Issue 38 - Friday 5th July 2024
Headteacher's Welcome
Dear Parkfield Families,
It has been a busy week both in politics and the school! Earlier this week the whole school had the opportunity to visit their new classes and teachers, whilst our Year 6 headed out to their new high schools. There were plenty of smiling faces as I visited classrooms over the day and I hope the day has helped ease any anxiety our Parkfielders were feeling. It was also a big day for our new Reception intake who enjoyed their first morning or afternoon exploring the classroom with Mrs Taylor. It was a pleasure to meet our future pupils.
Good luck to England this Saturday - let's hope they can produce something so we can all celebrate. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your continued support - I look forward to seeing you all at next Friday's Summer Fair.
Mr Kemp
LATEST NEWS
FORFEIT DAYS
Thanks for your support in today's forfeit day and sending in a wide range of bottles. We would like children to come into school wearing non-uniform next Friday in exchange for Chocolate - which will be used as a prize for the Summer Fair.
All donations will be used as prizes at the Summer Fair which is also due to take place between 3.30 and 5.00pm next Friday 12th July.
PE KIT CONSULTATION - ROYAL BLUE 'OR' WHITE T-SHIRTS ALLOWED FROM SEPTEMBER 2024
Thank you to those that responded to the consultation around whether we should change our PE kit to royal blue t-shirts. 91% of people responded saying they would prefer blue or they didn't mind which colour. Only 9% of those that responded said they would prefer to continue with white t-shirts. As a result, governors agreed this week to make the change next academic year so that children can wear either a royal blue OR white t-shirt from September 2024. Some of the comments included worries about additional costs but we have been in contact with Broadbents who have assured us that the cost of the t-shirts will be the same. Please also note that it is not compulsory to wear a t-shirt that has the school emblem - plain, unbranded t-shirts are absolutely fine. A quick search on the internet has shown that unbranded royal blue t-shirts can be found in a range of stores both in store and online. We believe that this change will help our pupils look smarter in their 'Parkfield Blue' and also reduce costs for our families.
YEAR 1 CLASS ASSEMBLY
Families of our Year 1 Parkfielders are welcome to join us in the hall at 9am next Thursday 11th to watch their children deliver a class assembly. We hope you can make it.
GOOD LUCK YEAR 3
Our Year 3 class have a wonderful opportunity next week where they will be performing at Middleton Arena following lots of work this past term on Shakespeare. Good luck to the whole class and we look forward to seeing our families in the audience.
ROBINWOOD RESIDENTIAL
Our current year 4's will be attending Robinwood in September and we will be emailing out all relevant information about this wonderful experience next week. If you require any further information please contact the school.
PARKFIELD BAKE OFF AT THE SUMMER FAIR
Following last year's success, we will be holding a Parkfield Bake Off event at our Summer fair. Cakes should be brought in to school on the morning of the summer fair (Friday 12th July) and judging will take place during the summer fair. We look forward to seeing the children's brilliant creations.
SUMMER FAIR
We need help setting up the Summer Fair and running stalls on Friday 12th July. If you're able to support from either 1.30pm or 3.00pm on the day please let the school office know. Any help will be appreciated.
If you run a small business and would like a stall at the summer fair, please contact the school office for more information. We would love to have you!
Busy Bees will take place in Year 4 classroom on the night of the fair.
ATTENDANCE - CHANGES SEPTEMBER 2024
As we move towards the end of the academic year, I would like to remind families that good attendance at school is vital and it has a huge impact on your child's outcomes. In the new school year there are going to be changes to government legislation and as a result, taking your children out of school for term time holidays or having more than 10 unauthorised absences (5 days) in a rolling ten week period will likely result in a fixed penalty notice to be issued. Fines will be a minimum of £80 per parent, per child with a second fine within a 3 year period resulting in a flat £160 fine. We will send out further details and our updated attendance policy in the new school year.
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE
Mrs Clawson and our Reading Ambassadors promoted this year's Summer Reading Challenge in assembly on Wednesday which they would love lots of Parkfielders to take part in!
How to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library
Children can join the Challenge at the library and take part in person. The 2024 Challenge starts on 6 July in England.
How it works:
Visit your local library (Middleton) and tell them your child would like to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
The librarian will sign up your child and give them a collector folder. Your child will set a reading goal.
Your child can borrow and read books, eBooks and audiobooks for their Challenge. They can read anything they like!
The library will provide stickers and rewards for your child’s reading.
Many libraries offer a variety of events and activities for children and families to enjoy throughout the summer in addition to the summer reading challenge. It would be great to see lots of children getting involved this summer! We will present children who have completed the reading challenge with a certificate in a special assembly when we come back to school in September.
Happy Reading!
School Games GOLD Mark Award 2023/2024
Mrs Banks is delighted to announce that we have achieved the School Games Mark GOLD Award for the 2023/2024 academic year. This is a Government-led award presented to schools for commitment to sport across the school and into the community. Well Done Parkfielders!!
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS
MONDAY (8/07) - YEAR 3/4 Rounders
TUESDAY (9/07) - YEAR 5/6 Rounders
WEDNESDAY (10/07) - YEAR 5/6 Multi Sports
THURSDAY (11/07) - 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.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK OF AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS. THEY WILL NOT BE ON IN THE FINAL WEEK OF TERM.
REMINDERS
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT FOR Y6 PUPILS
Please note that our Y6 pupils have had the app Kooth recommended to them to support their mental health and wellbeing. It is an app that children can access on their phones/tablets and more information can be found here: https://www.kooth.com/ . It is free and is recommended to children across the country between 11-16 years old.
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.
YEAR 5 BREAKFAST BOOSTER CLUB
Year 5 pupils are welcome to join the free breakfast booster club, with Mrs Naughton, every morning from 8.15am in the computer suite. Children are to access the club via the usual Early Birds hall entrance. The club is focussed on maths activities that will help prepare our pupils for Y6.
STAFFING FOR SEPTEMBER 2024
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 Mullane
Year 2: Miss Gibson and Mrs Bardsley - Miss Gibson joins our team as assistant headteacher. She is an experienced teacher that has taught in a number of schools across Rochdale and Blackburn.
Year 3: Mrs Gooding and Mrs Gully
Year 4: Miss McCall and Mr Shearman
Year 5: Mrs Acil and Mrs Roworth
Year 6: Mr Robinson and Mrs Naughton
Members of our excellent SEND team will be confirmed later in the term as we are currently in the process of recruiting additional staff.
EARRINGS AND FALSE NAILS
Please note that for health and safety reasons earrings should be small 'stud' size only and children shouldn't wear false nails for school.
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:
Tues 2nd July: High School Transition Day
Mon 15th July: Y6 Leavers Party @ Parkfield 6.30pm - 9.00pm
Tuesday 16th July: Treat Trip Bowling
Thursday 18th July: Y6 Leavers Assembly @ 9am (Families invited) - please note change of date.
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, 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 possibility 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