Issue 8 - Friday 20th October 2023
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
Can you believe it is already the end of the first half term?
This week has been another filled with great events for our Parkfielders. The Y5 family learning event and Y2 class assembly earlier on in the week were well attended and I want to thank those families that were able to come along. In addition, our football team and cross-country runners have been representing the school brilliantly this week demonstrating plenty of resilience and positivity in those events.
A new initiative this year where we link with another Rochdale school started this week. It will involve our Year 4 Parkfielders sharing work and meeting up at an event later in the year with pupils from Marland Hill. Miss McCall will be sharing plenty of photos from the project on Twitter over the year like this one.
And finally, it was wonderful to hand out our Parkfield Character Award this morning to two pupils that demonstrate wonderful listening skills on a daily basis. Thanks to the school councillors for selecting the winners and well done to the five other nominees from across the school.
Have a lovely half term - I look forward to seeing you back in school on Monday 30th October.
Mr Kemp
FAMILY LEARNING - YEAR 4
Family members of children in Year 4 are welcome to join us in the hall on Tuesday 31st October 2023 from 9 - 10am. There will be an opportunity to work alongside your child and support them with their maths. We hope you can make it.
CLASS ASSEMBLY - YEAR 6
Families are welcome to join us in the school hall at 9am on Thursday 2nd November for the Y6 class assembly. Year 6 will be sharing their learning over the past half term. We hope you are able to make it.
OPEN MORNING AT PARKFIELD
Is your child due to start school in September 2024? We are holding one more open morning on Tuesday 14th November from 9.15am for prospective parents to come and see what life is like at Parkfield. Please book in a visit by contacting the school office.
POPPIES
Our school council will be selling Poppies after the half term break. More information to follow.
PHOTOGRAPHS Children who had their photos taken on Thursday will be coming home with a card explaining how you can order your own copies of their photos. Note that if you can’t yet see the photos when you login, they will definitely have been uploaded by Monday.
SAVE THE DATE - MONDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 9am - 10am - SEND COFFEE MORNING
HOUSE REWARD DAY
On Friday 3rd November members of Wood House are able to come to school in non-uniform as a reward for winning the dojo points house competition over the past half term.
YEAR 6 SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS - REMINDER
You can now apply for secondary school places on this website: https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/school-admissions-appeals/apply-secondary-school-place . The deadline is the 31st October 2023.
HOLIDAY PATTERNS
Please note that the holiday patterns for 2024-25 and 2025-2026 are now available on the school website here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/calendar-inc-holiday-lists.html
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.
EXTRA CURRICULAR SPORTS CLUBS - NEXT WEEK
MONDAY - Year 3/4 FOOTBALL 3.15PM - 4PM
TUESDAY - Year 5/6 FOOTBALL 3.15PM - 4PM (CANCELLED DUE TO YEAR 5/6 GIRLS FOOTBALL MATCH) - If your child has been chosen for the match they will have received a letter.
WEDNESDAY - Year 3/4 MULTI SPORTS 3.15PM - 4PM
THURSDAY - Year 5/6 NETBALL (LUNCHTIME)
THURSDAY - Year 3/4/5/6 CROSS COUNTRY 3.15PM - 4PM
Please check the school calendar each week for forthcoming sporting events against other schools.
LEGO BRICKS FOR Y5 If anyone has any spare Lego they’d be happy to donate for me to use in a Year 5 edventure day coming up, we’d really appreciate it. Please pass to Mr Haughton.
LATEST NEWS
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