Dear
Parents/Carers,
This
has been one action packed week! Each day has brought a new adventure and new
achievements for Cookridge pupils, with Y3/4 out on a Viking expedition on
Monday and Thursday, Y5/6 pupils performing Shakespeare live at the
Carriageworks theatre on Monday evening, a group of talented Y6 pupils
competing at the Grammar School at Leeds maths challenge final, a group of
sportsmen and women out at the Sports
Hall Athletics competition, Y5/6 pupils beginning a mosaic project for the
entrance with a visiting artist in school there literally hasn’t been a minute
to spare! Some of our pupils have taken part in 3 events in one week and yet
their energy and enthusiasm hasn’t waned during the ‘bread and butter’ stuff –
a few lessons, here and there... :0)
Macbeth
Headline
this week has to go to Y5/6 pupils whose months of toil – including a day of
rehearsals in the half term holiday – ended with a spectacular performance live
on stage at the Carriageworks theatre in Leeds on Monday night. We performed
alongside one other primary school and two high schools, our production of
Macbeth taking the first billing. The talent on stage was in abundance and it
was a joy to see these children come alive and sparkle like the stars they are
in this forum. This kind of experience is the stuff of life long memories, and
thanks must be given to Miss Fowler who coordinated the project with the
necessary time, enthusiasm, skill and dedication.
GSAL maths challenge
On
Wednesday, four incredibly gifted mathematicians represented Cookridge at the
Grammar School maths challenge having previously secured their place in the
final. Kate Goodman, Ben Walker, Ben Moxon and Bradley Simpson are frankly
phenomenal mathematicians whose mathematical prowess has to be seen to be
believed. They did a sterling job and, whilst we didn’t win this time, it is
very plain to see that these four pupils have gifts and talents far beyond
their years as a result of the time and effort they put in every single day.
Each lunchtime, as I make my way into the playground, they can be found
crouched in the library concocting their next self-initiated project… I’m sure
Alan Sugar played out more than these guys when he was ten! Well done to each
of you – you are simply brilliant and we are very lucky to have you!
Ofsted
On
Monday, I distributed the Ofsted report which was written following the two day
inspection prior to the holiday. I genuinely hope you have read it, as I feel
it really does describe our school and the great achievements pupils, parents,
staff and governors have secured in the past two years. With changes to the
Ofsted Inspection framework which has been well documented in the press, it has never been more difficult to achieve a
‘good’ outcome and we are absolutely thrilled to have been judged good in every
category and to secure a ‘good’ overall. The report is available to view on the
website and for the whole wide world to view via the Ofsted website from today http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/107894
Read it and tell the world – we’re a good
school! It is impossible for me to pick out a single quote that I like - as
there are so many I’m overjoyed with! Our work can perhaps be best summarised here:
“Expectations of what pupils
can achieve are high so that more
pupils now reach the level expected for their age and pupils of all abilities
make good progress whatever their starting points. This, along with pupils’
good behaviour and attitudes to learning, ensures that they are well prepared
for their future.”
This
marks the end of our time deemed a ‘satisfactory’ school, but by no means marks
the end of our improvement journey – we have got lots of plans for moving
forward until every aspect of our school is the best it can possibly be…
On Friday 15th November We'll be
Rocking our Spots for Children in Need!
Children in Need is a day when adults and children across the UK unite
to raise funds to support all kinds of projects and good causes which help all
kinds of children. We will be lending our support to this fantastic event which
last year raised the highest total ever of over £26 million.
Next Friday please help us make a great day of it by supporting the
following:
·
Please wear your own clothes to school on Friday, preferably something
spotty in keeping with the Children in Need theme. Children wearing their own
clothes are asked for £1 - ALL of which will go straight to the charity.
·
Playground Pennies for Pudsey - We will be drawing a giant Pudsey Bear
in the playground, as you come to school please put your discarded coins in the
outline shape. Let's see if we can fill his face, every little helps!
·
We are having a bun sale, buns will be 20p each and available at
playtime, but we can't possibly bake ALL those buns, so if you can contribute
buns or biscuits please bring your yummy goods to school on Friday
morning.
·
There will be a Wii competition at lunchtime and any children wishing to
take part should bring an extra 20p.
·
Classes will also be deciding on a soundtrack for our Children in Need
fundraising activities with each class voting for their Top Tracks and
listening to them throughout the day - It's going to be ROCKING!
Sports News
This
week, Mrs Wood and Mr Deegan accompanied 20 pupils from Cookridge who took part
in the Leeds North West Sports Hall Athletics School Games. Events
included individual and relay races, obstacle race, javelin, long jump &
triple jump. Mrs Wood is keen to salute the talents of Mackenzie Turner, Liam Jones,
Matthew Caines and Shazanna Morton who all won first place
in their individual events, and to Ben
Walker, Sophie Russell and Charlotte Shields who achieved second
place. Special mention must be made of Rebecca
Harrison – our youngest competitor – who managed to hurdle over a barrier
that was nearly as tall as her in the relay races! Overall, due to the
phenomenal efforts of the whole team, we finished in 3rd place: a brilliant
achievement, especially when the majority of our team had never competed in
Sports Hall Athletics before!
Attendance : 'GIVE IT 100%'
Don’t forget – this week marked the start of the local cluster of
schools attendance competition ‘Give it 100%’. Any pupil who clocks up 100%
attendance between 4th to the 29th November will be put into a draw with the
opportunity to win some
great prizes. Give it 100% throughout November and it just MIGHT be you! One of
the factors which affect some pupils 100% attendance is medical and dentist
appointments. We appreciate that hospital appointments cannot always be made
outside of school times and appreciate your efforts in trying to secure these
coveted appointments are not always rewarded. I’m not sure parents are aware
that if pupils are present at registration times – 8.45am and 1pm – yet leave
school to attend an appointment after this time their 100% attendance may still
be preserved.
|
National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation
|
Target
2013-2014
|
Attendance this week
|
Year to date
|
|||||||||
|
95%
|
96%
|
95.3%
|
95.9%
|
|||||||||
|
Class attendance figures for this w/e :- 06/11/13
|
||||||||||||
|
Rec A
Rec B
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
|
Class 4
|
Class 5
|
Class 6
|
Class 7
|
Class 8
|
Class 9
|
|||
|
89.2%
84.6%
|
94.2%
|
95.9%
|
98.3%
|
97.5%
|
96.7%
|
98.6%
|
98.0%
|
97.1%
|
95.0%
|
|||
Beecroft Primary partnership
On
Wednesday, we were visited by the Head teacher and Deputy Head teacher of
Kirkstall school Beecroft Primary – an Outstanding primary school in the city
as we near the beginning of a partnership project. I am personally very excited
by this partnership and the next steps in our journey, as we are now focusing
on an aspect of school we know we are already doing well… We are now looking to
create something exceptional! We intend to focus on reading, and have the
opportunity next Thursday to spend the day at Beecroft observing lessons in
action before retiring to a working space to plan for our own next steps out of
what we have seen. We will keep you posted! SCHOOL IS THEREFORE CLOSED TO PUPILS NEXT THURSDAY – THE TEACHERS ARE
LEARNING!
Have
a wonderful weekend,
Mrs
Bailey
