Issue 15 - Friday 11th December 2020

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

In every newsletter I try to include a number of photographs from our Twitter feed that give an overview of what has been happening at school over the past week. Today, I had a huge number to choose from due to the range of fabulous experiences and memorable moments that our dedicated and hardworking Parkfield staff had planned and delivered within the past week. If you don't already do so, I urge you to spend a little time each week looking at our Twitter feed - it really is wonderful. Our twitter feed now has over 10,000 tweets and is updated daily with school information, news and photographs. You can also find tweets from a particular class by clicking on the following links.

Rec - Y1 - Y2 - Y3 - Y4 - Y5 - Y6

The news this week of the first vaccinations being given across the country provided us all with a little hope that normality will return in 2021. Although we've had to postpone or cancel many of the events we usually hold at this time of the year, I'm happy to report that on my daily walks around school the normal Parkfield atmosphere - with happy, positive and excited children - is clear to see.

In the final week of term I would hate to have to close a class bubble and have children and staff having to isolate over the Christmas period. As a result, I'm asking all families to be extra vigilant and to follow the rules of self isolating if a child or family member is displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

We have an exciting Christmas week ahead of us with plenty happening so please make sure you digest the range of information below.

Mr Kemp

LATEST NEWS

THURSDAY 17th DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY - WEAR YOUR WOOLIES DAY

For a suggested donation of £1, children can wear non-uniform along with a Christmas Jumper this Thursday 17th December. All monies raised will go towards the local charity - Springhill Hospice.

THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS DINNER DAY

If you would like your child to have a Christmas dinner, and they usually have a packed lunch, please let the office know or pay for the meal on School Gateway. If your child is in Reception, Y1 or Y2, they're entitled to a free Christmas dinner.

FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER - GAMES DAY & CHRISTMAS PARTY DAY

This Monday, children are welcome to bring one game into school that can be played with on the final day of term. When the games arrive on Monday, they will be 'quarantined' so that can be safely played with on Friday. No expensive or electronic games please. We feel this will make the final day of this term a little more special.

In addition to the games, children can come to school on Friday in their party clothes ready for their class Christmas party. Parties will be taking place throughout the day.

LIBRARY NAMING

Thanks to all those children that suggested a new name for our revamped library. There were some very creative suggestions and in the end the school council voted for the 'Book Den'. I'm sure our Parkfielders will have plenty of time in future getting lost in a book or two in 'The Den'.

LEARNING LOGS

The Autumn 2 Learning Logs are due in this Monday. If your child has completed the tasks please send them into school and they'll be able to share their work with the rest of the class.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

If you'd like the chance to win some fabulous prizes please send your money to the office before next Wednesday. Prizes include a bed (thank you https://www.facebook.com/40winksofmiddleton/ ) a tablet, an M&S hamper and plenty of Christmas goodies!

SCHOOL OPEN ON THE 18th DECEMBER

You may have read in the news that schools have been given the option by the DfE to close early for Christmas and use Friday 18th December as an INSET day. I can confirm that Parkfield will be open on Friday 18th December.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Children can bring in Christmas cards for the final time this Monday 14th December. Our covid safe way of delivering cards involves children posting cards to their friends in our Christmas postbox (which will come around to each class in the school). These will then be handed out on a Friday once the elves have sorted through them. Please ensure each envelope has either the full name or class of the child on the front to ensure they receive their card.

END OF TERM ASSEMBLY

Next Thursday, rather than Friday, we will be holding our end of term assembly. If your child is at home self isolating, please put on their Christmas jumper and join us for the event by clicking on the link below:

Thursday 17th December - Achievement Assembly 10am https://zoom.us/j/98045625355?pwd=SW9vVStTNFc4N1NhRDliNWxMY1Z0dz09

CHRISTMAS CRAFT NIGHTS

Thank you to the large number of families that supported the Christmas Craft nights. The children had a lovely time at the events held earlier this week and we hope those crafts will come in use over the Christmas period. We made a total of £414 and this money will go towards towards subsidising the school pantomime trip , which is now taking place later in the year, and the purchase of additional iPads.

RECEPTION NATIVITY PERFORMANCE

Unfortunately, this year's nativity performance will not be attended by parents. Government guidelines say that audiences are not permitted in tier 3 areas.

Like ourselves, you will be disappointed with this news but we will be producing a video of a performance that all parents and carers will be able to download for free. Please keep an eye on your emails.

USBOURNE BOOKS ARRIVE

Over £1000 worth of brand new books arrived at the school this week after the sponsored reading event that took place before half term. We can't wait to get the books into the classrooms so the children can start reading them and take them home. Thanks again for your support.

HOME SCHOOLING PROVISION QUESTIONNAIRE

If your child or children have had to self isolate at any point since September, please let us know what you thought of the home schooling provision provided by spending a couple of minutes on the questionnaire found here: CLICK HERE FOR THE QUESTIONNAIRE

PARENT GOVERNOR

All parents were emailed earlier on in the week about a vacant Parent Governor position. If you are interested please complete and return the form attached to the email before the deadline of 12pm on Wednesday 16th December. If you have any questions in the meantime please email head@parkfield.rochdale.sch.uk

CORONAVIRUS

A reminder that our Covid-19 information page is being regularly updated and includes an up to date risk assessment. If you're unsure about the guidelines that are to be followed, the information will be on this page.


Attendance

Overall Whole School Attendance: 96.2%

This week's Whole School Attendance: 97.6%


Our whole school attendance target for this academic year is 96%.

Reception: 97.3%

Year 1: 99.3%

Year 2: 97.2%

Year 3: 100%*****

Year 4: 98.5%

Year 5: 93.8%

Year 6: 98.1%

School Dinners

Our exciting, new school menu can be found here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/dinner-menus.html

Dinners cost £2.30 per day or £11.50 per week.

Early Birds and Busy Bees

Spaces are still available. Please contact the school office to book a place.

7.30am - 8.45am = £2.50, 8.15am - 8.45am = £1.50, 3.15 - 5.30pm = £8.00

https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/before-and-after-school-club.html

REMINDERS from previous Newsletters

FREE CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Our annual Christmas Twitter quiz returned this week with a new question being tweeted each day. Children will have brought home an answer sheet for you to take part on. This year it will be free to enter - children can hand in completed answer sheets to their class teacher and we'll pick out two lucky festive prize-winners on Wednesday 16th December.

ATTENDANCE

Although we're in the middle of a global pandemic, our whole school attendance continues to be excellent - proving that Parkfielders want to be in school! We've added an attendance section to the newsletter to keep you informed of the levels of attendance across the school.

SELF ISOLATING PUPILS

Are reminder that self isolating pupils are able to join whole school assemblies on a Monday and Friday using the links below.

Monday Achievement Assembly at 10.10am https://zoom.us/j/93935292371?pwd=UmU3Q1VKZXIyQlFXTTh6MzJOcVVOUT09

Friday Achievement Assembly at 10.10am https://zoom.us/j/98045625355?pwd=SW9vVStTNFc4N1NhRDliNWxMY1Z0dz09

CHRISTMAS PANTO

Unfortunately, due to the local restrictions of being in tier 3, we now know that the theatre that was putting on the Pantomime production for Y1-6 is unable to take place. However, as we believe the children would love the experience and we want them to enjoy the theatre we have rescheduled to attend the performances later on in the year. Dependent on the restrictions at the time, we hope to now attend the panto just before Easter. More information will follow but if you have already paid this will automatically be transferred over. For those that haven't yet paid, there's plenty of time now to pay the £10.

EDGAR WOOD ACADEMY

Our pupils are going to have more choice of local high schools in future. Edgar Wood Academy was approved by the Department for Education to enter its pre-opening phase in summer 2019. The 11-16 state-funded secondary school will be operated by Altus Education Partnership which is also responsible for the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Rochdale Sixth Form College. The new secondary school is proposed to open in temporary accommodation in September 2021 with the permanent school building targeted for September 2022. The permanent site will be located on land at Bowlee, accessed off Heywood Old Road in the Middleton area of Rochdale.

As part of the pre-opening phase, the academy are very keen to receive feedback from local community members, parents and potential pupils, stakeholders, educators, professionals and providers.

For more information about the consultation, please visit https://edgarwood.org/consultation/ and you can submit any feedback through the following link: https://edgarwood.org/consultation-questionnaire/.

Our current Y6 pupils are able to apply for next September even if you have applied to other schools in the local authority. The following link has more information. https://edgarwood.org/apply/

CURRICULUM WEBSITE

Please visit the curriculum section of our website to find out about the learning that will be taking place in your child's class this next half term. https://curriculum.parkfieldprimary.com/long-term-plans

PSHE CURRICULUM

At Parkfield we have always taught Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) but from this September 2020 the relationships and health aspect of the subject is compulsory for all schools to deliver. We have produced a 5 minute video (see below or on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDsmjgr9LzU ) to explain the changes to the curriculum and welcome any comments or questions by completing the following online form: https://forms.gle/74cPzL3VmG2EAvbF9

HOME LEARNING FOR SELF ISOLATING PUPILS

If your child is at home self isolating work is being set via our online system 'Showbie' so that they can complete work in line with what their peers will be learning in the classroom. Teachers are able to comment and feedback on work that is submitted. For more information please visit the home learning section of the website - https://curriculum.parkfieldprimary.com/home-learning

PUPIL MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

We've been asked to share the following link with families that are worried about their child's mental health and wellbeing due to the coronavirus. The website found here gives some great advice on how you can support your child at this difficult time: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-for-parents-families-and-young-people/frequently-asked-questions/

SCHOOL OFFICE ACCESS

To keep staff safe in the current climate it is vital that parents and carers only come to the school office if it is essential. Money and letters can be placed in school bags which will then be collected by class teachers and messages can be taken via the phone or email. If you do have to enter the premises a facemask must be worn.

A reminder that school starts at 8.45 promptly and classroom doors are open until 9am each morning. Late arrivals after this time must enter via the main entrance.

BIRTHDAY TREATS REMINDER

Unfortunately, children are not be able to bring in any sweets/cake to share with their classmates for their birthday. As an alternative, we would be extremely grateful if they want to donate a book to their class library. Thanks to the many that have already donated something this year.

PROSPECTIVE PARENTS - VIRTUAL OPEN DAY

If you are or know of any prospective parents for September 2021 please share the following link with them: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/admissions.html

PE LESSONS

Please ensure your child comes to school dressed in their full outdoor PE kit.

      • Monday: Year 3 and 4

      • Tuesday: Year 5 and 6

      • Thursday: Year 1 and 2

Please note: Reception do not require an outdoor PE kit. More information can be found here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/uniform.html

SCHOOL PLACES AVAILABLE

For anyone who might be interested: Our school is almost full but we have a few spare places in Y4. Contact the school office for more details. There is a process with Rochdale LA to follow, but we can help.

Safeguarding

Mrs Whalen is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by Miss Steele (Deputy DSL). If you have any concerns about the needs or welfare of a pupil, please don't hesitate to contact the school. We all share a responsibility to our pupils safety and wellbeing.

As a school our promise is: We will listen, we will support and we will take action.

Health and Safety

  • Unfortunately, Parents and Carers are not allowed to drop off and pick up from the school car park at any time.

  • Children are not allowed on the play equipment before and after school. Please keep them off.

parental guide among us.pdf

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