Newsletters

Newsletter - 20 January 2023

${alt_tag}$

20 January 2023

${alt_tag}$

Reception, Y1 & Y2 access prayer & reflection area

12:30pm – 3:00pm

February

Y3, Y4, Y5 & Y6 Access Prayer & reflection Space

From 13 Feb until 17 Feb

February

${alt_tag}$

We like you to feel involved in our 'Big Think-Big talk' assemblies.

This week's theme is ''change one thing."

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am sure you are well aware that the NEU teaching union is proposing strike action starting on 1 February. At the moment, I am in the early stages of planning for the day and assessing the potential impact on pupils. I appreciate this is unsettling for parents, but please be assured that my intention is for school to remain open. I will write to you as soon as I can regarding possible impact on classes and year groups and will only ask pupils to remain at home if we cannot look after them safely.

This week, I wrote to all parents regarding the parent survey and forthcoming parent's meetings. We will soon be offering all parents a 1:1 appointment with their child’s class teacher. Meetings will take place between 6-9 February, and we very much hope that all parents and carers are able to attend. You will be able to make an appointment with your child’s teacher from Monday 30 January.

Ahead of parents’ meetings, I am also keen to increases the number of respondents for our parent survey. Parent surveys are circulated prior to all parents’ meetings. Typically, around half of all Bramhope parents respond and my target for this term is 75%!

Giving parents a voice and involving them in decision-making on issues that affect them, enables us to meet the needs of our school community more effectively. Most school policies have a direct impact on families. To ensure maximum effectiveness it is beneficial for us to take into consideration the views of everyone within our school community. We also know that parents want to play an active role in their child’s education. They want to work with us in the interest of their child and are open about their thoughts and concerns. Thank you for ensuring our home school partnerships remain strong. We do not underestimate the impact of this partnership on your child, and thank you for your support. Please can I ask that you find 10-15 minutes over the next couple of weeks to complete our parent survey? The survey provides valuable data about key issues such as safeguarding, SEN and behaviour. It also acts as a starting point for your conversation with your child’s class teacher. This year, we are also surveying our pupils from Y1-Y6. I am very interested to see the themes which emerge from each survey and am keen to explore the issues that will, undoubtedly be raised.

Please use this link to log onto the survey: LINK

${alt_tag}$

Playground update

Thank you so much for putting up with yet more disruption at the beginning and end of the school day. The KS2 playground equipment looks fantastic, and the children are really looking forward to using it!

The next stage is installation of the Wetpour and risk assessment. This means that the school gates will be out of action again on Thursday and Friday of next week, 26 and 27 January. Parents and children can still enter school from Tredgold, but will need to use the medical centre path instead. I do apologise for this inconvenience. Children will be allowed to use the equipment once the Wetpour has been added and all risk assessments are complete.

Thank you again for all your support with fundraising. I am delighted that every child will have an opportunity to use the equipment whilst at Bramhope.

${alt_tag}$

Change One Thing

This week, you will have received a letter and entry form explaining our annual competition relating to health and well-being online. Our competition aims to support families to change one thing relating to their use of technology. We could not run this competition without your support or the hard work of our digital leaders. If you have a business which may be able to donate a prize for this event, please do get in touch with our computing lead, Mrs Hahnel. Entries are due in by Monday 30^th January. Please CLICK HERE to view the presentation from digital leaders for more information.

Smart Watches - school policy reminder

In order to keep children safe in school, our acceptable use policy states that children cannot bring into school any mobile phones or any other electronic devices which have access to the internet or devices that can take pictures/sound or videos or send and receive messages.

${alt_tag}$

We are very excited to be welcoming Commonwealth Silver medallist Jenny Wallwork to the school on Tuesday, 31 January 2023.

Jenny will be leading a sponsored fitness circuit with all pupils from Reception to Year 6 and will follow up with an assembly, and question and answer session. The aim of the event is to inspire the pupils to be more physically active, but just as importantly, encourage them to discover and pursue their passion in life.

The event will raise money to buy gymnastics equipment for school, while also supporting Team GB athletes and para-athletes.

To help raise money for the event you can sponsor your child by visiting: www.sportsforschools.org and clicking on the button “Set up a Fundraiser Page”. Or you can collect a sponsorship form from the school office.

Please ensure that the sponsorship form and money raised is returned to the school office 1 week after the event has taken place.

Please also make sure that your children come to school on the event day in their PE Kits wearing their house t-shirt.

Mr McKeown (PE Leader)

${alt_tag}$

We are delighted to be supporting the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day on Friday 3 February 2023.

Making maths meaningful

We are having a fun day of maths activities, and we will be taking part in Dress up for Digits. Pupils in EYFS and KS1 are asked to wear an item of clothing with a number on it (football shirt, cap, netball shirt or even a onesie!).

KS2 are going to dress as Rockstars and will be give the opportunity to take part in TTRockstars. To raise money for the NSPCC, we are asking for donations, and we’d love everyone in the school to take part in this special event.

Safe fundraising

Alongside the day, we have set up a Just Giving page HERE Please donate and share with friends, so we can support the NSPCC. You can find out more about the NSPCC’s work at nspcc.org.uk

${alt_tag}$

Noodle

We are very happy to welcome Noodle back this term. Class teachers will be selecting children who have impressed them with their reading both in school and at home. Noodle is a great listener and the children will have a chance to read to him as part of a group. Thank you to parents for signing the consent form.

The pupils who read today with Noodle were: Tallulah H, Tilly L, Francesca H, Emma W, Olivia G, Beatrice H, Ben W, Jack G, Ellie T, James W and Elsie S.

If you wish to provide permission for your child to meet and read to Noodle, please complete the consent form HERE.

Mr Dawes (English leader)

Next Parent Workshop:

21 February - Online Safety: Parenting in a digital world

In today's digital world, it can be difficult to navigate some of the challenges around online technologies. Increasingly as a school, we see children spending more time online. At Bramhope, 47% of our children are spending at least an hour a day on their devices and 93% have access to devices at home.

This session is run by our digital leaders. It will be practical with some key tips on how to navigate the digital parenting world and there will be plenty of opportunities to discuss key information in parent groups. We will cover, amongst other things, managing health and wellbeing online, looking at social media for both younger and older age groups, and we shall also be sharing some excellent resources.

Please complete the online form HERE if you are able to join us:

Any questions please contact Mrs Judd: caroline.judd@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk

Caroline Judd (DDSL and pastoral coordinator)

House Points

The children really look forward to me announcing our ‘weekly winners’ in assembly - especially as we now present the house trophy every Friday!

Well done to everyone who has been awarded a house point this week!

The total house points for this week are:

Bronte - 480
Wilberforce - 433
Hepworth - 416
Burton - 356

A big well done to our winner this week - !

${alt_tag}$

PTA News - Update

Key dates for your diary!

Monday 23^rd January 3-3.30pm - pre-loved uniform face-to-face sales
Friday 10^th February - end of term disco for years 1-6
Sunday 26^th March - sponsored bike ride

Please note that the Pre-loved school uniform sale will now take place on the KS1 playground on Monday 23rd January 3.00-3.30pm. We have plenty of stock, including branded jumpers and cardigans, for all year groups, so please come along and take a look. Payments are online - no cash needed- and all proceeds go to the PTA.

Our next event will be our end of term disco for years 1-6 after school on Friday 10th February. We also have a surprise in-store for children in reception (during school hours), so they don’t miss out on the end of term fun. More information to follow soon!

If you would like to volunteer for the PTA please fill in the online form HERE or email us on pta@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Colbourn