Bolton School Primary Division Junior Boys’ School Thursday 14th December
Autumn Term, 2023 — WEEK A
From Mrs. Faulkner School is now looking quite festive, the tree is decorated and, last Friday, each House gathered to work together in order to decorate an allocated area of school in their House colours. It is always great to see the boys working so collaboratively across the year groups; learning to work with others is such an important skill and I was delighted to see how well the boys engaged in that, whatever their final product looked like.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL EVENT THIS TERM: Carol Service, Tuesday 19th December, 7pm
Thursday 14th December Whole School Trip to Octagon Theatre, “Around the World in 80 Days”, depart 9.15am Jujitsu—4-5.30pm LAMDA—4-5pm Ski Improver Course, Chill Factore, 7.40pm (CF) or 8.15pm (PR) Cubs, 6.30pm Friday 15th December Fencing, 4-5pm Hockey, 4-5pm Water Polo, 4-5pm
Today, we are heading out to The Octagon Theatre to watch a performance of “Around The World in 80 Days”. Watching a professional performance at the theatre is always an exciting experience and I am sure the boys will enjoy the play, particularly after the taster they got from our senior boys and girls last week. I am delighted that so many of you were able to join us for the Ensembles Concert yesterday afternoon. It is always a lovely, informal way of allowing the boys to showcase some of the music they have enjoyed making during their lunchtime activities and, if anyone needed any more help getting into the festive season, it certainly ticked that box, too. Next Tuesday evening is, of course, our annual Carol Service in the Boys’ Division Great Hall. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the boys rehearsing for that, particularly when I hear them running through their songs as they wander around the corridor. I do look forward to seeing you all there as we round off a busy term. It may be that over the holidays you are thinking of buying a phone or other digital device for your son. If that is the case, it may be wise to think about the protocols you might want to put in place for their use before that gift is opened. I would always recommend that devices are charged outside of bedrooms each evening, in order to avoid temptation and a check of your household internet filters can also be helpful. Even if your son already has his own personal devices, the annual New Year resolutions may be a good time to reset your family’s use of technology. That may just be simple things such as establishing a rule of no phones at the dinner table, switching off an hour or so before bedtime or no games on particular evenings. Do remember, in all of that, that your son will take his cues from you, so if you say no phones at the dinner table, you also have to enact that, as my own children occasionally remind me! There are a number of companies who provide parents with the means of managing their child’s personal devices and one such system which may be of interest is SchoolsMobile.Com. Please do be reassured that the school iPads are managed via our filtering systems and we always recommend that, at home, your son is reminded he should only be using his school iPad for his homework. If you are ever experiencing any issues with your son’s use of his school device, do please let us know so that we can support you in helping him to develop healthy digital habits.
Contacting the School Office Park Road, BOLTON, BL1 4RD. t: (01204) 434735 e: parkroad@boltonschool.org.uk. www.boltonschool.org
The School Office is open from 8.15am — 4.15pm during term time. Please note that any texts sent by the Office cannot be replied to. Please direct all enquiries to parkroad@boltonschool.org and always include your son’s first name and surname, as well as his form. Please note that ParkRoadOffice email is no longer monitored. If your son is going to be absent from School, whether he be off sick or attending dental, medical or any other appointment, please email parkroad@boltonschool.org so that the registers may be marked accordingly. Please use this email address for all day-to-day enquiries relating to school matters to ensure that your enquiry may be dealt with in a timely manner. For all coach / transport enquiries: Logistics Co-ordinator: Mr B. Gould, t: (01204) 434711, e: bdmgould@boltonschool.org.uk
News from the Park Road PA
Wednesday 20th December Christmas Party Morning Christmas Lunch Gymnastics Final, 1.30pm
WhatsApp — if you would like to join the PA WhatsApp Group to keep up to date with all things PA, please click on the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BRtBl8QwJpS9OxpBm3MHDj PA Mailing List — if you would like to be added to the PA mailing list, please get in touch: parkroadpa@gmail.com Twitter – don’t forget to follow us on Twitter: @BSPDJnrBoysPA
PA Festive Rainbow Hampers It is not too late to buy a raffle ticket to win one of our festive hampers !
END OF TERM, 4pm
Raffle tickets can be purchased by using the form linked here. Tickets are £1 each for a hamper or £2 to win a £250 Amazon voucher! If enclosing cash, please include the correct amount as, unfortunately, we cannot give change. Cheques should be made payable to Bolton School Junior Boys’ PA. Good luck to all who enter the raffles!
SPRING TERM 2024 School starts, 8.45am Monday 8th January Tuesday 9th January Chess, 4-5pm MORE DATES TO FOLLOW IN JANUARY
Festive House Morning Last Friday was House morning at Park Road, when the boys donned their festive attire and decorated school in their House colours. School looks fantastic for the last week of term!
Sports Results U10 Football vs MGS
Y3 /Y4 BWFC Kids’ Cup
Well done to the 40 boys from Year 5 who played in four very competitive fixtures last Friday vs Manchester Grammar School.
Congratulations to the nine boys from Year 4 who battled through the wind and rain to take part in the Bolton Schools’ Football Festival last week. They played very well over the course of the group matches, improving every game and finished with a 1-0 win in their final match. TG
A special mention must go to the B team which picked up a very impressive 8-2 win, with a number of excellent individual and team performances. Well done to all who took part. TG
Astley Bridge Cricket Club—Winter Net Sessions If your son is a keen cricketer, he may be interested in attending Junior Winter Net sessions, run by Astley Bridge Cricket Club, at Turton School on Sundays, from 14th January, 2024. If you need any further details, please contact the Club directly at abccjuniors@gmail.com. The 10 week course costs £40.
News from the Art Room The boys from Drop-in Art Club had a great time heading to Senior School to glaze the clay pot boards they have been making in Art lessons. The boys have learnt some good basic clay skills and been able to collect their pots after they had been glazed. We hope to continue working with clay next term and making some glazed sculptures for school. JPM
Carol Service This year’s Carol Service will take place in the Great Hall of the Boys' Division Senior School on Tuesday 19th December at 7:00pm. This is a compulsory event for all boys and is a presentation of work completed during school music lessons. All boys should present themselves at the Senior School no later than 6.45pm, wearing a white shirt with long sleeves and normal school uniform, without a jumper or blazer. Parking will be available in the Senior Boys’ Quad and Dobson Road Quad. Entry to Senior School is through the Riley Centre or the corner of the Boys’ Division Quad, where a Sergeant will be on hand to guide you. Apart from a small number of seats, which are reserved for families associated with the soloist, readers and parent volunteers, please sit wherever you wish and feel free to invite close, family guests. Since this is a service, it is customary for there to be no applause following each performance. Please note that neither photography, nor filming of the event is permitted and that all mobile phones should be switched off.
There will be a retiring collection in aid of Save the Children which we hope you will feel able to support. Members of the PA will be selling refreshments in the Riley Centre café from 6.30pm.
December Geography Mission
Strictly Come Dancing!
Instructions: Task 1: Choose your top two professional dancers in “Strictly Come Dancing” and research: where were they born?, where have they lived?, which languages can they speak and what other skills and talents do they have?
Task 2: One of the most popular weeks is when the dancers perform at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Research why Blackpool is a popular tourist destination and find out 10 interesting facts about the area, including famous attractions and landmarks How to submit your research: email lgillibrand@boltonschool.org.uk with your submission by Sunday 31st December at 4pm!
PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS! WHO CAN CREATE THE MOST GEOGRAPHICAL AND CREATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT ?
Christmas Party Night in the Arts Centre Celebrate the festive season with friends or colleagues in the Arts Centre on Friday 15th December. Enjoy a glass of Prosecco on arrival at 7.00pm, followed by a delicious three-course dinner and a DJ until midnight. Tickets are £39.00 per person (adults only). For enquiries and bookings, please call the Events Office on 01204 434795 or email enquiries@bssevents.com
Annual Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh Save the date! The annual Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh dance will take place on Saturday 27th January, 2024 in the Arts Centre, from 6.30pm until late. Celebrate the life of Scotland’s National Poet – Robert Burns – in a way he would have wanted: eating, drinking, dancing and laughter, with a traditional dinner, ceremony, live piper and Ceilidh band. Email: bsbdpa@gmail.com to reserve your spaces. Only 10 tables of maximum 10 guests are available for this very popular event. Business sponsorship and donations of bottles, chocolates and items for hampers are also very welcome. Please email bsbdpa@gmail.com with any enquiries.
Christmas Holiday Activities Please find linked here the schedule for the Kidzone Christmas Holiday Club. Do book early to avoid disappointment! Please find linked here the schedule for the BSS Winter Sports Camp which will also be held in January. Again, do book early to avoid disappointment!
December Bingo As a December challenge, boys in Years 3 to 6 have the opportunity to enter the December Bingo competition to keep them busy with a range of writing/reading tasks. For a chance to win, complete the whole card, uploading your photographic evidence of the tasks in Showbie in the Whole School Showbie Folder by Monday 8th January, 2024. Boys who complete the whole card will receive a merit bonus and will be entered into a raffle to receive a selection of prizes. Please note that some of the tasks may need adult supervision. MLB
BSGD PA Christmas Desserts Once again, BSGD PA is delighted to offer luxury plum puddings for sale in three sizes, as well as sticky toffee and luscious lemon puddings. The items are beautifully packaged and labelled with the Bolton School logo and are exceptionally light and delicious and enjoyed by many who say they ‘don’t like Christmas pudding’ as well! Please place your order online by completing the form linked here and email it to bsgdpa@gmail.com.