due to start reception 2022, please join us on one of our open mornings

• Thursday 4 November 09.30-11.30
• Monday 8 November 09.30-11.30
• Friday 19 November 09.30-11.30

Please contact the office to book a place admin@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk 

Please note we encourage one parent per visit to limit numbers.

EYFS Training Day

Please note that school will be closed to Reception pupils on 25 November, for a training day. We will send a reminder out closer to the time.

KS2 Local History Walk

Thank you to all those parents who volunteered to accompany the children on the Key Stage 2 Local History Walk, wc 4 October.

Classes 5/6M and 5/6L on Monday 4th October 2021

Classes 3/4 HL and 3/4 H on Tuesday 5th October 2021

Class 4/5S will be Wednesday 6th October 2021

Please can all parents gather outside the school office at 09.00 am on the day of your child's walk.

Leeds schools cross country league

On Saturday morning children from Years 3 to 6 took part in the first Leeds Schools Cross Country race for two years. It was a fantastic event, with more than twenty children representing Bramhope Primary School. Under 9 girls were the first to test the 900m course in Middleton Park, and they demonstrated great determination, all finishing in the top 50. Under 9 boys went next, with a very strong contingent from Years 3 and 4. The Under 11 boys and girls both had 1500m to cover in their respective races. Under 11 girls went first and all three runners finished in the first half of the field. In the final race of the day, Under 11 boys ran incredibly in a very competitive race, securing our best team result of the day-4th school out of 15!

If your child is interested in school cross country, please contact me in the first instance. It would be great if we were to have a few more girls in both Under 9s and 11s.

Mr McKeown

Sporting Influence Harrogate Football

This week boys from Years 3 and 4 took part in the first friendly, football competition of a five-week series at Harrogate High. Thankfully, the weather allowed us to play on the outdoor pitches and the conditions were perfect. We played two matches, winning 2-0 in the first, and securing a 1-1 draw in the second thanks to a wonder goal by Tom G. 

For the following four weeks, Year 3 and 4 children who have expressed an interest in school football will be invited to represent Bramhope Primary School. Parents will be notified by email. If you have any questions, please contact me. 

Mr McKeown

School photographs

Next week, Friday 8 October, we will be having school photographs. Please make sure that your child is wearing full, correct uniform on the day and that long hair is tied back. If your child has PE on this day please send them with both school shoes and trainers. Thank you

Self -isolation and school work

As you would expect, we have a number of children who have needed to self -isolate whilst they have been awaiting test results or because the N.H.S. have named them as a close contact. If your child is self- isolating, please email their class teacher directly to discuss their home learning. If your child is well enough to work, class teachers will advise which work they should access from the Home learning section of the website but will not be offering individual Teams sessions.

Choosing a secondary school

Now that children have settled back into school, I know that many parents will be thinking ahead to the next stage of their education and the big move to secondary school.

From experience, parents have found it useful to consider this move before Y6 and consider their options early. I am very happy to share my thoughts about what to look for when choosing a secondary school for your child and would like to invite any interested parents to a meeting on Tuesday 12 October from 6pm-7pm. This meeting is open to parents of children in Y5 and Y6 and will be held in KS2 hall.

Recorder Club

As you are aware, it is great for children to have the opportunity to learn music together and to be part of a group. After October half term, we will be starting a KS1 Recorder club for children in Y1 and Y2.

KS1 Recorder Club will be led by Miss Gregson who is our music subject leader across the school. The club will meet for half an hour each week during lunchtime. Children will have eaten first.

If your child is keen to learn the recorder and would be interested in practising little and often through the week, please sign up HERE.

The club is free to attend however parents need to purchase a recorder and the music book which we will be following, beforehand:

Yamaha Descant Recorder with Beginners Recorder Book 1

Please contact Miss Gregson directly if you have any questions about Recorder club: rachel.gregson@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk

Are you in Year 5 or 6?  

Do you love the arts? (art, dance, music and drama)  

Would you like to be involved in improving the arts within our school? 

YES?! Then you should apply to be on the Bramhope Primary School Arts Council!  

Email or write a letter of application stating:

• Name
• Class
• Why you love the arts
• Your vision for the future of arts within BPS
• Why you think you should be on the BPS Arts Council

Help us celebrate our Diamond Jubilee!

On the 7th October 1961, our school was officially opened in by William Whiteley JP.  In order to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of our school and our village, we are planning a series of events throughout the year. 

To help make this a truly memorable year for the children, we need the help of our whole school community. Please have a look at our schedule of events that we have planned so far. Are you former pupil of the school and would be willing to share your story in our 'Living Books' day?  Do we have a family which has experienced consecutive generations going through our school from the 1960s onwards? If so, we’d love to hear from you all. 

Outline of events so far…

The Big Day! (7 October)

• Special birthday assembly
• Launch of school song
• Creating a whole school census
• Birthday cake!

All documented by our Bramhope Buzz roving reporters...

Autumn term

Friday 8th October 

• Whole school commemorative photo
• Bramhope Buzz school magazine special birthday edition

Spring Term

‘Living Books’ Day - groups of pupils will be “borrowing” a number of “living books” and hearing stories from our former pupils.

Art mosaic installation – an exciting project which will enhance our school entrance.

Summer Term

Super 60s sponsored event (more details to follow).

We are really looking forward to seeing our children taking part in projects such as these which make their time at Bramhope so special.

If you think you can help us in any way at all, please contact Mrs Stewart on history@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk.

PTA

Thank you to everybody who bought some used school uniforms last week. We made approx. £50 during Friday and Saturday.

Maike, PTA

Lunches

Hot lunches are very popular, and we are now serving over 240 meals a day! Please help us by telling your child in the morning which meal you have ordered for them, so they are ready to tell the chef when they are offered a choice.

Menus are on the school website HERE and parents should order (through Scopay) in advance, before 13.00 on Thursdays, each week. This can be done for ad hoc days if you wish your child to have a packed lunch on some days.  

Please contact the office if you need help with this: admin@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!