Hello Everyone and welcome to our final week of this half term.
Photographs
On Wednesday the children will be having their individual portrait photographs taken. There will be an opportunity for children to have group photographs taken with their brothers and sisters who are in school and you will be receiving a letter about this very shortly. In response to parental requests we have agreed that children may attend school in non-uniform on that day. Of course, if you prefer, children can stay in school uniform.
We have chosen a photography company that we feel will provide lovely photos at a reasonable price. As soon as the proofs are ready they will be sent home with the children so that you can make a decision about whether or not you wish to buy them.
Jubilee Day
As you know, this Friday (June 1st) is the day of our Jubilee Street Party for school and our community. Year 6 have been working hard to design stalls and games and we have lots of other attractions such as Mendhi, Face Painting and family games. It would be a great idea if you could provide your children with some spending money products for the event. There will also be stalls selling goods including clothes, bric a brac, scarves, Islamic Frames and Avon products.
The children will be taking part in games with other children from their year group which will involve them running around and, probably, for Key Stage 2, getting wet! Please ensure that children wear trainers or pumps so that they can run around safely.
Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution towards the community meal - your help and support is greatly appreciated. All we need now is for the weather to stay dry!
New staff
I am delighted to tell you that we appointed 2 new members of staff last Friday
Miss S Rosindale: Miss Rosindale will be our new Literacy Coordinator taking the place of Miss U Zaffar who left us last year to take up a deputy headship in Qatar. Miss Rosindale comes to us from a large school in Leeds and I'm sure she will be a great addition to the Copthorne team.
Miss E Bentley: Miss Bentley will be our new Early Years Foundation Stage Coordinator replacing Mr Bagherian who sadly leaves us on Friday. Miss Bentley comes to us with a wealth of Early Years experience and I am sure she will continue to build on the outstanding practise which already exists in Nursery and Reception classes.
We wish both members of staff a wonderful time here as part of the Copthorne family.
A sad goodbye
On Friday 1st June we say goodbye to our Early Years Foundation Stage Coordinator Adam Bagherian. Adam joined Copthorne as a student teacher and stayed with us. He is loved by children, staff and parents and will be sadly missed. He has done a fantastic job in continuing to develop Nursery and Reception whilst being an excellent teacher always going the 'extra mile' for the children. We are proud that he has achieved promotion to the position of Assistant Head as it is so well deserved and we know that he will be very successful in this role. We wish Mr Bagherian every success in his new school.
Wishing you all a great week and I hope to see you and your family on Friday.
Mrs Shepherd
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Sunday 20 May 2012
Monday 14th May
It's lovely to see the sun shining this week: our children will be able to enjoy the fresh air at playtimes after their hard work in lessons.
This week is SATs week for our Year 6 children. We wish them all the best and know that they will work hard to achieve their targets. You are all very special and we know you can do it!
The schedule for the tests is as follows:
Monday 14th May
Reading test
Wednesday 16th May
Mental Maths and Maths paper A
Thursday 17th May
Maths Paper B
Friday 18th May
Writing
Where possible, please make sure that your child has a good night's sleep, is as calm as possible and arrives at school in plenty of time each day. Breakfast Club is available free for all Year 6 children this week.
Learning Conversations
This week children in Years 1, 3, 4 and 5 will be spending 1 to 1 time with their teachers to hold a 'learning conversation'. Teachers will talk to each child in their class about their targets for Maths, Reading and Writing. The children will be able to talk to the teacher about what they need to do to reach their targets. Teachers will give advice and support to guide the children through this. We have already held learning conversations in Years 2 and 6 and these have been very powerful in helping children to understand the next steps in their learning.
Cannon Hall Farm
On Tuesday, 15th May, all the children from Reception classes will be visiting Cannon Hall Farm for the day. This links to the children's work on animals with a particular focus on how to look after them. I am sure that everyone will have a lovely day and hope that the weather stays fine.
Developing and celebrating diversity
An important driver for our creative curriculum is the development of cultural understanding. In order to enable us to ensure that we are addressing this aim throughout the curriculum we have decided to strive for achievement of the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard. This standard provides us with a clear picture of how diversity can be developed and celebrated in school. At Copthorne we already celebrate diversity though our visits to a number of places of worship, our weekly assemblies and in our vision and mission statement which is clear as children move through school. I now believe that it is time to ensure that the development of racial harmony, cultural understanding and respect is a distinct part of our creative curriculum and that every opportunity is made available to promote this.
Important dates:
May 30th: School photographs - children can come to school in non-uniform clothes for their photo's.
June 1st: Jubilee Street Party: School closes at 12pm and the event begins at 1pm and will finish at 4pm. School will then be closed for 1 week and a day, reopening on June 12th.
Mr Bagherian is leaving Copthorne
Congratulations to Mr Bagherian who has secured the position of Assistant Head at Westminster School. He will be leaving Copthorne on June 1st after the Jubilee Street Party. Mr Bagherian is a much loved member of staff, successfully leading the Foundation Stage for almost the past 2 years to ensure that every child makes excellent progress and as the most positive start possible to their education. We will miss him so very much. We wish him every success in the future and hope that he will drop in to see us when he gets the chance.
If anyone wishes to contribute to a parents' leaving gift for Mr Bagherian please leave a donation at the school office or with any member of the Foundation Stage staff apart from Mr Bagherian himself!
Unwanted soft toys/gifts
The year 6 children will be running a Teddy Bear Tombola on the day of the Jubilee Street Party. They are in desperate need of any unwanted soft toys which will be used as prizes. Please bring your unwanted soft toys to the office at any time from now on, where they will be gratefully received. In addition, we would also welcome any unwanted gifts for the tombola. Thank you.
Wishing you all a good week.
Mrs Shepherd
This week is SATs week for our Year 6 children. We wish them all the best and know that they will work hard to achieve their targets. You are all very special and we know you can do it!
The schedule for the tests is as follows:
Monday 14th May
Reading test
Wednesday 16th May
Mental Maths and Maths paper A
Thursday 17th May
Maths Paper B
Friday 18th May
Writing
Where possible, please make sure that your child has a good night's sleep, is as calm as possible and arrives at school in plenty of time each day. Breakfast Club is available free for all Year 6 children this week.
Learning Conversations
This week children in Years 1, 3, 4 and 5 will be spending 1 to 1 time with their teachers to hold a 'learning conversation'. Teachers will talk to each child in their class about their targets for Maths, Reading and Writing. The children will be able to talk to the teacher about what they need to do to reach their targets. Teachers will give advice and support to guide the children through this. We have already held learning conversations in Years 2 and 6 and these have been very powerful in helping children to understand the next steps in their learning.
Cannon Hall Farm
On Tuesday, 15th May, all the children from Reception classes will be visiting Cannon Hall Farm for the day. This links to the children's work on animals with a particular focus on how to look after them. I am sure that everyone will have a lovely day and hope that the weather stays fine.
Developing and celebrating diversity
An important driver for our creative curriculum is the development of cultural understanding. In order to enable us to ensure that we are addressing this aim throughout the curriculum we have decided to strive for achievement of the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard. This standard provides us with a clear picture of how diversity can be developed and celebrated in school. At Copthorne we already celebrate diversity though our visits to a number of places of worship, our weekly assemblies and in our vision and mission statement which is clear as children move through school. I now believe that it is time to ensure that the development of racial harmony, cultural understanding and respect is a distinct part of our creative curriculum and that every opportunity is made available to promote this.
Important dates:
May 30th: School photographs - children can come to school in non-uniform clothes for their photo's.
June 1st: Jubilee Street Party: School closes at 12pm and the event begins at 1pm and will finish at 4pm. School will then be closed for 1 week and a day, reopening on June 12th.
Mr Bagherian is leaving Copthorne
Congratulations to Mr Bagherian who has secured the position of Assistant Head at Westminster School. He will be leaving Copthorne on June 1st after the Jubilee Street Party. Mr Bagherian is a much loved member of staff, successfully leading the Foundation Stage for almost the past 2 years to ensure that every child makes excellent progress and as the most positive start possible to their education. We will miss him so very much. We wish him every success in the future and hope that he will drop in to see us when he gets the chance.
If anyone wishes to contribute to a parents' leaving gift for Mr Bagherian please leave a donation at the school office or with any member of the Foundation Stage staff apart from Mr Bagherian himself!
Unwanted soft toys/gifts
The year 6 children will be running a Teddy Bear Tombola on the day of the Jubilee Street Party. They are in desperate need of any unwanted soft toys which will be used as prizes. Please bring your unwanted soft toys to the office at any time from now on, where they will be gratefully received. In addition, we would also welcome any unwanted gifts for the tombola. Thank you.
Wishing you all a good week.
Mrs Shepherd
Monday 7 May 2012
Monday 7th May
Hello everyone. I hope you, like me, are enjoying this long weekend. It has been lovely to just be at home relaxing with the family and it was a real treat to be able to be able to set the alarm for a little later this morning after I stayed up late to catch up with the ironing last night!
Last week was another action-packed week for our staff and pupils and this week promises to be another one!
Cindy visits Reception
Last week , children in Reception had a very special visitor as part of their work on caring for animals: Cindy - a toy poodle - came to spend the day with them. Cindy is a very placid dog who loves being handled and cuddled so the children felt very comfortable playing with her, feeding her and even helping to dry her after her bath.Cindy's visit was another wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about what is involved in caring for a pet. Thanks to Mr Bagherian for letting us 'borrow' Cindy for the day.
Diamond Jubilee Community Street Party
Last Monday I sent a letter home with each child which explained the plan to hold a community street party to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Thank you to all of you who have already responded with offers of contributions of food for the community meal and the large number of you who attended a meeting about this event on Friday. Thank you so much for all your ideas and offers of help to cook food for the event and/or help to serve it.
Since then I have received great news: our bid for £250 of funding towards the event from the local council has been successful! Thanks to the local councillors from City Ward for supporting us in this endeavour.
Thanks also to our local businesses who have pledged to support the event either through funding or by providing food and/or prizes.
The 'street party' will begin at 1pm and finish at 4pm. The activities planned include:
I know that, together, we can make this event a huge success and bring our whole community together.
Friday Prayers
An issue raised during Friday's meetings was that the Jubilee event clashes with Friday prayers. Unfortunately, after careful consideration it was decided that Friday afternoon is really the only possible time for the event:
It is the day we break up for school and, therefore, causes as little disruption as possible to the flow of our children's education compared to holding the event mid week.
We wanted to hold our event as as close as possible to the day of the Diamond Jubilee and felt that it would lose meaning if we held it any earlier.
It may reassure you to know that:
We will be providing a room, during the event, for prayer
For anyone who does wish to pray at mosque that afternoon we will ensure that there is still plenty of food available and that the event continues until 4pm.
Thank you for your support and understanding in this matter.
Sustainable Schools
Part of developing our school to meet the Sustainable Schools agenda is to develop our pupils understanding of how to reduce waste and the effect of waste on our environment. Recycling and waste management has also been identified as a key priority for City Ward and so, after a meeting on Friday with City Ward's local area manager, Kate Armitstead, we have agreed to work jointly to address this issue. To begin with we have explained the recycling/refuse collection system to all Key Stage 2 children who have agreed to set a good example for their families in this regard and to explain the system to those where language may be a barrier.
Future activities will include the children producing persuasive leaflets and banners to promote recycling and effective waste management. Then, as part of Environment Week, in July, our children will be creating sculptures from recycled materials.
Working with Kate Armitsted means that we, at Copthorne, can be very active in addressing and meeting the needs of our whole community to ensure positive futures for our children and their families.
Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs
As I am sure you are aware, our Year 6 children begin their SATs tests in a week's time (May 14th) and our Year 2 pupils have already started theirs. In order to support the children it would very very helpful if you could make sure that they stay calm, get a good night's sleep (10 - 12 hours is recommended) and arrive at school in good time. Breakfast Club will be available free to all our Year 6 pupils during SATs week. Thank you very much.
We know that all the children will try their very best and we wish them every success.
Have a great week everyone and thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Shepherd
Last week was another action-packed week for our staff and pupils and this week promises to be another one!
Cindy visits Reception
Last week , children in Reception had a very special visitor as part of their work on caring for animals: Cindy - a toy poodle - came to spend the day with them. Cindy is a very placid dog who loves being handled and cuddled so the children felt very comfortable playing with her, feeding her and even helping to dry her after her bath.Cindy's visit was another wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about what is involved in caring for a pet. Thanks to Mr Bagherian for letting us 'borrow' Cindy for the day.
Diamond Jubilee Community Street Party
Last Monday I sent a letter home with each child which explained the plan to hold a community street party to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Thank you to all of you who have already responded with offers of contributions of food for the community meal and the large number of you who attended a meeting about this event on Friday. Thank you so much for all your ideas and offers of help to cook food for the event and/or help to serve it.
Since then I have received great news: our bid for £250 of funding towards the event from the local council has been successful! Thanks to the local councillors from City Ward for supporting us in this endeavour.
Thanks also to our local businesses who have pledged to support the event either through funding or by providing food and/or prizes.
The 'street party' will begin at 1pm and finish at 4pm. The activities planned include:
- 10 activity stalls designed and run by Year 6
- Bhangra drummer and DJ
- Dance show by our own 'Dancing Dolls' club
- Bouncy Castle and slide
- Family Games from the 50's
- Raffle and Tombola
- Stalls selling Islamic frames, popcorn, small toys, jewellery and Avon (we have limited the number of 'selling' stalls as we want the real focus to be on the community having fun together rather than fund raising)
- Community Meal at 2.30: This is free to all attending the event.
I know that, together, we can make this event a huge success and bring our whole community together.
Friday Prayers
An issue raised during Friday's meetings was that the Jubilee event clashes with Friday prayers. Unfortunately, after careful consideration it was decided that Friday afternoon is really the only possible time for the event:
It is the day we break up for school and, therefore, causes as little disruption as possible to the flow of our children's education compared to holding the event mid week.
We wanted to hold our event as as close as possible to the day of the Diamond Jubilee and felt that it would lose meaning if we held it any earlier.
It may reassure you to know that:
We will be providing a room, during the event, for prayer
For anyone who does wish to pray at mosque that afternoon we will ensure that there is still plenty of food available and that the event continues until 4pm.
Thank you for your support and understanding in this matter.
Sustainable Schools
Part of developing our school to meet the Sustainable Schools agenda is to develop our pupils understanding of how to reduce waste and the effect of waste on our environment. Recycling and waste management has also been identified as a key priority for City Ward and so, after a meeting on Friday with City Ward's local area manager, Kate Armitstead, we have agreed to work jointly to address this issue. To begin with we have explained the recycling/refuse collection system to all Key Stage 2 children who have agreed to set a good example for their families in this regard and to explain the system to those where language may be a barrier.
Future activities will include the children producing persuasive leaflets and banners to promote recycling and effective waste management. Then, as part of Environment Week, in July, our children will be creating sculptures from recycled materials.
Working with Kate Armitsted means that we, at Copthorne, can be very active in addressing and meeting the needs of our whole community to ensure positive futures for our children and their families.
Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs
As I am sure you are aware, our Year 6 children begin their SATs tests in a week's time (May 14th) and our Year 2 pupils have already started theirs. In order to support the children it would very very helpful if you could make sure that they stay calm, get a good night's sleep (10 - 12 hours is recommended) and arrive at school in good time. Breakfast Club will be available free to all our Year 6 pupils during SATs week. Thank you very much.
We know that all the children will try their very best and we wish them every success.
Have a great week everyone and thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Shepherd
Tuesday 1st May
Welcome to another week at Copthorne.
Farewell Mrs Strubing
Sadly, we said goodbye to Mrs Strubing yesterday after 16 years as a teacher at our school. To mark this event Mrs Strubing was firstly presented with a retirement cake which she kindly shared with all the staff and her class: 4 Poplar. In addition an assembly was held for the whole of Key Stage 2 during which we celebrated Mrs Strubing's career at Copthorne and Mrs Van Tol and Mr Mills played a selection of her favourite music for her: Mr Mills on the piano and Mrs Van Tol on the clarinet. Mrs Strubing was then presented with her leaving gifts: a pampering day at a spa for herself and a friend, vouchers for another 'pampering' treatment and a limited addition print of a thrush which Mrs Strubing says will remind her of us whenever she looks at it. I know that Mrs Strubing was also very touched by the many gifts, cards and warm wishes from parents and pupils.
We were all very sad to see her go but wish Miss Akhtar every success as she takes over as classroom teacher for 4 Poplar until the end of the academic year.
Sports Relief
I am absolutely delighted to report that the pupils, parents and staff of Copthorne raised an amazing £1,400 for Sorts Relief through the events organised. Thank you so much to all of you. This demonstrates, once again, the kindness, care and generosity of the Cothorne community in helping others less fortunate than ourselves. Your support is greatly appreciated.
A very special thanks goes to Mr Robinson, our Sports Development worker, who organised all the activities - all your hard work is much appreciated Mr Robinson.
St Leonard's Farm
Last week saw the first of our Nursery trips to St. Leonard's farm. Once again, our children were a credit to us all: behaving beautifully and being kind to all the animals. Luckily the weather stayed dry whilst the children were outside and the only rain was when the children were inside enjoying the play barn. The children saw loads of animals including sheep, goats, hens, piglets and even meerkats. Children, staff and parents had a wonderful time and came back with lots of first hand experience to talk about linked to the theme of animals. Thank you to all the parents/carers who accompanied the trip.
Copthorne's Got Talent
Playtimes are alive with the sights and sounds of children practising for the Copthorne's got Talent competition. Each class will have two acts chosen to go forward to the year group final and, from there, one act from each year will go towards the whole school competition. Last year's competition was an overwhelming success and showed just how much talent our puils have. I look forward to the whole school elements of the competition. Parents/carers will, of course, be invited to attend the final in June. The winners of the school final will then take part in the LAP competition. Good Luck Copthorne!
New Build
Last week I was fortunate in having the opportunity to tour our new extension. It is huge inside and it is so exciting to be able to see, first hand, the opportunities it will allow us to provide for our children. What is particularly impressive is the multi - purpose room. This will include 4 cookers so that pupils will regularly be able to preare and cook healthy food linked, where possible, to the creative curriculum theme they are studying. This area also includes a large community room so we will be able to extend and enhance our community links further. The extension also includes a brand new ICT suite with workstations for 30 pupils, a huge library which will include lots of seating areas for children to read, a lift between floors and changing rooms for PE. There is also a new entrance with a lovely area for visitors to wait. It definitely looks as though the new building will be worth the wait but would like to thank you, one again, for your support and patience during the last year.
May Day Bank Holiday
School will be closed on Monday 7th May for the Bank Holiday but will be open again as usual on Tuesday 8th.
I hope you all enjoy the long weekend and that the sun will shine!
Mrs Shepherd
Farewell Mrs Strubing
Sadly, we said goodbye to Mrs Strubing yesterday after 16 years as a teacher at our school. To mark this event Mrs Strubing was firstly presented with a retirement cake which she kindly shared with all the staff and her class: 4 Poplar. In addition an assembly was held for the whole of Key Stage 2 during which we celebrated Mrs Strubing's career at Copthorne and Mrs Van Tol and Mr Mills played a selection of her favourite music for her: Mr Mills on the piano and Mrs Van Tol on the clarinet. Mrs Strubing was then presented with her leaving gifts: a pampering day at a spa for herself and a friend, vouchers for another 'pampering' treatment and a limited addition print of a thrush which Mrs Strubing says will remind her of us whenever she looks at it. I know that Mrs Strubing was also very touched by the many gifts, cards and warm wishes from parents and pupils.
We were all very sad to see her go but wish Miss Akhtar every success as she takes over as classroom teacher for 4 Poplar until the end of the academic year.
Sports Relief
I am absolutely delighted to report that the pupils, parents and staff of Copthorne raised an amazing £1,400 for Sorts Relief through the events organised. Thank you so much to all of you. This demonstrates, once again, the kindness, care and generosity of the Cothorne community in helping others less fortunate than ourselves. Your support is greatly appreciated.
A very special thanks goes to Mr Robinson, our Sports Development worker, who organised all the activities - all your hard work is much appreciated Mr Robinson.
St Leonard's Farm
Last week saw the first of our Nursery trips to St. Leonard's farm. Once again, our children were a credit to us all: behaving beautifully and being kind to all the animals. Luckily the weather stayed dry whilst the children were outside and the only rain was when the children were inside enjoying the play barn. The children saw loads of animals including sheep, goats, hens, piglets and even meerkats. Children, staff and parents had a wonderful time and came back with lots of first hand experience to talk about linked to the theme of animals. Thank you to all the parents/carers who accompanied the trip.
Copthorne's Got Talent
Playtimes are alive with the sights and sounds of children practising for the Copthorne's got Talent competition. Each class will have two acts chosen to go forward to the year group final and, from there, one act from each year will go towards the whole school competition. Last year's competition was an overwhelming success and showed just how much talent our puils have. I look forward to the whole school elements of the competition. Parents/carers will, of course, be invited to attend the final in June. The winners of the school final will then take part in the LAP competition. Good Luck Copthorne!
New Build
Last week I was fortunate in having the opportunity to tour our new extension. It is huge inside and it is so exciting to be able to see, first hand, the opportunities it will allow us to provide for our children. What is particularly impressive is the multi - purpose room. This will include 4 cookers so that pupils will regularly be able to preare and cook healthy food linked, where possible, to the creative curriculum theme they are studying. This area also includes a large community room so we will be able to extend and enhance our community links further. The extension also includes a brand new ICT suite with workstations for 30 pupils, a huge library which will include lots of seating areas for children to read, a lift between floors and changing rooms for PE. There is also a new entrance with a lovely area for visitors to wait. It definitely looks as though the new building will be worth the wait but would like to thank you, one again, for your support and patience during the last year.
May Day Bank Holiday
School will be closed on Monday 7th May for the Bank Holiday but will be open again as usual on Tuesday 8th.
I hope you all enjoy the long weekend and that the sun will shine!
Mrs Shepherd
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