Monday 28th January 2013

Welcome to another week at Copthorne.

I would like to begin this week by saying a big thank you to those of you who have posted comments and suggestions on the blog. It is great to know that you find the blog useful and informative and that you think it is a good way of keeping up to date with everything that is happening in our wonderful school.

Last Monday's snow
As I am sure you understand, the decision to close school last Monday was a difficult one but it was taken in order to ensure the safety and well being of our children and staff. Thank you for your care and support in making sure that our children arrived at school safely and on time for the rest of the week in spite of the awful weather. The worst seems to be over now and it is good to see some green grass again as the snow melts.

This week at Copthorne

Teachers of the Future
On Monday and Tuesday (28th and 29th January) we are hosting the interviews for the new Schools Direct programme. Head teachers from the 7 schools in our LAP (Lidget Green, Farnham, Horton Grange, St Oswald's, Princeville, Crossley Hall and, of course, Copthorne) will be interviewing a large number of post-graduate applicants who wish to take up a career in teaching. The successful candidates will each be matched with and given a placement in one of the LAP schools for a year, during which time each school - in partnership with Bradford College - will deliver a teacher training programme. The advantages of the programme for the students is that they will develop the skills, knowledge and attributes required to be an outstanding teacher in a real school setting. The advantage for each school is that we will be fully involved in shaping the teachers of the future. This will allow us to identify potential future members of staff who are familiar with our schools and our community and who will bring new educational ideas and methods to our school.We wish all the candidates every success as they embark on the first steps towards becoming the teachers of the future.

A new prospectus for Copthorne
On Tuesday, 29th January, we will be visited by a photographer from Words and Pictures - the company charged with the production of our exciting new prospectus. Over the past months Words and Pictures have worked with  groups of pupils and staff and have reviewed what parents and the community say about Copthorne in order to build up a really clear picture of our school. A large number of our children will be involved in the photo shoot this week: parents have already been informed and their permission given for the photos to be taken. The photographer will be taking pictures of a wide range of activities throughout school. I am sure the children will have a great time and that the finished results will be a true refection of our great school. Some of the photos will also be used to produce canvases for our corridors and a number will appear on our new website which is also in the process of being created. We look forward to seeing the finished results!

Horton Park Lantern Parade
On Thursday 31st January 2013, there will be a very special parade organised by the Friends of Horton Park. The event will include music and a parade of lanterns made by children from some of the local schools. Our own pupils from 5 Willow worked very hard as part of a special day-long Art workshop here at Copthorne to make beautiful willow lanterns which will be lit for and carried in the parade. The children also learnt all about the qualities of willow and why it is such a useful natural material.
The parade marks an important stage in reclaiming the park for the local community. We hope that as many pupils, families and staff will join the parade as possible but particularly those children from 5 Willow who will be carrying their lanterns through the park.
All those families who wish to take part should meet at Ashkam Bryan College at the top of Horton Park at 5pm. The event will finish at 6.30pm. Any children taking part must be accompanied by a parent/carer. I know that Miss Akhtar has already written to the parents of pupils in 5 Willow about this and is looking forward to seeing you all there.

Next Week

Year 6 to the Bradford Royal Infirmary
Don't worry! No one has been hurt! These visits which will take place on Tuesday 5th February and Thursday 7th February. Year 6 will be learning about basic first aid, the work of paramedics and how to avoid accidents and injury.I am sure they will have a very interesting time.Both visits take place during the morning and the children will return to school for lunch.

Maths master class at Bradford Grammar School
4 children from Year 6 will form part of a group of 28 pupils visiting Bradford Grammar School on Tuesday 5th February from 1 to 3pm for what we hope will be the first of a course of Maths master classes. The class will provide further challenge and guidance for those children who are expected to achieve a Level 6 in the SATs in May. I am sure it will be great afternoon for all the children involved and I am sure that, once again, they will be wonderful ambassadors for their schools. I look forward to hearing all about it when they return to school and am getting ready to have my maths skills tested. Thank you to Mr Riley, the Head at Bradford Grammar, for providing our pupils with such a great opportunity.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Mrs Shepherd