Friday 6th June 2014

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to our final half term of the school year. The sun hasn’t shone BUT that hasn’t dampened the spirits of the Cookridge crew, who have enjoyed a fun filled week regardless of the June wind and rain..

 

Incredible Homework

I have been seriously impressed with the sheer quality of homework I’ve seen pouring into school this week. We have some very talented children – and parents – who really do go that extra mile when it comes to home learning! Keep up the great work, guys… Have a look at this small sample of the brilliance:

 

Lucy Bannister you're amazing!!

 Gina Warrior - scrumdidliumptious!

 

Paige, Dana and Sam - wonderful worlds!

All hands on deck at the Allotment

Yesterday afternoon, a brilliant team proved that many hands make light work as they took the allotment on. This team effort has very much complimented the determined work of a handful of dedicated parents in recent weeks, whose dedication, knowledge and expertise is proving invaluable to the staff team. The garden area is now fit for purpose and next week the children will be back in the soil putting their green fingers to work… On behalf of the children, I wholeheartedly thank the staff and parents who gathered today to really ‘make a difference’ to our school. Wonderful!

 

 

 

A Musical Voyage…

 

On Wednesday the school were treated to a musical journey around the world, when two lovely talented ladies from our music providers YMES, visited our school in the afternoon to perform two concerts for the younger and older children. They brought a variety of stringed instruments and played different pieces of music from countries such as Spain, Italy, Ireland and America. Children `travelled` on different forms of transport,, of course with a musical accompaniment! The children loved the experience; in particular some of the younger children enjoyed learning about the different stringed instruments, Summer, in reception said afterwards "I loved the sound of the cello, when I`m a bit bigger I would really like to play one!"​

 

Y6 writing = officially brilliant!

It is not every year that teacher assessment of Y6 writing which is reported to the DFE is ‘moderated’ by an external body, but this year was our ‘time to shine’. On Tuesday, we were visited by the moderator whose role it was to check the teachers judgements of each of our Y6 writers was secure and in line with all Y6 teachers nationally. I’m delighted to confirm the team were commended for their teamwork and collaboration, for their accurate judgements and also for the sheer quality of the writing our children have produced across the year. The children have worked incredibly hard this year and so it is especially wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate our children in this context: well done Y6 – we are so proud!

 

Attendance

Our whole school attendance figure remains above our target Class 2. It is time to book those bouncy castles so if anyone knows precisely WHICH day I can guarantee sunshine, please let me know! We also need to start totting up exactly how many buses we will need for the annual cinema trip for our 100%ers.. Not long now! Class 2 have brought Bourbon home this week with a fabulous 98.7%

 

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation			Target 2013-2014			Attendance this week 22/05/2014  -04/06//2014				Year to date 04/09/2013 – 04/06/2014
95%			96%			96.4%				96.2%
Class attendance figures for the W/E  04/06/2014/2014
Rec A	Rec B	Class 1		Class 2	Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6	Class 7	Class 8	Class 9
95.6%	91.0%	93.6%		98.7%	97.9%		97.6%	96.7%	98.1%	96.3%	97.3%	96.8%

Centre Stage Academy

Centre Stage Academy in Yeadon have been in touch to share details of their summer school programs, for those of you with budding singers, dancers or actors/actresses amongst you. This great opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills includes:-

Week 1: 4^th-8^th August

A week of dance, drama, singing and FUN (including a Friday Showcase) based on Matilda. Events run from 10-4pm each day, although children can arrive as early as 8.15am and be collected at 6pm.

Week 2: 11^th-15^th August

A week of dance, drama, singing and FUN (including a Friday Showcase) based on Disney’s Frozen, Toy Story and Tangled.

Discounts are available for siblings or if both weeks are booked. To book a place or get further information please call Carol on 07763 389063 or email centrestageacademy@sky.com

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs Bailey

Friday 23rd May 2014.

Dear Parents/Carers,

It has been an incredibly short but incredibly busy half term. We break up today for the half term break and upon our return will be into the final half term of the year. Time flies when you’re having fun…

 

Time to say goodbye… But not yet!

I trust that parents received the letter from Mr Sharma, Chair of Governors, yesterday which shared news that I am due to begin a Headship at a Barnsley Academy in September. I therefore begin my final half term at Cookridge after the holidays, and look forward to assisting Mrs Turner to get everything ready for a flying start in September. It has been an absolute privilege to lead Cookridge Primary during a period of significant improvement as we met the challenges that Ofsted outlined for us in 2011 across a two year time frame, a matter recognised in their return visit in 2013. During the past three years, I have personally learned a great deal from my time at Cookridge and am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the community – my time here will bode me well in the thirty year career in Headship which stretches ahead! I have had the pleasure of working with a very talented, very dedicated staff team who have surpassed all my expectations in terms of the personal and collective achievements they have secured. Most of all – I have loved your children. The pupils of Cookridge are very, very special and each little individual who makes up our school community has made every day a wonderful roller coaster packed full of fun, laughs and the occasional surprise! What a pleasure. It’s not over yet… 7 more weeks until the final bell for the Summer holiday rings on the 22^nd July, so let’s continue where we left off after the holidays.

 

On a personal note, please allow me to congratulate Mrs Turner on her appointment to the role of Acting Head teacher. This is a very significant step for her and she has the full blessing, confidence and support of the staff team, the governing body and the pupils of Cookridge.  I wish her all the very best for the years ahead: be brilliant, Mrs T!  

 

Reception Poddely

Last Friday, 45 excited Reception children and the staff unpacked an incredible parcel having taken delivery of Poddely – a fantastic new outdoor construction kit. The kit has literally millions of possibilities and of course, the children wasted no time in finding out a few of them. Let the good times roll… !

 

 

 

Allotment update

The garden angels continue apace and I’m delighted that more and more people are getting involved. On Thursday 5^th June – the first Thursday after the holidays – we are going to have an ‘all hands on deck’ afternoon to break the back of work that needs doing so that we can get the children back up into the area, planting crops for an Autumn harvest. If you can lend a hand between 1-3pm – just come along…

 

Breeze Cards

Mrs Brosnan would like to draw your attention to Breeze Cards – a card available to all Leeds residents. All under 19's are eligible for a free Breeze Card which can get you discount at leisure centres and lots more. It’s a great one to have ready for the Summer holidays and applications can be downloaded from https://files.breezeleeds.org/filestore/Breeze_Application_Form_2012.pdf​ and handed in to Holt Park Leisure Centre. Let us know if you would like help finding/completing the form – it’s worth it!

 

Sports News

Y5/6 Football- The Y5/6 team have been extremely busy over the past week. They played Holy Trinity last Friday and won the game 2-1 with goals from Nathan Brown and Almo Alfaify, who scored his first ever goal for the school team in two years! This result ensured the team stay top of the group phase AND continued their unbeaten run in the league to an impressive 6 games.

 

Y6 Kwik Cricket- On Wednesday, 9 of our Year 6 children took part in a cricket competition held at Horsforth CC. Despite some fine individual performaces, we didn't manage to qualify for the Leeds finals. However, there were some exceptional bowling from Matthew Hampshire and some fine batting by Ben Walker. A special mention must go to captain Matty Caines who took the most wickets for us with his fast paced bowling and hit THREE sixes onto the road when batting, scoring 21 runs in just one over! An incredible achievement.

 

School Fantasy Football- The end of the Premiership season a couple of weeks ago also signalled the end to an enthralling second season of school fantasy football. Special mentions must go to Matty Caines and Russel Turner (Mackenzie and Edie's dad) for being the highest placed pupil and parent respectively. The league was won by Mr Lucas who amassed a whopping 1413 points over the season. So, we've now had a pupil winner, a staff winner.....pressure is on the parents next year!

 

Y6 Golf- Professional golfer Paul O'Donnell came in this week to lead a 'taster' session for the year 6 children in the art of golf. He is based at Cookridge Golf Course and runs coaching and junior training. The children involved have taken home a letter this week with more information on how to sign up for his sessions and any child wishing to sign up can find more information on the Cookridge Hall Golf Club website at www.cookridgehall.co.uk/golf_main

 

Attendance

A staggering 98% attendance across school last week has led to yet another rise in our year-to-date figure. This is an unbelievable position for us – you’re all amazing… Class 6 have got the top spot for this week with a near perfect 99.7% - well done to them and well done to you all for some cracking attendance all year: what superstars.

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation		Target 2013-2014		Attendance this week   15/05/2014  -21/05/2014				Year to date   04/09/2013 – 21/05/2014
95%		96%		98.0%				96.2%
Class attendance figures for the W/E  08/05/2014
Rec A Rec B	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6		Class 7	Class 8	Class 9
99.2% 95%	96.5%	98.3%	98.6%		99%	97%	99.7 %		99.%	98 %	98.4%

 

 

Have a wonderful half term holiday and we will see you all on Monday 2^nd June. June!  

Mrs Bailey

Statement about changes to Leadership.

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

I am pleased to inform you that Mrs Bailey has been successful in securing a new post as a Head Teacher of an Academy school in Barnsley. This means that Mrs Bailey will leave our school at the end of the summer term to take up her new role, commencing September 2014. We are sorry to lose Mrs Bailey but are delighted that she has such an exciting opportunity ahead of her. I am sure that you will join me in congratulating Mrs Bailey on her success in securing this appointment, and wish her all the very best for the future.

 

Cookridge Primary School has seen a great pace of change during the last three years culminating in our 'Good school' status recognised by Ofsted in 2013. This was under the leadership of Mrs Bailey, who has championed the professional growth of our staff team and the progress and attainment of all of our children during her time with us. Our school is a strong school and it inspires children to achieve fantastic things by realising their potential, academically and personally. Thank you Mrs Bailey for all you have done for us. You helped us to grow and be proud again. 

 

In line with our school ethos, our children enjoy a rich education system which enables them to “make a difference”, every day. This is what Cookridge Primary School is especially about. We therefore will continue our mission to make a difference unabated, and will continue to drive forward the exciting plans for the future of the school in the coming years.

 

Mrs Turner has kindly agreed to take on the role of Acting Head Teacher until further notice and I am very thankful to Mrs Turner for taking on this commitment. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say the whole school is united behind you. 

 

These are indeed changing times and all of us must proudly continue to do our very best as ambassadors for Cookridge Primary School in the community.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Vijay Sharma

Chair of Governors on behalf of the Governing Body of Cookridge Primary School. 

Email: CookridgePrimarygovernors@gmail.com