Row rect Shape Decorative svg added to bottom

The Week Ahead weekly newsletter

logo_2020

Growing Lives that Bear Fruit

This week...

    Quick Stop Notices

    Nursery & Reception Places - tell your family and friends about us

    We are enrolling into nursery and reception. The government funds children until they turn 4, then part funds places for reception children until their fifth birthday.

    We are one of the only Christian nurseries in North Bradford at the moment, please spread the word that we are open for enrolment and  love to give children the opportunity to have Christian input from the age of 3.

    Attendance - Cause for Concern

    Government guidelines view attendance below 90% as Persistent absence, which must, by law, be reported to the Local Authority's Education Welfare Officer. Persistent absence includes absences due to holidays and illness as well as unauthorised absence.

    The Education Act 2004 states that it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure their child attends school regularly and on time. 

    Our school mental well being lead, Mrs Walker, would like to work with you and support you in bringing your child to school regularly. Mrs Walker works closely with our leadership team, the school office team and the Head Teacher so we can all be aware of any issues you may be facing in getting your child to school.    

    mrswalker@bxs.org.uk

    We are always willing to listen to parents who are experiencing difficulties with attendance and will be happy to work with you to improve your child's attendance.

    If you are worried about your child's health, there is lots of useful information on the West Yorkshire Healthier Together website, which can be accessed via the following link:  https://wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers

    Fees update

    Parents have been emailed information regarding fees. Please check your emails for these. If you have not received an email with information about fees, please let the office know.

    office@bxs.org.uk

    From September 2024:

    Fees - increased to:

    • 1 child 5520 (£460 per month)
    • 2 children 9540 (£795 per month)
    • 3 children 13560(1130 per month)

    PLUS monthly supplements

    Reception remains as on the website

    Uniform update

    Thanks to all who filled out the uniform questionnaire.
    The results showed clearly that:
    95% parents want to keep uniform with no real changes
    92% parents like the change from primary to middle to upper
    90% parents like PE day uniform, though some would like it to be stricter and more modest
    Most like the logo on the blazer or jumper, but not the T shirts or polos

    Some parents would like a summer uniform
    M and S is expensive for the quality
    Logos make uniform expensive
    Most would like second hand uniform
    Some parents made comments about the need for modesty in terms of skirt length, PE attire, and own clothes days

    We are moving to partner with a different uniform provider in the future, but they will keep the same uniform for us. They are owned by Tesco but source from other places myclothing.com More details will follow.

    We are introducing an optional summer uniform across school, which will be summer dresses up to year 4, and from year 5 will be grey or black school shorts, trousers or skirts with a white shirt or polo shirt (no ties, jumpers or blazers necessary) This will be an option from April to July. Obviously on cooler summer days children can still wear jumpers and blazers.

    We do run a second hand option. Suzanne Wells, one of our parents, collects clean used uniform and has regular stalls, the main one being at primary sports day in the summer. She does have a stock of second hand items.

    We are tightening up the PE uniform, so it is a plain white T shirt, plain black joggers or sports leggings, and a plain black sweatshirt or school hoodie (Middle school onwards) Fashion leggings are not appropriate school wear.

    Skirts should be knee length

    We do require a logo on blazers and prefer them on the blue school jumpers, but do not require them on polo shirts, T shirts, fleeces, PE sweatshirts, or other uniform items.

    The full updated policy will be shared before the Easter holiday.

    Political actions on VAT policy - SIGN THE PETITION

    Petition link - https://chng.it/8rPHW9FDHg

    From the ICS:

    All schools should be in touch with local politicians to make them aware of the impact of Labour’s tax proposals. We encourage you to focus on the impact on your parents, local state schooling, and your school operations. Stress whenever possible your school’s public benefit work, and existing links to the local community – as well as any specialised provision. While we still expect to see the tax proposals in the next Labour manifesto, our combined efforts are necessary to provide the best possible basis for conversations with Labour if they form the next government.

    The ISC and associations are working at a national level to engage with the Labour VAT/charitable tax policy – but schools also have a vital role to play as local advocates. We are speaking to political parties, education groups, and unions – making them aware of the unintended consequences of the policy, but also the hugely positive role independent schools play in UK education. We are also highlighting the diversity of independent schools, the specialisms schools provide, and myth-busting about the true nature of our sector.

    Missed a Week Ahead?

    Go to our Parent Zone page to view the archive.

    Next Week➡️

    School lunches

    Lunches and puddings MUST be pre ordered because Mrs Trice Parkin cooks according to order size. She shops for food on Monday mornings, buying enough to feed those who have ordered. Please make sure you order through MIS, and if you haven't ordered, make sure you send packed lunch for your child. 
     
    If you struggle with MIS, please contact the office staff who will help you. 

    Monday 15th April

    Primary Drama & Performance to Parents - 15:30 - 16:30

    Children's Story & Art Workshops - 15:30 - 16:45 - See Classroom News for more details.

    Homework Club - 15:30 - 16:30

    Tuesday

    Middle School Drama club - 15:30 - 16:30

    Wednesday

    Homework club - 15:30 - 16:30

    Thursday

    Homework club 15:30 - 16:30

    Friday

     

    Dates for your diary

    April

    • 22nd - Parent Consultations start
    • 25th - Junior Maths Challenge
    • 29th - GCSE Exams start

    May

    • 1st - 3rd - AP Residential Snowball Plantation
    • 7th - Staff PD - SCHOOL CLOSED
    • 24th - Break up for Half-Term

    June

    • 10th - School Reopens
    • 14th - GCSE Exam finish
    • 24th - 5th July - Y9/10 End of Year Exams

    July

    • 4th - Staff PD, School CLOSED to Students
    • 11th 19:30 - Whole School Celebration - Church on the Way, Idle
    • 15th - 19th - Activity Week
    • 19th - School closes for Summer

    ⭐️Stars & Students⭐️ of the week

    Primary

    EYFS

    Eliza - for coming into the classroom well this week and being amazing.
    Roman - doing a fantastic job and working well in Maths.
    Ava - For having a fantastic first week in nursery.

    Peace class
    Blessings-For fantastic observational drawing of a dinosaur.
    Joshua-For super writing about his Easter holidays.

    Kindness class

    Emily- A wonderful botanical drawing of a flower in science
    Zachary-Fantastic work in Spanish

    Silver award-Timmy and Myka
    Gold award-Fisayo

    Multiplication master award-Theo

    Middle

    Y5

    Leah for excellent End of term test result in RE

    Y6

    Nathan for excellent end of Term test result in RE

    Isaac for excellent End of Term test result in RE

    Upper

    Y11

    Amber for excellent performance on a comparative poetry essay
    Jessica for excellent performance on a comparative poetry essay

    🧑‍🎓Classroom News

    Maxwell Prize

    The Maxwell Prize celebrates the achievements of Year 6 children in education at the schools of ISA Members. The prize is non-academic and rewards a holistic approach to school and community life.
    All ISA Members' schools are invited to nominate one student for the prize. Nominations must be made by a member of school staff, and include a short nomination statement, and a typed or filmed personal statement by the nominee.

    Staff selected three Year 6 children to enter a competition in school for the ISA Maxwell Prize, knowing that only one would be chosen to be entered.
    Shalom, Joy and Nathan were all exceptional candidates, and congratulations to Nathan, who was chosen by an outside person to be entered into the national competition. A huge well done to Shalom and Joy for their wonderful character which has been recognised by staff and other students.

    Art Workshops on Mondays

    Acorn class have been learning how to sign the alphabet using Makaton.

    BFG Tickets available now!

    Click the link for the Guiseley Theatre Box Office and scroll down.

    http://www.guiseleytheatre.org/boxoffice

    Untitled_Artwork-4 (1)
    Click to enlarge
    Needs-to-talk-1080-x-370
    TWA banners - 1080 x 370 (2)

    Helpful Links

    Fundraising

    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!

    Click to enlarge
    Click to enlarge
    IMG_2478

    £15 raised so far!

    To say it's only been a short time we've been apart of the Stikins campaign, this is an incredible achievement. Please continue to engage with this campaign. Thank you!

    Marks & Spencer Uniform

    £120 raised so far!

    Every time someone purchases a BCS school uniform through our affiliate, M&S, we receive a small commission. So far this year we have receive £120. Thank you for your support.  

    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.

    We started this week with our usual Monday prayer meeting, in an attitude of thankfulness for God’s provision at BCS. We have so much to be thankful for as a school, and recently have been evaluated by two outside bodies, The Independent Schools Inspectorate and Best Christian Workplaces https://workplaces.org/employee-engagement. Both have noticed the exceptional community BCS is. ISI asked for our secret ingredient in how we had happy children, parents, and staff, and when I told them we believed this was from God, they seemed unsurprised if not a little taken aback that I really thought this. Best Christian Workplaces surveyed all staff and had an unusual 100 percent response rate. They have described us as a flourishing school, and acknowledged ‘Our good results are a result of God’s provision and our stewardship’
    I am so grateful for how God answers our prayers and sees our needs. Specific thanks this week are for:

    • A staff who work together, and appointment of a new teacher for September - more information to follow.
    • A committed governing body and supportive parents who partner with us.
    • An amazing year 11 who are preparing for GCSE exams - this is a special group for me as I encountered them first in 2013 on my first 6 month assignment in BCS.
    • A number of staff who are considering further study to improve their teaching skills.
    • A number of staff who committed to the Essential Christian Teacher with Mr Moon, and Mr Moon who led it.
    • A great staff survey from Best Christian Workplaces.
    • Increasing numbers and full classes in many parts of school, with a waiting list for some classes Developing after school provision this year, and those who run it.

    Jane Prothero

    Thank you for your continued support of Bradford Christian School

    Have a blessed weekend