Chopps Chat

Welcome to the latest edition of 'Chopps Chat' and a new school year!

I hope this newsletter finds you all well and that you had a wonderful summer holiday, full of laughs and relaxation. It's hard to believe that we're already back for a new school year; time certainly flies!

I’d like to take this opportunity to share the success of our holiday summer camp. The children exhibited fantastic behaviour throughout the programme, and I am thrilled to report that everyone had a superb time engaging in various activities and making new friends.

As we embark on this new academic year, it has been amazing to witness the enthusiasm for learning that is present in every classroom. Our Art sessions this week have truly been something special. Year 1 and 2 have been exploring their creativity by making brilliant lines using chalk, pastels, and charcoal. Meanwhile, Year 3 and 4 have delved into shading techniques, producing stunning scratch pictures and experimenting with printing blocks. In Year 5 and 6, the children have taken an innovative approach by painting with pasta, pulses, and various other materials – their imagination knows no bounds!

In addition to these exciting arts activities, students are diving into new topics across year groups. Year 1 and 2 are learning about inspirational women, which included a brilliant trip to the Grace Darling Museum. Year 3 and 4 are enthralled by the Vikings and have a trip to Lindisfarne planned. Meanwhile, Year 5 and 6 are exploring the wonders of Ancient Greece and Space, with an upcoming visit to the Centre for Life.

This week, our children have also been engaging in Commando Joe sessions aimed at building essential skills such as teamwork, respect, empathy, and communication – valuable lessons that extend beyond the classroom.

I am also pleased to announce that our clubs have resumed, providing more opportunities for our children to engage in diverse activities. Basketball for Key Stage 2 will take place on a Tuesday, while Hockey for Key Stage 1 is scheduled for Thursdays. Additionally, lunchtimes will feature clubs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, with Cheerleading and Drama set to restart next week. There’s truly something for everyone!

Looking ahead, we have plenty of exciting plans in the pipeline, so please keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates. Information will also be communicated through letters and emails as we continue throughout the term.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to an incredible year ahead with our amazing children!

We were blessed with several fantastic pieces of news over the Summer holidays.

Firstly, Mrs Williams welcomed a beautiful baby girl into her family in the holidays. Everyone is doing well and send their best wishes to everyone here at Choppington.

Also, Miss Railton shared that she is expecting a new addition to her family in 2025 and I'm sure you will all share in congratulating her and her family in this wonderful news.

Next week, on Wednesday 18th September, there will be individual photographs taken in school. If you wish for a family or siblings picture to be taken, the photographer will be set up in the old community building from 8:30am until 9:00am. Please note that siblings/family pictures will not be taken after this point.

This vaccination programme is in place to help protect your child against flu. The vaccine will help prevent them catching the flu. Vaccinating your child will also help protect vulnerable friends and family by reducing the spread of flu.

The intra-nasal flu vaccine is the most effective protection for your child against flu.

A flu vaccine can be given as an injection in the upper arm if you do not want your child to receive a vaccine containing porcine gelatin. We can give the injection in school to all those children in Year 7 and above. Children from Reception age to Year 6 will be offered a clinic appointment at one of our community clinics.

The online consent can be accessed via any online device. Please click on the following link https://www.northumbriaimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/Flu which will direct you to an online consent form for you to complete using the following school code NB122180

Please note that the immunisations will be rolled out from the 30th September 2024 so it is important to complete this ASAP.

The citizen portal has opened on the 12th September 2024 and will close on 31st October 2024

All children in a First, Middle or Primary school that are due to transition to Middle, Secondary or High in September 2025 will need to make an on time application

Citizen Portal - Sign in (northumberland.gov.uk)

Any parents experiencing difficulty applying or needing advice, please call the school admissions 01670 624889

The link to the school admissions website is below, this can give parents advice and information

Thank you

Link to School Admissions website where you can find useful information eg how to apply for school places and appeals

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Education/Schools/School-admissions-places-appeals-1.aspx

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 / Acro

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.

• Wednesday 18th September -Individual photographs
• Monday 23rd September - Year 3/4 visit to Lindisfarne Priory
• Monday 30th September - Rec - Y6 flu immunisation
• Monday 7th October - Year 5/6 visit to Centre for Life
• Friday 11th October - Planetarium visiting school
• Thursday 17th October - Year 1/2 visit to Broxfield Farm
• Thursday 24th October - Last day of term
• Friday 25th October - Inset day (School closed)
• Half term (Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November)
• Monday 4th November - School re-opens for Autumn 2 term

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