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Growing Lives that Bear Fruit

This week...

    Quick Stop Notices

    Dental places for under 16s

    A local NHS dentist in the BD4 area  are looking to register children under the age of 16, they are reaching out to local schools with a view to taking children who do not have a dentist at present.

    "We take children’s oral health very seriously in our practice and as I’m sure you are aware the younger the children are seen and treated the better the outcome for them in adulthood."

    Contact them regarding registration for you children. They cannot advise how long they will be registering so it would be advisable to contact them as soon as possible on 01274 688600.

     

    Dentistry@BD4

    134 Holme Lane,BD4 0PU

    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.

    Mobile phone use
    This wterm we have had a number of mobile phone related incidents. 
     
    Some of these are happening outside of school, on Whatsapp, Snapchat and other social media and gaming platforms that are nothing to do with BCS, except they involve our students.
     
    We encourage you as parents to help your children navigate these accounts - we can easily help them with school based platforms, but can't monitor what happens at home. There is lots of guidance for parents 
     
     
     
     
    We are reminding all students that their mobile phones should be off and stored in bags throughout the day, and students should not access them at all . If any member of staff sees a child with a mobile device between 8:55 and 3:30pm, it will be confiscated, stored in the school office, and logged on our student information. It may be that we ask you as parents to collect the phones.
    Uniform Reminder

    2.0 Wearing of Uniform
    2.1 Students should wear school uniform unless:
    • It is a day for PE in their year group in which case they should wear their PE kit to school
    • It is the day that upper school can choose to wear their own clothes. (Friday)
    • It is a charity or end of term wear your own clothes day
    • The specifics of a school trip do not require the wearing of uniform which will be conveyed to parents in a
    letter.
    • There is an agreed justification why a child should wear an amended uniform e.g. SEND
    3.0 Jewellery
    3.1 On health and safety grounds we request children not to wear jewellery in our school.
    3.2 The exceptions to this rule are:
    • ear-ring studs in pierced ears (one piercing in each ear)
    • Medical identification bracelets may be worn by children who have significant medical problems e.g.
    Diabetes or epilepsy.
    We ask the children to remove these objects during PE for health and safety reasons.
    3.3 The school advises parents who wish their children to have their ears pierced to do so at the beginning of the
    summer school holidays.
    4.0 Hair Styles
    4.1 Hair colour should be a natural colour and not an ‘extreme’ haircut e.g. tramlines, stars, shaved heads (No
    shorter than a number 2), extreme patterns ‘V’ styles, Mohican cuts etc.
    4.2 Pupils with long hair should tie it back for safety reasons especially if requested to do so in science or cooking.
    5.0 Nail Polish
    5.1 Students should not wear nail polish in school.
    5.2 Students who come to school wearing nail polish will be asked to go to the office and remove the nail polish
    using remover provided by the school.

    Building Project / Parking
    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.

    Political actions on VAT policy

    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.

    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?

    Google Classroom Clarification

    If you are used to checking your child's google classroom summary of homework, all staff will use HOMEWORK in capitals as a prefix before the task. All other posts will refer to work undertaken in class.

    Parent Prayers
    Parent Prayers
    Understanding EDSM & GCSE Grades

    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

    Parent WhatApp 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

    Mind the Gap Ministries

    Bradford Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary would like to invite you to a special event being hosted at Mind the Gap on Wednesday 6th December to come together and celebrate Bradford's rich history in welcoming people seeking sanctuary and hear from those who have found refuge in our city.

    Bradford City of Sanctuary have partnered with Mind the Gap and filmmaker Tom Harmer to host a screening of The Sanctuary Seekers of Bradford, premiered at Pictureville earlier this year. There will be family-friendly activities and refreshments from 3:30pm; a free buffet from 5pm; a screening of the film at 6pm followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Tom Harmer, people with lived experience and representatives from local organisations.

    To book your tickets and for more detail about the running order, click on our Eventbrite booking link. A flyer is attached so do share this invitation with relevant individuals, families, colleagues and organisations.

    Feel free to email me or info@bradford.cityofsanctuary.org with any further questions.

    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...

    Discounted Train tickets

    Christmas (1)

    Can you help - email suzannewells@bxs.org.uk

    Missed last weeks Week Ahead?

    Go to our Parent Zone page to view the archive.

    Recent Policy Updates

    Next Week

    Monday

     

    Tuesday

    Primary Big Arts Day

    Wednesday

    9:30 - 11:30 - Reception Open Morning - sign up here

    CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY!

    UPPER School Christmas lunch

    14:30 - Autism Provision Parents Christmas Cafe

    Thursday

     

    Friday

     

    👇🏻Dates for your diary👇🏻

    • 15th December - 15:00 - 17:00 - School Christmas Fayre
    • 19th December - EYFS & Primary Nativity afternoon and early evening performances. Ticket details to be announced in November.
    • 20th December - Early finish on last day of term - 12:00

    🍕Lunches🍲

    6th December - Christmas lunch for Staff & Upper School (Y9, 10, 11) order form and payment details sent to students via school email.

    Primary & Middle School lunch for 6th December - Hot dogs. Please Order 'Pizza' if your child would like Hotdog. 

     

    MIS latest version: v1.191

    ⭐️Stars & Students of the week⭐️

    Primary School

    Love

    Roman-for fantastic concentration in nursery maths and phonics
    Emilia-working hard in reception phonics

    Peace

    Lucy-for always trying her best and doing really well in spellings.
    Oscar-for super focus in art and creating a wonderful space picture.

    Kindness

    Myka poetry work-understanding and writing own
    Thandi-Fantastic participation in devotion times
    Bronze Award
    Penelope
    Theo

    Middle School

    Y6

    Joy for positive attitude and biggest improvement in Maths
    Caleb for consistently brilliant work in Maths

    Upper School

    Y9

    Seth for consistently high standard of work in English and Literature
    Josiah for consistently high standard of work n English and Literature

    Y11

    Daisy for outstanding work in English

    Classroom News

    Thank you to all who attended Parents Consultations this week. We hope you found the face to face time with teachers helpful. If you do have any further questions, please get in touch with your child(ren)s department head and they can direct your questions to the correct person.

    Thank you to our life savers; our NHS life changers.

    Thank you to our life savers; our NHS life changers. Middle school welcomed nine NHS practitioners or retired practitioners into school this week. Students practised their interviewing skills to unlock the many fascinating stories told by our visitors. Visitors included speech therapists, GP’s, paediatricians, cancer nurses, retired midwives and business managers. Students worked in small teams of four to interview our health care professionals and were then given a short period of time to put together a presentation to share what they had learned in a celebratory assembly at the end of the afternoon. The topic was part of a programme entitled ‘Step into the NHS.’ A programme which helps the school deliver part of its careers education to students. The NHS is the biggest employer in Europe with over a million employees and offering over 350 careers. If our Middle school is typical of classes in the Uk, at least three of them will end up working for the NHS. Christians and people of faith are disproportionately represented in this caring profession. Parents from over ten of our families represented in Middle school work for the NHS. Students not only learned about what the professions entailed but what is realistically involved in training and routes through education. Students shared insights gained at the end of the afternoon to their peers. One of the guests explained that her work as a children's cancer nurse represented ‘this country at its best’ and she relished the opportunity to serve God through helping people at their greatest point of need. We invited our students to give God permission to start talking to them about their futures and His plans for them. Thanks to our visitors for an inspiring afternoon.

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    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!

    We can win upto £1500 free if 5 new people signup to our Give as you Live campaign before the 17th December!

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    £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!

    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.

    This week we had staff training on childrens' mental health. Mrs Bullen started our day reminding us that God knew all about mental health and wrote about it in the Bible before the NHS started publishing books, and before the government mandated that it was part of our curriculum.

    She shared what she has been teaching in year 9 about Biblical instruction for rest, for time in the present not worrying about tomorrow, and also about the importance of gratitude and saying thanks - God is good all the time.

    I am always encouraged when our staff step up and share their hearts for their job here at BCS. They really do not do this as just a job! Each of our staff can articulate God's hand in bringing them to work with your children.

    This week was the last week in school for a while for Mrs Hutcheson, who starts chemo treatment for cancer next Tuesday. I encourage you all to pray for her, and her beautiful family as she begins this process. We are standing with the family as they pray for miraculous healing,and we encourage our praying families to join us. When Mrs Hutcheson speaks about her illness she communicates her faith and her joy at connection with Jesus. Pray that she can hold onto this on the rougher days ahead.

    Thank you for your continued support of Bradford Christian School

    Have a Blessed Weekend!