Issue 31 - Friday 10th May 2024
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parkfield Families,
We were delighted to host students from Marland Hill this week as they joined our Y4 Parkfielders for a full day of collaborative learning. This visit is part of our ongoing linking project, providing our pupils with opportunities to forge friendships and learn alongside children from a neighboring school.
A key feature of our RE curriculum is having all our Parkfielders visit different places of worship and this week our Y1 had the fantastic opportunity to learn about the Jewish faith during a visit to the synagogue near Heaton Park. Photos of this visit and other memorable moments can be found on our popular photo albums page.
In light of National Deaf Awareness Week, Mr. Robinson used this week's assembly to remind our students of the various ways we can show kindness and support to both our peers and members of the community who are deaf.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support.
Mr Kemp
LATEST NEWS
Y6 SATS
Good luck to our Year 6 pupils who will be taking part in their SATS next week. They have prepared well over the past year and all we ask is for each of them to do their absolute best. Breakfast will be served in the Year 6 classroom each morning next week from 8.15am and all our Y6 pupils are invited. We all know we perform best with a good breakfast inside us!
CHOIR
Congratulations to our choir who performed wonderfully at this week's Rochdale Music Festival. Mrs Hartley was very proud of their performances and in one of the competitions they came in 1st place scoring a huge 98/100 points. Well done all and a huge thanks to Mrs Astley for her efforts in preparing the choir over the past few months.
YEAR 3 PARENT'S EVENING
The year 3 parent's evening had to be postponed back in February and we're now in a position to host in the final week of this term. Please keep an eye on your emails next week for further details.
YEAR 6 SUMMER PLANS
Our Year 6 pupils have a few memorable events to look forward to in their final few months at Parkfield. Please add the following dates to your calendars:
Weds 19th - Fri 21st June: Blackpool Residential
Weds 26th June: Y6 Careers Day
Tues 2nd July: High School Transition Day
Mon 15th July: Y6 Leavers Party @ Parkfield 6.30pm - 9.00pm
Friday 19th July: Y6 Leavers Assembly @ 9am (Families invited)
SPORTS DAY - FRIDAY 7th JUNE 2024
We are hoping the sun will be shining on Friday 7th June from 1-3pm as we prepare to hold our annual sports day.
DINNER MENUS
A reminder that the new summer dinner menus continue next week. You can view them all on the website by clicking here (we're on Week 3 next week).
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS
MONDAY (13/05) - YEAR 3/4 Rounders and Cricket
TUESDAY (14/05) - YEAR 5/6 Rounders and Cricket - CANCELLED DUE TO YEAR 4 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY (15/05) - YEAR 5/6 Multi Sports - CANCELLED DUE TO YEAR 5 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
THURSDAY (16/05) - YEAR 5/6 Athletics
As usual, if the school has a fixture on the evening of a club then the club will not be on. The newsletter and School calendar will be updated each week regarding this.
REMINDERS
MRS PRICE PROMOTION
Unfortunately, Mrs Price will be leaving us at the end of the school year because she has secured a promotion as Deputy Head at a school in Bury. Mrs Price has been a wonderful member of staff at the school for the past five years and she will be missed by all. Recruitment for Mrs Price's replacement will take place over the coming weeks.
READING BOOKS
Please ensure that your child has their reading book available everyday in school along with their personal organiser. All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and some children in Year 3 , that are working on our Read, Write Inc programme, should have two books with them each day as a minimum. Books need sending back into school as these are changed regularly.
NUT ALLERGIES
For the safety for our students with nut allergies, please do not pack anything containing nuts into children’s lunch boxes. Thank you
SCHOOL UNIFORM - BROADBENTS
Good news. Broadbents is going to remain open and they will continue to supply our Parkfield school uniform.
WATER BOTTLES
Due to the increased costs of school water bottles we are going to allow children to bring their own water bottles into school and these can be taken home, washed and returned with fresh water each day. Please can you you send small water bottles because these will then fit under our water towers. Please be aware that water bottles may go missing at times and school aren't responsible for replacing these. As a result, please be mindful of the amount of money spent on a water bottle as we know there are some very expensive makes out there.
CLASS DOJO
We have now over 170 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/
RETURN OF THE 'SECRET READER'
To promote a love of reading we are re-launching our 'Secret Reader' initiative on Friday 8th March (World Book Day). This is where an adult comes into the class for the last 15-20 minutes of the day and reads to the children. However, the children won't know who is coming in and what is being read until the adult arrives. The secret reader may be a teacher, older pupil, ex-pupil or a family member. If you're interested please click here to suggest which days from 8th March onwards that would suit you best and the office will contact you. Thank you!
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.
MENTAL 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