Week commencing 8th May 2023
The Week Ahead
Growing lives that bear fruit
Quick Stop Notices
IMPORTANT: Please log on to the BCS Parent Portal to read and accept the school’s Acceptable Use Policy and update your child’s Medical record for this year. Make sure you’re logging into version 1.172.
- In honour of the King’s Coronation each child has received a Coronation Coin today. Please check their bags.
- Our office has a new look – thanks to ‘Access’ for their donation of new furniture.
- Tickets for Robin Hood drama will go on sale on Monday.
- Behaviour Policy – Our behaviour policy is largely in place for events happening in school, and details can be found on the website. However, we have reviewed some practice recently in the light of online safety, and there are occasions where we may also use our policy for events happening outside of school. If we have evidence of harassment or bullying of any of our students by another student we will follow policy.
Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our school. Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.
“Bullying can take many forms for instance Cyber bullying via text messages, social media or gaming which can include the use of images and video and is often motivated by prejudice against particular groups for example on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, special educational needs or disabilities, or because a child is adopted, in care or has caring responsibilities. It might be motivated by actual differences between children or perceived differences.” (Preventing and Tackling Bullying– advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies July 2017)
- A reminder about Uniform: Please make sure you send your child to school in the correct clothing each day. Also, if you have any second hand uniform to donate, please hand in at the Main Office, thank you.
- A helpful article for parents navigating teen social media use.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/social-media/
Next Week
| Monday |
| King’s Coronation – National Bank Holiday – School Closed Tickets for Robin Hood will be made available to book – 15:00 |
| Tuesday |
| Crystal Gardens School to visit Year 3/4 |
| Wednesday |
| Road Safety for Year 3/4 & Autism Provision |
Dates for your Diary
- 15th May – Y1 and Y2 Trip to Skipton Castle
- 16th, 17th, 18th May – Robin Hood @ 6pm in the school hall.
- 18th May:
- Duke of Edinburgh Practice training
- Parent Prayers in the staffroom: 9:00 – 9:30
- 24th May:
- Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition (return 26th)
- Progress Reports issued
- 25th May – Duke of Edinburgh bronze (return 26th)
- 26th May – School closes for Half term at 15:30
Lunches
Not available Monday. Please order for the rest of the week before 9:00am on Monday.
Latest version v1.172 – Parent Portal help
Stars and Students of the Week
Primary School Stars of the Week
| Love Class |
| Alex for writing sentences independently. Nina for amazing phonic work. Evan being a kind friend and making friends with lots of children. |
| Peace Class |
| Oscar for super objective work in English. Charlie for being a kind friend and working hard in English. |
| Kindness Class |
| Ethan for a fantastic World War 2 reading challenge. Angel for a fantastic World War 2 reading challenge. |
Classroom News
Our Year 11 students left school today to spend time concentrating on GCSE exam revision. Sadie shared her thought of BCS at the leavers assembly.
BCS: beloved, cherished , special. Bradford Christian School acts as a secret garden for those unpressured to conform and go down the beaten track. As soon as you enter you are met with a raucous cacophony of sound that spills over into each and every room. Chairs scraping, the sound of boots clicking on a hardwood floor all to the backing track of Jesus is my superhero. BCS is a home. A haven. A religious fountain. Here young minds are shaped, hearts are changed and relationships are built.
BCS manages the impossible: a balancing act between education and home. School lunches are home cooked meals as children gather round chattering excitedly. The playground is almost constantly filled with young voices – a mix between childhood rhymes and skipping ropes soon forced to retreat back inside by large groups of giggling girls and rambunctious boys. The frequent football games alongside basketball matches create an adrenaline fuelled experience as children dodge a constant barrage of balls flying through the air.
Cosy classrooms house all ten children comfortably as teachers doubling up as parents pass on years of experience and knowledge – both academic and spiritual. Like kindhearted double agents. Here you find not only a school but a family. All encompassed in different pastel hues and stone walls with rooms appearing from all directions. A plethora of generations all housed within a single place.
Helpful links
Fund Raising
It’s free to sign up to and start supporting us with Give as you Live. Send our unique campaign links to friends and family so they can support us for free too!
Regular campaign link – https://www.giveasyoulive.com/charity/bradford-christian-school
Headteacher’s Message
Our mission
To provide a holistic Christian education for all and to inspire discipleship.
Our Vision
To be a Christian community in which everyone grows in character, faith, knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
You should all know (because I keep reminding everyone) of the vision and mission of our school. This is why we exist and what we hope to do.
Leavers
Today our four Year 11s leave school, ready to revise for GCSEs. This time of year is bittersweet for Year 11. The excitement of summer coming is mixed with uncertainty about GCSE exams, and moving to a new school or college in September.
When Mark and I lived overseas for more than ten years, we learned about the importance of ‘building RAFTs’ as a way of leaving well. We witnessed a number of goodbyes as people left Cambodia to return to their passport countries, and we saw a range of responses. Some people wanted to sidle off without any fanfare, others had parties that lasted weeks. Some did it in a more healthy way than others. We attended training and seminars to help our students leave well, and this year Mark has led our four year 11s through the process, with a lovely lunch from the Tapas Tree.
So what is this “Building your RAFT” all about?
Are we building a boat? No, not literally. RAFT is an acronym that the late David C Pollock developed to help people transition.
R = Reconciliation is just that: reconciling with people, making the relationship right. Just because you leave a place doesn’t mean the problem goes away. It doesn’t – instead it goes with you. Research has been done on health related issues due to unforgiveness.
A = Affirmation
Is there anyone you are super thankful for? Anyone who has helped you greatly ? Tell them. Let them know how much you appreciate them and what they did for you, for your family. Awkward? Write a letter to tell them – but just tell them. You have the opportunity to make someone feel appreciated – and you’ll feel great that you did it.
F = Farewell
This is the not so fun part; saying good-bye. You immediately think of all the people you want to tell good-bye. Don’t forget to say “Good-bye” to places and things as well. This may sound strange, but it really helps to bring closure.
T = Think Destination
It’s just that – think about the next place. How will it be different from where you are now? How will it be the same? Go through this dialogue Reminder: It’s okay to feel excited about the new destination as you say good-bye to all the old things. It’s normal.
Thank you for your support of Bradford Christian School
Have a Blessed Weekend
Don’t forget, School is closed on Monday 8th for the Kings Coronation