Friday 20th December 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

What a glorious final week we have enjoyed, with performances and parties the 15 week term couldn’t have ended with any more joy. Congratulations to all the children who have performed for parents and carers this week – you were magnificent. Thanks also to staff for keeping up the momentum through to the final week. Well done and… relax!

 

 

Message from the Chair of Governors

Dear Parents and Guardians,

During the past 12 months, our school has been on a journey. Your children and staff have had a truly great 2013 with fantastic moments happening at Cookridge Primary School every day. This makes for a strong education for our children, a vital requirement in our competitive world today. Since our last Ofsted in 2011, when the school was given a satisfactory judgement, we have been on a mission to change our ways for the better. Our very recent Ofsted report was a shining light on our continuous journey and gave the school a well-deserved outcome - our 'good' judgement is well earned and not an easy win. The achievement we celebrate is a tribute to the dedication, talent and the courage of our teachers to see through changes for the better. It is a pleasure to applaud and thank our staff for all they have done this year. The leadership will keep up the momentum and challenge for our school because this ever improving journey does not stop. Children and staff love learning at Cookridge because we are proud to be a fantastic educational establishment. Please take a moment to reflect on our school over Christmas and feel free to tell your class teacher how proud you are of your school. Enjoy the break and we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year, one of high achievement for all our children.

 

With best wishes,

Vijay Sharma

 

Goodbye to Funtime…

Today, ‘Funtime’ closes its doors for the final time and we bid farewell to Ali Marshall who has worked in the before and after school club at Cookridge for ten years. On behalf of the entire school community – thanks for everything, Ali, and all the very best for the future. Ann Saddler’s eighteen year career with Funtime also comes to an end today, although I am very grateful that Ann has offered to stay on for us for the first few weeks in January to pass on her wisdom to the new staff team and help us with the transition period between ‘Funtime’ and our new, school-led provision ‘The Bee Hive’. Mrs Saddler will finally get to retire in mid-January – and very well deserved that will be!

 

The team taking ‘The Bee Hive’ forward into 2014 was appointed last Friday. Mr Green will manage the breakfast club, and Mrs Matloob will manage the after school provision. Miss Dawes will assist during both sessions. The team are very much looking forward to getting their new roles underway and I am confident that we will continue to offer good quality before and after school care for our families.

 

Mrs Riley

I am very excited to share news of Mrs Riley’s departure. We have been very lucky to have Mrs Riley work with us as a member of the support staff team at Cookridge. She is actually a qualified teacher and we have benefited enormously from that skillset for as long as we’ve had her. Having taken the decision to return to teaching, I am delighted that Mrs Riley quickly secured a teaching post which she will begin in January. It goes without saying that we are very proud of her and wish her all our love and luck for her future career. She will be brilliant…

 

Attendance

Oh dear! It’s not a good week this week, 93.8% being one of our lowest for some time. Our year to date attendance has dropped to 95.6% since we had our exciting increase to 96% only 4 weeks ago. Let’s aim to get back to our best in January, and see if we can bring that figure back up. Congratulations to Class 4 this week who have bagged Bourbon with 98.6%

 

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation			Target 2013-2014		Attendance this week								Year to date
95%			96%		93.8%								95.6%
Class attendance figures for this w/e :- 18/12/13
Rec A	Rec B	Class 1		Class 2	Class 3			Class 4	Class 5		Class 6				Class 7		Class 8		Class 9
92.9%	94.6%	94.8%		91%	97.9%			98.6%	96%		89.7%				89%		91.7%		96.8%

 

 

Glorious parents

I want to end 2013 by thanking you, the wonderful parents and carers of Cookridge, for everything you do. It was overwhelming to see so many parents at the performances this week – your support means such a lot to the children and the staff. There is nothing more satisfying for us than seeing parents’ faces as you watch your children sparkle on stage, and it is a part of the job we teachers love. I am also very aware of the many cards, gifts and good wishes staff right across school have received in the last week, and I hope you appreciate just how grateful we are for those. Fundamentally, though, I am grateful for your ongoing support for our school –by ensuring your child turns up smartly for school, by getting your child to school on time every day, by reading with your child, encouraging homework, by coming along to events, supporting our charity work or just through kind words and a welcome smile, we really, really appreciate you and love working our socks off to serve the Cookridge community.

 

January

We return to school on Monday 6^th January 2014, ready for another exciting term. Let’s hope the weather is good to us and we sail through to the Summer term!

 

And so it remains for me to wish you a happy and healthy holiday. I hope that you have a thoroughly enjoyable two weeks with family and friends. With my very best wishes for 2014,

 

Mrs Bailey

Friday 13th December 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

Only 5 more school days before we break up for the festive season. I hope you are all ready? I’m a long way off on the home front, but from the school perspective I THINK we have everything just about in hand for the final furlong…!

 

Christmas Dinner

Diane served her last Christmas dinner of her 30 year career on Thursday, with over 240 children and adults taking her up on her delicious offerings. We began proceedings ultra-early at 11.30, and ended later than usual at almost 1pm. It was, of course, exquisite. I realised last Friday night what a gigantic gaffe I had made in calculating the number of meals Diane has prepared since the 80’s. She has actually produced 3 choices of meals per day during 39 weeks of term time over a 30 year career FOR EACH PUPIL, and has served roughly 150 pupils a day. Diane has therefore cooked – and served – over 2,632,500 dinners! Now THAT’s incredible.

 

Funtime update

Parents who use the Funtime provision should, this week, have received their welcome pack. This has all of the information you need to continue to access the club from January, when Funtime officially ends and the club is re-born under schools direct management. Critically, please ensure you return all the paperwork we need in order to secure your place as soon as is physically possible next week. I appreciate the very rapid turn-around at a busy time of year, but Mrs Lucas is doing a fantastic job pulling together all of the administration required at lightning speed in order that we can continue to offer before and after school provision without ANY break in service whatsoever. Quite a feat – and I am very grateful to you for your cooperation on this one.

 

At the time of writing this newsletter, we are on the eve of our interviews and so I am not yet able to confirm the team who will be taking the provision forward into 2014. I will inform Funtime parents on Monday and look forward to welcoming the successful applicants to the Cookridge team.

 

Wintry Weather Procedures

Now is a good time to remind you all of the procedures for snowy and icy conditions. Let’s hope the winter is mild but in the event of heavy snow and treacherous conditions, I will recap for you procedures for school closure notification. Whilst we endeavour to remain open during any period of wintry weather, it is the Head teacher’s responsibility to complete a risk assessment to inform any decision to remain open. This risk assessment is based on the condition of the school site and the availability of school based staff for work. Please note the following procedures should a closure be deemed necessary.

·         A decision will be taken as early as possible and communications sent to all parties. Any delay in making a decision will often be as a result of awaiting news of the respective car journeys of school based staff. Please do not attempt to contact school during this time as it is essential that phone lines remain open for staff.

·         If school is to close, a TEXT message will be sent to all parents and carers registered on Parentmail.

·         A message will also be posted on Mrs B's Blog at http://cookridgeprimaryschool.blogspot.co.uk/ or via the school website.  

·         A message will be posted on Twitter https://twitter.com/CookridgePrimar - which you can link directly to your phone.

·         We will notify Radio Aire/Radio Leeds so that they are able to include our school in their updated bulletins and on their website.

Please be assured that I would only take the decision to close our school in exceptional circumstances where your child's safety is the primary concern. Cross everything for a warm(ish) and safe January!

 

 

Mrs Fletcher’s incredible choristors!

In the past two weeks, it is fair to say that Mrs Fletcher and her team of merry men have made beautiful music together! The inter-generational choir has swelled to over 40 members during the festive season, and in the past 10 days they have been able to perform at the Christmas Fair, at the Methodist church, at St Paul’s and next Friday in the Carols around the tree service in school. Robbie Williams is quieter than this! Well done to the children who have learned such an impressive raft of songs, to our wonderful adult members of the choir and to Mrs Fletcher for nurturing such wonderful talent in our little people. If you haven’t seen them yet – bob into the carols next Friday from 2pm.

 

Attendance

This week, I’ve distributed the 204 certificates to pupils across school who attended school every day in November, and have also presented even more certificates to those children who have managed to come to school every single day since September. Last year, we had to hire a bus for the first time to get us to the movies for 100% day. In 2014, I’d like to have to hire two…! I really, really hope you keep up the excellent work, guys.

 

After a long run, Class 5 will finally be returning Bourbon this week as their reign is over – for now! Congratulations Class 3 who have achieved 99% at the end of a 15 week term – impressive. :0)

 

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation		Target 2013-2014			Attendance this week				Year to date
95%		96%			94%				95.8%
Class attendance figures for this w/e :- 11/12/13
Rec A	Rec B	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6		Class 7	Class 8	Class 9
93.8%	95.5%	88.7%	83.3%	99%		95.7%	98%	95.2%		94.1%	97.3%	94.7%

 

Dates for December

And so the term draws to a close next week with the fantastic performances. Each key phase in school has their own special something prepared and I can tell you the children have been practicing hard and they are looking good! I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Next THURSDAY - 19^th December - is officially PARTY day! All classes in school will be partying throughout the day and children are welcome to wear their party clothes all day. No doubt class teachers will be asking for party food donations which we are always grateful of. You only need send a small donation as it really adds up and pupils will be eating their usual meal on party day - 

 

16/12	2pm LKS2 (Class 4, 5 & 6) performance	18/12	2pm Reception performance
17/12	2pm KS1 performance (Class 1, 2 & 3)  5.30 LKS2 (Class 4, 5 & 6)  evening performance	20/12	2pm UKS2 lead Carols Around the Tree.

 

Y4 swimming

There is no swimming next week, nor for the first week back after Christmas. Y4 swimmers will be back in the pool on Wednesday 15th January 2014. Feels like AGES away!  

 

After school clubs

Remember – there are NO CLUBS next week so that staff are able to get ready for the term ahead. Clubs will be back in January.  

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs Bailey