Dear
Parents/Carers,
This week has been a
busy one! The weather has finally resumed its gloomy self but our first wet
plays of the year occurred without a hitch – many children telling me they
actually prefer the time in class! With just three weeks to go until half term,
there is still plenty going on….
Grammar School at Leeds – Maths Challenge
On
Thursday morning, four of our pupils – Kate Goodman, Ben Moxon, Ben Walker and
Bradley Simpson – took part in the Grammar School Maths Challenge, pitting
their wits against 20 other Leeds schools in a
maths competition that was tough! These four representatives of our school came
THIRD out of the twenty schools competing and are worthy finalists – an
incredible achievement: well done, guys! Thanks to Mr Maldonado for
coordinating the event, to Mrs Horsley for transporting our victors and to Mr
& Mrs Walker who attended the event to cheer them on. Roll on the
semi-finals in November!
Y4 Swimming
This
week, Y4 parents in Class 4, 5 & 6 should have received a letter about
swimming which is due to start on Wednesday 16th October. Please
ensure you have seen this letter – if yours didn’t get home please speak to
your child’s class teacher who will get you a copy so that you know what the
arrangements are. Thank you.
Homework
This
year, following parental suggestions and concerns raised last year and to
directly support our school improvement priorities across school, half termly
homework will be linked to topic and may include research, presentation or a
craft project. Weekly homework includes reading (at least three times a week), practicing
spellings and learning mental maths facts (e.g. times tables) or looking at a
mental maths test script together so that you can talk with your child about
how to solve a tricky question– a great chance to dust off the white cells! I
have to commend parents for the spectacular project work you did with your
children which is currently on display right across school, but I am also
equally awestruck by the dedication you show in encouraging your children to
complete their homework each week – which I appreciate isn’t always easy in the
busy lives we lead. Without a doubt, your child’s confidence and sense of
achievement is very much boosted by this time investment each week SO on behalf
of your children: a BIG thank you!
Friends
The first
Friends event of the year is coming up, with the traditional disco on the final
Thursday of the half term – 24th October. Tickets will be available
to buy from next Friday so watch this space… Friends are also keen to prepare
the Cookridge Cook Book ready for
sale at the Christmas Fair. If you and your child have a good recipe to share
which we can all have a go at, please send to
Friends.Cookridge@gmail.com or hand in at the
school office: don’t forget to name your entry!
Bonfire Lunch!
From time
to time, we offer a special themed school dinner which we open up to all
children in school. If your child would like to join us for a one-off school
lunch which includes a ‘Banger Burger’
(meat or veggie) or a ‘Flaming Hot dog’, baked potato skins, corn on the cob
and coleslaw followed by toffee or chocolate apples or ice cream – please
get in touch with the school office by Friday 18th October.
Data Protection Forms
As we are
currently updating and checking pupil records in school, we recently sent home
a data sheet which informs you exactly what information we have about your
child. Once you have checked this and made any necessary amendments (e.g. to
phone numbers), please return it to school as soon as possible.
Parent View
My
thanks to parents who have taken the few minutes out of their day lately to
complete the Ofsted survey for us – we are now up to the grand total of 17! If
you haven’t already, please do so as it provides feedback to us but will also
help Ofsted form a picture of our school before they even step out of the car!
Follow the link here http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/parent-view-results or
via the front page of the school website.
Sports
news
The Year 5/6 football
season got underway last week with a friendly match against Newlaithes Primary.
Despite a slow start from Cookridge, goals from Faisal Alshareef, Charlie Kelly
(2), Liam Jones (2) and Nathan Brown saw us win 6-2 in the end. A great team
performance with Ben Moxon collecting the man of the match award for his super
tackling and for his great organising of the defence. Well done boys!
Lunchtime
Play leaders
Oh dear! This week I
received yet another resignation from one of our longest standing lunchtime
supervisors, Mrs Blackburn. Mrs Blackburn will be retiring at half term after a
long career with Cookridge, serving our children both at lunchtime and, until
recently, as part of the Funtime team.
My special thanks to her for her dedication to Cookridge for all of this time –
a well-deserved retirement beckons! Compounded with our other leavers, our
lunchtime supervision is far from resolved! I appeal, once again, to any parents
who themselves might be available or who know someone who may be interested
please let us know.
Attendance
I was delighted we were
able to open on Tuesday as normal, despite the strike action across the nation.
I was especially pleased that this decision did not adversely affect attendance
on the day given the fact that many older brothers and sisters were off school
due to their school closures – well done to everyone! Huge congratulations to
our first KS2 winners of the academic year – Class 8 with a whopping 98.6%
|
National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation
|
Target
2013-2014
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Attendance this week
|
Year to date
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|||||||
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95%
|
96%
|
97.2%
|
97.1%
|
|||||||
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Class attendance figures for this week are:-02/10/13
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Rec A
Rec B
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
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Class 4
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Class 5
|
Class 6
|
Class 7
|
Class 8
|
Class 9
|
|
|
96.5%
95.7%
|
96.5%
|
97.5%
|
98.3%
|
98.5%
|
98.0%
|
96.5%
|
95.0%
|
98.6%
|
97.7%
|
|
Parent Consultations
Please
return your preference letter for parent consults as soon as possible. Places
will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so don’t delay –
especially if your time is restricted. We look forward to seeing you all in the
final week of this half term: you have plenty to be proud of!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs Bailey
