Issue 15 - Friday 17th December 2021
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a wonderful end of term it has been this week at Parkfield. Christmas week has been fun filled with nativities, carol concerts, christmas dinners and parties and the whole school have had a great end to the term.
It was lovely this week to be able to invite families into the school to watch the nativity performances. The children performed brilliantly - singing songs and reading their lines with plenty of enthusiasm and joy. Thanks to all that attended - I'm sure you've been provided with a few cherised memories. Photos of this week's events can be found on our Photo Album page.
We have had three covid cases over this last week and I suspect that will continue into the holidays and the new year. If any child does test positive over the next week, please drop me an email (head@parkfield.rochdale.sch.uk) so that I can let other parents know. This will help keep our community as safe as possible over the festive period.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at Parkfield for their hard work and resilience over the past term. The ongoing covid restrictions, high level of staff absences and the constant drive for improvement has meant that this has been a challenging term for all. We are lucky to have such a great team at Parkfield.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I look forward to seeing you all back on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Mr Kemp
LATEST NEWS
GOOD LUCK MR BARNES
Mr Barnes leaves us today after 11 years at the school. Since joining as a newly qualified teacher he has taught over 300 Parkfielders (prodominantly in Year 6) and has certainly had a significant impact on those pupils and towards the success of the school. Mr Barnes has also had a huge impact on the quality of the languages curriculum at the school and our pupils have enjoyed learning Spanish in his lessons over the years. In January he joins St. John Thornham as their Deputy Head and we wish him all the best for the future. I'm sure you will all join me in thanking him for his hard work and dedication towards Parkfield over the past decade.
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Huge thanks to all those that took part in the raffle and well done to the many families that won a number of great prizes. We made a total of £1220 through the raffle which is a fantastic amount. This money helped to subsidise the pantomime which was enjoyed by all last week.
THANK YOU FROM SPRINGHILL HOSPICE
Yesterday's wear your woolies day helped raise over £270 for Springhill Hospice. Thanks to all for joining in and sending in your kind donations.
GOOD LUCK MR HALLISSEY
Good Luck to Mr Hallissey who leaves us today after a short time supporting, as a teaching assistant, in the Y4 class over the past term. Mr Hallissey starts a new role in January at another Rochdale school and we wish him all the best in his new venture.
AUTUMN TERM REPORTS
Children in Y1-6 recieved their Autumn term reports earlier this week which details the effort grades for each subject.
The target sheets for reading, writing and maths can be found on the following links: READING WRITING MATHS These detail the targets that children are working towards by the end of the year.
HOUSE REWARD DAY - NON - UNIFORM DAY - ASSHETON AND WOOD
This half term's house winner with the most points is Assheton (Red) and Wood (Green). As a result, all members of Assheton and Wood house have been awarded a non-uniform day on Friday 7th January 2022.
SPORTS CLUBS
After school clubs will start week beginning the 10th January 2022 and a new form to sign up to clubs will be available in the new year. To further improve the quality of the after school clubs on offer we are going to be limiting numbers of pupils and prioritising those children that demonstrate an excellent attitude in sports and PE lessons. This will help us prepare fully for the myriad of competitions taking place over the Spring and Summer terms.
A range of sports and games opportunities will remain on offer to all pupils every dinner time ensuring all are able to access quality sports provision.
REMINDERS from previous Newsletters
TERM TIME HOLIDAYS
A reminder that any holiday during term time is likely to result in a fine being issued as detailed in our attendance policy (found here). All term time holidays are classed as an unauthorised absence unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you feel there are exceptional circumstances for the holiday, please let us know in writing as soon as possible. Fines are issued by the local authority when 5 consecutive days (10 sessions) have been missed. Currently, a £60 fine is issued to each parent/carer with parental responsiblity for each child. For example, 2 siblings and both parents going on holiday could result in a fine totalling £240 .
CAR PARKING AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE DAY - KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE
We have been made aware of a number of incidents where children have nearly been hit by a car in and around the main school gates and along Harold street at the beginning and end of the school day. Please help keep everyone safe by parking away from the school gates and walking up to the playground. The safety of our children is paramount and only with your support on this matter can we keep our pupils as safe as possible.
DATES FOR THE DIARY 2021-22
An updated list of events and holiday dates can be found here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/calendar-inc-holiday-lists.html . This is updated regularly and gives upto date information about what's happening at the school.
PARKFIELD SCHOOL LOTTERY
If you'd like the opportunity to win £25,000 each week and support the school you can do so by joining the school lottery. There is a winner from our school each week that wins a smaller prize but there is always the chance of winning the national prize of £25,000. More details and how to join can be found here: https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/parkfield-primary-school
SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION
Mrs Whalen is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by Mr Kemp and 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.
ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY
As you are all aware, school attendance and punctuality is one of Parkfields priorities and I have been thrilled with the support that parents have been giving with regards to improving their children’s attendance.
Our school target is 96%. We are currently below this target and we need your continued support to ensure that we meet this mark.
Persistent Absence
Persistent absence is defined by the Government as attendance below 90%. This equates to 19 days or more of absence a year or 100+ lessons missed. If a child’s attendance drops below 90% this could lead to them becoming a safeguarding concern. This could also result in the authority taking legal action against parents, resulting in a fine or court appearance. Over the next few weeks I will be making contact by letter with the families of children whose attendance is below 90% to invite you into school for a discussion about how we can support you to improve your child’s attendance.
Thank you so much to all the families who have been working hard to ensure children’s attendance and punctuality is high. Establishing early good habits really will make a positive difference to their lives. The link between attendance and achievement cannot be over stated. Your child will achieve better if they are in school every day. Only in very exceptional circumstances should a child be absent from school.
Punctuality
Please get your child to school on time. Poor punctuality can lead to your child…
Feeling embarrassed in front of their friends
Missing the beginning of vital lessons making them fall behind
Missing important instructions for the rest of the school day
At Parkfield children are to line up before school and doors open at 8.45am. They close at 8.50am.
If you arrive after 8.50am you will have to come through the school office.
Thank you for your support.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Don't forget coats! It's getting very cold.
If driving, park further away from the school and walk to reduce congestion and the possiblity of any serious accidents.
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.
