Issue 37 - Friday 1st July 2022
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
Can you believe it is already July??!! With only a few weeks left at school before the summer holidays, Parkfield is racing towards the break with one event after another providing some great experiences and memorable moments for our Parkfielders.
Unfortunately today's planned sports day had to be postponed due to the weather. I was hoping that the rain would hold off but when a deluge came down over dinner we made the decision on health and safety grounds. The re-arranged sports day will now take place on Wednesday 13th July from 1.30pm (weather permitting).
Thanks to those families that were able to attend yesterday's Y2 class assembly. We hope you enjoyed the event as it gives our pupils a great opportunity to speak to a large audience and showcase their work from over the year.
Events over the next few weeks include maths passport championships, Y1 class assembly, choir events, trip to Old Trafford to watch England women, Y6 leavers events, Parkfield's Got Talent and the Summer Fair.
Thanks for your continued support - have a wonderful weekend.
Mr Kemp
TRANSITION DAY
All children will be moving up to their new classes and teachers this Tuesday for our annual transition day. With year 6 attending their new high schools the remaining Parkfielders have the opportunity to experience a day with their new teacher in their new classrooms. Children will come into school in their usual entrance before going to their new classes. Children currently in Years 4 and 5 need to wear their PE kits as they will be having PE on Tuesday afternoon when in Year 5 and Year 6 classrooms.
CLASS TEACHING STAFF FOR SEPTEMBER 2022
There are very few changes to staffing next year and the staffing will be as follows:
Reception: Miss Iqbal and Miss O'Connell (Mrs Price on maternity leave)
Year 1: Mrs Hartley and Mrs Gully
Year 2: Miss McCall and Mrs Mullane
Year 3: Mrs Gooding and Mrs Bardsley
Year 4: New member of staff and Mrs Naughton (Mrs Taylor on maternity leave)
Miss Bradley has recently been permanently appointed at another local school and we are in the process of recruiting another excellent temporary class teacher.
Year 5: Mrs Acil and Miss Dipnall
Year 6: Mrs Howard and Mrs Jeffrey
Members of our excellent SEND team will be confirmed later in the term as we are currently in the process of recruiting additional staff.
FORFEIT DAY - NEXT FRIDAY 8TH JULY
In exchange for a 'bottle' (e.g. wine, juice, cordial, pop...etc) children can come to school dressed in non-uniform next Friday. All bottles donated will be used as prizes at the Summer Fair which is due to take place the following week. Thanks in advance for your support with this. CHOIR MEMBERS can bring their uniform in a bag please to change into before their performance that afternoon.
SUMMER FAIR
If any family or friends are able to support at the Summer Fair on Friday 15th July please contact the school office. We will need help setting up and running the various stalls on the day and any help would be appreciated.
REMINDER - PARENTS AND CARERS OBSERVING AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Thanks so much for your support with the new safeguarding measures we brought in a few weeks ago where we decided that it would be better for both pupils and staff if parents and carers no longer observed the after school extra curricular clubs. A reminder that parents and carers will still be more than welcome to attend matches as your support at these events is very much appreciated.
EARLY BIRDS AND BUSY BEES - SEPTEMBER BOOKINGS
You will have received an email with information regarding booking for Early Birds and Busy Bees for September onwards. You'll be pleased to know that the governors have agreed to simplify the pricing structure and reduce the cost of Early Birds to £1.50 per session for all pupils (7.30am - 8.45am). Busy Bees will continue to cost £8 per session (3.15 - 5.30pm). To access the booking form you can also click here: https://forms.gle/uakBD8oUrJTweFfN7
YEAR 5 & 6 BREAKFAST BOOSTER
What a great response we have had to our breakfast club - thank you. Pupils can attend for FREE from 8.15am and in addition to breakfast, they will be accessing a range of online resources to support their learning in maths and reading. The club will help prepare our Y6's for high school and our Y5's for the Y6 curriculum.
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. Please ring the school office no later than 8.30am to report an absence.
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.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Dogs are not permitted in the school playground.
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.
