Issue 13 - Friday 1st December 2023
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are into December and the dark mornings and cold weather hasn't dampened the spirit at school. Parkfield staff stayed lated last night to make sure the school looked festive on the children's arrival into school this morning and we even sang our own version of the 12 days of Christmas during this morning's assembly and Christmas light switch on - I'm sure you're children will share some of the lines with you tonight!
Year 4 had a wonderful trip out earlier this week to M6 theatre in Rochdale where they watched a play and also had the opportunity to meet up with a class from Marland Hill that they had been working with via zoom over the past few months. It was a great experience to meet up and work alongside children from another school and they will get the opportunity to meet again later in the school year.
Please make sure you visit our calendar on the school website which details all the events taking place in the run up to Christmas - there is a lot going on!
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for your continued support.
Mr Kemp
LATEST NEWS
CHRISTMAS DINNER
All children are invited to enjoy Christmas Dinner on Wednesday 20th December. If your child usually has a packed lunch, please contact the school office if you would like them to have a traditional turkey dinner on that day.
CHRISTMAS MOVIE AND CRAFT NIGHT
A reminder that our Christmas Movie night is on the 7th December. If you would like your child to attend, please send in your £4 as soon as possible or pay on School Gateway. An email has been sent with further information about the event.
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Keep an eye out for an email detailing how you can have a chance to win in PARKFIELD'S BIG CHRISTMAS RAFFLE! There are some fantastic prizes to be won - thanks to those that have donated - it is really appreciated. The raffle will be drawn live via zoom on Wednesday 20th December. We are hoping to raise over £1,000 like we have done so over the past couple of years.
ADVENT CALENDARS
Thank you to the Lighthouse Project in Middleton who had a surplus of advent calendars and decided to donate them to ourselves. It means that all Parkfielders in infants have been treated to an advent calendar and will come home with them today.
MR HENSON RETIRING
Our much loved caretaker, Mr Henson, who has been at Parkfield for well over 20 years, is retiring at Christmas. As a result, we are recruiting for his post and an advert is out on the GreaterJobs page - if you know anyone that would love the job - please let them know.
GIRLS FOOTBALLERS
Congratulations to the girls football team that drew 1-1 against St. Mary's earlier this week. Mrs Banks was very proud of each and everyone of you and was impressed with your resilience, despite the cold weather.
PE AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Please note that there will be no afterschool sports clubs for the remainder of this year due to fixtures, school events and the dark afternoons. New clubs will be starting back in January and an email giving further details will be sent when we return after Christmas.
YEAR 2 FAMILY LEARNING THANK YOU
Thank you to those family members of children in Year 2 that were able to join us earlier on this week for the maths lesson. We hope you enjoyed the session and found it useful.
YEAR 1 FAMILY LEARNING AND YEAR 5 CLASS ASSEMBLY POSTPONED
We've had to postpone these events to early January so that the hall can be used as much as possible for the classes rehearsing for their Christmas plays. Sorry for any inconvenience caused with this change.
REMINDERS
SPRINGHILL HOSPICE REINDEER RUN SPONSORSHIP
We are raising money this Christmas for Springhill Hospice by taking part in the annual Reindeer Run that they organise with schools and groups across the borough. Parkfielders will be taking part in the run, wearing some lovely antlers that have been provided for them, during one of their PE lessons in the final weeks of the term. The actual date for each class will be weather dependant. As a school community we will walk, run, prance or dance around school, all whilst raising money for a very important local cause.
The need to fundraise on behalf of the local people Springhill Hospice supports has never been greater. The Hospice cares and supports people in our community with life limiting illnesses, from the start of their diagnosis right up until the end of their lives. This can be through medical support, emotional support and psychological support. All of their services are completely free of charge.
Being sent home today is your child’s Reindeer Run sponsorship envelope, provided by Springhill Hospice, so that your friends and family can add their support to your child. I would be grateful if you could arrange to bring their sealed envelope, with money that has been donated inside, back into school on or before Monday the 18th December. Please make sure your child’s name and the school name is written on the front of the envelope.
Springhill Hospice created the Reindeer Run as a way to unite Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton schools and to help make a real difference to a cause close to so many our hearts – as well as adding something special to our school festivities this year.
Thank you in advance for your support.
CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES
A maximum of three family members for each child are able to attend the Christmas shows taking place in school and there is no cost for attending. Please put the dates and times in your diaries and we hope you can make it. Please note that tickets will not be sent out for the performances.
Reception: Tuesday 19th December 2023 at 2.15pm
Year 1: Monday 18th December 2023 at 2.15pm
Year 2: Thursday 14th December 2023 at 2.15pm
PRIZES WANTED - CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
We are going to be holding our Christmas Raffle for the fourth year in a row later this term to raise money for the school. This has been a great fundraising event for us. If you are a local business holder that is able to help out and donate a prize please contact the school office and let us know how you can help. Thanks in advance.
PANTOMIME
A reminder that the whole school Pantomime trip can now be paid for using School Gateway. The trip has been subsidised by the school meaning that the cost of each ticket is only £7. The trip is going to take place on Friday 15th December.
CHRISTMAS MOVIE & CRAFT NIGHT - HELP NEEDED
Our School Council would like to put on a Christmas movie night on Thursday 7th December from 3 - 5pm. However, we need some help from parents/carers to make sure we have enough supervision across the school and to ensure we can include all Parkfielders. If you are able to support on the evening, please contact the school office - any help would be much appreciated.
CLASS DOJO
We have now over 140 parents signed up! Click this link to set up a parent account which we will then approve. This will provide you with the opportunity to see how many Dojo points your child has earnt and what for. Please note that we are only using the app for Dojo points, not messages or photos, therefore you do not need any of the subscription options you might be offered.
TIMESTABLE ROCKSTARS (TTRS)
The vast majority of Parkfielders are logging in on a weekly basis to TTRS to help develop their quick recall of multiplication facts. More information about this great resource can be found here: https://ttrockstars.com/parents/
Latest Class Updates
SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION
Mr Kemp is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by Mrs Clawson and Mrs Smith (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.
More information can be found on the school website here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/safeguarding-and-child-protection.html
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 and we need your continued support to ensure that we meet this mark.
ATTENDANCE - HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME
Please note that, in line with the school policy, fines will be issued to families that go on a term time holiday where children miss 5 consecutive full days. Currently the fine is £60 per child per parent which equates to a £240 fine for a two parent family with two children. If you are going on holiday due to exceptional circumstances, please speak to the headteacher as a fine may not have to be issued. More information an be found on our attendance policy found here.
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