COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
A message from the Chair of Governors.
A message from the Head Teacher
COLPAI families will be pleased to hear Miss Robey was discharged from hospital on Monday evening and is now convalescing at
home with her family, under the expert care of Mrs Robey. I know colleagues, parents and children will join me in wishing Miss Robey well.
Dear Miss Robey, A huge thank you to all our volunteers for their amazing support The COLPAI family want you to know how much we all care about this half term. Penny, Janie and Sarah have helped the children you. We are all sending you our very best wishes for a speedy re- with art, cookery, singing and reading. They have supported them covery and the very best of health. Get well soon. We are all think- in class as well as labelling and categorising books, tidying up, sani- ing of you. tising and making much needed cups of tea! Ms Clapham and the COLPAI community. The children all love seeing you and we cannot thank you enough.
Supporters of COLPAI come in all forms, and we are delighted to welcome our latest volunteer, Tim Gittins, who will be helping us Dear Parents, to plan for our move to Golden Lane next year on a pro bono con- What an eventful first half this has been! sultancy basis. Tim is Chief Operating Officer for Moto and previ- I am delighted to have COLPAI children fully back at school. I truly ously held senior roles at Ocado and Marks and Spencer, so he has hope that your child is enjoying being back and is loving all aspects invaluable expertise in moving people and things!! Tim has now of school life. The energy in school is certainly palpable. Everyone visited the school twice to look at our site and meet the Head and has tried incredibly hard to make sure that the first-half term has Assistant Head as well as the staff. He has also seen the children at been full of learning, love and laughter, together with as much a safe distance and was very impressed with everything he saw! normality as possible at this time. We are already so grateful to him for freely giving his time, This half-term we have settled the children into their new school knowledge and experience. site, having created a truly wonderful learning environment during I would like to thank all our Governors for their hard work and the summer holiday, in readiness for the whole school return. We support this term in meetings, visits, Link Governor responsibilities have introduced new safety rules and ensured every child is feel- and with their help in keeping COLPAI open and working so well. ing happy and confident to be back. As always, we pride ourselves Our gratitude also goes out to our colleagues in the City of London on excellent pupil pastoral care and wellbeing. We have worked and to Mr Emmerson and all the team at COLAT for their support closely with the City to implement the school bussing operation and invaluable guidance since school returned. from Golden Lane.
An important thank you goes out to Ms Clapham, Ms Moorghen From day one, we have implemented our ambitious, broad and and all the staff, whatever their role, who have worked so hard balanced curriculum covering all areas of the national curriculum, this half term. What a team you are. including music, PE and French (with a few adaptations here and Congratulations to all the new staff who joined us in this challeng- there to make these lessons Covid-safe). We have managed to ing climate. You have all worked hard, settled beautifully and inte- ensure after school club is up and running. grated into the COLPAI family. We have carried out a baseline assessment for every child and On behalf of all the governors ... huge thanks and please have a adapted our planning and curriculum to meet the needs of the richly deserved holiday. class, groups, and where appropriate, individuals. At COLPAI we deliver precision teaching and are justifiably proud of our bespoke To the parents, and your amazing children, thank you all. Have a approach to teaching and learning. We have appointed a dedicat- fun half term and stay safe during the break. Look forward to see- ed interventions teacher for the 2020/21 academic year and ing you ALL back after the holiday. planned a wide range of carefully targeted interventions to help Best wishes, children catch up on core learning following any slippage in lock- down. Our TAs and HLTAs are also delivering specialist interven- Mary Robey tion sessions and stretch and challenge work to ensure our pupils Chair of Governors remain on their flight path or trajectory of attainment.
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
October marked the start of Black History Month and at COLPAI In your email, please include: we have been celebrating the important contribution of people Your name from African and Caribbean backgrounds who have made a funda- Your child’s name and class mental contribution to society. We have observed exquisite art The name of your pumpkin recipe work, writing and poetry in every year group inspired by artists of The name of your scary carved pumpkin African or Caribbean heritage. Please see our website and twitter. Entries must be received by the deadline of 9:00 am on Tuesday Teachers have hosted virtual parent meetings in place of our usual 3rd November 2020. In celebration, the winner and two runner- Autumn term parent consultations. Mrs Robey and I are wrapped ups will be announced in the newsletter of Friday 13th November up with Saturday tours of the school for prospective parents of 2020. Photos of the winning pumpkins and recipes will be pub- reception aged children due to start school in 2021/22. We have lished in our newsletter, on our website and on Twitter. also been hosting virtual, weekly ‘Meet the Head Teacher’ ses- sions, which have been well attended by prospective parents. INSET DAY
Monday 02 November is an INSET day so we look forward to see- ing all of our children on Tuesday 03 November, 2020. Autumnal Pumpkin Carving and Cookery Competition School Bus
Parents are reminded that once the school bus doors have closed and the engine has started, the bus driver cannot, under any cir- cumstances, stop to let a child onto the bus. This breaches health
and safety regulations. Bus departure times from Golden Lane in the morning are as follows:
Class Departure Estimated Class teacher(s) Next week sees the start of half term and to get the holiday off to from Barbican arrival a flying start, I’d like to invite COLPAI families to enter into the Exhibition Hall (CPS) school pumpkin carving and cookery competition. 2 (EH2) Y3 Malala 8:20 am 8:40 am Miss Thompson The Brief and Aretha and Miss Moher Parents are invited to carve a magnificent, scary pumpkin and then Y2 Ruby 8:25 am 8:45 am Miss Robey with the left over pumpkin create a tasty recipe to utilise the un- Y1 Kahlo 8:30 am 8:50 am Miss Orford used pumpkin, thus reducing food waste. Parents must involve their child in the food preparation and cooking process (safely and Reception 8:35 am 8:55 am Miss Walker fully supervised, of course). Tubman Reception 8:40 am 9:00 am Miss Chawla I’ve enlisted the help of our lunchtime supervisors and an expert Earhart panel of Y3 children to help choose the winning masterpiece and triumphant recipe. There will also be two runners up. We are look- Parents are reminded to wear a mask at drop off and collection ing forward to seeing all of your fabulous designs and accompany- time, either at school or at the bus stop. To avoid congestion, par- ing culinary delights. ents must not wait outside of Richard Cloudesley School since this How to enter breaches the school’s Covid-safety measures. Please pop your child onto the bus, wave goodbye, and depart swiftly. While Simply email two photos of: waiting for the bus at home time at Golden Lane, all parents must (a) your carved pumpkin wait in a socially distanced queue, at least 1m apart, away from Richard Cloudesley School entrance. Thank you for keeping the (b) your delicious pumpkin dish (which your child must have COLPAI community safe and looking after our school neighbours helped you to prepare under careful supervision). too.
Please email all entries to: [email protected]
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
Healthy snacks
Teachers have noticed crisps and chocolate bars creeping into snack time boxes! Please ensure your child brings a healthy snack A message from the Assistant Head Teacher to school such as: Hello parent and carers, Fruit or vegetables I hope you are all well and looking forward to the half term break. Dried fruit
Cereal bars Halloween Crackers The rules are of course completely different now that London is in Please remember we are a nut free school. We always aim to edu- Tier 2. Please follow the link below to CBBC Newsround which is cate our children to enable them to make informed healthy life- very good for explaining the different tiers, what we can and can’t style choices. Please follow the above guidelines to give your child do, and why we shouldn’t trick or treat this year. the best start in life. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/54460259 WOW Attendance Google Classroom
COLPAI has achieved the highest primary attendance in the Some families have been having trouble logging on to Google borough for the second week running. This week we Classroom. Everyone now has the same password and this will achieved an incredible 99.3%. In addition, we have also been have been sent to you via Group Call earlier this week. When you ranked second highest for two weeks this half term. An log in, use your child’s original user name, then the new password. enormous well done and thank you to everyone. Please email the office if you continue to have problems.
Farewell Black History Month
We are sad to see a few of our students leave, a happy farewell We have had a brilliant Black History Month at COLPAI and I have and wishing you all the best for the future. Please stay in contact thoroughly enjoyed seeing how motivated the children have been and let us know how you are doing. by their learning. Staff have had good professional conversations and training, and parents thank you for your feedback about what Rowan we have been doing. Your feedback really helps us to shape our Jack curriculum and we are committed to continuing our work and anti Luke racist practice. Please keep a look out on Twitter for activities, and on the website if you would like to follow us on our journey. Manon https://www.colpai.org.uk/black-history-month-2020/134.html
Wishing our Colpai families a lovely half term break. I look forward to seeing you all after the half term break.
Neela Moorghen Kim Clapham Assistant Head Teacher Head Teacher
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
Here are our staff Black Heroes of the week… Wangari Maathai
Loyle Carner is my inspiring hero for this year's Black History Wangari was a truly inspirational women and her legacy lives on. Month. He is a poet and rapper; he has released several albums She was the first African women to receive the Nobel Peace Prize already even though he is only 25! I wanted to share some of the for sustainable development, democracy and peace, she founded ways in which he inspires me. Firstly, he writes songs about how The green belt movement which has planted over 51 million trees difficult he found school, particularly reading and writing. Even in Kenya, served as a chairman for six years on the National Coun- though he struggled, he persisted with the help of his mum (who is cil of Women in Kenya and was the first women in East and Central a teacher) and soon fell in love with poetry. This allowed him to Africa to earn a doctorate degree. start writing his own songs and poems, which has led to a hugely successful career where he has sold many albums. This alone is an incredible lifetime achievement but for me I find her truly inspirational for her outlook on life “I will do the best I He also loves cooking! He found cooking delicious meals really can.” helpful for his concentration when he couldn't concentrate in She prided herself on making changes no matter how small they school! Now he has started his own cookery school for children were, she motivated and educated those she met, giving people who find it difficult to concentrate in school as well. the belief and understanding to stand for their rights. Not only does The Green Belt Movement promote environment conserva- tion but empowers communities, especially women and girls to Ms Moher establish knowledge and create sustainable livelihoods. Aretha Class teacher
On accepting the Nobel Peace Prize Wangari said: “I believe the Nobel committee was sending a message that protecting and re- storing the environment contributes to peace; it is peace work. . . . I always felt that our work was not simply about planting trees. It was about inspiring people to take charge of their environment,
the system that governed them, their lives, and their future.”
Here is a short clip of Wangari telling an inspirational story My BHM hero is Norman Jay, a British club, radio and sound sys- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-btl654R_pY tem DJ. I have seen him play many times and the one thing that stands out at his performances and gigs is the diversity and the Ms Orford positivity of the crowd. Norman Jay was born in Notting Hill, Lon- Kahlo Class Teacher don, to West Indian parents. He played his first gig aged eight at a 10th birthday party, influenced by his father's record collection of blue beat, ska and jazz. He soon developed a love for anything soulful – particularly the sounds of black America. In his early 1970s, he set-up a sound system with his brother originally called 'Great Tribulation' Following a trip to New York City in 1979, he decided to take this in a more serious direction and it was renamed to 'Good Times'. It made its Notting Hill Carnival debut shortly after. 'Good Times' was seen as pioneering at this time for intro- ducing soul and disco music into a Carnival set. It soon became one of the most notable sound systems at Carnival for the next 30 years and in the 1990s it was hosted from its London Transport bus. Norman Jay has taken his 'Good Times' set around the world and still plays to (socially-distanced) audiences in Lon- don. In my eyes he truly is a legend in bringing cultures, communi- ties and individuals together. It is so important that in these chal- lenging times, 'Good Times' are still had by all.
Ms Chawla Earhart Class Teacher
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
Black History Month work from Reception
Shades of Earhart Class Shades of Tubman Class A poem based on the book A poem based on the book ‘Shades of Black’ by Sandra L. Pinkney ‘Shades of Black’ by Sandra L. Pinkney
My skin is like chocolate My skin is like chestnuts My skin is like snow My skin is like vanilla ice-cream My skin is as peachy as a flower My skin is sun-kissed My skin is like the sunshine My skin is warm like caramel My skin is like caramel My skin is like cinnamon My skin is like strawberry ice-cream My skin is like candy-floss Our skin is marvellous, just like me! Our skin is marvellous, just like me!
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
‘Marvellous Me’ Learning in Earhart Class
Tubman Class This week in Tubman Class, we have been learning about Harriet Tubman and the children have been in awe with what an incredi- ble and self-less woman she was. We also read a book called “I am Enough” By Grace Byers. The book reminded us all that anything is possible and we can be aspire to be anything we want to be when we are older. Below in the speech bubbles are a few of the chil- dren’s aspirations. Over the last few weeks, the children in Reception have been working hard to create their very own ‘Marvellous Me’ book. The I want to be When I’m older I first page of their book shows the very first portrait that we had Spiderman - want to be a asked them to create completely independently, with very little Luca dentist - Rivo adult input. We then discussed the improvements that we needed to make in order to make our portraits more ‘life-like’. We all agreed that we needed to make careful observations of our skin I want to be a I want to be colour as well as of the different colours and shapes of our fea- vet - Mila a Queen - tures to ensure that we could create realistic portraits. Masia
Every child has worked extremely hard to improve their self- portrait and they should all feel incredibly proud of the success that they have achieved. We worked hard to colour mix to ensure It is also our class pet, Tom the Turtle’s birthday and he is turning that we achieved a realistic skin colour when painting our por- 4! In celebration of this, the children made a party list, created traits, and we linked our colour mixing to Black History Month, birthday cards and made pretend birthday cakes using craft mate- always striving to talk positively about the colour of our skin and rials to represent their age. ensuring that we always strive to celebrate difference.
The children’s Marvellous Me books show their growing skill in a range of different areas within the EYFS curriculum. They not only have created portraits but they have also written simple sentences for their special book, as well as applying their maths skills to rep- resent the number of letters in their name and their current age.
Each child will be taking their book home over the half term break to add to and complete. We would like them to return their book to school to share with their friends after the holiday.
We hope that you are as proud of them as we are!
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
Kahlo Class
Why don’t polar bears freeze in the Arctic?
The children investigated how the blubber on a polar bear keeps them warm when living in the Arctic. The children covered one hand in vegetable fat and left the other hand. The children then had an ice cube placed in each hand and felt the difference. The children quickly realised the difference the vegetable fat made and
in comparison how cold the other hand felt. I’m sure if you ask your child they will be able to tell you all about the other incredi- ble features of a polar bear that helps them to keep warm!
Aretha Class
This week, the children have been learning about Windrush poet- ry, with a focus on John Agards' Windrush Child. They looked at how Agard uses personification, and wrote their own poems. We are so proud of the results and think the children have done a fan- tastic job!
Ruby Class
One small step for Ruby Class, one giant leap for COLPAI! This week we blasted off into a lesson exploring the life of the astro- naut Mae Jemison. On our small-steps sheet we recorded how Mae Jemison inspired us by her actions in pursuing her dream to go to space and how she never stopped believing she could make it. Our next step was to choose the rocket fuel we would need to follow our own dreams, like the courage, resilience, passion and belief that Mae showed us. Getting into Mae’s character by wear- ing the astronaut helmet motivated us to consider what we might like to achieve when we’re older. We realised we have to say thank you to Mae Jemison for helping each of us to feel ready for our own journey.
COLPAI NEWSLETTER
Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
Aretha Class
Malala class gave 110% in their English lessons this week where they were writing poems inspired by John Agard’s ‘Windrush Child’. To generate ideas for their poems, the children looked closely at images of the Caribbean. They then worked in triads to write down key poetic words or phrases on an A3 grid to describe what they would see, hear, feel and smell in this setting. These ideas were used to create a class word bank. Check out some of their amazing ideas below:
The soft sand whispered to me. COLPAI pupils did not believe Madame Robey when she told them The waves waved at me like a kind man. that her dog, Arthur, was going to look after Ms Robey after her The whooshing waves whispered why. operation, but here is the proof. The beautiful sky waved goodbye as the stormy clouds The children all know Arthur from Google Classroom, but here he rushed in. is doing his ward rounds! The luscious trees waved goodbye to me. I can hear the palm trees waving goodbye as I set off for a long journey. You can smell the colourful spices from the market in the salty air. The colours in the sea are like shimmering, shining jewels I can hear Caribbean food sizzling.
At the end of the week, the children watched videos of perfor- mance poetry and made a checklist for performing a poem suc- cessfully. To conclude, they did a poetry performance of their fab- ulous poems. What a brilliant end to the half term, Malala class! And thank you to Ruby Class Families in particular for their incredi- ble kindness.
Healthy Selfie Reminder… Playground Awards
Mr Anthony and Mr Spencer have been on the look out...
Jack in Year 1 has been so helpful at lunch, getting cups of water ready for the table and holding the door for his friends when they went out to play. Zara in Year 1 and Leah in Year 3 are such good friends to other Please don’t forget to take you healthy selfies over the half term children, making sure everyone gets to join in and nobody is feel- and enter our competition by sending your photo, name of child, ing sad. class and a description of what they are doing to be healthy to Ms
Begum in the office by Monday 2nd November. Winners an- Well done you three! nounced soon.
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
CREATE A COLPAI CARD!
PUPIL VOICE! All entries for the COLPAI Card Competition should reach the office by Monday 2nd November. A reminder that this card should be Ms Clapham and Mrs Robey were in school on Saturday showing your own work, size 5” x 7” and in coloured pencil, watercolours round prospective parents who are interested in applying to our or felt pen with the word COLPAI appearing in your design. school. One of the parents asked an excellent question: “What do the children like about this school?”
So, we decided to ask them. This week we talked to Reception and Year 3. These are the children’s very own words...
RECEPTION
“I love playing with the bricks.” James
“I play with all my friends here. That’s good.” Milan
“I like going home.” ... “and I like numbers!” Janet-Victoria Your design should capture what is special about COLPAI. Good “The spinning tops are good.” Sean luck and get drawing!
“The best is playing at being dogs and doing drawing” Harriet
“I like it because I can make things. And I like the bus.” Avi
“ The Lego... and the Lego” Daniel
“ The best thing is playing. Yeah, playing.” Ziggy
“ I like building things best. “ Billy
“I like playing with Rohan. He is my friend.” Rivo With all the rules and changes around visiting and meeting up dur- ing Covid-19, it’s very hard if you have a birthday right now, so we “I like the meat they give me for lunch.” Oliver wanted to say a very special Happy Birthday to all our COLPAI chil- YEAR 3 dren who celebrate their birthdays this term. Thank you for being a whole year taller and wiser and for your understanding and pa- “We have some lessons that children in other schools never get to tience! Many Happy Returns, children. have and I love it when we do Art. I like all of the teachers because they keep us safe and take care of us.” Eloise
“We have really nice equipment. Art is the best and we do loads of PE. I like all of the teachers and I really like Ms Moher. The work is hard but it’s fun. I think I like school more than the weekends. ” Natalia
“I like Thursday because we have Music and French. The teachers Please label all uniform, snack boxes and water bottles over half are kind and funny. When you are sad and upset the adults help term, and, especially, as the weather turns colder, hats, scarves, you and make you happy.” Myles gloves, coats and sweatshirts. We are in another school’s building and although we can keep track of labelled lost property in our “I like the space and the equipment. Our classes are named after own space, we cannot reunite you with unmarked clothing or if it famous people and it makes me curious about who they were and is lost elsewhere on Copenhagen premises. what they did. This school really challenges me, and they don’t just give me easy work. Everyone wants to make us safe and happy.” Please ask your children to check every home time that they have Nuno all their belongings. Many thanks for your help in keeping your children’s property safe.
COLPAI NEWSLETTER Autumn term 2020-Issue 7
We were absolutely delighted to be approached this week by two enterprising students from the City of London School for Boys.
Local pupils, Edward Gledhill and Sam Drury, aged 13, have set up a Book Drive to collect, sort, stamp and label donated books for COLPAI. They had the idea as part of the volunteering component of Duke of Edinburgh Award - Bronze Level which they are com- pleting at school.
If any families or friends have unwanted books which their chil- dren have outgrown and which the boys could add to their collec- tion, please contact Mary Robey via the office.
Please remember to stay safe this Halloween.
Remember the rules on mixing households
Here are some holiday reading suggestions which reflect the diver- Be careful about accepting sweets, even wrapped ones, sity of our school community and which your children might enjoy. from other homes. Let us know if you have any other good suggestions as we expand our own equalities collection. Be aware of how difficult it is to socially distance excited children on a doorstop.
Be sensitive about ringing on the doors of people who may be shielding, self-isolating or who may be vulnerable of frightened.
BUT DO HAVE FUN!
If you play games at home or dress up in a scary costume or eat spooky food, let us see your photos!