Newsletters

Newsletter - 13 March 2020

13 March 2020

Dear parents and carers

Many thanks in supporting us with our continued additional hand washing in school. There is clearly a balance to be struck between educating and worrying the children and we are keen to model that as far as the children are concerned it's 'business as usual' for the time being. That said, as you will be aware, there is the possibility that schools may have to close as part of Government policy and I am closely monitoring information from Public Health England and the DfE (Department for Education).

I do receive updates from LCC and the DfE throughout the school day and we are already considering contingency measures for providing school work in the event of school closures. As there are so many rumours and mis information in circulation, I also want to confirm that we would communicate any school closure by email.

If you have any specific questions or concerns about the impact of the virus on school life, please do contact me.

Have a lovely weekend

Rachel Colbourn

We’d like you to feel involved in your child’s learning and maybe build on class discussion around our weekly ‘key questions’

This week’s key question is:

• Following our daily mile challenge, how active are you in your daily life?

Parents Evening

3:20pm – 6:10pm

March

Parents Evening

3:20pm – 6:10pm

April

School Closes

3:15pm

April

School Holiday

All Day

April

Tree planting

Mrs Ellis and I were delighted to accompany our eight House Captains to Bramhope wood on Wednesday as part of Leeds Coppice workers community project. The children planted 20 saplings between them, working together in the House pairs and marking each tree support with a a House ribbon. The children really enjoyed the opportunity and we plan to return to the wood in the summer to see how well the saplings are growing!

Mrs Colbourn

Reception Class - People who help us

A big thank you to all the parents who came in this week and spoke to the children in Reception Class about being doctors. The children loved talking about germs! They also really enjoyed pretending to be Doctors and making each other better.

Quote of the day: 'you use your brain for thinking' (Herby)

Miss Walsh

West Yorkshire Cross Country Finals

On Wednesday Ollie, Oliver, Thomas and Joseph represented Leeds Schools in the West Yorkshire Cross Country Finals. They raced against the best under 11 runners from Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees. Each boy qualified for the race during the previous Leeds Cross Country Finals representing Bramhope Primary School.

We arrived early at Temple Newsam and waited with eager anticipation for the first race- year 3 boys. Thomas ran a fantastic race with a particularly impressive finish. Oliver J ran in the Year 5 boys race finishing in the top fifteen. Ollie and Joseph W ran in the Year 6 race, with both boys finishing near the front of the pack. All races on the day featured more than 150 runners.

All boys represented Bramhope Primary School and Leeds Schools extremely well and reaching the West Yorkshire Finals alone is an impressive feat. The next race will be the final cross country race of the year and the final race of the Leeds Schools Athletic Association League.

'It was a pleasure to represent all of the schools in Leeds and we've had an absolutely brilliant day,' Ollie and Joseph.

'We can't wait for next year's cross country, I'm glad we get to do this all over again,' Oliver J.

Thank you to all the parents who have supported cross country this year. If you have any questions about running with Bramhope Primary School please contact me using pe@bramhopeprimaryschool.co.uk

Mr McKeown

It's game on for Sports Relief

Throughout Friday, classes have been taking part in the Sport Relief Mile on our school playing field. With all children completing a mile and many members of staff either walking or running, we have covered just over 300 miles in a single day! It was fantastic to see so many children smiling and enjoying running for a good cause.

As well as running, we have been thinking of those less fortunate than ourselves and the positive effect sport can have on our lives. If you want to find out more about Sports Relief this year you can visit sportsrelief.com.

Mr McKeown

Mother Day Secrets Room

The PTA are doing our special Mother Day Secrets Room again this year, where your child gets the chance to choose a gift for their Mother or Special Person in their lives for Mothers Day.

Mothers Day is Sunday 22 March. The event is taking place on Friday the 20 March between 1-3pm and gifts are available to purchase online via the PTA website until Wednesday 17 March.

We are also looking for helpers on the day! It is a fab event and really special seeing the children choose their gifts, but to run it we need volunteers to wrap the presents. We are looking for around 6-8 helpers please. Please volunteer via the PTA website or let one of the PTA members know ASAP.

The cost is £3.50 per gift to cover the cost of present and wrapping.

Please support the PTA to raise money for outdoor spaces!

Thank you

The BPS PTA

PTA 2nd hand uniform sale

On 28 February we had our PTA second 2^nd hand uniform sale. We had a really good response from parents, so we have now sold many more items.

We attempt to do the sale every last Friday in the month (term time); but the dates can be found detailed below. We also display lost property and any unclaimed unlabelled garments will be put up for sale the next time.

Please feel free to donate your unwanted school uniforms to our school, washed and in good condition and with names taken out. Just mark the bag ‘PTA uniform sale’ and bring them to our school office.

Due to the unreliable Spring weather, for now the sale will take place inside KS2 just beyond the school office in the corridor. Please come and visit us. You will find great quality clothes at a great price!

We are always looking for volunteers to help so do get in touch with the PTA if you would like to be involved in this project.

Thank you

PTA Committee

Design an Easter Egg Art Competition

HARDISTY AND CO are running a 'Design an Easter Egg' Art Competition and are inviting children from local primary schools to take part!

The picture must contain an 'Egg' and have an 'Easter theme'! The winner will receive a deluxe Easter egg supplied by Patisserie Viennoise Bespoke Confectioners and Chocolatiers, who are based in Otley. The winner's school will receive £200 towards school funds!

Please ask at the School Office for an entry sheet.

The closing date for entries is Friday 27 March 2020 and the winner will be announced week commencing 30 March 2020.

HARDISTY AND CO will attend school to present the winning pupil with their Easter Egg and the £200 for the school on Thursday 2nd April 2020.

Good luck!

Otley Coffee Festival Children's Competition

On Saturday 25 April, Otley hosts its (and Yorkshire’s) first Coffee Festival. It will be a celebration of all things coffee. We would love young people to be involved and have organised a competition with prizes, certificates and a special presentation at the end of the coffee festival.

At Otley Coffee Festival you can enjoy finding out more about coffee and associated products, whatever your level of expertise and have a great day out. Activities including stands, talks and music, will be based at the Parish Church festival hub, but there will also be a coffee trail encouraging visitors to discover the delights of other Otley venues, especially our fantastic coffee shops.

The Children's competitions for each Key Stage are:

Key Stage 2
Write and illustrate a poem with the title ‘Coffee’ (maximum 50 words)

Key Stage 1
Draw a picture on the theme of coffee: for example a coffee bean, or a coffee monster, or a mug of coffee or maybe something different.

Each of the three top entries in each category will receive a certificate and
two or three free festival tickets to attend the prize giving. If the entry is
submitted by a school, there will also be a school certificate and a free
ticket for the class teacher.
The winner in each category will also receive a book token for £15 (or the
equivalent.)
The winning entries will be featured, if permitted, in our coffee festival
programme and on our website, www.otleycoffeeculture.co.uk.

If you would like to take enter the competition, please bring your entry to the School Office, with your full name and class details, by Friday 10 April.

For any queries, please email info@otleycoffeeculture.co.uk.

Advanced notice: Polling Day

We have been informed that on Thursday 7 May, the school will be used as a polling station. The fact that members of the public can access our school hall during the school day is far from ideal. However, as you may know, my official objection to the school being used as a polling station was rejected. On occasions, I have been able to schedule staff training on polling day but training days have all been allocated this year and therefore school will remain open as usual. I will be completing a risk assessment for the day and Leeds Electoral services have confirmed that two security guards will be positioned in the hall from 7:45am-3:15pm.

Please note that school will be closed on Friday 8 May as this Bank Holiday replaced the one which had been scheduled for 4 May.

Mrs Colbourn