Bolton School Junior Boys' Weekly Newsletter - 20 March 2024

Bolton School Primary Division Junior Boys’ School

Spring Term, 2024 WEEK A Wednesday 20th March

Wednesday

20th March

Y5 Trip to Ordsall Hall (half 5B & 5C), all day U9 Football Tournament, Cheadle Hulme, 10am start

Swim Development, 4-5pm Cubs, 6.30 7.45pm

Thursday 21st March

Y4 Trip to Martin Mere, all day

Y3 Author Visit, 10am LAMDA, 4-5pm, Jujitsu, 4 5.30pm Cubs, 6.30—7.45pm

Friday 22nd March

Bolton Children’s Fiction Award Event, GD

Fencing, 4-5pm Water Polo, 4-5pm

Hockey 4-5pm

From Mrs. Faulkner

It has certainly been a busy few days at Park Road and there looks to be no let up in that pace as we head towards the end of term. This week and last, we have enjoyed a number of educational visits and are very grateful indeed to the many parents who have volunteered to help with those visits, your support is very much appreciated.

Over the last week or so, we have certainly seen the signs of Spring arriving, the lighter mornings and evenings are very much appreciated by all. If you happen to walk along the side of the school field on Chorley New Road, you will also be able to enjoy the beautiful sight of the daffodils which the boys planted earlier in the year which have begun to flower their bright hue certainly adds a splash of colour to the day.

I am very much looking forward to the Music Festival which takes place next week. Parents are invited to attend to watch if they are able to and we do know that the boys enjoy the support of a very appreciative audience. I will certainly look forward to seeing some of you at the performances, good luck to all of the boys who will be participating, there’s still plenty of time for practice. The schedule for the two days can be found linked here.

As is quite usual at this time of the year, there are a number of illnesses circulating in school, including chickenpox. Please do keep an eye out for any symptoms your son may be displaying and please do remember that if your son does have chickenpox, he is required to stay away from school until all of the spots have scabbed, this usually takes around five days to occur.

Further information can be found on the NHS website -: whooping cough (https:// www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/) and chickenpox (https://www.nhs.uk/ conditions/chickenpox/).

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. Pleasenotethat anytexts sentbytheOfficecannot berepliedto.

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

Monday 25th March

Music Festival, all day

Warhammer Club, 4-5pm Judo, 4-5pm

Indoor Cricket Nets (by invitation), 4-5.30pm

Tuesday 26th March

Music Festival, all day Chess, 4-5pm Pickleball, 4-5pm

Wednesday 27th March

Verse Speaking Final House Activities

BREAK UP FOR EASTER HOLIDAY, 4pm

Monday 15th April

Staff INSET Day

Tuesday 16th April

Summer Term begins BOYS RETURN TO SCHOOL, 8.45am

News from the Park Road PA

Bag2School Collection Weds 27th March (8-9am)

Please have a good clear out and bring bags in on the day (not before, please!) to the Staff car park.

If you need more donation bags, please let us know.

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. If you would like to be added to the PA mailing list, please get in touch: parkroadpa@gmail.com

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter/X: @BSPDJnrBoysPA

AJIS Music Festival

Last Tuesday, our Upper School Choir represented school in the annual AJIS Music Festival.

Boys travelled to Bury Grammar School to compete against nine other choirs, including one from Hesketh House, singing two contrasting pieces.

The competition was tough and we did not win this time, however, the boys sang really well and it was good practise for the Ensembles class in our Music Festival, which takes place next week, as well as the Spring Concert next term, on Wednesday 24th April. HJO

Year 6 Bikeability

Bikeability will take place in the last week of Summer Term for all of the Year 6 boys. Further information, as well as the Bikeability consent forms, will be sent to parents next term.

It may be a good time to dig out your son’s bike over the Easter holidays to make sure that it is in good, working order and for him to get some practice in! Bikes will be available to hire from Bolton Council if your son does not have a one.

Annual Friends of Bolton School Plant Sale

Details of the annual Friends of Bolton School plant sale are now available. We are delighted to say that there have been no price increases this year.

The quality of our plants is well recognised and it would be wonderful if you would support this popular event and help make it even bigger Orders should be placed before the end of March and plants will be available for collection from Saturday 11th May. View the plants in the A-Z Guide linked here. Orders can be placed using the form linked here or by e-mail bsbdpa@gmail.com

Feel free to pass on details to all of your friends and family.

Visits to Patterdale Hall—Important Dates

Please note the date of your son’s visit to Patterdale Hall this year :

Year 3: Thursday 9th to Friday 10th May

Year 4: Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th May

Year 5: Monday 20th to Wednesday 22nd May

Year 6: Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May.

Following on from last week's meeting, please find below the link to the video recording of the evening, should you wish to re-cap anything or weren't able to attend:

https://youtu.be/3qzfhVhBt7s?feature=shared

March Geography Mission: Ready, Steady, Cook !

Choose a country or city of your choice. This could be a country you have visited, are going to visit or would like to visit in the future.

Choose a meal native to that country to cook at home with your family.

Take pictures of the different stages of the cooking and then take a picture when it is ready to eat

Write a short paragraph to explain how you made your dish and which country it is native to.

How to submit the pictures and review of your meal: email lgillibrand@boltonschool.org.uk with your submission by 4pm on Sunday 31st March

PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS!

WHO CAN CREATE THE MOST INTERESTING AND GEOGRAPHICAL MEAL?

Sports News Round Up

Swimming

Over the past week, four boys from Year 6 have competed in two swimming events.

On Tuesday Oscar, Raees, Sam and Harlan competed in the Bolton Schools’ Excel Swimming competition alongside the girls at Ladybridge High School. After a number of strong individual and team races, our squad ran away as winners of the event bringing home a number of medals and the overall trophy.

Following on from this success, the same four boys made the journey to Liverpool to take part in the ESSA North West Divisional relay qualifiers. The boys finished 3rd in both the Freestyle and Medley relay and successfully qualified for the national finals in June.

Football

It was the turn of Year 4 to compete in the annual Manchester United tournament at the Cliff Training Ground last week.

Nine very excited boys made the short journey into Manchester to take part in a 10 team round robin tournament.

After some very close matches and great performances from everyone involved, they finished 4th Massive well done to the u11 Football team who took part in the ISFA regional round held at Burnage Rugby Club last week. After topping the group and a superb victory in the quarter finals, the boys were unfortunately beaten in a closely contested semi-final. Well done!

A couple of weeks ago, we were visited by 40 boys from King’s School Macclesfield for a four team block fixture.

After battling through the cold and wind of a typical Friday afternoon in Bolton, we finished with a number of very positive results and performances.

Congratulations to everyone involved! TG

Easter Holiday History Challenge

You are all, without knowing it, a part of Park Road’s history! You will always be a part of our very special school. Why not now try and leave a legacy for the future generations of ‘Park Roaders’!?

I would like you to be creative and design a Roman shield or suit of armour? It may be that you write some hieroglyphics from the Ancient Egyptians, or design a sarcophagus? Maybe you will create a make a piece of art work illustrating what you’ve learned in history so far this year. It may be that you create a portrait of Henry VIII, or one of his wives. You might design a memorable piece about World War One?

The best, most creative and eye catching pieces of work will make it onto our Park Road history staircase, where your work will be combined with that of previous Park Road boys, to create our ‘living history wall’. There are lots of ideas already there, so do take a look when you walk past. The work can be submitted in school any time, until we break up for half term at the end of May, so you’ve plenty of time to get creative! Thank you for your help in making our wall brilliant! PC

Trips and Visits

Y6 Geography Trip to Cuerden Valley

Last week, the Year 6 boys embarked on a half day trip to the faraway picturesque land of Cuerden Valley near Chorley, of the Geography curriculum, studying rivers. The boys pulled on their wellies and enjoyed a range of activities to learn more about river processes and the wildlife living in and around it.

They went river dipping to find living creatures to test how clean the water is and even had a duck race to test the speed of the river.

The boys impressed the educational leaders at Cuerden Valley with their technical vocabulary and were able to apply their knowledge from the classroom into real life experiences.

Despite the wet weather a great time was had by all!

Huge thanks to the parent volunteers who gave up their day so that this trip could take place. GF

Y6 History Trip to Quarry Bank Mill

On Monday, Year 6 donned their flat caps and tucked their trousers into socks to become Victorian mill workers for the day. We visited Quarry Bank Mill and learnt all about what Victorian life was like, from the food that the workers ate, to the various jobs and machines that were needed.

The boys saw the machinery in action and learnt about the dangers Victorian children their age and younger would have faced when performing their many tasks around them.

It was a fantastic day, filled with learning and hands-on experiences. A huge thank you to the parent helpers who came as well! MP

Lost Property

Once again, we have accumulated a large amount of lost property from around the building this half term. Named items are, of course, returned to their owners. Unnamed items will be on show to the boys next week for them to see if any belong to them.

Please help your son and staff by naming all items brought into school and showing your son where they are labelled. On Wednesday 27th March all unnamed and unclaimed lost property will be recycled. CDH

Free Easter Holiday Activities

In April, the 'Town of Children' project will take place in the former Crompton Place in Bolton as it transforms into a Creative Innovation hub for 2024. Youngsters lead conversations on positive change, inviting teachers and the Bolton community to collaborate on transforming the space into an inclusive innovation centre for a more vibrant and creative town. All are welcome! The full story can be found here. Art workshops, action painting, social design and film making projects, community forums, projects for teachers and a new community-designed mural for the town will all be created. Explore further and enrol for sessions here

It will be delivered by Creatives Now and international artists, BASECLAN. Creatives Now is a Bolton Cultural Education Partnership project delivered by representatives from our School and Bolton at Home. The Easter offer is produced with funding support from Bolton Council and Arts Council England via a Greater Manchester Creative Health Region #BeeWell initiative with Curious Minds.

Bolton Schools’ Dance Festival

On Tuesday, nine boys represented school at the Bolton School' s Dance Festival at The Albert Halls in Bolton.

The theme this year was “Movies and Musicals” and boys enjoyed the afternoon not only perfecting their own Footloose dance moves, but also enjoying a range of dances by other schools taking part, including: The Lion King, Avengers, Cats and many, many more!

The boys performed brilliantly showing great energy and an infectious enthusiasm with their dance moves, putting everything into their final performance.

Mrs Brisk is particularly proud of their commitment to the club each morning and working together to support each other throughout, both on and off stage during rehearsals, too.

Well done boys, you were all brilliant! MLB

Achievements

Well done to Jack Taylor, in 3A, who was awarded his yellow belt at his karate club this week. He has been training with North West Karate for less than a year and is doing incredibly well. What a fantastic achievement, Jack !

Congratulations to Svojas Dubey, in 4A, who recently represented Manchester in the ESPCA Chess Championships and was awarded second place, winning a silver medal. His team also qualified for the finals which will be on 20th April. He has taken his medal and certificate to show it to his class teacher.

Well done to the Year 6 boys who took part in the Science Masterclass last week at Hesketh House.

Congratulations to all of the boys who achieved a commendation from their teacher this week, some of whom are pictured opposite.

Keep up the hard work, boys !

Top Table in the Dining Room

Last week saw our first official guests dine at the Friday Top Table!

These boys were nominated by the Dining Room staff for the outstanding behaviour at lunchtimes. The lucky nominees were invited to choose their lunch first, eat at the exquisitely decorated top table with its own crockery and have the option of fruit cordial, instead of water.

I hear Mrs Gregory may even have some extra treats in the pipeline.

I look forward to seeing who gets invited each week! GF