A round up of news from the past week.
Remember, you will get automatic updates and links to anything posted on our website if you follow our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parkdalecarlton/
- Year Two SATs. This week and into next, our Year Two children have been doing their statutory tests for the end of Key Stage 1. These are completed in a very relaxed, supportive, stress-free environment and feel no different to the kind of testng we do termly for assessment. It all seems to be going very well so far.
- Staffing Update: We are delighted to welcome back Mrs James to the team following her maternity leave. Louisa is very much a feature of life at Parkdale, having been here for 13 years as a teacher and having attended as a pupil too! She has spent tmuch of fher career teaching Year Six and has been helping out there through SATs as part of her return to work. From half-term, she will be based in 6 Beech, sharing class repsonsibility with Mrs Hinton. One in, one out! Mrs Stafford has now started her maternity leave and her 1 Chestnut class will be taught by a combination of Misse Desborough and Mr Biddulph. Whilst we’re on maternity leaves, we will be delighted to see Mrs Bass back with us in September too after her extended leave.
- Congratulations to Year Six teacher and leader of all things Digital, Mrs Hinton. It has been confirmed this week that she has won a presitgious National Teacher of the Year Award for her work to get Parkdale to the very forefront of digital teaching and learning. Much of the case for the award was based on the amazing roll-out of technology and digital home-learning durng Covid, which was recognised as “world-class” and possibly quite unique. There will be a full presetnaiton and celebration next week and a full report on the website.
- Lots of classes are starting to make the most of the improving weather (fingers-crossed!) and getting outside as muich as they can for their learning. The reminder here from Reception about hats, water etc could apply to all: https://parkdale-primary.co.uk/the-sun-is-out-and-so-are-reception/
- Blossoms have enjoyed a very exciting visit from a Robot! https://parkdale-primary.co.uk/tim-the-robot-visits-nursery/
- A reminder here for all about Sports Days: https://parkdale-primary.co.uk/sports-days/
- News here about some two-wheeled fun for Reception next half-term: https://parkdale-primary.co.uk/cycling-summer/
- Year Four have an outbreak of BLue Peter Badge winners. How very brilliant!
- Year SIx survived SATs week in good shape and enjoyed the treat of an ice cream from Mr Whippy! https://parkdale-primary.co.uk/were-proud-of-our-y6s/
- You might have noticed the bunting around the perimeter of the school. This is to mark the Jubilee. We thought it would be more inclusive and global to have the flags of all the Commonwealth countrries, rather than just the UK. Flag fans, it’s a challenging test to figure out what they all are!
- On the subject of the Jubilee, next Thursday sees our celebrations and a featrure of this is a picnic. Our caterers Aspens will provide a picnic dinner where one is ordered, though you are welcome, of course, to send your child in with one prepared at home. Let’s hope for decent weather!
- Thank you to those with children in Key Stage One who helped us out by taking a school dinner on Census Day yesterday. This really helps our budget.
- We are noticing an increasing number of younger children being dropped at school before the gates open, some as early as 7:45 to 8am. The gates do not open until 8:15, so these children are being left outside, unsupervised. We would regard this as a Safeguarding risk and will in future treat it as such, log it and report it.
- This afternon, we are due a very exciting visitor for a special assembly. None other than Leigh Wood, World Featherwight Champion. Leigh is uncle of Ethan in 3 Elm. Full report to follow next week.
- Finally, “well spotted” to those eagle-eyed folk who spotted a very nervous looking Mr Hillier during Sky’s coverage of Forest’s playoff match on Tuesday. Mr H reports having seen a fair few Parkdale families there, presumably all feeling just as tense. It was a tough night! Good luck to any families now on the hunt for Wembley tickets. Mr H got his yesterday. If anyone enjoyed the now world-famous fireworks display at Eva’s Grill afterwards, you might be interested to know that these are the work of a Parkdale family, the Koraqes, parents of David (5 Maple) and Joel (1 Palm).
Reminders
A reminder that Friday 27th May is an INSET Day. School is closed to pupils for staff training. Effectively, the last school day of this half term is Thursday the 26th.