Feb
13
Jan
23
We recently welcomed Great Athletes into school for a visit that gave pupils the opportunity to learn from a professional sports person.
Former Commonwealth gymnast Courtney Orange spoke to the children about his experiences in gymnastics, sharing the resilience, perseverance and teamwork that was critical to his success. He also demonstrated a range of gymnastic skills, which the children enjoyed watching.
After the talk, Courtney led a practical gymnastics circuit where pupils were able to take part in a variety of activities. This gave everyone the chance to be get active and try something new.
Visits like this help pupils see the benefits of sport beyond the classroom. Thank you to our PE and Sport Specialist, Miss Davies, for organising the visit and providing the children with a valuable and enjoyable experience.
As part of the visit, pupils were also encouraged to take part in a sponsorship, and as a school we raised over £600, which will be used to purchase new PE and sports resources. Well done and thank you to everyone who took part!
Jan
15
Dec
19
Last term, we ran an exciting attendance initiative for our pupils here at Parkside, 'Be Present for Christmas'.
Pupils were each given a festive colouring sheet and were able to colour in a different section of their picture for every week of term they attended school each day. Each full week, meant a further entry into the prize draw!
As with previous attendance competitions, Be Present for Christmas was a success with children making a super effort to attend and to colour in their Christmas trees and Christmas baubles.
On the last day of term, Mr Johnston and Miss Perry drew the raffle and selected our winners. Well done to Jack-Jack, Sofia and Jackson who each won a hamper filled with toys!
Dec
10
Our newly elected School Council representatives have participated in their first School Council meeting and have begun their work with great enthusiasm! We are proud of how seriously our pupils are taking their roles.
Their first focus is “How can playtimes be better?”, a topic chosen to help improve the daily experiences of all children in our school.
The School Council gives pupils a real voice in shaping school life, helping them build confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of responsibility. We look forward to our next meeting in January (date TBC) and to seeing the thoughtful ideas our young representatives continue to bring forward.
Dec
05
We had our annual Christmas Fair here at Parkside last Friday, and what a fantastic celebration of our school community it was!
We had the ever-popular raffle and tombola, a colouring station and traditional fair games such as Guess the Name of the Teddy Bear.
We were lucky enough that Santa even made an appearance turning the school ICT suite into a wintery and festive grotto.
With Miss Woodward and Mrs Groombridge manning our face-painting stall, we had some beautiful festive faces walking around the school hall too.
We are excited to share that, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who attended, we raised just over £600 for the school!
A huge thank you goes to our amazing PTFA for all their hard work and dedication in organising this special event.
We are also incredibly grateful to the staff members who helped run the stalls on the day, and to all in our wonderful school community for coming along, taking part, and making the fair such a success.
Dec
05
Nov
17
Parkside Community Foundation Primary School is excited to share that our school library has been fully revamped into a bright, welcoming reading space for all children.
Mrs Messenger has been busy organising the library's makeover and the library now boasts colourful seating and shelves full of brand new books. Phonics is a big focus here at Parkside and we hope our new library will help our young readers build confidence and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Our pupils have been sharing their excitement too. Here’s what they had to say about the new library:
Year R
Jasper: I like books. I like the dinosaur books and story books.
Henry : I like books and stories.
Penny: Likes Each, Peach, Pear, Plum best.
Artemis: I like story books and all the books.
Year 2
Reggie: There are lots of books and it's quiet. It's never quiet in my house so I like to go in there and read. I like to sit somewhere quiet sometimes and read.
Phoebe: I like the books, its fun and I like the bean bags and rocking chair to sit on and read.
Makenzie: Its really colourful and comfortable on the bean bags. I like the story books and looking at books and the tree.
Year 3
Jack: I like the books and the bright, colourful spaces. It makes me want to look at books.
George: I like the rocking chair and bean bags. It's nice to sit and read.
Mevan: I like how it looks and there's so much to read. It's quiet and makes me feel calm. It's quiet and I like the new books best.
Shaynah: I like reading in the library and going out of class to read. I like sitting in the library with the books.
Year 6
Aubrey: It's really tidy and a nice place to read books.
Poppy: It's fun! It's nice to sit and read and there are lots of different books to read. Its got books about your feelings and things and I like reading those as well.
Phoebe: It has lots of different types of books that are really nicely displayed. I saw a book about a mother cheetah and her 4 cubs that I really liked. I also liked Black Beauty because I really like books about animals.
Nov
12
We are excited to share that Parkside is taking part in the Rosie Duffield MP’s annual Christmas Card Competition! This years' competition is on the theme 'Canterbury at Christmas'.
This festive event is a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to showcase their creativity and spread some holiday cheer. We are super impressed by the children's beautiful designs.
We will keep parents and pupils updated as and when we hear news of the results!
Nov
11
Today, our school community came together for a very special Remembrance Assembly, thoughtfully led by our Year 6 pupils in Fox Class. The assembly provided a moment of reflection and respect as we remembered all those who have served and sacrificed in times of conflict.
Fox Class shared their beautifully written Remembrance poems and displayed their work on Remembrance and the symbolism of the red poppy. Year 6 volunteers have also been giving out poppies and taking donations for the British Legion's Poppy Appeal in the lead up to Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day is an important occasion in our school calendar, offering pupils the opportunity to learn about our shared history and the values of courage, kindness, and unity. We are extremely proud of our Year 6 pupils for leading our Remembrance event this year.
Nov
05
Nov
01
We’re thrilled to share that Parkside Community Foundation Primary School will be taking part in an exciting two-year project called Maths + Creativity = ?
The project will be supported by funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Teacher Development Fund. This project is one of only eight selected across the country and brings together schools, artists, and creative organisations to explore new ways of teaching Maths through the Arts.
Working with Animate Arts, a Kent-based creative company, and led by St Alphege CE Infant School in Whitstable, our Year 5 and 6 teachers will team up with artists, including dancers and visual artists, to discover creative approaches to teaching Maths.
Over the next two academic years, staff will take part in workshops, classroom activities, and training sessions designed to make Maths more engaging and accessible for all pupils.
We’re excited about the impact this will have on our children’s learning and can’t wait to see Maths come to life in new and imaginative ways.
Oct
26
For the last week of Term 1, we have been running a mini-attendance challenge for our pupils, Hallowinner!
All pupils were given a pumpkin drawing at the start of the week to colour in one segment each day they were present at school. This fun and simple idea quickly captured the children's imagination, with many arriving each morning eager to get their crayons out and add to their growing pumpkins.
Every child with 100% attendance for this final week of term has been given a small prize to celebrate their attendance success; a Halloween-themed pencil and a lollipop to take home.
The challenge has been a huge success, with 113 children accomplishing the attendance challenge and heading into the half-term break with their reward!
At Parkside, we place a strong emphasis on the importance of regular attendance. Good attendance is important for children's academic achievement, wellbeing and wider development. This competition is just one of the creative ways we are promoting and raising awareness of good attendance here at Parkside.
We’re proud of our pupils for their enthusiasm and commitment this week.
Keep your eyes peeled for some Christmas-themed attendance initiatives coming in Term 2!
Oct
17
Squirrel Class have been busy embracing the autumn season and learning all about Harvest through a range of fun, hands-on activities.
The class has explored autumnal colours with paint by mixing reds, yellow, oranges and browns in the classroom tuff trays. They even had the chance to pick some seasonal vegetables.
The pupils also took to their waterproofs and wellies for an autumn trail; searching the school grounds for seasonal treasures such as leaves, mushrooms and acorns.
Finally, the class has been incorporating the theme of Harvest into their maths learning by collecting and counting conkers.
It’s been a wonderful way to combine nature, learning, and creativity while enjoying the changing season together!
Oct
17
On Friday 17th October 2025, Parkside School held a joyful and thoughtful Harvest Festival assembly, kindly led by Reverend Angela Swindley, which helped us reflect on the true meaning of Harvest.
Thank you to our wonderful families for their generous food donations. These contributions will be donated to the Community Larder at All Saints Church and will make a real difference to local families in need. We are proud to support such an important cause as part of our Harvest celebrations.
Oct
07
Oct
03
This October, Year 4 had an unforgettable day stepping back in time during an exciting Stone Age workshop.
The children took part in a range of hands-on activities, including archery, carving, and weaving, which brought the prehistoric period vividly to life. They also enjoyed drama and re-enactments, immersing themselves in the daily lives of Stone Age people.
With plenty of fascinating artefacts to handle and explore, the workshop sparked curiosity and deepened their understanding of this incredible era in history.
Jul
17
Last month, we were lucky enough to take part in a gardening initiative run by Veg Power called Growing to Love Tomatoes.
Thanet Earth generously funded many of the materials used for our tomato growing.
Parkside was the only Canterbury school chosen to take part in the scheme and the project included a film crew coming to the school in early June to document the children planting on and nurturing their tomatoes.
Check out this video to see our super-start gardeners in action: https://www.playbook.com/s/veg-power/Ns7t4ez6NnECbthqWk5nKV8R
The hard work of our green-fingered pupils produced lots of juicy tomatoes for our children to eat next term!
Jul
11
Pupils from Parkside School enjoyed an unforgettable day out at Wimbledon, soaking up the excitement of one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments.
The group had the chance to watch top-seeded players in action on the famous grass courts and explore the historic grounds. A highlight of the day was enjoying the iconic Wimbledon strawberries and cream – a delicious tradition that added to the special experience.
We were incredibly proud of our pupils, whose exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm throughout the trip were a credit to the school.
A truly inspiring day that will be remembered for years to come!
Jul
11
Last week, Fox Class enjoyed an exciting and memorable trip to Canoe Wild, where they had the opportunity to try out kayaking on the River Stour.
We are incredibly proud of the children for their excellent behaviour throughout the day: they represented Parkside brilliantly.
It was a joy to see them grow in confidence on the water, supporting each other and developing new skills such as teamwork, communication, and water safety.
Activities like this are such a valuable part of school life, offering enrichment beyond the classroom and helping pupils to build resilience, independence, and lasting memories.
Well done, Year 6!
Jul
11
Have Your Say – National Survey on Sport and Physical Activity
Our school is proud to be taking part in a national survey, in partnership with Sport England and research organisation Ipsos, to learn more about the sports and physical activities our fantastic pupils enjoy—both in and out of school.
Pupils in Years 1, 3 and 5 will be completing an online survey during the school day, which focuses on their experiences with sport and physical activity.
We’re also inviting Year 1 parents to get involved! A short parent survey is available for families with children in Year 1. It takes around 10 minutes to complete and can be done on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Your input is incredibly valuable. Taking part in this research helps us understand what activities our pupils are involved in and how we can better support and encourage them. It also helps Sport England make informed decisions about investing in sport for children and young people.
As a thank you, the school will receive £10 for sports equipment for every Year 1 parent who completes the survey.
Thank you for your support!
Jul
07
This term, a group of children here at school who have shown a keen interest in gardening have been taking part in The Wilderness Project.
This initiative's first step involved the pupils nurturing a selection of flowers here at school, over several weeks, to get them ready for planting.
On Monday, the children went on a trip to Margate to plant these wonderful flowers in designated public places to help brighten up the local area of Margate.
The children had great fun taking part in the project and developing their gardening skills. More than this, these kind of projects are vital for environmental awareness.
By actively taking part in a 'green' project, pupils gain a deeper understanding of the importance of helping the environment. It’s a powerful reminder that even small actions — like planting a flower — can make a meaningful difference to the environment and our shared public spaces.
Jul
05
Jun
30
On Monday 30th June, a group of selected pupils enjoyed an unforgettable trip to the Kent County Cricket Club, where they took part in a day packed with cricketing excitement and valuable learning experiences.
The visit offered pupils the chance to participate in a variety of cricket-focused activities designed to enhance their skills, deepen their understanding of the game, and encourage teamwork and sportsmanship. Under the guidance of professionals, the children worked on their techniques and developed their confidence.
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A highlight of the day was the opportunity to watch the Kent vs Northamptonshire match live. Experiencing a professional-level game at such a prestigious venue gave the pupils a real sense of inspiration and excitement.
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Experiences like this are vital in nurturing a lifelong interest in sport and helping young people grow. The pupils returned full of enthusiasm, having made lasting memories and taken another step forward in their sporting journeys.
Jun
20
Last week, some of our pupils enjoyed an exciting and adventurous day out at Canoe Wild, where they took part in a hands-on raft building session. The children worked in small teams to plan, construct, and test their own rafts using barrels, ropes, and wooden planks. After building their rafts, the highlight of the day was launching them on the river and taking part in a friendly race.
The trip was a brilliant opportunity for the children to build key skills such as teamwork, communication, resilience, and problem-solving. Throughout the day, they showed determination, creativity, and a willingness to support one another.
Experiences like this are incredibly valuable for our pupils, boosting confidence and providing a sense of achievement in a fun and supportive environment. It was a fantastic day all round and a real success!
Jun
09
Earlier this week a group of KS2 children took part in a friendly football tournament hosted at Garlinge Primary School, involving six teams from across the TELT group.
It was a great opportunity for the children to enjoy the game while also socialising with children from other schools. The festival was made up of 'friendly' mini-matches. Although there were no winners or losers, our Parkside team made us incredibly proud with their resilience and effort on the pitch.
Jun
06
A group of our adventurous pupils took to the trees on an exciting trip to Go Ape. Set among the forest canopy, the high ropes course challenged pupils to push themselves physically and mentally.
From tackling wobbly bridges to soaring down zip lines, the day was packed with opportunities to develop key skills such as teamwork, resilience, and communication. Whether helping a classmate across an obstacle or encouraging each other from the ground, pupils showed fantastic support and empathy for one another.
Well done to everyone who took part!
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May
14
Kent Police have been running a Mini Cadet programme here at Parkside over the last 9 weeks.
The programme has been a great opportunity for the children to participate in an array of activities. The scheme's aim is to help young people develop life skills, encourage teamwork and build confidence.
Pupils carried out speed checks, learnt some 1st aid training and experienced the excitement of exploring a police vehicle!
Apr
07
Venture Camps are running a 3-day children's holiday club over the Easter holidays at the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys.
Please see the link here for more details on the club's offerings: https://venturecamps.co.uk/camp/canterbury-holiday-camp/
Apr
02
There is a change to the school dinner offering later this term.
Caterlink will be offering an Easter-themed menu, available to all pupils, on Wednesday 2nd April 2025.
There is no need to order the Easter menu in advance.
Mar
31
To view the new summer menu please click here! This new exciting menu will come start when we return from the Easter Holidays!
Mar
25
Feb
12
Feb
12
Dec
11
Nov
26
We would like to send a big thank you to The Pretty Prep Studio for donating to this year Christmas Raffle!
Buy tickets to this year raffle to be in for a chance to with a Pamper Party for 6!
Raffle tickets are avalible to buy from Monday 2nd December via the School Office will also be sold during the Christmas Fair where the prixes will be drawn.
Nov
26
Greetings from Christ Church Cathedral School!
'Be a Chorister for an Afternoon' event on Saturday 11th January 2025 at 2.30 pm. Boys in current Years 2, 3 & 4 are invited to join us for an afternoon to look around our School and Boarding House, rehearse with the Cathedral Choir, and sing at Evensong with the Choristers in the Cathedral. All Cathedral Choristers receive generous bursaries.
The original purpose of Christ Church Cathedral School was to provide choristers for Henry VIII's chapel and cathedral in 1546. Our School continues to provide choristers to sing in the internationally renowned Cathedral Choir. All Cathedral Choristers receive generous bursaries. During University term time, we also provide singers for the chapels of Worcester College and Pembroke College.
For more information, visit www.cccs.org.uk or, please contact our Registrar, Lisa Johnson, email: registrar@cccs.org.uk
Nov
26
Oct
23
Oct
16
Oct
16
Oct
15
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are putting together a special assembly to celebrate Harvest with the children in school.
As part of our harvest celebrations we would like to support the Church and their important work within the Canterbury district by giving our donations to their Community Larder. We would be very happy to receive your donations for them in the form of long-life and tinned items.
Please leave these with the school office or send them in with your child on Friday 18th October.
Thank you for your continued support of the school.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs McLevy
Head of School
Jul
09
Jul
09
Jul
09
Jun
24
A letter was sent out to all parents on Friday 21st June explaining the reasons for the entrance change to breakfast club. Please click here to view the letter as well.
May
22
May
15
The RAF Manston History Museum is holding an event on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of May called Flyin' At The Museum, in association with LAA.
May
15
At Teamtheme, we're excited to announce our May Half Term Sports Camp, and we'd like to extend a warm invitation to you to join us for some active fun.
Use code MAYDAY10 at the checkout to receive a discount!
Mar
11
Jan
26
Rosie Duffield was a welcome visitor to Parkside today. She awarded prizes during a special assembl for a competition named "Litter Angels", where children designed posters to encourage us to look after our local community. Our two runners up were Harry and Sonia, with Lexi scooping the top prize.
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