Rochdale Observer School News Column for Saturday 10th July 2010

Congratulations to our Y3 and Y4 gymnastics team who represented Norden and Rochdale at the county finals in Wigan last week.  We are proud to say that our team are now County Champions after winning the competition.

Our nursery and reception classes really enjoyed their visit to Blackpool Zoo.  Year 1 visited the Blue Planet Aquarium whilst Year 3 went to Ribchester to learn about the Romans.

Year 2 and year 3 classes learned about healthy eating and healthy cooking when the ‘Expo Chef’ visited school and gave a cookery demonstration.  The morning was very interesting and some of the parents who also attended were inspired to try some of the recipes at home.  It was lovely to see the children helping out with the cooking and the tasting afterwards!

Year 6 children have had a wonderful visit to London, one which I’m sure the children and staff will remember for many years to come.  The London Eye, a theatre visit, a boat trip on the Thames, The Globe Theatre and the Natural History Museum were just some of the highlights of the visit.

Two days of dance workshops were enjoyed by the children and staff who joined in too.  Salsa, Flamenco and Tango were some of the dances learned.

Our walking bus continues to go from strength to strength.  The  Walking Wednesday’s so far have been really successful, and the weather has been excellent too, which has helped.  The first bus stop is Cutgate shopping precinct and the bus leaves at 8 am.  Have you considered dropping your child off in the car park there instead of struggling to park around school?  Contact school if you wish to sign up to walk.

Our Unit 2 (Y3 and Y4 children) concert, Little Red Riding Hood was a super production.  It was lovely to see the children performing with such enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment, well done!

We look forward to the Unit 3 concert, ‘Oliver’ which will be on Monday 12th July.  There will be two performances, 1.45 pm and 6.30 pm.  Tickets will be issued to families who wish to come along.

We took part in the ‘Wildlife Walk Week’ last week.  Children tried to spot various wildlife on walks in the locality.  Even the walking bus took part.

Year 5 children have had the opportunity to take part in bikeability lessons this week. 

Work has started on the playground re-vamp.  I would like to thank the School Council for all their work in helping to plan the work and we look forward to having brand new playground facilities in September.

Rochdale Observer School News Column for Saturday 19th June 2010

We are going ahead with our next PTA event which is a Talent Show on Saturday June 26th.  We have had a number of applications from children to perform and it promises to be a good evening.  Due to World Cup fixtures we are bringing forward the time of the show and doors will be opening at 5 pm.  Those who wish to stay on after 7 pm when the show should finish can see World Cup action on our huge screen.  There will be a bar until 10 pm.  These are probably the best seats and cheapest food and drinks in Norden!

Norden Carnival will be held at the school today, Saturday 19th June.  We will be walking with the main procession which starts off at Caldershaw School at 1 pm.  The theme is ‘It’s on TV’.

Congratulations to our Tennis players who got through to the semi-finals of the tennis county finals at the Bolton Arena this week.  The children played really well and enjoyed the day.

We are through to the finals of the RMBC swimming competition and currently lead the RMBC swimming league.

Children in the gymnastics team are in the Y3 and Y4 heats this week, we wish them luck.

Thank you to everyone who supported our half price book fair last week.  This meant that we were able to supplement our classroom libraries with new books, which of course, benefits all the children.

We are now underway with our ‘walk to school on Wednesday’ walking bus scheme.  Both Wednesday’s so far have been really successful, and the weather has been excellent too, which has helped.  The first bus stop is Cutgate shopping precinct and the bus leaves at 8 am.  Contact school if you wish to sign up to walk.

Bradford University worked with Y5 last Wednesday morning and children were involved in some very exciting IT work with telescopes.  Next week children will be working with rockets outside!
The Doorstep Project has been with us for five days.  Children have been working in the mobile classroom on the theme of community cohesion.  All children have enjoyed their visit to the ‘lorry’ and the work that they have been involved with.

Thank you to Callum, Ben, Michael, Georgia and Laura for playing their musical instruments so beautifully for everyone in assembly on Friday morning.

It was wonderful to welcome our new Nursery and Reception parents in to school to the meetings we had this week and last.  New nursery children are already making their visits to school and reception children will be visiting soon.

Our Unit 2 (Y3 and Y4 children) concert, Little Red Riding Hood, is on Tuesday evening and starts at 6.30 pm.  Parents should already have tickets to this event.

The class with the best attendance last week was Mrs Heakin’s. 
The class trophy also went to Mrs Heakin’s class.

Rochdale Observer School News Column for Saturday 29th May 2010

Year five children thoroughly enjoyed the National Cycle Training that they received for four days last week.  It has been super to see so many children riding to school safely on their bicycles now that the weather has improved.  There are cycle racks at the entrance to school for safe storage throughout the day.  Children must wear cycle helmets.

Congratulations to our tennis team who won the RMBC Primary Schools Tennis competition at Springhill on Tuesday afternoon.  The team will now go forward to the Greater Manchester Games in June.

Parents are invited to every Friday morning assembly which starts at 8.50 am.  Afterwards you are all invited into the small hall for tea, coffee and biscuits.  Auntie Pam’s coffee comes highly recommended by all!

Y2 visited the Lego Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre on Wednesday. Children and staff had a wonderful visit and have been so inspired that they plan to recreate Norden CPS in Lego.

Dinner money for the next half term will be £56.10 for those parents who wish to pay in advance.

Children will have brought home a PTA newsletter which includes details of our next event which will be a Talent Show on June 26th.  Children who wish to take part must apply using the application slip on the letter (which has also gone home) and must handed in by the first Monday back after half term. 

Norden Carnival will be held at the school on Saturday 19th June.  We will be organising a walking party for the main procession which starts off at Caldershaw School at 1 pm.  The theme is ‘It’s on TV’ so get your thinking caps on and start planning your outfits now.

Houses of the Week were Greenbooth and Shawfield.

The class with the best attendance last week was Miss White’s. 

Miss Webster’s, Mrs Lowe’s, Mrs Ellam’s, Miss White’s and Mrs Smallwood’s classes were all here on time last week! 

The class trophy went to Mrs Hodgson’s class.

Next week is half term and we return to school on Monday 7th June

Rochdale Observer School News Column for Saturday 22nd May 2010

40 Year 5 children had a wonderful school journey to France last week.  They were able to practise their French at a traditional French market.  They made other visits to a chocolate factory, a goats’ cheese farm, The Somme and a hypermarket.  Activities at the chateau where we stayed were, kayaking, canoeing, raft building, fencing and climbing.  A very good time was had by all.

Sports Day for Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children took place this week.  It was lovely to see so many parents and grandparents at these events.  The winning team in Key Stage 2 was Shawfield with 8,008 points.

Our gymnastics boys and girls teams represented Rochdale at the British Schools gymnastics finals in Stoke on the 8th May.  The boys team came 5th overall whilst the girls came 6th.  Once again we are incredibly proud of all our children.

Parents are invited to every Friday morning assembly starting at 8.50 am.  Afterwards you are all invited into the small hall for tea, coffee and biscuits.  It would be super to see more of you next week.

Year 2 visit the Lego Centre at the Trafford Centre next Wednesday 26th May.

House of the Week was Ashworth.

The class with the best attendance last week was Miss White’s. 

Miss Tyreman’s, Miss White’s and Mrs Smallwood’s classes were all here on time last week! 

Rochdale Observer School News Column for Saturday 24th April 2010

It was lovely to welcome everyone back after the Easter break along with the wonderful weather.  We hope that those staff and children who are stranded abroad will get back to school soon!

The next PTA meeting will be on Monday 26th April at 7 pm.  The Family Quiz night raised a wonderful £663.82.

The Bags2School collection will be this Tuesday 27th April.  Bags should be left outside the small hall first thing in the morning please.

30 Year 5 children will make a visit to the
Sir Winston Churchill on Wednesday to compliment the work that they are doing in class.

There is a Governors Curriculum meeting on Wednesday 28th April at 4.15 pm.

We are all looking forward to a very busy summer term ahead.