Holy Family RC Primary School

Holiday Club
As we approach the February half term holiday, I am pleased to tell you that the Holiday Club at Sandbrook Primary School will be running for the week. There are places for 25 of our children to attend so any interested parents must register their child’s name at the school office. The Holiday Club runs for children in Reception to Year 6 only.

Sadly, this will be the last Holiday Club as part of the Sandbrook Extended Schools Hub as the arrangement between the schools involved will fold due to funding issues.

Facebook & Social Networking
It has come to our attention that some children who attend our school have Facebook accounts. We have raised this issue several times and it is unlawful for children under the age of 13 to have a Facebook account. The internet affords great opportunities for us all but also many dangers and children with free access to such sites can be left vulnerable to many sinister and dangerous threats.

Parents have the responsibility to ensure that their children are safe at all times, including on line. No children should have access to such sites without them being carefully policed and supervised. Should we in school learn of children who access such sites, we will notify Facebook.

Please ensure that your children are safe by only allowing them access to sites that are appropriate for young, impressionable children.

Parental Questionnaires
Thank you to the parents who took the time to respond to the recent questionnaires which were issued from school. Your views and suggestions are vitally important in ensuring that we are providing the best possible care, safety and education for our children.

The outcome of the questionnaires was very positive and parents are clearly very supportive of the school. However, a couple of issues were raised regarding the short notice for some after school sports fixtures and the concern that a limited number of children are picked for sporting activities.

We try to notify parents in plenty of time for sports fixtures but on occasion, some competitions are organised at short notice. We acknowledge that the notice is often short and where we can, we will endeavour to provide better notice in future.

In answer to the issue about selection of children for inter school sporting competitions, children are chosen as equitably as possible and their selection is very much based on their commitment to the training sessions we hold in school in preparation for such events.

Children who do not attend after school sports activities may not be chosen as regularly as those who do as we believe that such commitment should be rewarded.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to respond. Ofsted’s Parent View offers parents the opportunity to share their view of the school at any time. Please go to https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/ to register your views. Thank you.

PFA
Many thanks to the parents who regularly attend the PFA meetings and who contribute greatly to the life of the school. All parents are invited along to the meetings which take place in school.

Over the next few weeks, the PFA have planned the following menu of activities:
Friendship Cake Sale – Friday 13 February 2015
Mothers’ Day Raffle – Friday 13 March
Movie Night – Monday 30 March

Tickets will be available for both the Movie Night and the Mothers’ Day Raffle in due course.

Science Week
Last week, the pupils enjoyed a themed week during which they carried out a number of practical and unusual scientific investigations to mark our annual focus on science. The children were also treated to a ‘Travelling Science Show’ performed by Adrian Bowden. He demonstrated the effects of forces and light on ordinary and extraordinary objects. The pupils were invited to take part in the demonstrations and they thoroughly enjoyed the week.

Winter Weather
During the last few weeks and more than likely in the next few, we may be faced with snow and ice. School will avoid closure and the decision will be made to close only if there is a serious risk to safety for the children, staff and parents.

We will try to notify you of any closures in good time through the school website, text messaging or the Rochdale Council website at http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/schools_and_children/school_closures.aspx

Unless parents are notified via any of the options above, please assume that school will be open.

Dates for your Diaries

Monday 16 February 2015 – Friday 20 February 2015 Half Term
Friday 13 February Year 2 – Fire Service Visit
Friday 13 February PFA Friendship cake sale
Friday 27February PFA Meeting 9.00