Dear
Parents/Carers,
This week it’s been all
about Summer Fair preparations. We’ve got everything crossed for tomorrow – the
Fair is just not the same when the sun doesn’t shine! We hope that you can join
us for a few hours tomorrow – bring friends and family members too. Thank you
to everyone who has made a donation to the fair this week – many helping hands
have spent the afternoon transforming a motley collection of wines and spirits,
toys, chocolate and gifts into the stalls we know and love. Thank you to
EVERYONE who has given a few hours of their time to the Summer Fair already,
and to the many more of you who will be on hand tomorrow..
RAFFLE
The
Summer Fair Raffle has come together beautifully – thanks to the efforts of
staff and parents in pleading with local businesses to support our school.
Don’t miss out on your chance to WIN some of the spectacular prizes on offer….
So far:
1) A
Nintendo 3DS XL
2)
Jessica’s Hair & Beauty Salon – free Cut
& Blow
3)
A ‘Wrapped’ chocolate gift
4)
Tea and cake for two @ Yorkshire Crust
5)
File and paint @ Beauty Secrets
6)
Gift voucher – Browns
7)
A months gym membership
8) FREE
swimming lessons
Remember
– raffle tickets are ONLY available to buy on the day, so to be in with a
chance… You need to be there! Good luck…
The NED show
On
Wednesday, we welcomed the NED show into school to deliver their fun and
inspirational assembly to all of our children. The NED character is based on
the acronym Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best.. Brilliant values for us
all to live our lives by and entirely in line with the ethos of the Cookridge
Code. The show was free to school and was very well received by the children,
who enjoyed the magic tricks! NED products (yoyo’s) are available to buy from
the school office until next Friday.
New Reception Parents
Meeting
It
was wonderful to welcome into school on Thursday night around 90 parents on the
brink of that brilliant moment when a child first starts ‘big’ school! Right
from my first moment as a newly qualified Reception class teacher, I have
attended the welcome to Reception meeting every year without fail. I can
honestly say I find it one of the most exhilarating events of the school
calendar… A new Reception cohort is a joy and a pleasure… 45 bundles of
infinite possibility, 45 little people whose futures stretch out un-blighted before
them, a team of staff and parents who want the world for their little
fledglings and 45 pairs of wide eyes working out what on earth school is all
about... It’s brilliant. Welcome aboard,
new parents and new pupils……
Pinnacle
As
you may be aware, our school environment is managed by Pinnacle in a contract
set out over 26 years. We are currently about 8 years into that contract, and
the building and grounds continue to be a fantastic feature of our school. On
Saturday 22nd June, the ‘big bosses’ from Pinnacle have volunteered
their services to help us out with some grounds work – some planters in the
Reception playground and some clearance work up around the allotment. I am
really grateful to Pinnacle for offering their services free of charge on areas
of the school grounds that do not fall under their direct responsibility. The
brilliant catering manager Chris Tate will also be serving bacon sandwiches and
a lunch to all volunteers… It’s worth it for that! If any parents (or
grandparents) are keen to help out on the day, if only for an hour – please get in touch.
Class allocations
As
promised, you should this evening be receiving a letter which tells you your
child’s class for the year ahead. This year, in the second year of our class
allocations policy, we have been able to maintain stability for a high number
of children so that they are able to make their move with friends formed over
this year. It has also been possible to maintain a high level of staffing
stability so that wherever possible, if children remain in the same Key Phase
they do so under the guidance of a familiar teaching team. This consistency
will, I am sure, enable a brilliant start to the year ahead. If you have any
questions or concerns about the class allocation please don’t suffer in silence
– come and have a chat: we just might be able to sort it.
Attendance
Next
week, we will be informing our 100% attenders of their magnificent achievement
and inviting each and every one of them to come along to the annual cinema trip
to celebrate. This year, we currently have 37 pupils who have managed - by hook
or by crook - to dodge the infections, steer clear of the germs and make it
into school every single day. In the coming weeks, you will be receiving your
child’s report which will include a statement of your child’s attendance across
the year. This week… We’re steady at just over 95%, so well done. PLEASE don’t
let it slip in the next few weeks… an end of year figure below 95% is not
something we are aiming for!
|
National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation
|
Target
2012-13
|
Attendance this week
|
Year to date
|
||||||||
|
95%
|
96%
|
96.6%
|
95.2%
|
||||||||
|
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 96.0%
B 96.7%
|
97.9%
|
98.7%
|
95.9%
|
97.5%
|
92.9%
|
97.3%
|
93.3%
|
98.4%
|
98.2%
|
||
Bikes and scooters before
school
It
is wonderful to see so many of our children travelling to and from school on
wheels and making use of the bike and scooter shelters provided. It is very
obvious, however, that the high number of children riding and scooting around
the busy playground before school is becoming a problem and will lead to an
accident before long. Can I please ask all parents, therefore, to ensure that
children park their vehicles as soon as they arrive at the shelters and venture
into the playground on foot. Safer all round, I think! Alongside this message –
can I please reiterate my previous pleas for parents to refrain from having conversations
about this or any other disciplinary matter with other people’s children. If
you are concerned that a child is putting others at risk by continuing to ride
around the playground, please refer it to a member of staff who will be
available on each classroom door as soon as the bell rings. Thank you.
Diary dates for the busy
term ahead
There
is PLENTY going on this term. Please update your diary via the blog, where all
key dates are listed.
And
so… See you all tomorrow at the Summer Fair, 2-4. Cross everything for
sunshine!
Sam
Bailey
