Dear
Parents/Carers,
Hasn’t
it RAINED this week? We took delivery of some new lunchtime equipment but as we
unpacked it all on Tuesday lunchtime I couldn’t help but wish I’d ordered some
umbrellas, cagoules and maybe a few rowing boats…:0) As you would expect, we
are now asking the children to wear coats during the long lunch break so please
ensure your child has one with them as it’s pretty chilly on our blustery
playground. My thanks to support staff and senior leadership in school, all of
whom are now doing a shift on the playground over lunchtimes to maintain our
high adult-pupil ratio: a great team, who really do go that extra mile on behalf
of your children every day of the week.
Ofsted
Last
weeks Ofsted Inspection now feels like a long time ago – hard to believe as I
write this week’s newsletter that this time last week we were only half way
through the process. The team made some very accurate and positive observations
of life in our school and – strangely – we actually enjoyed the two days! I am
unable to share the outcome with parents until the report is released. Happily,
we don’t have long to wait as I expect the report next Friday 1st
November and it will be live on the Ofsted website from 8th November.
I will, however, post the report on the website and the blog around about the
1st, and all parents will receive a paper copy straight after half term.
Parent Consultations
Thank
you to all parents who attended parent consults this week. This is always a
great time for teachers - who are often overwhelmed by your positive comments
and feedback - and, we hope, a great time for you when you are able to see just
how much your child has learned in the last 8 weeks! It is clear that pupils in
school are making outstanding progress in their learning – congratulations to them
and thanks to you for your help with their learning through homework, good
attendance and plain, old fashioned encouragement. It’s ALL adding up!
Learnatics
This
Tuesday, as part of our positive behaviour policy, I enjoyed a pizza lunch with
the pupils right across school who had been chosen by their classmates for
their exceptional learning behaviours since our return in September. This is a
wonderful accolade, as only 11 pupils are chosen each half term and so the
average year only clocks up 66 Learnatics in total! Well done to all our
Learnatics, past and present, for this magnificent achievement - and if you
have one in your house, be sure to tell them they’re a rare breed!
School Council
Congratulations to pupils who have been elected by their peers as
School Council Representatives for the year ahead. They are very proud of their
badges and are keen to start meeting in order to support their classmates and
represent their views. The first School Council meeting will be on Friday
8th November at 10.15 - 10.45 with Mrs Turner and Mr Green. If your child
talks with you about any aspect of school that they would like to improve,
please urge them to write it down and post their suggestions, worries or
questions into the School Council Suggestion Box in the entrance. We will let
you know the headlines of our meetings – you will be amazed by the children’s
mature discussion: they really do have a very clear idea of what a quality
school looks like and are never too shy to tell us!
Diggerland
As half term approaches, I can make you aware
of a one day offer at Castleford’s Diggerland which may be of interest. To mark
the start of half term, Diggerland is offering parents and children entry for £5
per person on Sunday 27/10/13. Please quote code CASPOST271013 on entry to take advantage of this great offer. For more information,
see the website http://www.diggerland.com/yorkshire/
.
Bonfire and Firework
Display
On Saturday 9th November, Cookridge Village Scout Group are
hosting their annual Bonfire and Firework Display. Gates open at 5.45pm for the
lighting of the Bonfire at 6.00pm and fireworks at 7.00pm. Entry is by donation
and food is available to buy on the night. Please note – in the interests of
safety for all no alcohol or private fireworks should be brought along to this
event.
A new heart for Holt Park!
I
received an email this week outlining some exciting development planning for
Holt Park as public consultation on the matter gets underway. The proposal
includes new retail, housing and an improved public space. The draft Planning
Statement is available for inspection at Holt Park library or more information
can be viewed online at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/council/Pages/Holt-Park-District-Centre-Regeneration-Consultation.aspx.
Tempest school photos
This week’s photos were pretty dashing and I hope you liked them! The
closing date for orders being processed via the school office is Wednesday 6th November.
Attendance : 'GIVE IT 100%'
At Cookridge, we have many ways of celebrating high levels of
attendance, with 'Bourbon' (and his bag
of biscuits) spending the week the class with the highest attendance for the
week, a ‘chancer’ draw which gives all pupils with 100% attendance each week a
chance to win a prize from Bourbon’s prize
box, and termly 100% attendance certificates. In addition to all this, our
local school cluster is running an attendance competition for all schools in
the cluster for a limited period from the 4th to the 29th November. All pupils
who have achieved 100% attendance during this time period will be put into a
draw and there will be the opportunity to win some very fancy prizes, including
a one
month family membership package at Cookridge Hall Health and Fitness Ltd, a
family ticket to the Vue cinema at the Light in Leeds, a £50 gift voucher for White
Rose shopping centre (for the high schools) and a stunt scooter for the primary
schools. Give it 100% throughout November and it just MIGHT be you!
With our youngest pupils fighting off a bout of chicken pox at the
moment, attendance in Reception this week is pretty low but perfectly
understandable! Thank you to all parents of chicken pox ‘victims’ for helping
to minimise the spread of this virulent infection by keeping their child at home
until all the spots dry up. At the other end of the spectrum BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Class 9 for
clocking up our first 100% of the school year. I’m so proud of you – Bourbon
will be bringing his back your way straight after the holidays!
|
National Minimum ‘Good’
Expectation
|
Target
2013-2014
|
Attendance this week
|
Year to date
|
||||||||
|
95%
|
96%
|
95.3%
|
96.%
|
||||||||
|
Class attendance figures for
this week w/e 23/10/13
|
|||||||||||
|
Rec A
Rec B
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
|
Class 4
|
Class 5
|
Class 6
|
Class 7
|
Class 8
|
Class 9
|
||
|
77.9%
90.9%
|
98.1%
|
98.1%
|
98.6%
|
91.4%
|
98.%
|
97.9%
|
96.%
|
97.3%
|
100.%
|
||
After school clubs
Mrs Turner this week distributes news of the
remaining spaces in after school clubs and two new clubs we are adding to the
menu – iJam (time to work with iPADs on music and video projects) and netball. If
you would like your child to join a club, please return the slip provided back
to school after half term.
That’s all folks – it’s
a rap for Autumn 1! Have a magnificent half term week and I will see you all
bright and early on Monday 4th November for the Christmas run-down…
Yikes!
Mrs Bailey
