Chopps Chat

Welcome to the latest edition of 'Chopps Chat'

We're now well into our Summer term and half term is fast approaching! There are, as always, lots of exciting things going on in school as well as some brilliant work from the children!

So far this term we have had trips out to Seven Stories and also to the Discovery museum where the children behaved impeccably and were a credit to the school. We've also had a planetarium visit school and Year 5/6 were lucky to spend the morning learning all about the constellations. We've also had rail safety presentations to all classes and a brilliant day of workshops around wellbeing and self regulation. Many thanks to the parents who attended the Be You parent workshop, we hope that you found it informative!

This week, our incredible Year 6 students are sitting their Key Stage 2 SATs. They have worked unbelievably hard over the year, and in particular over the past few weeks, to ensure they are as prepared as possible. We have no doubts that each and every one of them will do their absolute best and that's all anyone can ever ask for! It's worth remembering that, as a fitting poem says:

SATs don't measure sports, SATs don't measure art,

SATs don't measure music, or the kindness in your heart.

SATs don't see your beauty, SATs don't know your worth,

SATs don't see the reasons you were put upon this earth.

SATs don't see your magic, how you make others smile,

SATs don't time how quickly you can run a mile.

SATs don't hear your laughter, or see you've come this far,

SATs are just a tiny glimpse of who you really are.

So sitting at your table, with a pencil and your test,

Remember SATs aren't who you are, remember you're the best.

In the weeks following, we will be hoping the weather stays fine as we have big plans to get out and about with our children as much as possible with trips lined up to Lilidorei for our Y5/6 who didn't visit earlier in the year, cycling trips to Blyth battery and the beach, museum trips for Year 3/4 and trips to Northumberland Zoo too for our Y1/2/3/4 children linked to their respective topics! There is also the small matter of a residential trip for our Year 5/6's to Hawkhirst on the horizon! Make sure you check the important dates section further down this newsletter for further information!

We can't believe how quickly this academic year has flown by so far and there are no signs of time slowing!

As always, keep following the school social media account on Facebook to see any updates or alerts.

Thank you for your continued support, as always.

Mr Smith

We are delighted to share the news that Mrs Williams is expecting a child. Sadly, this means that she will be leaving us at the end of this academic year to begin her maternity leave but she assures us that she will be back with us at the Chopps later in the academic year. Mrs Williams has made a huge impact on our Early Years provision and she'll be missed greatly by all of the children and staff whilst she is off but I'm sure she will keep dropping in to keep in touch. We are currently in the process of recruiting a new EYFS teacher and will make further announcements in due course.

As we move into the warmer months, please remember to send in your child with a sun hat and apply suncream before they attend school to protect them from the sun.

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 - Tennis After School - Cheerleading

Tuesday - Lunch Time - VR club After School - Multi-sports

Wednesday - Lunch Time - Gymnastics After School - Drama / Acro

Thursday - Lunch Time - VR club After School - Orienteering

Friday - Lunch Time - Multi-sports After School - Chess

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!

This term we have noticed a significant drop in the attendance with some of our children. We know that sometimes children are ill and need time off school to recover however we do ask that you follow the guidance below from the NHS about when to send your child to school. Attendance really does matter and missing learning, even for only 5 minutes per day, can have a massive impact across a school year.

In the coming days, we will be sending out a reminder of our Walking to school policy. It is important to read through this with your child to make informed decisions on whether it is appropriate for your child to walk to school by themselves (Y4 and upwards)

Please also remember that we insist that all children (Nursery - Year 3) should be brought into school, not left at the school gates, and collected by an adult and this includes Breakfast club in a morning. We insist upon this to ensure the safety of our learners If you are dropping children off at Breakfast club, please ensure that a member of staff sees you before leaving. Doors open at 8:15am and close at 8:30am. They re-open for children to enter school at 8:45am.

If, for any reason, you are unable to collect your child at the end of the school day and wish for another adult to collect them, please inform the office as soon as possible to ensure the message can be passed along to the relevant staff.

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.

• Friday 17th May - PTFA non-uniform day (Donations requested for Summer Fayre tombola)
• Monday 20th May - Citizen's Advice appointments available. Please speak with the school if you would like an appointment.
• Tuesday 21st May - Year 5/6 cycling to Sandy Bay beach
• Wednesday 22nd May - Year 5/6 cycling
• Thursday 23rd May - Year 5/6 cycling to Blyth Battery
• Thursday 23rd May - Last day of half term
• Friday 24th May - School closed for training day
• Monday 3rd June - School re-opens after half term
• Tuesday 4th June - Year 3/4 visit to Great North Museum
• Friday 7th June - Year 5 trip to Lilidorei
• Wednesday 12th June - Class photographs and Y6 leavers photos
• Friday 14th June - Year 6 trip to Lilidorei
• Wednesday 19th June - Year 5/6 residential to Hawkhirst
• Friday 5th July - 2pm PTFA Summer fayre
• Wednesday 10th July - 2pm Sports day Years 1-6
• Thursday 18th July - 2:30pm Y6 Leavers assembly
• Friday 19th July - 9am Celebration Assembly
• Friday 19th July - School closes for Summer holidays at 1:30pm

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