This
week has been quiet in school as our Y5 pupils set off on Wednesday for three
days in Whitby. Regular reports from Miss Fowler have kept us abreast of their
adventures, and it is clear that adults and children alike have had a whale of
a time as they explore the history and geography of the area. Class 6 and 7
have also had a great time in school this week working together to organise a
very special event culminating in the opening of a Greek cafe. Miss Hobson and Mrs Speak have also met up
with our Commenius Project partner schools this week but in a slightly less
glamorous location than they are used to... Birmingham! Our partner schools
will be visiting us later this year and we look forward to welcoming colleagues
from across Europe into school.
Lunchtime update
We have taken delivery of our new furnishings for the dining hall which include additional tables, a new clearing station, cutlery rack and salad bar. In the next few weeks, we will also take delivery of a second clearing station (to ease congestion!) and brand new lidded jugs – at the request of the children. Those parents whose children have a packed lunch will have noticed that your child is now bringing their food waste home. This decision has been taken in an effort to reduce food waste, as I noted with dismay the enormous amount of waste in the lunch hall – two large waste bins largely full every single day. The waste was a combination of school meal waste AND packed lunch waste – with sometimes unopened sandwiches, yoghurts, fruit and other expensive packed lunch items. In asking the children to bring their waste home, I am hoping that you will see for yourselves the food that is not eaten and encourage your child to eat the lunches you are preparing. I appreciate that the lunch boxes and bags are coming home messier than they were previously but would ask you to persevere with this in order to encourage your child to have a healthy, balanced and nutritious meal at this very important time of the day.
Behaviour
in school
The
positive behaviour policy introduced in school in October is now in its fourth
term and we are very pleased with the impact of the simple measures put into
place. All children in school are committed members of their ‘team’ and
actively seek to earn team points every day for all kinds of reasons – their
learning, their attitude to their work, their manners, a kind and caring
attitude.. Whatever they do that’s worthy of reward, we aim to spot it and each
of the four ‘house teams’ are now accruing an average of 400 team points each
week. I see on average 20 children per day who have earned 5 team points in any
one day and so visit me for a special Head teachers award. Next week,
nominations will be made for this half terms ‘Learnatics’ and I look forward to
sharing a pizza lunch with the children across school who have been recognised
by their peers to be brilliant learners – a real highlight of the term for me,
certainly.
Alongside
all of this positive recognition, we have also applied a ‘zero tolerance’ approach
to any instances of ‘gross misconduct’ – including bullying, assault of another
pupil and inappropriate conduct towards adults in school. Each instance of
negative behaviour is considered and sanctions may include internal exclusion
during play and lunchtimes and parts of the school day, where appropriate. With
the full support of the Governing Body, we are consistently applying the policy
and contacting parents to ensure we can work together to quickly reset behaviours
and get back into positive dialogue. Through this policy, we are making a
difference and creating a school environment where everyone feels safe and
cared for and everyone can thrive. Playground misdemeanours are down from 25 incidents per
week to around 3 at the moment. With these measures, we are getting to where we
want to be. Our policy
is entirely focused on spotting and rewarding our hard working, enthusiastic,
caring and considerate young people – all 300 of whom are capable of achieving
great things.
Friends
of Cookridge
Last
night, the PTA met to make arrangements for the Summer Fayre. This was a great
meeting that was well attended and it was a delight to welcome some new parents
to the mix. The event sounds wonderful – so please set Saturday 30th
June aside to come along and support your school.
Sporting
Dates for the diary:
Monday
21st May- Key Stage 2 Football ClubTuesday 22nd May- Key Stage 2 Netball Club
Monday 28th May- Year 5/6 Football Competition- Armitage Cup TBC- please note change of venue
Monday 28th May- No Year 5/6 Football Club. Year 3/4 Football Club will run as normal.
Thursday 31st May- Year 5/6 Football Competition- Ubunye Cup at Ireland Wood Primary School.
Thursday 31st May- Year 5/6 Cricket Competition at Yarnbury RFC- please note change of date/ venue
The deadline for the return of the Trust consultation questionnaire is the 30th May 2012 and I would encourage as many parents as possible to return their questionnaire to us as soon as possible. This and further information is available to download on the school website http://www.cookridgeprimaryschool.org.uk/our-school/trust.php or paper copies are available at the office. The views expressed in the returned questionnaires will form the basis of the Governing Body’s next decision. Please do not miss your opportunity to have your say.
Attendance
Our attendance this week was 96.0% and is again above our Local Authority attendance
target of 95% this year. Overall this year – September to April – we are at 95.5% and almost 1% up on our position
at the last Ofsted – 94.7%. We are aiming to exceed all expectations this year
to achieve 96% If we are able to sustain a figure of 97% or more over the
summer months, it is entirely possible... Our ‘good’ attendance so far this
term has already added 0.2% to the overall figure. As we begin the summer
months, can I please reiterate once again that – in line with an agreement made
with all local schools – holiday absence will not be authorised.
Jubilee News
The plans for the
Jubilee are taking shape, with a special committee now formed in school to
oversee the event. Our day of celebration will be on Friday 1st June
and children will be asked to wear red, white and blue for the day. Parents are
invited to join us for part of the celebrations over lunchtime, so keep an hour
free if you can! More news next week once the committee have met and agreed on
the events!
Summer
dates for your diary:
Thursday
24th May: Tempest
photographers in school – class and team photos
Funtime
Club & Pre-School AGM – Community Room @ 5.30
Wednesday
30th May: Coffee
morning
Friday
1st June: Break up for Half term
Monday
2nd July: Meet
the new teacher morning, plus parent meetings @ 3.10
Thursday
12th July: Sports Day
Monday
9th July : Year
6 Production 2pm and 7pm
(Please note a change to this date from last
weeks newsletter).
Friday
20th July: Year 6 Leavers Assembly, 2pm
Monday
23rd July: Training Day – School
closed
Have a wonderful
weekend,
Mrs Bailey
