Chopps Chat

Welcome to the latest edition of 'Chopps Chat' as we move into the final term of the calendar year!

Once again, I sit here wondering where the time has gone? It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming children back into school after the Summer holidays and we now find ourselves preparing for Christmas productions and carols on the yard once more!

We had a fantastic and very productive first half term back after the Summer holidays and the children have all settled well and produced some fantastic work. As always, there is plenty of learning going on around school and we can't wait to share this with you!

Over the next couple of weeks, we have our class assemblies planned to celebrate the learning which has occurred both inside and outside of the classroom! We have been out and about a great deal once again, visiting local sites to further our learning. Year 1/2 have been lucky enough to visit the Grace Darling Museum, St Mary's lighthouse, Broxfield Farm and will soon be heading to the Woodhorn museum too! These trips take a great deal of planning but we know the impact it has on learning and also the memories it creates!

Year 3/4 also went on an incredible trip to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) as part of their Viking topic! They had a great time exploring the Abbey there and were amazed by the causeway on the journey there and back!

Year 5/6 have headed out to the Centre for Life museum and followed that up with a brilliant experience in a planetarium here at Choppington. Half of the class have also been out to the building site at Ascent homes and had a tour of the new builds along with a talk on how to stay safe! The remainder of the class will be visiting in the coming weeks too!

Coming up this term we have plenty to get excited about. Class assemblies, Christmas productions, Choir performances, Carols on the yard, Christingles, Christmas fayres, parties and much more! Below, we've included a countdown of dates so you can get planning accordingly!

We look forward to seeing you all at some point this term celebrating with us!

Mr Smith

As always, there will be a remembrance service at the war memorial on Monday 11th November from 10:50am. There will be several readings from children along with a service from Rev. Moat.

We'd love to see you there.

On Friday 29th November, we will be having another non-uniform day where we will be asking for donations for the PTFA Christmas Fayre. We really appreciate that it is an expensive time of the year and therefore really appreciate any donations which help to make the fayre a success. Items such as chocolate, sweets, drinks or any other items which can be used for the tombola are welcomed.

On Wednesday 13th November, a published children's author will be visiting the school and reading his books with each class. After school, he will be selling signed copies of his books on the school yard.

The following information is from Toby:

Toby Glover is a local children's author with over 20 books, his range of fun, rhyming stories are popular for all Primary children. His stories feature naughty dolphins, squirrels with nut allergies, ambitious dogs, pet dinosaurs, flying chickens, pirate zombies, green teddy bears and many more! His Mark Shark adventures are in talks to become a new animated series! Toby has been touring schools and will be visiting us on Wednesday 13th November to share his stories with all classes. His books are available as both paperbacks and ebooks on Amazon, also parents will have the chance to purchase signed copies on the day for £9.99 with cash or card. www.tobybooktour.com

Online applications for Reception places are now open

https://schadm.northumberland.gov.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/en

(You need to register as a new user if you haven't used the Portal before. If you've forgotten your password, click on forgotten password link) - (for late applications see below). You must complete an application for a place in a Reception class even if your child attends the school nursery or pre-school setting.

leaflet on how to apply and portal user guidance to help you with your application

Closing date for applications is 15th January 2025.

• Monday 11th November - Remembrance service at the war memorial @ 10:50am
• Wednesday 13th November - Children's author Toby Glover visiting all year groups
• Tuesday 19th November - Year5/6 class assembly @ 9:00am
• Wednesday 20th November - Year 3/4 class assembly @ 9:00am
• Wednesday 20th November - Year 1/2 visit to Woodhorn Museum
• Thursday 21st November - Year 3/4 visit to Woodhorn Museum
• Friday 22nd November - Year 1/2 welcoming parents to view work from recent topic @ 2:45pm
• Monday 25th November - Year 5/6 visit to Woodhorn Museum
• Friday 29th November - PTFA Non-uniform day
• Wednesday 11th December - PTFA Christmas Fayre @ 2:00pm
• Thursday 12th December - Christmas Jumper Day
• Thursday 12th December - Christmas lunch for Rec - Y6
• Thursday 12th December - Christmas choir visit to Age UK in Ashington
• Friday 13th December - EYFS and KS1 Christmas performance @ 10:00am
• Friday 13th December - Cycling Santa and his elves @ 12:00pm
• Wednesday 18th December - Bugsy Malone performance @ 2:00pm
• Thursday 19th December - Christmas party day (Children can wear Christmas jumpers)
• Friday 20th December - Christingle service @ 10am at St Paul's Church.
• Friday 20th December - Carols on the yard @ 1:30pm
• School closes for the Christmas holidays @ 1:30pm

Below is a list of extra-curricular clubs currently on offer. We hope to see as many of you attending as possible!

Lunch Time After School

Monday - Lunch Time - Multi sports After School - Cheerleading

Tuesday - Lunch Time - Football After School - Basketball

Wednesday - Lunch Time - Gymnastics After School - Drama

Thursday - Lunch Time - TBC After School - Hockey (KS1)

Friday - Lunch Time - Sports Leaders and Football

Sign up forms for after school clubs are shown on our school Facebook page. If there are any issues with signing up, please contact the office and they will support.

A reminder that we'd love you to record your child's reading using the Learning with Parents site. This allows you to record your child's home reading, as well as sharing audio recordings and pictures of your child reading at home.

How it works

1) You will receive an email or text from us every week with a weekly reading target.

2) Click on the link in the email to be taken to your child’s reading log – no need for passwords!

3) Leave comments, photos, and audio clips of your child reading for your class teacher.

We've loved seeing some of the amazing snaps of you reading together so far and can't wait to see more. For each week you and your child read 3 times together, they earn a visit to the 'Chopp Shop' where they can exchange their stars for some gifts!

At the bottom of this newsletter, you will see information regarding school unform. Please familiarise yourself with this information. Over the past few weeks, we have seen an increasing number of children arriving at school wearing jewellery and make up. This is not part of the school uniform policy and children will be asked to remove any items of jewellery or make up if seen with them.

📣 We are thrilled to announce that our school is now working in partnership with Citizens Advice to offer guidance and support to families on a wide range of issues. 💪💼

🌟 Citizens Advice is a trusted and highly respected organization that provides free advice and assistance to people facing various challenges in their lives. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas such as housing, finances, family matters, and more. 🏠💰👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🙌 We understand that life can sometimes be overwhelming, and we want to ensure that our school community has access to the support they need. By collaborating with Citizens Advice, we are proud to offer all interested parents the opportunity to seek expert guidance and advice. 👩‍⚖️💼💡

📞 To schedule an appointment, all you need to do is contact our school office, and our dedicated team will assist you in arranging either face-to-face or phone appointments with Citizens Advice. We want to make this as convenient as possible for you! 🗓️📱

💕 We genuinely care about the welfare of our students and their families, and this collaboration is just another way we can provide ongoing support to our school community. Together, we can overcome any challenges and thrive! 🌈💪

📍 Don't hesitate to reach out if you believe Citizens Advice can help you or if you have any questions. We're here for you every step of the way! 🤗📞

We have noticed recently that some packed lunches being sent in with children contain a number of items which are unhealthy but also unsuitable. Items such as cans or bottles of fizzy pop and/or fruit shoots are not permitted. All children are offered water or milk at lunchtime and throughout the day. Also, items such as lollipops, bags of sweets and any product including nuts such as chocolate and hazelnut spread are also not permitted. Below is an image of foods which are suitable. Please remember that we offer a healthy and nutritious hot school lunch every day. Our current menu's can be found on the school website.

At Choppington Primary, we take the safety and well-being of our students as our utmost priority. Our designated safeguarding lead is Mr. Smith, with Mrs. Broderick and Mr. Donaghy serving as the deputy safeguarding leads. Together, they ensure that robust safeguarding measures are in place and that our school remains a secure and nurturing environment for all our children.

Safeguarding encompasses all aspects of student welfare, from protection against physical and emotional harm to promoting their overall well-being. It extends beyond the school premises to include online safety and safeguarding during educational trips or activities. We believe that an effective safeguarding system is built upon a partnership between the school and parents, wherein both parties play a vital role.

By working together, we create an environment that encourages children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. When home and school collaborate effectively, we can identify and address any concerns promptly, ensuring that our students feel safe and supported at all times.

We understand that parents are a valuable source of knowledge about their child's well-being and personal circumstances. Therefore, we encourage you to inform the school of any significant changes or issues that may impact your child's welfare. It is important to remember that even the smallest concern should be brought to our attention, as it allows us to provide the appropriate support.

If you have any concerns or worries, we urge you to reach out to the school immediately. Our staff members, from class teachers to support staff, are always ready to listen and work in partnership with you to find solutions that best meet the needs of your child.

Moreover, we request your cooperation in adhering to the school's policies and procedures relating to safeguarding. These guidelines are in place to ensure the well-being of all children and to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment. By familiarising yourself with these policies, you can actively contribute to our collective efforts to safeguard our students.

We truly believe that the collaboration between school and home is a key factor in a child's educational journey. By forging a strong partnership, we can provide the best possible educational experience while ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working together with you and continuing to provide a high-quality education for your child.

This is a polite reminder that the car park is for staff use only. We've noticed an increasing number of parents driving into the car park in the morning and after school to collect and drop off children and parents and children exiting the site on foot via the car park. Please use the pedestrian exits. Having children and parents in the car park poses a real risk to the children who attend. Please could you also avoid parking directly in front of the entrance to the staff car park as this makes it very difficult for our minibus to enter and exit the site along with any deliveries. We understand that parking can sometimes be tricky outside of school but our priority is safeguarding all those who attend Choppington Primary.

Please remember that the school does have a set uniform which can be found in the uniform policy on our website. A maroon jumper or cardigan should be worn along with a light blue t-shirt and black trousers/joggers. Maroon hoodies can be worn for Commando Joe's and P.E days but should not be worn as everyday uniform. Children may wear shoes or trainers to school but not footwear such as crocs or shoes with a large heel. Boots may be worn although children must wear trainers on P.E days (Wednesday and Friday).

School Gateway is our communication app available on Android, iOS and the web. It’ll work on phones tablets, laptops and even smart watches.

When you log into the app, each of the services we provide will appear in a list for you to choose from.

We plan to use the app to make it easier to communicate, send messages/reminders, pay for trips and meals, sign up to clubs and much more.

An email will be sent next week with set up details. If you'd prefer a letter with instructions, please call in to the office.

The app is free to download and will become our primary means of communication so please do download and sign up.

Useful links for online safety.

NSPCC

The NSPCC has this page with tools and advice for how to keep families safe.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Thinkuknow for parents and carers

CEOP’s Thinkuknow Parents and Carers site features advice to help keep children safe online, and to deal with any problems that crop up.

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

Internet Matters

Internet Matters is an industry backed website with internet safety resources for parents.

https://www.internetmatters.org/

Parent Zone

Parent Zone has lots of articles, videos and advice for parents looking to support their children online.

https://parentzone.org.uk/

YoungMinds

The YoungMinds parents helpline is for anyone who is concerned about the wellbeing of a child or young person.

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat

Click CEOP

If you have been a victim of online abuse or you're worried about somebody else, you can report it to CEOP securely

https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Childline

If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small.

https://www.childline.org.uk/

Be Internet Awesome

The Be Internet Awesome Family Guide gives families the tools and resources to learn about online safety and citizenship at home.

https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/

Safer Internet Centre

UK Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of three leading charities with a mission to make the internet a better place for children and young people.

https://saferinternet.org.uk/

Whilst we actively encourage our pupils to be as active as possible, including cycling and scootering, please remember that all riders and scooters should dismount before entering the school premises. This applies to ALL of our pupils including those in Little Learners all the way up to Year 6. This also applies to parents or older siblings who may be collecting or dropping off.

We also ask you to be mindful of the language used on the playground. We have lots of children on the playgrounds both in the morning and at pick up times.

Choppington Primary is a school at the heart of the community of Choppington, Northumberland. We are a school where every child is encouraged to achieve their very best. This is a happy, vibrant place to learn – we aim to give children the skills for life and a wealth of memorable experiences.

Email: admin@choppington.northumberland.sch.uk
Website: www.choppington.northumberland.sch.uk
Location: Choppington Primary School, Eastgate, Scotland Gate, Choppington, UK
Phone: 01670 823197
Facebook: facebook.com/@ChoppingtonPrimarySchool
Twitter: @choppingtonps