This week we have seen new books arriving in school – and lots of them!! Due to Government ‘match’ funding supporting school investment in phonics materials, we have been able to select high quality resources which will both engage and enthral our little readers. We hope to be inviting you to parent meetings shortly to admire the new materials and learn a little more about what you can do to support reading at home, and staff are just embarking upon a series of staff meetings to align – and strengthen - our practice in reading across school. Miss Fowler and the staff team are currently looking at books right across KS2 to identify further resources we need to enhance our reading scheme ‘beyond phonics’. Watch this space... These are exciting times for us book worms!
Danelaw
Our Year 3 children had a whale of a time in role as Vikings when they visited Danelaw Viking Village on Tuesday - and put poor Miss Fowler in the stocks! They are still talking about their experience several days later. Trips out of school and visitors into school are a key part of the curriculum that we are very proud to offer as they provide children with a firsthand experience that cannot be replicated in the conventional classroom. My thanks to the dedicated staff team who undertake pre-visits to venues in their own time and diligently complete the necessary ‘risk assessment’ paperwork ahead of any visit. Without them - and their commitment to this side of the curriculum - it wouldn’t be possible, and our children would miss out.
A reminder that on Tuesday next week we are welcoming M&M Theatre Group to Cookridge to perform the pantomime ‘Robin Hood’ for all of our children. We will be taking an early lunch to enable the crew to set up in the hall for a 1.45pm start, with the production finishing at 3.00pm. We aim for a normal end to the school day, and hope that your child has LOTS to tell you about this magical experience.
Toy Sale
Cookridge Methodist Church (bottom of Tinshill Drive) are having a ‘nearly new’ toy sale this Saturday 12th November from 1.00 - 200pm. Bring along any ‘nearly new’ toys that you would like to clear out ahead of the festive season. This is also a great chance to pick up a few bargains...
Children in Need
On Friday 18th November we will be having a non-uniform day in school to support the nationwide Children in Need campaign. Children can wear anything they like for the day and will take part in class based activities relating to Pudsey Bear, charities and the many good causes that are served by this annual event. If you would like to contribute, please send a maximum of £1.00 into school with your child on the 18th. Thank you.
School Meals
The quality of school meals in school is very impressive. I am delighted to see so many of our children selecting salad at the salad bar and am amazed that the coleslaw is ALWAYS empty and is a popular accompaniment to almost anything on the menu! Following a parental request, I have now added information about the weekly menu onto the school website http://www.cookridgeprimaryschool.org.uk/homepage/. I hope that many parents will find this new element useful, and am very grateful to receive further guidance about the kind of information you require – just drop me an email via the ‘contact’ page of the website.
Packed lunches
Over recent days, I have noticed a number of children who are bringing chocolate bars and sweets in their packed lunches. Please ensure packed lunches offer a healthy alternative to school meals and avoid packing such ‘treats’ as part of a healthy meal. Thank you.
Parentmail
Don’t forget, we now provide the weekly newsletter and other updates via the school blog http://cookridgeprimaryschool.blogspot.com/ BUT we continue to use Parentmail to send occasional texts to parents where there is a need to communicate urgently. Please ensure the text information we have in school is up to date – if you have a new phone number don’t forget to let us know. Those parents who have not yet signed up for this service – please call in at the school office and collect a form to do so. It is completely free and will only take a few minutes of your time to become part of our network of contacts. With snowy weather approaching, it might be useful!
Football
After the pitch repair work over half term, Key Stage 2 football club resumes on Monday 14th Nov.
Coffee morning
Our next coffee morning is coming up fast and I hope you can join us in the community room on Wednesday 23rd November once you have dropped your children safely into school. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other parents and discuss things that matter to you with myself and Mrs Laycock, our Learning Mentor. We very much look forward to catching up with you then.
Attendance
Next week we will launch our weekly ‘chance’ awards, where all children who have 100% attendance each week will be entered into a raffle draw and may well win a prize! We are optimistic that this will lead to improved attendance and thank you for your ongoing cooperation in helping us to achieve this.
In order to assure a ‘satisfactory’ outcome in line with the 2009 Ofsted Framework for Inspections, an overall attendance figure of 94% is satisfactory.
Whole school attendance Thursday 3rd November - Wednesday 10th November: 97.1%
Dates for next half term:-
Wednesday 23rd November Coffee morning
Friday 9th December Reception & Year 1 Christmas Concert ‘We Three Kings’ - 2pm
Monday 12th December Friends Christmas Bazaar - 3.50pm to 5pm
Tuesday 13th December Year 4, 5 & 6 Christmas Concert – 2pm and 7pm
Wednesday 14th December Year 2 & 3 Christmas Concert – 2pm
Thursday 15th December Christmas parties – pm
Friday 16th December Christmas Toy Giving Assembly – 9am
Christmas Carols around the tree – 2.30pm
School closes for Christmas holiday
Tuesday 3rd January School reopens after Christmas holiday
Have a great weekend.
Mrs Bailey
