Littleborough Community Primary School

George Holt, our outgoing Children’s Champion for Rochdale

I have loved my time being Children’s Champion for the Borough of Rochdale and for me it has made the year 2017 – 2018 the best in my life so far.

During my year in office I have met some amazing and very hard-working people and I have created a strong bond between the new and former Mayor of Rochdale hopefully I will carry on working alongside them.

As you may remember last year when we voted I had three campaign points (1. For more children to learn about the environment. 2. First aid for children my age. 3. More contact between children and the elderly).

Many schools have supported these campaigns including our school, which have supported all three.

Last year I received more than 2500 votes from children in the borough and more than 8900 votes were counted in total. I have now handed over to Millie Connor, who was a previous LCPS student and it would be great to receive lots of applications for next year’s Children’s Champion from our school and for more children to attend the meetings held on the middle Saturday of each.

If you would like to see an article about my year as Children’s Champion please search http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/news/Pages/georges-champion-year.aspx

Healthy Dinner Award

Healthy Dinner Award for our Kitchen staff Greater Manchester Healthy Catering Awards Ceremony Facilities Management held an awards ceremony on Wednesday 20 June for the Greater Manchester Healthy Catering Awards to which we were invited, along with our catering team, Councillors and the Mayor who made the presentations. Only 10 schools were invited for these awards and we are very proud of our catering team!

Sports

On Tuesday 12 June and Tuesday 19 June, we held our Foundation Stage Sports Days.

These were followed by KS1 and KS2 sports Days. All the events were very well attended by parents and the children thoroughly enjoyed them! Medals assembly, for the children only, is on Monday 16 July.

Football tournaments were arranged for Y3 and 4 and for Y5 and on 28 June.

We took part in this tournament after school on our fields.  We are so proud that we beat 8 other teams without conceding a single goal!! The sportsmanship and spirit was outstanding. Well done everyone involved with the football and to Mr O Doherty for coaching them. So not only have we won all these awards for Music, we have won a superb trophy for football.

Springhill Athletics took place on Monday 7 July 

Our teams came 2nd and 3rd – well, we had to give someone else a chance after winning so often and winning 4 other trophies this year.

Music awards and Celebrations

Our children have not only won the Rochdale Music Festival, they got through to National Finals in Birmingham on 3 July 2018.

Out of 40 bands, our school was invited to play in Birmingham at the Symphony Hall on 3 July. A coach load of parents and children travelled to Birmingham and once again, the children were commended for being so well behaved. If successful, they will go on to play at the Royal Albert Hall in London

Fire station 

To cheer up our brave and hardworking firemen during this difficult time, our Band went to entertain them. Our gardening club also went to help them with their new garden and a number of classes paid them a visit!

Staff changes

This year we have a number of staff who are retiring or moving on to pastures new.

Mr O’Doherty is moving to a private school called Westfield House in Ilkley. He has coached our football and athletics teams to great success and organised a superb enrichment programme that so many children have enjoyed. He has helped to bring in Times Table Rockstars and Dojos so we thank him for his super contribution to school and wish him all the very best.

We congratulate Mrs Allely, who is expecting twins and has shown fantastic strength in managing her impressive ‘bump’ with humour. Have a wonderful Maternity leave.

Ms Greenwood and Mrs Holt have been welfare assistants for many years and have decided to retire. I know the children will miss them and we wish them a happy time. 

Ms Jabin from the Nursery has had to make the hard decision to leave in order to look after her ailing mother. We thank her for her fantastic work in the Nursery. We know that so many parents wish her all the best and are grateful for the wonderful start she gave their children.

Mrs Harrison has worked in our office and has cared for us all, looked after and improved the building, worked out the finances, brought us all eggs and generally gone above and beyond the call of duty every day for many years. She has decided this year is the one in which she will retire and has booked a holiday in Australia. We wish her a joyful and well-earned retirement and hope she is very happy. I know she will be missed.

Thank you and goodbye

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes and the lovely things you have said. I have spent much of the week quite emotional – especially in the Talent Show and Nursery graduation.

Next week promises to be equally challenging and a box of tissues will be at the ready for the Leavers Assembly at 9am on Friday 20, to which you are all invited. It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve the community for almost 25 years.

I have always tried to, ‘Bring out the best in every child’ and it has been a joy to watch your children blossom and grow. I wish you all happiness and every success.

Yours sincerely,

Martine Sinker