Ripon Cathedral School Update

Last week, we were proud to present our KS2 production of I'm an Eleven Year-Old... Get Me Out of Here! Inspired by the popular television show, the production transformed the school into ‘camp’, where the children became the stars of the show. Keeping the familiar format, the audience enjoyed a series of hilarious "star challenges" with a school-themed twist, including tackling school dinners, facing the embarrassment of parents, and surviving tricky grammar rules!

The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the performances, and it was wonderful to see how much they had grown in confidence throughout the rehearsal process. Their hard work really shone through on stage, and the catchy songs had everyone smiling – we are still humming them around school now! The audience also played their part, and we would like to thank everyone who joined in with the grammar trial with such enthusiasm!

We have received some brilliant feedback from those who came to watch, which is a real testament to the children's efforts.

A huge thank you to all of our KS2 classes for their commitment and teamwork, and a special congratulations to our Year 6 pupils, who led the production brilliantly. We are incredibly proud of everyone who helped make the show such a memorable success, and particular thanks must go to Miss Haslam and Mrs Shawcross for their superb directing and choreography skills.

It has been a memorable and emotional week as we celebrated our fantastic Year 6 pupils and marked the end of their primary school journey.

Our celebrations began last Friday with a special Leavers' Service at the Cathedral, where our children joined around 400 Year 6 pupils from schools across the area. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their time in primary school and look ahead to the exciting adventures that await them.

On Monday, the children enjoyed a brilliant day at Flamingo Land. From thrilling rides to spending time with friends, there were smiles, laughter and plenty of unforgettable moments throughout the day.

Yesterday, we came together for our Leavers' Assembly. It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate, and was filled with the children’s favourite songs, thoughtful poems and the sharing of some great memories from the children's time at school. There were certainly plenty of smiles, as well as a few tears, as we celebrated all that our Year 6 pupils have achieved and the friendships they have made along the way.

Today, we rounded off the celebrations in style with a fun-filled water fight and bouncy castles! It was the perfect way to end a fantastic week and create even more happy memories before the children move on to the next stage of their education.

We are incredibly proud of every one of our Year 6 pupils. Thank you to all the staff, families and everyone who helped make these celebrations so special. We wish our leavers every success and happiness for the future—they will always be part of our school family.

Our recent School Colour Run was a fantastic success! We were incredibly lucky with the warm, sunny weather, which made the event even more enjoyable for everyone involved. The children had an amazing time running, laughing, and being showered with colourful powder as they completed the course.

By the end of the event, there were smiles all around, and every child went home covered in a rainbow of colours! It was a wonderful day filled with fun, excitement and team spirit, all while raising valuable funds for our library renovation project. The total so far is £1,743 - amazing!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated and helped make the Colour Run such a memorable and successful event. There is still time to pay in your sponsorship money through ParentPay.

This week, we presented our Superstars of the term, in a special worship for EYFS and KS1, and as part of the performances for KS2. This term, staff have chosen:

Nursery – Freddie G. Throughout the term, he has consistently demonstrated what it means to be a kind, thoughtful and caring member of the Nursery family. He is always ready to help others and shows genuine care and consideration for those around him.

Reception – Melo. She has had a fantastic year in Reception, coming into school every day with a positive attitude and trying her very best. Melo approaches every activity with determination and is never afraid to have a go. Her confidence and independence have grown throughout the year, and she shows wonderful perseverance which is something to be proud of.

Year 1 – Wilfred. It has been an absolute pleasure to teach Wilfred this year! He has approached each day with a positive attitude and a real determination to do his very best, making wonderful progress across all areas of the curriculum. It has been lovely to see him growing in confidence too, making new friendships and playing with others in a kind and respectful way.

Year 2 – Malachi. He is a truly deserving recipient of the Superstar award, as he approaches every aspect of his learning with exceptional determination and perseverance. He works incredibly hard to produce his best work and, when faced with a challenge, never complains or gives up.

Year 3 – Cleo. She has been a pleasure to teach this year, being mature and hardworking, and showing perseverance and resilience in everything she does. Cleo can always be called upon to do a job, including being the ‘Recommended Reads Class Librarian’ for the year! She gives her all and has flourished academically.

Year 4 – Alisa. She has been an absolute superstar this year. She has grown in confidence throughout the year and has embraced every opportunity to challenge herself, showing resilience and determination in all areas of the curriculum. She is an excellent role model to her peers and is impeccably behaved at all times.

Year 5 – Sophie. She has had a superb final term in Year 5, being a dedicated learner who always tries her best. She approaches even tricky tasks with real enthusiasm, and is polite, well-mannered and always eager to help around the classroom.

Year 6 – Amelia. She has made incredible progress this year, both academically and socially. She has truly upped her game, embracing every opportunity that school has to offer with enthusiasm, confidence and a positive attitude.

Well done to all our Superstars this term!

Year 2 had a fantastic day on their trip to Whitby! We enjoyed seeing Whitby Abbey, walking down the famous 199 steps, and took a lovely boat ride along the coast. We also visited the RNLI Museum, where we learned all about the important work of the lifeboat crews.

Of course, the highlight of the day for many of us was enjoying an ice cream in the sunshine!

Year 2 were brilliantly behaved throughout the trip and were fantastic ambassadors for our school. They showed excellent manners, enthusiasm and curiosity wherever we went. It was a brilliant day with lots of new experiences!

Year 1 had a wonderful time visiting the Ripon Theatre Festival on Friday to watch Opera North's delightful performance of The Mini Magic Flute. The children really enjoyed the engaging production, and were wowed by the incredible singing, beautiful music and interactive storytelling.

The children proudly shared the fantastic birds they had created in school, inspired by the story and its themes. It was wonderful to see their creativity on display!

The school hall was filled with excitement and applause on Wednesday, as pupils took to the stage for the Talent Show. The audience was treated to an incredible variety of performances. There were amazing singers, energetic dancers, talented musicians, impressive gymnasts, exciting football skills, mind-boggling magic tricks, not to mention mental maths, beatboxing and even some wonderfully unusual finger movements! Every act brought something unique, keeping the audience engaged for an afternoon of fun and entertainment.

It was wonderful to see the courage and confidence shown by every performer. Standing in front of a hall full of people takes bravery, and everyone who took part should be extremely proud of themselves. Whether it was their first time on stage or they were experienced performers, each participant gave their very best.

The audience also played an important part in making the Talent Show such a success. Their enthusiastic applause, cheers and encouragement helped all the acts feel supported. A huge well done to everyone who performed. We can't wait to see what amazing talents will be showcased at next year's Talent Show!

Today we are saying a fond farewell to Miss Okey. She has been a fantastic member of the school team for two years, working across a range of classes, and providing support, care and kindness to both pupils and staff. We are incredibly grateful for everything Miss Okey has contributed to our school. While we will miss her greatly, we wish her every happiness and success as she establishes her new business. Thank you and good luck! You will always be part of our school community.

Huge thanks are due to the Friends of the School and to all the families who have supported their events this year. Earlier in the week, Wayne presented a cheque for £2000 to the school, which is a fantastic amount. Well done to all!

The raffle was also drawn this week and all prize winners have been to collected their winnings!

Parking permits for the St Marygate Car Park will be available in the new school year. Please email Mrs Bingham on rbingham@riponcathedral.n-yorks.sch.uk with your name and car registration number. Permits will be ready for collection as close to the beginning of term as possible.

FEAST is back this summer, offering holiday activities with a healthy meal for young people aged 16 and under across North Yorkshire. Better yet, if you are eligible for benefits-related free school meals then your place is fully-funded.

Funded places are available for children who receive benefits-related Free School Meals (or who are eligible by exception – see the FEAST FAQs for details). Each activity you book includes a free healthy meal for your child.

Families who are not eligible for funded places may be able to book paid places directly with providers. Visit the FEAST website to explore what’s on this summer.

Email: admin@riponcathedral.n-yorks.sch.uk
Website: www.riponcathedralschool.org.uk
Location: HG41LT, United Kingdom
Phone: 01765 602355
Facebook: facebook.com/riponcathschool