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 - 19th
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
