Friday 19th October

Dear Parents/Carers,

This really has been a proper “Cookridge” week – days full of fun, laughter and memorable experiences. We’ve had Y3 children visit Ralph Thoresby and enjoy a performance by incredible author and songster Julia Donaldson (she wrote the Gruffalo and is no ORDINARY author – she’s one of the best!). We’ve had a group of Y5 children FLY off to Ireland for 4 days. They are staying in a little Irish cottage not far from our partner school in Swinford, Co Mayo and are sure to have a ball... News from them next week! Tonight, our Year 6 pupils take to the stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse to perform their version of the Shakespeare classic ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – their dress rehearsal on Wednesday was much enjoyed by all our children and we’ve got everything crossed for them tonight! Our Y34 children are also visiting Lawnswood High School class by class over three weeks to enjoy sessions led by the teaching staff there and make use of their swanky cooking facilities.... All in all, it’s clear to me that there is no such thing as an ordinary week at Cookridge. The staff are committed to “getting the world into Cookridge and Cookridge out into the world”, and so our children enjoy a rich, diverse curriculum with the opportunity to meet many people and engage in new experiences. We are very lucky to have such a committed team who look out for great things and then have the energy and enthusiasm to make it happen.

Parent Consultations

Next week it’s time to ‘meet the teacher’ once again and this time for a 1:1 conversation about your child. If you haven’t yet had your appointment slip back, please see your class teacher ASAP to find out when it is – you don’t want to miss it! Can I please ask parents to respect the 10 minute time frame on appointments so that other parents are not kept waiting. In response to the matters raised through the parent questionnaires recently compiled, we have had a look at the information we share. Our partnership with you is key to your child’s success, and so we will be sharing information about your child’s current attainment, the progress we hope to see them make over the year and how you can help at home. Another matter raised was the lack of clarity about national benchmarks for children at each age, so part of the conversation will include explanation of the assessment system that guides UK schools.

Below is a summary of the assessment framework around which your child’s progress and achievement is measured. Using analysis of pupil data across the UK, the Government has determined ‘age appropriate’ benchmarks – the standard at which most pupils of that age are performing. The ‘average’ child makes 4 points progress each year, and so should be expected to jump 2 sub parts of a level from their starting point in September by the end of the school year.

The “average” child shares common skills, knowledge and experience with their peers across the country. When children demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience attributed to each of the grades below, they are said to be secure at that level (e.g. 1) and grade (e.g. c, b or a). The “average” child begins the school year at the following level/grade.

“Working towards” Level 1

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

P5

P6

P7

P8

1c

1b

1a

2c

2b

2a

3c

3b

3a

4c

4b

4a

5c

5b

5a

6c

6b

6a

Y1

Y2

Y3

Y4

Y5

Y6

Y7

Y8

Y9

The “average” child secures 4 points – or two parts of a level – progress and should therefore reach the following age appropriate expectations by the end of the school year.

“Working towards”  Level 1

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

P5

P6

P7

P8

1c

1b

1a

2c

2b

2a

3c

3b

3a

4c

4b

4a

5c

5b

5a

6c

6b

6a

Y1

Y2

Y3

Y4

Y5

Y6

Y7

Y8

Obviously, children do not all fall within that “average” frame – some children exceed age appropriate expectations, and some children are below. This should not affect each child’s capacity to make 4 points progress each year – regardless of starting points, this is the expectation of a ‘good’ school and is very much our aspiration for your child. Together, we can do this.....

Please note – there will be no TEACHER LED after school clubs next week as all teachers are meeting parents after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Sports Clubs and Orchestra will go ahead as planned, as these are run by non school based staff BUT all after school clubs will be cancelled on Thursday for the school disco.  If you are not sure – please ask!

Sports News

There is no Key Stage Two Football Club on Monday due to parent consultations. Football Club will commence on the first Monday back after half-term, 5th November. All other after school sports clubs will run as normal.

The company led sports clubs are changing after half-term. Thank you to all the children who have attended these clubs so far, I have heard we have lots of talented sports stars throughout school! Letters will be sent out next week as to what the new clubs will be and which children signed up for them before the summer holidays. A list of all clubs are on the School Sports Blog, www.cookridgeschoolsport.blogspot.com

Parent Governors Elections

Thank you to all parents who have returned their votes for Parent Governor. If you haven't already, please hand yours into the school office. Votes will be counted in due course and I will let you know news of our elected members as soon as possible.

Friends of Cookridge – P.T.A.

Don’t forget – next Thursday is not only the last day of this half term, it’s a Friends day! It’s a non-uniform day in school and children are invited to wear their own choice of clothes for the day for a small donation of £1.00. The day ends with a disco - from 3.05-4.00 for Reception and KS1 children, and 4.00-5.00 for KS2 children, who for £1 will enjoy a DJ, drinks and a snack. Please return your slip if your child is coming along – no monies can be taken ‘on the door’.

Don’t forget, the next Friends meeting is at 6.30pm on Thursday 15^th November.  Please come along – we are looking for a new Chair, a new treasurer and new ideas for ways we can have fun as a community whilst raising money for school. I’m really enjoying some of the conversations I am having about different social events we might be able to organise across the year – and Christmas is only just around the corner so it’s time to get involved!

Harvest Festival – Thursday 25^th October at 9am

Please send your child with an item of food (tinned/packet/dried) next Thursday when we will be holding our Harvest Festival Assembly. All donations will go to ‘Caring for Life’. Thank you.

Attendance

Last week, Class 7 had our first 100% of the year – well done to them for this spectacular achievement. Our attendance across this half term has been better than ever before and we have maintained our position above 96% across 8 weeks of the 39 week school year. Please keep this up. As part of our work on attendance, we have been talking to the children about GERMS and how using tissues and washing hands can keep them well. Let’s hope all of our combined efforts lead to success in securing our target in 2012-13!

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation			95%	Target 2012-13		96%		Attendance this week			94.9%		Year to date		96.1%
Class attendance figures for this week are:-
Rec	Class 1	Class 2			Class 3		Class 4		Class 5	Class 6		Class 7		Class 8		Class 9
A 92.4 % B 95.5 %	97.7%	94%			92.3%		96.3%		93.2%	96%		92.2%		97.2%		96.7%

School is closed for a school training day next Friday 26^th and so we have just 4 days together next week before the half term holiday. Already?! Have a great weekend,

Mrs Bailey