This week we are half
way through the 39 week school year, believe it or not! Time really does fly
when you’re having fun and the weeks are passing at break-neck speed...
Time to celebrate!
Writing is one area of
school where we can honestly say the improvements in the written outcomes of
every pupil in school is better than ever before and with the focus,
determination and dare I say enjoyment that we bring to each writing challenge
it is set to continue to improve. Last week, Y5/6 welcomed author Alan Gibbons
back into school and enjoyed writing Greek myths inspired by a real-life
author. The stories produced by these talented 10 and 11 years olds were quite
breath-taking, and the quality of the writing I have seen this week just within
my own literacy group is simply brilliant, as a result. Y3/4 are currently
focused on writing hilarious recounts based on the very popular Ice Age movies,
with Reception and KS1 both producing top quality traditional stories. Not only
are the children deservedly pleased and proud of their writing, the teachers
across school are equally proud and excited about the way the children work
their magic with a blank piece of paper and a pencil and often send me photos
of writing as they are marking on a Friday or Saturday night, so pleased are
they with the feast before their eyes and we are literally squabbling to decide
upon one ‘Writer of the week’ for each key phase each week! If you haven’t seen
your child’s writing lately, bob into class after school one night and ask them
to show you…. :0) It’s proper good – but don’t just take my word for it!
Next week, classmates
will be nominating their Learnatics
by identifying the person in class who deserves recognition for their effort,
dedication, improvement and/or achievement. This award is, of course,
celebrated with my favourite lunch of every half term – a Dominoes pizza
shindig on the final Tuesday of the term. We will also be awarding our very
first ‘Extreme Reader’ awards to a
member of each class. Teachers across school will be selecting a pupil whose
efforts specifically in reading deserve recognition and badges, certificates
and a personal invitation will be with those pupils by next Friday. The really
fabulous thing about being chosen as an Extreme Reader is that those pupils
will accompany Miss Fowler to a book shop to select the next raft of books for
the library, complete with personalised stickers on the inside front cover...
Look out for the ‘Extreme Readers’ collection in a library near you, soon!
Training Days 2014-15!
We have just two
training days left this academic year - Tuesday
April 22nd 2014 and Monday July 7th 2014. I have just set the training days
for the NEXT school year, as below. I hope this helps with holiday planning!
I’ll get them on the website ASAP.
Monday 1st September 2014
Tuesday 2nd September 2014
Friday 24th October 2014
Thursday 2nd April 2015
Friday 26th June 2015
On this matter, there is an e-petition
which is entitled "Stop Holiday
companies charging extra in school holidays" in response to holiday
companies almost doubling their flight, hotel and holiday prices in the school
holidays. This is not fair to those parents/carers who choose to make the right
decision and not take their children out of school in term time. The petition
is open until 7th March and the number of signatures is rising by the minute.
Why not add yours? https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46455
Sports News
Year
4 and 5 pupils headed off to Horsforth
High School
Centre
Stage
Last week, I was contacted by local drama and dance academy Centre Stage
and asked to publicise their recruitment drive for new talent and to share
details of sessions available. There is a link available on the blog http://cookridgeprimaryschool.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/centre-stage-dance-academy.html
Attendance
Yay! This week we made
it back to 95%! Nice work, everyone. I am well aware that this is the season
for coughs and colds and chest infections and am always very conscious of the
school environment which can cause these illnesses to pass readily from one
person to another. We adults are not immune either, and there has been a red
nose pretty much everywhere I have looked this week – classrooms, staff room
and offices alike! If your child has
caught a cold, apologies, first and foremost! If you are happy that they are
well enough to attend school despite their cold – can I ask please provide your
child with some tissues and encourage them to use them – reminding them that
coughs and sneezes spread diseases!
Class
4 have nailed it this week – hurrah!
|
National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation
|
Target
2013-2014
|
Attendance this week
23/01/2014-29/01/2014
|
Year to date
04/09/2013- 29/01/2014
| |||||||||
|
95%
|
96%
|
95.0%
|
95.6%
| |||||||||
|
Class attendance figures for the W/E 15/1/14
| ||||||||||||
|
Rec A
|
Rec B
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
|
Class 4
|
Class 5
|
Class 6
|
Class 7
|
Class 8
|
Class 9
| ||
|
92.5%
|
93.3%
|
95.5%
|
95.0%
|
94.1%
|
99.3%
|
98.3%
|
96.7%
|
95.0%
|
89.7%
|
94.4%
| ||
Coffee morning
I think it is high time
we met for a coffee! In only two weeks we will be on holiday again so let’s
make it soon. If you can be free on Monday 10th February from 9-10,
I would love to see you in the Beehive…
Last word goes to
Friends Movie Night – Wednesday12th February at 5.30. If you haven’t already
got your tickets, hot foot it to the office next week as there are only five
days of ticket buying left…
Have a wonderful
weekend,
Mrs Bailey
