Dear Parents and Carers
Our Parkfield character focus for this half term is dedication and in our new HIIT workouts taking place at the end of dinner times in KS2, there are many pupils demonstrating this quality. Our HIIT workouts are a way of getting our pupils more active on a daily basis and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. The children have loved this new initiative and have enjoyed the variety of exercises that they complete along with music. I am hoping to introduce something similar in KS1 in the near future so they can also demonstrate their dedication to keeping fit.
Congratulations to many of the sports teams that have competed over the past few weeks. Both boys and girls football teams have played really well recently with one of our 6-a-side teams getting through to a final earlier on this week.
Many parents have signed up for Parents Evening which takes place this Wednesday between 3.30pm and 7pm. The sign up sheets, which are filling up, are available in the foyer. All parents will also be able to visit classrooms to look at English and maths books. I look forward to seeing you there.
As always, thanks for your support and please ensure you read the news below, including the dates for your diary.
Mr Kemp
We've had an incredibly 'memorable' day here at Parkfield. All pupils across the school have taken part in a MAD day where they've visited every class and completed a carousel of activities involving music, art and drama. It has been a great opportunity for many of our pupils to demonstrate a love for the arts and there are some wonderful pictures of the day on Twitter.
Monday is a non-uniform day as we are asking for donations towards the Australian charities in need of money following the fires. Children may come to school in something Australian themed...Australian colours, Aussie sports team colours, animals or just Aussie socks or ribbons in your hair - anything at all, no need to buy anything special.
During the day we'll be linking live to Mrs Bracken's son who is in Brisbane, completing activities in class, having a special lunch, raffling off a giant cuddly kangaroo (kindly donated by H Bell and Sons) and a beautiful Koala Bear (donated by JC Mills). We'll also be tree planting with Australian Steve and Mrs Acil. (Fruit Trees donated by H Bell and Sons) and selling seeds such as wildflower meadow, lavender, sweet William etc. (all donated by Recycle Dave) Available from the office or at the Bake Sale. Finally, we will be holding a Bake Sale at the end of the day. Please help by baking or donating some buns or a cake - perhaps some biscuits.
A number of trips have been booked for the next few terms with classes looking forward to some great opportunities linked to their topics. Ordsall Hall, Lyme Park and Tatton Park are just a few of the memorable days out that our Parkfielders will be experiencing.
Please visit our website regularly as it has lots of useful information about the school. It's also regularly updated and includes information about our curriculum, previous presentations for parents, e-safety information and links to school policies.
Your child will be bringing home another book alongside their usual reading book each week. This is their 'reading for pleasure book' that they can choose from the class library each week. When they have completed the book, then please sign their reading record with the date/title/'finished'. We love reading at Parkfield and so to encourage the children to read for pleasure more, they will have a special bookmark ticked off each time they complete a book. They may even win a prize for reading lots and lots! Thank you for your continued support and we hope that you enjoy sharing these books with your child.
To promote a love of reading we are introducing an exciting new initiative called 'Secret Reader'. This is where an adult comes into the class for the last 15 minutes of the day and reads a book to the children. However, the children won't know who is coming in and what is being read until the adult arrives. The secret reader maybe a teacher, older pupil, ex-pupil or a family member from someone in that class. If you're interested please click here to suggest which days would suit you best and the class teacher or office will contact you.
If you have a child in Year 2, you're welcome to join us this Tuesday 28th January in the 'Blue Room' at 9.00am or the Y2 classroom at 3.15pm for a short presentation about the Year 2 SATs tests that take place in May. For those unable to attend, we will upload the presentation online.
As you may be aware, there have been many changes to teaching staff this academic year. However, from Easter I am delighted to announce that I'm expecting to have two of our dedicated Parkfield teachers return back to school: Miss Danby (now Mrs Hartley) will be joining us to teach Year 3 whilst Miss McCall will return to teach Year 4 for the remainder of the school year. Whilst we looking forward to welcoming them back, we will be sad to wave goodbye to the fantastic teachers that have stepped in and done a fantastic job. We wish them all the best for their futures in teaching!
If you're interested in joining our Parkfield lunchtime team, a position has recently become available. The role involves working in the hall between 11.30 and 1.30pm term time only. For an application form and further details, please contact the school office.
Firstly, and most importantly, a HUGE well done and thank you to the 38 children who have 100% attendance for the academic year to date.
Our current attendance figure is 95.2% the national average is 95%.
Arriving on time for school is important as late arrivals are disruptive for the class and can be a cause of distress for the child who is late.
Children can also miss important information during registration including the plan for the day.
At this time of year, thoughts may turn to booking a summer holiday. Absence during term time will not be authorised and it is very important that parents and carers understand that children with unauthorised absences, including holidays, and unexplained absences are at risk of receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice from Rochdale Council.
If your child is too ill to attend school, please contact the school office before 9.30am with full details of your child’s illness/symptoms. If we do not hear from you, we will ring you to find out why your child is not in school. If we are unable to make contact and you do not provide a reason for your child’s absence, this absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Small changes can make a big difference! Why not pack your child’s bag or lunchbox the night before? Set the alarm clock ten minutes earlier? These small changes can help everyone to be ready to leave home in good time, arrive at school punctually and be ready for the day ahead. Thank you for your support in helping to raise our school attendance. If you would like any support or advice on attendance please speak to Miss Steele.
We need to work together to ensure that our children receive their educational entitlement that they deserve.
The PTA are working hard to organise events to raise funds for the pupils of Parkfield.
The up and coming events that need your support are:
Thank you for your continual support, we are promoting fun family events that will raise money for the pupils of Parkfield.
Our current balance is £3480.56.
Find out about how our curriculum is structured and the objectives children learn in each year group and subject.
A range of activities are set each half term related to the learning taking place in the classroom.
Payments for dinners, trips and other activities can be made online using the School Gateway.
Would you like the opportunity to win £25,000 each week and support the school? If so, please join the Parkfield school lottery where one person from our school is guaranteed a prize each week. A percentage of the money raised goes towards school funds.
✅ Please read as much as possible with your child. Just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
✅ There is a spelling test each Friday for Y1-6 and new spellings to be learnt are also given out on a Friday.
✅ Library days: Mon – 5/6, Tues – 3/4, Weds – 1/2, Thurs – R.
✅ Mathletics tasks are set online each week to consolidate and extend learning.
✅ ‘Plain black’ shoes or trainers with no other colours on them
✅ Information about school uniform can be found on the school website here.
✅ All after school clubs finish at 4pm. Please let us know if your child doesn’t want to continue as we usually have long waiting lists.
✅ School water bottles are available for £1 from the school office. No other water bottle is allowed.
✅ All equipment is provided by school. Please don’t send pens, pencils, pencil cases…etc.
✅ Remember to check your emails, we like to send plenty!