Issue 35 - Friday 16th June 2023
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
Congratulations to all our spelling bee finalists and three winners that took part in the competitions earlier this week. The children demonstrated true positivity and resilience as they competed against each other to become Parkfield's Spelling Bee Champion.
Today, Year 2 have enjoyed their final Edventure day of the year where they have been 'Exploring Scotland'. Please have a look at our popular Twitter feed to find photographs from the day. Year 1 will be looking forward to their next Edventure day which takes place next Friday. You can find details of all our wonderful Edventure days on our curriculum site here.
Another fantastic enhancement to our curriculum this year has been the introduction of Forest school activities delivered by Mrs Banks. Each class has used our Forest school area over the year and the range of exciting and engaging learning opportunities that have taken place can be found here.
Finally, congratulations to our Year 4 ten-pin bowling team that represented the school brilliantly this week when competing against other Middleton schools - Mrs Banks was very impressed!
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for your continued support.
Mr Kemp
LATEST NEWS
STAFFING FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
Please find below the teachers and teaching assistants that will be in each class from September.
Reception: Mrs Taylor and Miss Dippnall
Year 1: Mrs Hartley and Mrs Gully
Year 2: Mrs Price and Mrs Mullane
Year 3: Mrs Gooding and Mrs Bardsley
Year 4: Miss McCall and Mrs Naughton
Year 5: Mrs Acil and Mrs Roworth
Year 6: Mr Robinson and Mrs Jeffrey (We welcome Mr Robinson, an experienced Y6 teacher, who will be joining us from a local Rochdale school)
The class the members of our excellent SEND team will be working in will be confirmed as soon as we are able.
Mrs Howard will be our Deputy Headteacher and one of her roles will be SENCO and she is currently working closely with Mrs Whalen for a smooth transition.
SPORTS DAY - FRIDAY 30TH JUNE @ 1pm
A reminder that Sports Day will take place at 1pm on Friday 30th June, weather permitting. Families are welcome to come along and join us for what is always a highlight of the school year.
CLASS DOJO
You may find your child talking about 'Dojo's' over the next few weeks. It is an online system that allows school staff to award our Parkfielders for their wonderful behaviour in and around school. Many classes are trialling this new and exciting way of awarding 'house points' before we launch it fully in September. More information will follow in future.
TIME TABLES ROCK STARS (TTRS)
After months of successfully trialling Time Tables Rock Stars in Y4 we are going to open this brilliant app to the rest of the school over the next few weeks. Time Tables Rock Stars is an app or website that can be accessed by your child and it helps them practice and improve their multiplication recall skills. Children in Years 1 to 6 can login using link on the school website with their Showbie username and password.
HOT WEATHER
Please remember to send your child with their water bottles, hats and sun cream throughout this hot period. We can then enjoy the sunshine sensibly and safely. During this period we are relaxed with our school uniform and don't expect children to wear ties or jumpers/cardigans. However, please don't send your child to school in sandals as this poses a health and safety risk.
SEND COFFEE MORNING
We would like to invite family and friends of children with special educational needs to a coffee morning on Monday 19th June at 9am. You will be able to network with other parents that have similar experiences. Although the focus will be SEND pupils all parent are welcome. We have also invited Ruth Kelsey – RANS. Mrs Whalen & Miss Steele will also be available to answer any questions.
M6 THEATRE VISIT
Every Parkfielder will be enjoying a performance from M6 theatre company on Tuesday. The show 'Nest' is a highly visual show featuring original songs, beautiful shadow play, and minimal language that tells the story of two birds making a tree their home in the city. Their cosy nest soon holds two very precious eggs, but soon it becomes overcrowded with other stuff, and the birds have to learn how to take care of each other, what's important and finally how to fly.
YEAR 6 RESIDENTIAL
Good Luck to the Year 6 class who are off on their Blackpool Residential next Wednesday. They have a fabulous three days planned before they arrive back on on Friday afternoon. Photos of the trip to Blackpool Tower, the arcades, crazy golf, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Sea Life Centre and Madame Tussauds will all be available throughout the trip via Twitter.
CURRICULUM PLANS FOR SUMMER 2
Please visit our curriculum website to find out what your child will be learning about this next half term. Long term plans can be found on this page and you can click on the different subjects down the side to find out what your child will be learning about in each subject.
YEAR 6 CAREERS DAY - WE NEED YOUR HELP
Do you have a career in the arts, science or technology sector? Would you be willing to give up some time on the morning of Wednesday 28th June to talk to our Year 6 pupils about your career and how you got to where you are today? If so, please CLICK HERE , complete the information form and we will get in touch with you.
SUMMER FAIR - WE NEED YOUR HELP
To ensure it is a huge success , we need help setting up and running the Summer Fair on 14th July 2023. If any individual from families across the school would like to support the school in raising lots of much needed money at the Summer Fair on Friday 14th July, please contact the school office and let us know. Help will be needed from 1pm on the 14th to set stalls up and then to help out after school. The fair usually finishes around 5pm. Thanks in advance - any help will be much appreciated.
BREAKFAST BOOSTER CLUB - YEAR 5 AND 6
A reminder that our morning booster club is for children in Year 5 and 6. The club, which starts at 8.15am every morning, will help our Parkfielders prepare for Year 6 and high school and focuses on maths and reading skills. The club is FREE for all that attend, which also includes a free breakfast! Entrance is through the main hall doors.
EARLY BIRDS AND BUSY BEES BOOKING FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
If you would like to book a place for before and after school club from September please click here: https://forms.gle/WtbQ36wky2iB8XJh8
EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS
Monday - Year 3 & 4 Cricket, Rounders and Athletics
Tuesday - Year 5/6 Football
Wednesday - Year 5/6 Cricket, Rounders and Athletics - CANCELLED DUE TO NUMBERS
Thursday - Year 5/6 Netball - CANCELLED DUE TO NUMBERS
*Please note that if an after school club is cancelled, children are welcome to join the Busy Bees after school club until 4pm OR be picked up at the usual time. We sometimes have to cancel clubs because of fixtures and tournaments that take place where Mrs Banks accompanies the team.
'SECRET READER' SIGN UP - REMINDER
To promote our love to read initiative we are continuing with our 'Secret Reader' events where somebody comes into a class at the end of the day and reads to the class - please don't let them know beforehand as we want to keep it a secret! If you're interested please click here to suggest which days that would suit you best and the class teacher or office will contact you.
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% this year. 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
STAY SAFE EARLY BIRDS - REMINDER
If your child is attending Early Birds, please walk down the path and through the KS1 yard - it may take a few more seconds but it's much safer than walking through the busy car park. If the hall door is ever closed as we now get into the colder months, simply ring the bell for assistance.
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.
influencers.pdfMENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
5 WAYS TO WELLBEING
At Parkfield we promote the 5 ways to Wellbeing which can help children and adults to achieve a more positive lifestyle.
#THRIVE offer a local service for children and young people aged up to 19 years who are experiencing health and wellbeing issues such as feeling stressed, worried or not enjoying things. #Thrive can also provide advice and support to parents, carers and anyone that works with a child or young person. You can find out more information about the service by clicking here: https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/thrive