Copdock Weekly Update 08/03/19

Newsletter – 8^th March 2019

THIS WEEK:

Kitchen Visit:  On Tuesday, Mrs Austin took the head pupils from both Copdock and Bentley schools to visit the kitchen that prepares our hot lunches for us.  They got to see some of the amazing equipment that gets used and to sample the dish of the day.  They told me that it was intriguing to see how she cooked the food and where she got the ingredients from.  It was good to see how our food is made and how it is prepared and to see how she could cook for so many people.

Lego Club:  There are still places available on this term’s Lego Club – please contact Kids With Bricks via their website for more information.  The club will run again until the summer half term.  We would appreciate knowing if children in current Foundation to year 2 would be interested in this club continuing in September.  Please contact the office indicating interest – as the club is organised through an external company, notice periods are in place.

World Book Day:  There were some superb efforts brought in for the World Book Day dressing a potato as your favourite character challenge.  Please see the website for the full gallery!  The entries were all so brilliant we were unable to even attempt choosing a winner from each class.  We are therefore going to enable the children to choose some books for their classroom as their reward.  Your child will have brought home a World Book Day token to use in exchange for specific books or as part payment against other books.  They are valid until 31^st March.

Polar Explorer:  We had a special visitor into school today – Ricky Munday.  He is a polar explorer and has been discussing the types and requirements of vehicles used in expeditions in preparation for the Science Day on Thursday.  The children were surprised by the number of different types of snow-mobiles available.

NEXT WEEK:

Spelling Bee:  Please remember if your child is participating in the Spelling Bee, they will need a packed lunch on the day.  If parents are intending to go along to support the children, please let the office know so that we can confirm to the high school those attending.

Science Day:  KS2 children need to be taken to Copdock Village Hall on Thursday with a packed lunch for a day of Science with their colleagues from Bentley.  Please see last week’s newsletter for details on drop off and collection.  In summary, drop off between 8:45-9am and collect between 3-3:15pm at the Hall.  Please ensure you have notified the office if your child is attending either breakfast club or after school club on that day and therefore needs transportation to or from the Village Hall.  Do not forget parents are welcome to join us from 2pm to see what we have been creating. 

KS1 children will be in school as usual and will be joined by the KS1 children from Bentley.  Hot meals will be available to KS1 children only.  Please note there will be no guitar lessons this week.

Comic Relief:  Next Friday is the return of Comic Relief.  We are inviting children to come into school dressed in something red for a 50p donation to the charity, in return, Mr Ross will attempt to make them laugh!

OTHER ITEMS:

• Please keep collecting those Lego Tokens from the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star until 3^rd May.  You can send tokens in via the register boxes or the post box by the gate.  Our main collection box is in the office.

• Please see the email sent earlier in the week regarding the Audax Cycle Ride requesting volunteers to help provide catering for the riders.  If you are unable to give your time, can you help with food donations?
• We are really pleased to inform you that Liz Collyer will be joining our Governing Board as one of our Parent Governors.  Liz is a parent of two children currently attending Copdock School and brings a range of expertise to our team including educational experience.  Her personal statement is available on the school website http://www.bentleycopdock.co.uk/page/role-of-a-governor/20849 . We look forward to working with Liz in the coming months.
• As we are currently thinking about the end of the financial year and the preparation of next year’s budget, we are not only thinking of ways to reduce expenditure, but also to increase income.  One way of getting more money into our school budget is for eligible parents to claim for Free School Meals.  Attached to the email sent with the newsletter was a form for completion if you think you may be eligible, this is also available on the school website.  Even if your child is in KS1 and eligible for Universal Free School Meals, you could still be eligible for this entitlement.  If you are unsure, please complete and return the form to the school office and find out for definite.  Returns will be collated and returned to Suffolk County Council for an eligibility check.  All details remain confidential throughout the process.
• The PTA are organising the annual Chocolate Bingo.  This year it will be held on Saturday 30^th March in the school hall between 2:00 and 4:00pm.  Look out for posters around school and flyers sent home to find out more!
• Following discussion with some parents, the Ethos committee has reviewed the wording on our attendance letters, for any further information please see the attendance policy on the website.
• On the last day of term, we will be hosting an Easter Hat Parade.  This is just a little heads up for you to put on your thinking caps and start planning your millinery design!

For further term dates please check the website…

http://www.bentleycopdock.co.uk/

For PTA information please see their Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/CopdockprimaryschoolPTA