SPELLING

This academic year, we will be using the Emile spelling scheme to teach spelling to all children from Years 1-6. Emile has proven success for improving children's spelling abilities and over 15% of UK Primary Schools have used the scheme to make spelling lessons and practice fun and engaging. 

 Emile is very similar to Times Table Rockstars. The children will have a login to the web page (the same as their Times Table Rockstars login) and they can practice at home on the games and activities. They will also take part in regular 'Class Battles' tailored to their own spelling abilities. 

 Now that we are moving to this new approach, weekly spelling tests will no longer take place. Instead, children will have 2 spelling lessons per week and 1 'practice' session when they will use iPads to play the games and activities on their Emile account. Your child will still receive weekly spellings that have been taught that week, but there will be no written test in class for these. Spellings will be stuck in diaries as usual. 

 The 'Class Battle' will replace the spelling test and will take place every three weeks. Teachers will then be able to access reports that show which spellings each child needs more work on. The children's Emile account will then be automatically updated so they will be given spellings that they need further work on to practice in the games and activities. As parents and carers you will be able to see this information when you work on Emile with your child. When the children complete the Class Battles, Emile produces heatmaps showing the spellings the children are confident with and those that need some more work. These heatmaps will be shared with you at parent's evening and throughout the year if necessary. 

 Some children work on differentiated spellings (different to the rest of their class and matched to their ability). These children will still receive the weekly class spelling list based on the rule/pattern they have learnt in their class that week. This is to give all children the opportunity to access their year group spellings. However, when the children play the games on  Emile, these games and activities will be tailored to their own ability and work with their strengths and weaknesses.

 The day that your child will bring home their spellings will be shared with you on the 'Welcome to Our Class' presentations which will be emailed out to you next week. You will still find a spelling page each week in your child's reading diary which is there for you to use if you would like to practice with your child at home. 

 Along with this newsletter, you will find a letter detailing how to log in to Emile from any device. 

Please contact your child's class teacher if you have any questions.

KS2 FRIENDSHIP BENCH

This week, we introduced our newly refurbished KS2 Friendship Bench, lovingly rebuilt and reconditioned over the summer by Mr. Gonzalez. The idea behind the bench is simple but powerful: if a child feels lonely or doesn’t have anyone to play with, they can sit on the bench, signaling to others to invite them to join in. It’s a wonderful way to embody our core value of kindness, and we’re proud to say this initiative came from one of our fantastic Year 6 pupil, Joshua. 

WHOLE SCHOOL 'KINDNESS DAY'

Yesterday, the entire school participated in a very special 'Kindness Day'. The day featured the sharing of a heartwarming book by Kevin Sinfield, written about his best friend Rob Burrow, as well as a visit from Springy, the Springhill Hospice mascot. Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of activities centered on the importance of kindness and caring for one another. The atmosphere around the school was truly uplifting. Mr. Haughton has created a special slideshow capturing the day’s highlights, which you can view here:  https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/photo-albums.html 

SCHOOL COUNCIL, ECO COUNCIL, SPORTS COUNCIL AND PLAYGROUND PALS

In today's assembly, our Parkfielders learned about the various ways they can apply to join the different student voice groups across the school.  As a result, they may be bringing home an application form this evening.  Once all the candidates have submitted their applications for either the School Council or Eco Council, each class will hold a democratic vote.  The Sports Council and Playground Pal application forms are to be handed to Mrs Banks.  The deadline for the forms is Friday 20th September or earlier if you wish.

We look forward to announcing the successful candidates in the coming weeks. 

EYFS FAMILY LUNCH

A reminder that our new families are welcome to join us between 11.30am and 12.15pm on either the Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th or Friday 13th for lunch. You will be able to have your lunch with your child and see how dinner time runs at the school. If you haven't already, please sign up at the office.

YEAR 1 FAMILY LEARNING EVENT 

Our Y1 families are welcome to join us on Tuesday 17th September in the school hall at 9.00am for a lesson with their child where we will be introducing the online resources of Mathletics and Numbots. 

EARLY BIRDS AND BUSY BEES BOOKINGS

Please note that you must now book online using the School Gateway app for Early Birds and Busy Bees. This new way of working means that clubs are paid for in advance and there is more flexibility for parents.  If you have any questions, please contact the office and they will be happy to help.

AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE NO AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS NEXT WEEK.

An email will be sent out today for pupils to sign up to the clubs.

PUNCTUALITY

Poor punctuality can lead to your child feeling embarrassed in front of their friends, missing the beginning of vital lessons or missing important instructions for the rest of the school day. It is vital that children get into school on time.

A reminder that children from Y1-6 are to line up on the play ground before 8.45am so that when they are collected there is a prompt start to the morning. Doors will shut soon after the class lines have entered into school and any latecomers will have to come through the main entrance. 

Please note that we will be asking parents and carers to sign their child into school at the front office if their child arrives after 9am. This is for safeguarding reasons and ensures school registers are correct. A reminder that for any child that arrives after 9.30am this is classed as an unauthorised absences for the morning session. 

ATTENDANCE

You will be well aware with how important attendance is and we want every child in school everyday because it has an impact on the educational outcomes of your child. The government has altered the rules this academic year in relation to fining parents that take unauthorised holidays or have high absence rates. Please have a read of the information further down this page to familiarise yourself with the new rules. 

CASHLESS PAYMENTS

We are gradually making the transition to becoming a 'cashless' school  and as a result we will soon be able to accept card/mobile payments in school.

YEAR 6 BREAKFAST BOOSTER CLUB

Our Free Year 6 Breakfast Booster Club will start at 8.15 am on Monday 9th September and is on every day. All children in Year 6 are welcome to attend and the club helps further support prepare our Parkfielders for their Year 6 SATS. Please note, if they arrive before this time (8.15am), you must book them onto that morning's Early Birds session. 

PE TIMETABLE FOR SEPTEMBER   (Y4 Swimming starts on Wednesday 11th September.)

The days Parkfielders are to come to school in their PE kits from September can be seen below:

• Reception: Tuesday and Thursday

• Year 1: Thursday and Friday

• Year 2: Wednesday and Thursday

• Year 3: Monday and Wednesday

• Year 4: Monday and Wednesday -Swimming starts on Wednesday 11th Sept.  An email with all the information has been sent out.  Please can we have all forms back in to school before the 11th September.

• Year 5: Tuesday and Friday

• Year 6: Tuesday and Friday

WATER BOTTLES

Children need to bring their own water bottles to school. Please ensure these are a sensible size and design. For cost saving measures, school can no longer provide water bottles.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

If your circumstances have changed (for example, you may have been made redundant and are now in benefit of jobseekers allowance) you may be entitled to free school meals.  More information and how to apply can be found here: https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/benefits-money/free-school-meals/2 . School recieves additional funding for pupils entitled to free school meals so we always encourage you to apply.

SCHOOL MEALS PAYMENTS

Please note that from Year 3, children are not entitled to universal free school meals and as a result dinners will have to be paid for via School Gateway. School meals cost £2.60 per day (£13 per week). More information about our wonderful menu can be found here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/dinner-menus.html 

CLASS DOJO 

Would you like to see how well your child is doing at school? We award Dojo points for pupils that go 'above and beyond' in the classroom and these can be seen by parents if you download the app. We have over 75% of our families signed up already! If you click this link to set up a parent account we will then approve it. This acess 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. 

NO NUTS OR NUT RELATED PRODUCTS IN SCHOOL

A reminder that children are not allowed any nuts or nut related products in school because we have children that are allergic to these products. For example, Nutella or Reese's chocolate.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

We like to be prepared and give parents as much notice as possible and as a result we have updated our school calendar for 2024-2025. Please visit the calendar to see the wide range of events we have planned for next year.