Week commencing 30th October 2023
The Week Ahead Weekly Newsletter
Growing lives that bear fruit
In this weeks newsletter...
- Quick Stop Notices
- Next Week
- Stars & Students of the Week
- Classroom News
- Helpful Links
- Fundraising
Quick Stop Notices 👀
Please supervise your children on the main ramp next to the building site and ask them not to climb on the wall and fence. A new fence will be erected once the building is complete.
Building Project / Parking - [UPDATE]
Unfortunately the building project is now delayed until the end of November. The weather has played a big hand in this delay. We will keep you updated.
Thank you for being flexible with routes around school and respectful parking so as to keep good relations with our neighbours.
This is a reminder about parking sensitively. We have received a complaint from a Wealdhere Street resident about a driveway being blocked again. A campaign to have yellow lines added to the streets around school is underway, which is an extreme response and one we hope to avoid. Please make sure you do not block a drive, do not block a corner and do not mount a kerb when you park your car. The council have instructed neighbours to photograph any cars parked badly and to report them to the police and to the council. It would be great if there was nothing to report.
New School Bank Details
As a school we have decided to close our HSBC bank account, and have opened a new account with the Cooperative Bank.
The new account details are as follows:
Bradford Christian School
Sort code 08-92-99
Account no 63154896
As our HSBC account will be permanently closed in January, we would be grateful if you would arrange to change your fee payment to the new account as soon as possible.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Flu Vaccination INFO
Please see below information regarding this year's flu campaign. Please use the link and code appropriate to your child's actual school year group.
Secondary, year 7 - 11
Dear parent,
Your child is now eligible for their Flu vaccination, as part of the National Programme for Vaccination.
Please click the following link to complete an E-Consent form for your child to receive this vaccination:
www.bradfordschoolimmunisations.co.uk/forms/Flu
And this is the School code you will need: BF107461
The online consent form link will close 3 working days before your school’s session date.
Primary, year 1 - 6
Dear parent,
Your child is now eligible for their Flu vaccination, as part of the National Programme for Vaccination.
Please click the following link to complete an E-Consent form for your child to receive this vaccination:
www.bradfordschoolimmunisations.co.uk/forms/Flu
And this is the School code you will need: BF107461A
The online consent form link will close 3 working days before your school’s session date.
Chromebooks for School and home
You may be aware that school has now provided each student from year 5 to 11 with a Chromebook to use in school. These are allocated to individual students, who are responsible for looking after them, recharging them at the end of the day, and transporting them between lessons. In Year 5 all students receive a brand new machine.
Most schools charge a significant deposit for use of Chromebooks or alternative technology. We have decided against this, recognising it is an additional cost at a time when money is tight.
Most of our students are careful and responsible with Chromebooks, and they make it through their middle school and upper school years without a problem.
However, recently we are noticing a small number of students who are not taking appropriate care of their Chromebook. We can not afford to replace them when they are dropped, get wet, or get lost. A new screen is almost the cost of a new Chromebook. We are now expecting students to carry their Chromebooks in their bags to and from lessons.
From now on, we plan to make a charge to families if a student damages their Chromebook. This will be a flat £100 toward the cost of a replacement.
We do recognise that not all damage is the student's responsibility, and we will work hard to understand the cause of any damage before charging you. We understand that there may be wear and tear from daily use.
Thinking of getting your child a Chromebook for home? Check out our recommendation in this short article. Which Chromebook?
Understanding EDSM and GCSE Grades
Parent Prayer Group - [UPDATE]
Second use uniform
Mrs Wells is extending the second use uniform to include coats for those who need them. If you have unused coats and in good condition that you can donate to this, please hand into the office or email suzannewells@bxs.org.uk
Parents WhatsApp Group
There is a WhatsApp group for parents in primary and middle school. If you would like to be added to the group, please message Rachel Baxfield on 07568 074586. Thank you
What do we need for school?
- EYFS
- A bag containing a change of clothes (labelled with names)
- Lunch
- WATER bottle (no juice)
- Book bag
- Wellies
- Rain coat
- Primary
- Lunch - if not ordering online
- Morning healthy snack
- WATER bottle (no juice)
- Book bag (no backpacks please, we have limited space to store them)
- Labels in jumpers and sweatshirts
- Rain coat
- NO pencil cases - school provide stationery
- Purchase School Uniform
- Note: PE uniform on PE days
- Middle
- Lunch - if not ordering online
- Morning snack or toast money
- Name labels in jumpers and sweatshirts
- Rain coat (Named)
- School bag
- Pencil case containing HB pencil, sharpener, coloured pencils, highlighter, eraser, green biro, black biro, blue biro
- Maths kit - compass, set square, protractor, ruler
- Scientific Calculator (we recommend Casio)
- Purchase School Uniform
- Note: PE uniform on PE days
- Upper
- Lunch - if not ordering online
- Name labels in jumpers and sweatshirts
- Rain coat (named)
- School bag
- Pencil case containing HB pencil, sharpener, coloured pencils, highlighter, eraser, green biro, black biro, blue biro
- Maths kit - compass, set square, protractor, ruler
- Scientific Calculator (we recommend Casio)
- Purchase School Uniform
- Note: PE uniform on PE days
- Autism Provision (AP)
- Acorns (middle school)
- Lunch - if not ordering online
- Water in a re usable bottle
- Morning snack or toast money
- Name labels in jumpers.
- Coat/jacket (weather dependant)
- Pencil case containing pens, pencil, sharpener, eraser.
- Daily diary
- Purchase School Uniform
- Note: PE uniform on PE days
- Please wear the correct uniform unless it has been agreed otherwise with Mrs Horton.
- Oak class (upper school)
- Lunch - if not ordering online
- Water in a re usable bottle
- Morning snack or toast money
- Bag
- Name labels in jumpers and blazers.
- Coat/jacket (weather dependant)
- Pencil case containing HB pencil, sharpener, coloured pencils, highlighter, eraser, green biro, black biro, blue biro
- Purchase School Uniform
- Note: PE uniform on PE days
- Please wear the correct uniform unless it has been agreed otherwise with Mrs Horton.
- Acorns (middle school)
Mental Health support information
Information on vaping
Event at Holy Trinity
Journeys of Hope exhibition at Bradford Cathedral
During October and into November, Bradford Cathedral is hosting an exhibition of Ugandan Asian migration stories, alongside stories from the Windrush Community. These two exhibitions – which are sponsored by the University of Bradford – open up dialogue between different journeys of hope from two communities who continue to tell important, positive stories of Bradford’s own black history, as well as stories of migration to the city of sanctuary. Read more...
Event at Shipley Baptist Church
Recent Policy updates
When we return after Half Term...
Year 10 Work experience all week
| Friday |
| 13:00 - Pri, Mid, Upp Progress Check published - check your emails 17:00 - EYFS & Primary Fireworks party |
👇🏼Dates for your Diary👇🏼
- On Nov 12th - Remembrance Sunday - St James Bolton Road will be hosting a remembrance service in the school hall, with a walk to the cenotaph.
- 16th November - School Photographs
- 19th December - Afternoon and early evening performances. Ticket details to be announced in November.
🥣Lunches🌭 - New Menu arrangement from November 2023
| Day | Meal | Option 1 | Option 2 | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Chilli | Meat / Bean (veggie) | Rice/ Nachos | |
| Tuesday | Baked Potato | Beans | Cheese | |
| Wednesday | Pizza | Cheese | Pepperoni | Hot / Cold options |
| Thursday | Curry | Chicken or Veggie | Rice or Naan | |
| Friday | Macaroni & Cheese | Tomato basil pasta | Garlic bread |
Lunch orders close at 9am every Monday morning. Please email help@bxs.org.uk if you have any issues setting up a Parent Portal account.
Please check you are using the latest version before ordering. Latest version v1.186b - Parent Portal help
⭐️Stars and Students of the Week⭐️
Primary School
| Love |
| Rosa for always following instructions and being very polite. Eliza for being very brave in trying new and different things within school. |
| Peace |
| Ochofiye for fantastic effort in Art. Eric for fantastic story writing. |
| Kindness |
| Violet for writing a fantastic diary recount and getting a 100% in her science test. Trystan for writing a fantastic diary recount. |
Middle School
| Year 5 |
| Leah for a great Table top Exhibition |
| Year 6 |
| Isla for a great Table Top Exhibition Dylan for brilliant work and attitude in our current Maths unit |
| Year 7 |
| Esther for a great Table Top Exhibition |
Upper School
| Year 9 |
| Sammie for a great start to GCSE English Amba for diligence and outstanding effort in trigonometry unit in maths |
| Year 10 |
| Isaac for a comprehensive and well spoken summary of a science lesson showing attention to detail Zachary for a big improvement in RE |
🎓Classroom News 👨🏻🏫
MP Philip Davies Visit to the AP
🔗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!
We can win upto £1500 free if 5 new people signup to our Give as you Live campaign before the 17th December!
Regular campaign link - https://www.giveasyoulive.com/charity/bradford-christian-school
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.
On October 13th staff had a PD day where we considered our Christian community in school. Some of us learn a lot through visual pictures, others through words. A picture of a building was shared by Sharon Taylor, and it has spoken to me so much I would like to share it with you.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21-22
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Psalm 127 is a Psalm of Solomon who spent 7 years building a temple for the Lord. A place for his presence to dwell. But it takes hard work for him to get the temple ready and perhaps there are parallels for us today:
The temple was built using the help of other nations (Hiram King of Tyre supplied vast quantities of timber). Do we need to accept the help of those outside of our school community?
Solomon used experts (Huram from Tyre was skilled in all kinds of bronze work). Experts are important to come and do some of the work for us- to enhance what is already there.
Stones were dressed at the quarry so that no sound was heard at the temple site. The painful work goes on out of sight, perhaps at home away from school- in our hearts.
The temple was filled with beautiful carvings and gold. The physical environment was important- those visiting could look and see a physical beauty which represented what the vision of the temple was about.
The presence of God was at the very centre of the building. Is he at the centre of every thing we do?
Solomon’s temple was built using forced labour. This is anathema to us today. However, I wonder if there is an extent to which we need to be forced to build this kind of community. It’s not supposed to be easy - it requires sweat, blood and tears. In him ‘you too are being built’. It’s an active, ongoing process.
Building relationship is far more difficult than building a temple. It’s far more difficult than attending a social event every term. It’s far more difficult than attending a team building event. These things will be vehicles for the building but not the temple itself. Real building requires us to look hard at our own insecurities, our own plans for our life and our own preferences. To make difficult decisions. To have difficult conversations. To spend time in prayer when we don’t really feel like it. To do things we’d rather not do.
If God is building his temple amongst us then we need to get our hearts and minds in line with that vision and recognise that the end result will be something sacred, attractive and worth more than anything else. Ultimately a place where the spirit of God loves to dwell. Who doesn’t want this for our community?
Our community involves students, staff, families, churches, and we desire to be a place where God loves to dwell. I was so encouraged by out parents praying on Thursday, and invite you all to be part of this - the first Friday and third Thursday of each month at 9am.
I also encourage you to come and meet our governors - Richard Shackleton has sent an invitation to you all.