Headteacher’s Newsletter – Friday 6th October 2023 – Autumn 5

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It hardly seems possible that there are only two weeks until half term but the children and staff continue to work hard and demonstrate progress in all that they do. A group of children from Year 4 spent an afternoon with the elderly at our local residential care home – The Mead – earlier in the week. They were fantastic at listening to their stories and really shone in the way they helped the residents. Intergenerational work is incredibly important and the benefits  it brings to both sides is immeasurable. Thank you children. The school library has started to have a revamp and we desperately need your help. Teachers have created wish lists of books for their classes and we are encouraging families to donate a book to the school library for the children to enjoy. Click the link if you would like to donate a book – ttps://amzn.eu/ewUgNSJ  Watford football club visited again this week to lead an assembly on the theme of Safeguarding. They spoke about the importance of staying safe online, when friends take risks and how safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Thank you to Watford for reminding us of the importance of this important aspect of school life. DON’T FORGET PARENT AND CARER WORKSHOPS TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK. Further details below. Please c0ntinue to support the school in all that we do for your child.

 

 

The word of the week is – IPSEDIXITIST – (19th C) one who firmly asserts that something is true because another person said so, with no evidence to support the claim.

 

 

THE BIG QUESTION – Who decides what is normal?
Try discussing this question with your child to help them think about developing their thinking skills

 

 

THIS WEEK’S EXAMPLES OF THE CHILDREN’S WORK –

 

 

CHANGE TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY – Week 6 – The government has issued a directive to all schools about 32.5 hours of teaching time every child in the country is entitled to. To meet this new directive we will open the school gates as normal at 8:30am BUT they will CLOSE at 8:45am from MONDAY 30th OCTOBER. Please make sure you make a note of this change. We will continue to put it in all of our newsletters from the start of the new academic year until FRIDAY 20th OCTOBER.

 

 

SCHOOL WEBSITE – Mr Wanless and myself met with the company who host our website earlier in the week and discussed with them the types of changes we need to make to improve our school website. Over the next few weeks the site will begin to take on these changes to make it more streamlined and easier to navigate. Please bear with us whilst this work takes place.

 

 

PARENT AND CARERS WORKSHOPS – Our first series of Maths workshops take place next week to which you are all invited. Please make a note of the date for your child’s workshop which will be on the theme of fluency in mathematics. Please click the link for further details – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGk8F6rRpPg&t=247s

Year 4 Workshop –  Monday 9th October – 9:15am (Please gather in the hall from 8:30am)
Year 6 Workshop – Wednesday 11th October – 9:15am (Please gather in the hall from 8:30am)
Yrs Rec,1,3,4,5 – Friday 13th October – 9:15am (Please gather in the hall from 8:30am)
FOLLOWED BY THE AGM OF THE PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF PARKSIDE 

 

 

WD6 FOODBANK – Over the coming months the good folk at the WD6 Foodbank will partner up with members of the Clarion Housing board and Citizens Advice Bureau to offer advice and support for those people who use the foodbank. The monthly surgeries will take place here at the school in a designated room at the front of the building. More details to follow.

The WD6 Food support is open on WEDNESDAY & FRIDAYS from 3:15pm – 4:30pm. Parkside families can have access from 3:15pm directly after school.

 

 

PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF PARKSIDE – CHANGE OF DATE 
The next meeting of the PFA of Parkside will take place on FRIDAY 13th OCTOBER after your child’s Maths Workshop in  the old Year 2 classroom. Please come along and let’s make this year a great year for the children and the community. It doesn’t matter if you have never done anything like this before you are all welcome.

 

 

ATTENDANCE AND FOOD WASTE – Congratulations to the children from 2 WILLOW, 5 CEDAR AND 5 ASH who had the best attendance this week. Thank you children and please continue to be an inspiration to others. 

Well done to the children from  who had the least amount of food waste this week. Thank you children for making good choices and  enjoying your food.

 CLASS   ATTENDANCE %  FOOD WASTE kgs
 

Reception Pine

 

 87.2  2.25
 

1 Maple

 

 92.5

 

  3.90
2 Willow 98.0

 

  2.60
 

3 Birch

 

 96.5

 

  1.75
 

3 Elm

 

 96.3

 

  2.10
 

4 Aspen

 

 97.1

 

  1.05
 

5 Ash

 

 97.8

 

  0.95
 

5 Cedar

 

 97.8

 

  1.20
 

6 Oak

 

 96.6

 

  2.65
Total 95.7

 

 

  18.45
Food Waste average 96.6 28.2  grammes per child

 

 

PARKSIDE FLYERS AND HOT CHOCOLATE WINNERS –
Congratulations to Kiane, Ayan, Kevin, Delilah, Ava, Anastasia Donia, Kian Naamah, Fadil and Sibella who were awarded their wings this week for being true acolytes of the school’s vision and mission. Thank you children for being such a great example for others to follow.

 

 

I will enjoy spending a few moments on Monday with the following children on Monday to listen about their learning and to share a story or two about their weekend. They worked hard all week to uphold the standards we expect at our school. Congratulations to Andriana, Jackson, Eden, Theo, Saurab, Aayat, Iulia, Delilah and Harry

 

 

DATES FOR THE DIARY – https://parkside.herts.sch.uk/calendar/

 

 

TUNES FOR THE WEEKEND –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKZuwtX2g3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLhglefWgDU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17T0BepJj-c

 

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND ENJOY THE GOOD WEATHER!!