Another successful year

Yet again the year has passed so very quickly. We will be saying a sad farewell to our Y6 and wish all of them the

very best for the future. We will also be saying goodbye to Mrs Williams, who after her long illness has decided not

to return to teaching next year. I know many of you would like to thank her for the part she might have played in

your child’s education.

The staff would like to wish all our children and parents a happy and relaxing summer and we look forward to

having you back in September, ready for another busy and fun filled year.

Ms Dawson

Improved communication

We always listen to parents and try to improve the service we provide. Communication has been a concern for

some parents for a while. This year we are trying to improve this even more. We are sending out a diary sheet for

next year but ask parents to appreciate that booking this far in advance may mean that for unforeseen reasons

some dates and times may need to change. Also available on the website is a curriculum overview for each year

group in the Academy for next year. This will show you the topics and any trips and special events that we are planning to deliver. We have ensured that for next year there will be a minimum of 2 events for every year group

where parents will be invited to share with us in the Academy either through assemblies or enrichment

opportunities. We will be running a series of workshops for parents to demystify teaching and learning in core

subjects and how parents can support their children. Finally, we feel that the “Twitter trial” in Y4 has been well

received and intend to run this out to all classes.

Pirates of the

Curry Bean

Our Year 6

students put

on a fantastic

and hilarious

performance

this year. We

have recorded

the production

and hope to

have it on DVD

very soon. Further information on this will be sent

out by text. Thank you to all our staff involved in the

production. Well done year 6!

The Queen’s Birthday

To celebrate the Queen’s birthday this year the

children dressed in red, white and blue for a march

around the playground. They sang the national

anthem and enjoyed a visit from Major S. M. Hardy

from the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy.

Rook’s Nest Academy

Newsletter Issue 17—15th July 2016

Dangerous Driving

Over the summer the local authority will be trying to appoint a new crossing patrol person to stand on Rook’s Nest Road. We

have sent out numerous requests for parents to consider the most appropriate places and ways to park up when they are

dropping off or collecting their children. It still seems that some parents are willing to ignore this and put children’s lives at risk. I

have recently received an email from a concerned motorist (as I do on a regular basis) voicing her concerns and thought that

sharing an outsider’s perspective might help us to make changes to our habits for next September.

“Hello, every morning I drive past your school to work and see the most worrying behaviours from parents every day. Examples

are parents and children not crossing the road at the designated point, parents allowing their children to get out of cars on the

road side instead of the pavement, parents on their mobiles totally unaware of where their children are and regularly cars are

double parked with children behind them . This morning I saw a mother walking her small son to school texting on her mobile

with her son running quite a way ahead of her. I slowed right down through fear of him running into the road, she was

completely oblivious.

Many other drivers do not go as slow as I do and I dread to think what may happen. For the sake of the children and car drivers

I would strongly ask that parents are reminded to parent and ensure their behaviour looks after their children and does not

place them at risk which they are now.”

Cashless system

Thank you for all those parents who have responded

positively to the system. As with all new ventures there will always be a few teething problems but we feel that those are

being dealt with. For next year school meals will be £2 per

day.

Fine Dining

In recognition of exemplary

behaviour at lunchtimes nine of

our students were treated to a

fine dining experience. They

were waited on by the staff and

enjoyed their lunchtime in style.

Musical Talent

Our students performed another

marvellous evening of music to

show off all the musical talent we

have at Rook’s Nest. In addition

to the choir and vocal solos,

there were piano soloists,

violinists, brass and woodwind

players, guitarists and drummers.

The inspired final song choice of

Europe’s A Final Countdown

turned out to be an uncanny

premonition from Mrs Wilcox on

the future of British politics. Perhaps next

year we could sing “With or without EU”.

Sports Days

This year we were lucky, on the whole,

with the weather and enjoyed watching the

children compete in their sports days.

Mini Olympics Competition

Some of the Outwood Together schools

had a joint sports event where the children

competed in various events. Rook’s Nest

won the sprint and came second in the

hurdles.

Rounders

Year 6 came joint first in a rounders

competition at Jerry Clay Academy.

Afterschool Clubs

We will be offering lots of different activities throughout

the year. Letters will be sent out at the beginning of

each ½ term. These are the ones we have arranged so

far.

Club Year group

Autumn 1 Hockey

Gardening

Netball

Chess Club

Football

Drama

Choir

Y5/6

KS2

Y4/5

Y4/5

Y5/6

Y3/4

KS2

Autumn 2 Hockey

Gardening

Craft

Sewing

Story teller

Drama

Y5/6

KS2

KS1

Y5/6

KS1

Y5/6

Spring 1 Gardening

Writing

Dance

Drama

Choir

KS2

Y6

Y6

Y3/4

KS2

Spring 2 Basketball

Gardening

Craft

Writing

Drama

Choir

Y3/4

KS2

KS1

Y6

Y5/6

KS2

Summer 1 Basketball

Gardening

Baking

Writing

Drama

Choir

Y3/4

KS2

Y2

Y6

Y3/4

KS2

Summer 2 Gardening

Badminton

Dance

Art

Drama

Rounders

Choir

KS2

KS2

Y6

Y4/5

Y5/6

Y3/4

KS2

September 2016

5th Return to school

13th Leeds Industrial Musium Y6

21st Eden Camp Y4 & Y5

Thackray Medical Museum Y2

23rd INSET

27th & 28th Oakwell Hall Y3

October 2016

12th Harvest Festival — 2 pm (venue TBC)

17th-19th Robin Wood Y6

19th Y2 “Making a Healthy Broth”

- Parent Enrichment 9:30

November 2016

18th Children in Need (further details TBC)

25th Drop Down Friday — “Keeping Ourselves Safe”

December 2016

1st Drop Down Thursday — “Around the World”

2nd Christmas Fayre — 2-4pm

5th-9th Christmas Performances

12th EYFS & KS1 Pantomime

12th-16th Christmas Parties

February 2017

10th Drop Down Friday — E-Safety

27th INSET

March 2017

3rd Drop Down Friday — “World Book Day” -

No Fancy Dress

22nd—24th Cober Hill Y4

April 2017

6th EYFS & Y1 “Design a Dinosaur” - Parent Enrichment

May 2017

8th-12th SATS KS2

19th Drop Down Friday — “International Day”

24th EYFS & Y1 “Teddy Bears Picnic” - Parent Enrichment

26th INSET

June 2017

23rd Drop Down Friday — “Moving On”

July 2017

10th Sports Day — KS1 — 9:30am

11th Sports Day — EYFS — 10am & 2pm

12th Sports Day — KS2 — 9:30am

14th Summer Fayre — 2-4pm

Rook’s Nest Academy

Dates For Your Diary Issued July 2016

Parents workshops

Will be held on Wednesday evenings after school.

Parents Workshops Autumn 1 Autumn 2

EYFS Phonics and Spelling Maths development

KS1 Phonics and Spelling Maths development

KS2 Phonics and Spelling Maths development

PE timetables Classes

Monday Y4R

Y6M and Y6H

Y2M and Y2C

Tuesday Foundation and Y1

Y3M and Y3C

Wednesday Foundation and Y1

Thursday Y2C and Y2M

Y6M and Y6H

Friday Y5D

Y4/5L

Graffiti

Class 4R came runners up

on the WDH “Ivor

G o o d s i t e ” h o ar d i n g

painting competition.

Out and About

Year 6 had a wonderful day

wondering around Ilkley

Moor, sorry, on Ilkla Moor

Baht’at. Mrs. Hampshire

was distraught at the lack of coffee and cake on the

way around but everyone

survived.

Huge thanks Parents have raised fantastic amounts of money to support the academy this term. The Summer Fayre raised

£2,132, the Sports Days raised £613 and the Music concerts raised £576. £200 of the money raised at the music

concert was a donation from the family of Nathan and Millie Marris in remembrance of their Grand Mother.

PE timetables

Please make sure children have the

appropriate PE kit for their session.