Important Messages

St Joseph’s Penny Total So Far

Thank you to those who have returned their St Joseph’s Penny Boxes the total raised so far is £ 98.00

Donations can also be made online using the link below

https://www.justgiving.com/page/st-vincents-1705417857723

Please continue to send in your boxes during lent.

Clothes Bank

Would you like to help save the planet, whilst providing affordable clothes and support for our local Saint Vincent De Paul ( SVP) Society ?

Then please do use the new Clothes Bank which has just arrived in the church car park near the school .

The Bank will be emptied regularly and items taken to the SVP shop in Bury town centre.

The Clothes Bank can take any clothes plus shoes, curtains, towels, belts and blankets. Please bag up clothes and other items.

Please do support this great local charity.

Artist of the Month

Artist of the Month – Art Competition

Every month there will be a new artist announced and your challenge will be to create a piece of art inspired by this artist.

Your completed art work should be handed to your class teacher who will then pass it on to Miss North (4S).

Click here to find out who this months Artist is 

Science at Home World Water Day

Science at Home: March

Since 1993 the United Nations have set aside a special day to focus on the importance of fresh water. Across the world, 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water. This year the theme is “Water For Peace” and the aim is to focus on the important role water plays in helping to make our world  stable, safe, healthy and successful.

Our children care a great deal about the environment and about the people we share the world with. They are very knowledgeable about many issues connected to climate change and are keen to do their bit to help.

Together with your child you could search out all the places in your house where you use water. You could design your own recording sheet, take photos or draw simple maps or plans of your home showing where water is used.

 

Click here to access the resources

Rochdale Parent Carers

We would like to make Parents Aware of the following support Forum which runs in Rochdale. The Rochdale Parent Carers Voice joins together parents and carers who look after children and young people with SEND to bring positive change from our lived experiences. We listen to families to find out what is important to them and determine whether services across Rochdale, Heywood, Pennines and Middleton meet their needs.

We also work in partnership with local authorities, education settings and health providers to highlight where local services, processes and commissioners are working well, or challenge when changes or improvements need to be made.

Our Base is on the Second Floor, Spotland Bridge Mill, Mellor Street, Rochdale OL11 5BU.

Telephone number is 07901 854741

Email address: rochdalepcv@outlook.com

RPCV Home

Academisation Consultation

Dear Families,

I hope that you are well and you are looking forward to the upcoming break.

Over the past eighteen months our Bishop, John Arnold, has been working with our schools to consider how best we can work together for the common good. Bishop John has made clear that he would like all schools in the Salford Diocese to join one of three Catholic Academy Trusts. St. Vincent’s RC Primary would join the St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust.

Our Governing Body have discussed this over the course of this term, and are now keen to formally explore joining this Trust. Our school is stable and we see the benefits being part of this Trust would bring.  We are keen to help shape this Trust as it grows, but also use some of our skills and talents to help other schools. We are clear that this would be in the interests of our children.

As part of this process we are keen to take the views of all our families, parishioners and the wider local community. Should you have any questions or queries about our thinking on this issue, please do not hesitate to email them to consultation@st-vincents.rochdale.sch.uk.

We will of course continue to update you as we begin this journey over the coming weeks and months.

Your sincerely,

Mrs Mary Brooks

Headteacher

Charge for Lost Books

Dear families,

After half term, we will be introducing a charge for lost reading books.

Due to the rising pressure on our school budget, if your child misplaces or loses a school reading book, we will be required to issue a charge of £5 per book.

Many thanks for your continued support,

Mrs Mary Brooks

Disabled Parking Bays

This a polite reminder, please only park in the disabled parking bays(outside the school fence and near the church) if you are displaying a blue badge.

Several of our families who are in desperate need of facilities close to school  fail to be able to access these parking

bays because people who do not have blue badge are parking there.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in the matter.

Umbrella Sessions

If you would be interested in attending the support sessions for parents and carers of children and young people with Neurodiversity please scan the QR code or click the link below
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-umbrella-sessions-1311889

 

Measles Update

Measles Update

Click on link below

Measles Update PDF Document

 

Monkhouse Uniform Update

Dear Parents,

We have been advised by Monkhouse (our uniform supplier) that they will be closing their Rochdale store at the end of the year.  You will be able to purchase our school uniform either via their website or from their Bury store:

Mill Gate Shopping Centre

86 The Rock

Bury

BL9 0PB

 

School Website Uniform Information

https://www.st-vincents.rochdale.sch.uk/general-information/other-information/uniform/

 

WOW walk to school challenge

Dear Families,

St Vincent’s has chosen to be part of an exciting behaviour-change initiative to encourage more children and their families to walk to school. WOW – the walk to school challenge will begin on Monday 20th November and is delivered by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, to help as many children as possible experience the benefits of walking to school.

The pupil-led challenge enables children to self-report how they get to school every day. If they travel actively (walk/wheel, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride) at least once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge. It’s that simple!

 

What are the benefits of walking to school?

  • Children feel happier and healthier
  • They arrive to school refreshed and ready to learn
  • Helps reduce congestion and pollution at the school gates

 

What if we can’t walk to school?

Park and Stride to help your child earn their WOW badges. You can park or hop off public transport at least ten minutes away from the school and walk the remaining journey. Ideal places to park and stride from would be the Co-op Cutgate, Norden Methodist Church or anywhere further than Oakshaw Drive behind school

 

What is a WOW badge?

There are 11 badges to be earned from September 2023 – July 2024. Each badge has been designed by a pupil from across the UK as part of our annual WOW Badge Design Competition. A new badge can be earned every month if you walk/wheel, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride at least once a week.  This could alternatively be on the home journey and doesn’t have to be at the start of the school day.

Pupils will be taking part in The British Nature Walk, earning badges ranging from the Urban Fox to the Rochdale Canal, while getting closer to the nature found across Britain.

The badges are made in Cornwall from recycled plastic material that was otherwise destined for landfill, including fridge trays, plastic plates and yoghurt pot off-cuts. For more information, visit: livingstreets.org.uk/recycling. In the UK, last year, around 2,000 schools and over half a million pupils enjoyed the benefits of walking to school with WOW. Will you join us?

 

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Mrs Fallon (Reception class teacher) or find more information and useful videos at: livingstreets.org.uk/wowlaunch

 

Let’s swap those school runs for school walks!

Mrs Mary Brooks

 

WOW walk to school launch – letter

Car Parking Reminder

Can we remind parents to park considerately around school, a number of cars are parking on the private road on Palatine Avenue that leads into Pargate Chase.

This is causing issues for residents who require vehicle access for emergency vehicles.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Mrs M Brooks

MMR Guidance – NHS

Please see information below from the NHS.

Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated nine out of ten children in a classroom can catch the disease if just one child is infectious.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/?msclkid=9df15083b5ab11ec890d081689933c03

 

Parents – Safeguarding Procedures

Dear Families,

I am writing to inform you of some new safeguarding procedures for the start and end of the school day. These changes will come into effect on Monday 25th September 2023.

The Church car park gates ONLY will be open and supervised for VOOSH club at 7.30am until 7.45am. For any children arriving after this time, parents should phone VOOSH club and a member of staff will come out to open the gate. The gate at the front of school will not be opened until 8.20am.

Please do not leave your child unsupervised outside the school gates before school in the morning. At 8.20am, a member of staff will open the front gate (located in the reception/year 1 yard) and supervise the church car park gate until 8.40am. Both front and back gates will be locked at 8.40am.

Children arriving after 8.40am will need to be escorted to the main reception and be signed in as late.

At the end of the day, gates will be opened and supervised by staff from 3.05pm and closed at 3.20pm. Parents arriving to collect their child from VOOSH after school club will need to ring to alert staff that they have arrived.

The changes coming into force are due to safeguarding. I do not have staff available to supervise the playground in the mornings before school and children cannot be on the grounds without supervision. It is also not appropriate for the school gates to be left open without being supervised by a member of staff. This is for the safety and protection of our children. I realise that these changes may cause some inconvenience to some families, however, I know you will agree with me that we need to work together to safeguard our children.

Thank you very much in advance of your support with this issue,
Mrs Mary Brooks

Holidays Term Time

Holidays

I would like to remind parents that the law gives no entitlement to parents to take their children on holiday during term time. As head teacher I do not have the authority in law to authorise absences for holidays or related activities, unless there are ‘exceptional’ circumstances. I am not expected to class any term time holiday as ‘exceptional’. This being the case, any requests for term time holidays will be declined and any absences will be recorded as unauthorised.

The Education Welfare Service will issue fines for holidays in term time. The fine is £60 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 per parent per child if paid within 28 days from the date of issue. Unauthorised leave for 10 sessions (5 school days) or more will qualify for a fine unless it is classed as exceptional circumstances. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ can be described as rare, significant, unavoidable, short and that the absence could not reasonably be scheduled at another time. Penalty notices will also be issued when a child has 10 days of unauthorised absence (20 sessions) across a 12 week period. These may be used in a range of situations where unauthorised absence occurs, including holidays during term time, inappropriate parentally-condoned absences, persistent late arrival at school and where no reason for absence is provided.

Mrs Mary Brooks

Dental Access Initiative

Information for Parents 

Dental Access Initiative at Littleborough dental clinic in Heywood Middleton and Rochdale has continued this school term for children in HMR which this will enable children to access an NHS appointment.

This opportunity is only for children who have not attended a dentist in the past 12 months.

The dental practice currently have places available for children who have not seen a dentist in the past 12 months, if you would like to book an appointment please contact them on 01706 376523 Littleborough Dental Practice, 115 Featherstall Road, Littleborough OL15 8JZ .

It was highlighted that Rochdale Heywood and Middleton have poor oral health in children aged 5, this was reported in a national dental survey. The aim of the programme is to help support dental access for children and help you to reduce dental decay (holes) in children’s teeth.

The dentist or dental nurse may also apply fluoride varnish to the child’s teeth after gaining consent from the child/parent. Fluoride varnish is a thin layer that is applied to children’s teeth, and it helps strengthen tooth enamel. The fluoride varnish is golden yellow in appearance. It tastes and smells very pleasant and is therefore usually positively accepted by children.

Please note that in order to help access for others at the dentist, if you have a dental appointment booked and are unable to attend it is vital that you inform the dentist of your need to cancel and if required to re arrange for another time, the dentist can then offer this to someone else, please help to keep access open as much as possible at this very busy time.

If you want to look into other dental practices in HMR who may have places available, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

No Nuts or Sweets in School

There are a number of children in school who have severe nut allergies.

Please can we remind you not send your child into school with nuts of any kind, or food that may contain nuts i.e. chocolate spread, etc.

We also ask that you do not send any sweets into school as we are a healthy eating school.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.

Mrs M Brooks

 

 

SVP

https://www.svp.org.uk

If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional or practical support your local SVP is here to help.

Please phone Elizabeth on 07564187903 or email ElizabethNorden@svp.org.uk .

 

All enquiries dealt with in confidence.