Bolton School Primary Division

Junior Boys’ School

Spring Term, 2023 WEEK A

Thursday 18th May

Lancashire Science Festival, all day, UCLan Jujitsu, 4-5.30pm LAMDA, 4-5pm Cubs, 6.30pm

Friday 19th May AJIS Tennis, King’s Chester (all day)

AJIS U11 Inspire Sports Festival, pm, MGS After School Hockey, 4-5pm, LP

Saturday 20th May AJIS Proms, The Grange School

Monday 22nd May EXAM WEEK— MONDAY to FRIDAY Judo, 4-5pm

Thursday 18th May

We are now in the penultimate week of this half term. Yesterday, many of our boys spent the day in and out of the Hall, being photographed in various group and team photos. The number of boys and number of groups is testament to a theme which has been ongoing throughout my newsletters this year: opportunity! The photos took a considerable amount of time and this is evidence of the number and range of opportunities our boys have on offer in schooland compete in. Of course, these opportunities would not be available if it were not for the hard work of our staff at Park Road!

On the subject of opportunities, last week saw our final Patterdale Hall trip for the academic year, with Year 6 visiting from Tuesday to Friday. A scan through the Twitter feeds of our accompanying teachers showed that our boys had a wonderful time. Their teachers commented very positively on their behaviour and how they conducted themselves. Well done, boys!

Having visited Patterdale Hall for the first time with Year 3s and a flying visit with our Year 6s, I would like to comment on what a valuable experience this is for our boys. The grounds and surroundings at Patterdale are truly stunning and watching our Year 3 boys run out and play will be an abiding memory of the year.

Exam Week starts on Monday 22nd May. This is the time for boys to demonstrate their understanding of a range of subjects studied throughout the year and also a valuable opportunity to practise revision and exam techniques. This week, some of our lessons have been dedicated to supporting this process. Over the remainder of the week, spend some time going through your son’s Showbie classes, asking small questions related to his learning. These questions will help develop retrieval skills and solidify knowledge and understanding. We would also ask that your son is well fed and has a good sleep during this week.

Charity Fancy Dress Fun Run this event takes place on Friday 26th May on the Senior Levels. Boys should now be in the process of collecting sponsors in the build up to the big day. All boys will run and can dress up in a costume of their choosing (no inflatables). The boys will come to school in uniform and get changed after lunch, before heading to Seniors. Parents are welcome to attend and spectate as our boys giggle their way around the track and less fit teachers (like myself) huff and puff their way round Please note that there is no parking on site and parents are not allowed on site until 2.15pm.

Message from Mrs Faulkner- Head of Primary Foundation

There has been a notable increase in those seeking approval for additional days of holiday, very often immediately before or after the normal school holidays. We monitor all such absence in order to spot patterns and discern trends. It is timely to remind you that I cannot, by law, grant absence for holidays in term time unless in exceptional circumstances.

The clear sense of the guidance is that ‘exceptional’ also means rare and certainly not due to the planning of flights and other logistical arrangements. Permission must be granted in advance, so a letter on the day of the absence or a call as a holiday is extended cannot be authorised. This is why such absence is recorded as ‘unauthorised’.

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 8.15 am 4.15 pm 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

Tuesday 23rd May

Y5 African Drumming, 12 midday

PD Sailing, Anderton Centre (collection 6pm)

Angling, Fall Birch, (collection 5.30pm)

Wednesday 24th May Careers Carousel. (Y6), 12.30

Cubs, 6.30pm

Thursday 25th May

Jujitsu, 4-5.30pm LAMDA, 4-5pm

Cubs, 6.30pm

Friday 26th May

Charity Fun Run, 2.15pm, Senior School Lower Levels

Water Polo training, 4-5pm

Year 5 Visit to Patterdale Hall

It may all seem like a distant memory now but Year 5 had a fantastic week up at Patterdale Hall. We were lucky with the weather as it was forecast snow and rain, which thankfully did not appear. That said, there was certainly a chill in the valley and the water in the lake was what could only be described as “bracing”!

Throughout their stay, the boys had the chance to hone their canoeing skills, hit the bullseye in archery, explore the landscape with a half day hike and test their mettle on a range of rope activities. They also worked on vital life skills of team work, organisation and self-motivation- when you are in the middle of a lake, with the wind blowing you off course, you learn to dig deep and push yourself on!

It was a real pleasure to see the boys grow and mature even in this short space of time and start to recognise hidden talents they were not aware of. JM

Just a few quotes from the boys :

“I found the canoeing challenging but I liked the ropes course”

“ I enjoyed the rock climbing as I found it really challenging trying to get into all the grips. I feel that I got better at organising my belongings.”

“I really enjoyed the walk and being around nature and seeing all the mountains”

Mrs Iddon’s Charity Hike

Mrs Iddon, from the School Office, will be donning her hiking boots and stocking up on Kendal Mint Cake once more, to conquer the Three Peaks of Saddleworth, on Saturday 27th May, to support the funding of ABCD Retreats (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis Retreats). Please donate, if you are able to do so, to her JustGiving Crowdfunding Page : https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kate-hall-5? utm_id=1&utm_term=QxRyDeqQe

Many thanks in advance for your generosity and good luck, Mrs Iddon!

Local Authority Senior School Places

We should like to remind Year 6 parents that, if your son has been offered a senior school place at a Local Authority school, which you do NOT intend to take up, you should advise that LEA yourself. We are now beginning to receive invitations for some of our Year 6 boys to attend taster days at other schools. If you have no plans for your son to accept the place, it is important that it should be released quickly into the system, so that another child who was not fortunate enough to receive an offer in the first instance, may benefit from it. Many thanks

Big Battery Hunt

The Big Battery Hunt is a nationwide programme to help educate and inspire young people to recycle more used batteries. Please send your unwanted batteries to school, where we will store them and then take them to our local supermarket for recycling. There are great prizes to be won for school, including £3500 towards outdoor and garden equipment. SL

Gardening Group

The Gardening Group and Eco Committee have begun the process of growing fruit and vegetables in the Quiet Area.

Our crops will go into the canteen for everyone in school to enjoy.

We have potatoes, onions, sweet pepper, carrots, strawberries, raspberries, cucumber, peas and beetroot ! SL

Triangular Athletics Competition

Boys from Year 5 and Year 6 travelled to Birkenhead to take part in the annual Triangular Athletics competition against Birkenhead School and King’s Chester this week.

There were a number of outstanding individual performances in both the track and field events, specifically Noah A and Ronnie W, who both won their events. After some very competitive events, the boys narrowly missed out as winners and finished second. We look forward to hosting both schools next year and hopefully bringing home the shield. TG

School Uniform Shop—Opening Hours

Monkhouse will continue to offer appointments for school uniform to customers via www.Monkhouse.com on a first come first, served basis Customers without appointments are very welcome to attend.

Alumni of the Year Award

Following the launch of the 2023 “Alumni of the Year Awards”, nominations can now be submitted online using this form until 12 noon on Friday 26 May, https://boltonschool.wufoo.com/forms/ m94gtbu037k1wi

Further details about the Awards, including eligibility and evaluation criteria, can be found here , https://www.boltonschool.org/alumni -and-giving-back/alumni/alumni-of-the-year. Please note that in order to avoid pupil bias, regrettably, staff members are not eligible for nomination.

Headphones/

Miss Ormerod has asked if boys could remember that they will need to have their headphones/ earphones with them at all time whilst in school in the next few weeks.

Please make sure that your son brings them into school every day.

Charity Dress Fun Run – Friday 26th May – the PA will be serving refreshments during the Charity Fun Run on Friday 26th May – please getin touchif you are able to assistus atthis event – parkroadpa@gmail.com

EasyFundraising online shopping can alsogenerate funds for the school PA by simply using the EasyFundraising app and linking your account: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/boltonjbpa

WhatsApp if you would like to join the PA WhatsApp Group to keep up todate with all things PA, please clickon the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BRtBl8QwJpS9OxpBm3MHDj

PA Mailing List if you would like to be added tothe PA mailing list, please get in touch: parkroadpa@gmail.com

Twitter – don’t forget to follow us on Twitter: @BSPDJnrBoysPA

Cancellation Of After School Activities

Please note that there will be NO water polo tomorrow after school (Friday 19th May) and NO after school hockey on Friday 26th May due to our Fun Run taking place that afternoon. Boys have been informed.

May Geography Mission

Geography at the Movies!

Instructions:

Choose a film with a geographical theme – there are SO many to choose from!

Watch the film and write a review: what did you enjoy about the film? How does it have a geographical link? Does it link to what you are learning about in your Geography lessons? Which films are you going to watch as a result of watching this? Do you think the film could be improved or linked to other geographical themes?

How to submit your film review: Email lgillibrand@boltonschool.org.uk with your submission byWednesday 31st May at 4pm!

Alternatively, upload your entry to WHOLE SCHOOL SHOWBIE ?? PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS!

WHO CAN CREATE THE MOST INTERESTING AND GEOGRAPHICAL FILM REVIEW?

Good luck!

Year 6 Play: Important Dates

Due to a range of events in the school calendar, the Year 6 Play 2023 will now be taking place over the following three evenings: Tuesday 4th at 7pm, Wednesday 5th at 7pm and Thursday 6th 5pm. Please note that the Year 6 play is one of our compulsory events and all Year 6 boys are expected to attend, we therefore want to make you aware of this date, in the final week of term, as far in advance as possible.

Closer to the time of the play, rehearsals are understandably very important for all boys to also attend and it would help us if you could avoid the following rehearsal dates when making medical appointments:

Monday22nd May: 13.00 – 16.00

Monday 5th June: 13.00 – 14.30

Wednesday 7th June: 13.00 - 14.30

Friday 9th June : 10.30 – 12.00

Monday 19th June: half day rehearsal (afternoon)

Friday 23rd June: 9-12.00 (half day rehearsal)

Monday 26th June: full day rehearsal

Friday 30th June: morning - dress rehearsal

PERFORMANCE DATES: Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th July.