Newsletters

Newsletter – Thursday, 28th March 2024

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Headteacher Message

Hello to all,

We have reached the end of another term.  The spring term always seems to fly by and this one certainly has.  This year we are finishing the term with a bang.  Every child from Reception upwards will be bringing home an individually wrapped book for them to read for pleasure over the Easter break.  You heard it right, every child will be receiving a free book to take home.  It is not just any book but a book that made it onto the judging list for the SPARK book awards.

Please click on the link below to find out more about these books.

 https://www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/

I know from my own personal experience the challenges parents can have trying to engage children in reading.  The rise of mobile devices and gaming has made it more difficult to draw children's attention back to books.  As parents, we need to be advocates of reading.  The benefits are immense.  Reading;

  • Reduces stress

  • Improves vocabulary

  • Builds background knowledge

  • Increases critical thinking skills

  • Opens up worlds beyond their imagination

 

Why am I telling you this?  Well, I think this book your child is going to bring home could be used by you to help promote a love of reading.  Read it with your child, ask them to read it to you or just ask them about the book.   I know how pushed for time you all are, but this book and these interactions could set your child onto a pathway of reading for pleasure that will stay with them their whole life.  At this point I would like to thank you for making this book giveaway possible. Many of you donated more than the amount that was asked for and this is how we have been able to give a book to every child.  

We are about to embark on my favourite holiday of the year (like Christmas but better because there is less you have to actually do!)  I am planning to spend time with my rapidly ageing children and look to make memories together.  Have a lovely break with your families and friends.

Joe Porter

Office Updates

 

The new clubs list has been sent out this week and the clubs are live for booking on Arbor. Please note sign updates close on Friday, 19th April.

Free Communication Clipart Pictures - ClipartixCommunications

Sent Home

  • Whole School - Measles Warn and Inform Letter
  • Whole School - Easter End of Term Early Finish Time
  • Whole School - Caterlink Summer Menu
  • Individual - Special Diet Menus
  • Reception - Forest School
  • Year 1 - Phonics Screener Meeting
  • Year 3 & 5 - Swimming Letter
  • Individual - Dabatemate Cup Trip 

PSA News

Easter Bake Sale

After our Easter bake sale we have raised an outstanding £174.24! Thank you to all who donated goods for sale and all who purchased a cake or two. What a great result! This money will go towards our goal to improve the playground equipment for all the children to enjoy.

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy hair day was a huge success and a huge amount of fun. From running this event, we have raised £117.40. Thank you for all your donations.


We look forward to the next themed day!

Easter Egg Decoration Winners!

We had a visit from the Easter Bunny, who chose a winner from every class.

Well done to everyone who took part. They were all amazing!

  • Nursery - Liza
  • Reception - Freya
  • Year 1 - Callie-Grace
  • Walker - Sirimi
  • Year 2 - Lusine
  • Year 3 - Layla
  • Year 4 - Jessica
  • Year 5 - Nevaeh
  • Year 6 - Tilly

A message from the Governors


You may remember that back in the Autumn term we were trying to recruit some more governors to strengthen our governing body. I am delighted to report that we managed to bolster our numbers with four new members - we are pleased to welcome Nathan Corbett, Felisa Saverias, Marie Berry and Simon Maidment to the governing body. We are in the process of updating our governor information on the website and hopefully you will soon be able to find out more about who we are and what we do. We still have vacancies on the governing body so if you (or anyone you know) is interested in the role please contact our Clerk on clerk@darell.richmond.sch.uk


Over the last term we have been supporting the school leadership team with the school development plan and looking at ways we can make Darell an even better school for our children. We are paying particular attention to school budgets as finances continue to be very tight, and we are having to look at ways of saving money without compromising on the quality of education offered at Darell.
One of the main priorities has been to increase pupil numbers, and we are delighted to see more and more people choosing Darell as the first choice for their children. The positive comments and recommendations from parents amongst the local community really works to raise the profile of the school.
We have just completed a survey to try to find out the views of our dedicated staff team - trying to understand what is going well and what can still be improved to make the school an even better place to work.


We’ve also been lucky enough to spend some time with the wonderful pupils - seeing some of their learning both before and during school time and also talking to a group of children about personal safety. As always, the children are the very best ambassadors for the school - listening to them talk so passionately about their learning and what is important to them is really what makes Darell so special.


As governors we are committed to supporting the leadership team to ensure all the children receive the very best education and I hope to keep you informed about our work through regular newsletter updates.


Kind Regards
Laura
Laura Morgan
Chair of Governors

 

Diary Dates

Crazy Hair Day
8:45am – 1:30pm
28
March
End of term early finish 1:30pm
8:45am – 1:30pm
28
March
Nursery Open Morning
9:30am – 11:00am
15
April
Nursery Open Afternoon
2:00pm – 3:00pm
15
April
Y4 - Thames Young Mariners Residential Trip
9:30am – 4:30pm
From 18 Apr until 19 Apr
18
April
Reception - Hearing Screening
9:00am – 12:00pm
19
April
Walker Trip- Holly Lodge
1:00pm – 3:00pm
23
April
Y3 - British Museum Trip
9:15am – 3:00pm
24
April
SATs Week
9:00am – 12:00pm
From 13 May until 16 May
13
May
Year 6 - Bikeability
9:00am – 12:00pm
From 20 May until 24 May
20
May
Choir - Singing Festival Rose Theatre
11:30am – 5:00pm
21
May

The Reading Corner

Welcome to our weekly section of the newsletter all about reading. Every week, we will share a question (or two) with you about the book your child is reading in school. Please use these questions to help you find out a little more about what your child has been reading in school and continue to develop their love of reading.

Wonder - Would you rather be the Gingerbread Man or Biscuit Bear? Why? 

Peake - Which of the SPARK! Book Award books are you most looking forward to reading? What especially caught your attention? What kind of book do you think it will be? 

Weir - Did you find out anything more about the Great Fire of London on our school trip to St Paul’s Cathedral?

Thunberg - Would you like to visit The Nothing to See Here Hotel? Why? Why not?

Darwin - Can you use a kenning to describe the gentle giant?

Attenborough - What did you like about Emma Carroll's Secrets of a Sun King? 

Parks - How do you think Kensuke and Michael felt at the end of the story? Why?

Stars of the Week!

CYCA – Communications and Marketing Committee Lead – The Calgary Police  Youth Foundation Blog

Early Years Star of the Week

Wonder Class

Xander - for working so hard on his phonics and making excellent progress with his reading!

KS1 Star of the Week

Peake Class

Mollie - for using her imagination when designing a strong house for the three little pigs and persevering when her first house got blown away by the wolf. Well done, Mollie!

Weir Class

Daniel - for living our value of aspiration and writing a superb fact file about the Great Fire of London

Walker Class

Dineo, Emily, Scarlett, Sirimi, Olly,Loki & Zion - for their fantastic learning in Walker Class this term and always trying your best.  Well done, everyone!  

KS2 Star of the Week

Newton Class

Sonia - for her enjoyment in PE and excellent participation in integration into Year 5. Well don Sonia!

Thunberg Class

Tilly - for the confidence she has shown in maths this week! Well done for persevering even when things are tricky!  

Darwin Class

Patrick - for rising to the challenge of managing changes in routine during SATs week.

Attenborough Class

Tipene - for enjoyment of his science learning, always reminding me to look up the current phase of the moon.

Parks Class

Whole class - for showing resilience and coming in with a smile every day during SATs week. Well done!

Rashford

Patrick - for his kindness towards his peers and being a helpful member of class. 

CYCA – Communications and Marketing Committee Lead – The Calgary Police  Youth Foundation Blog

Darell Primary & Nursery School Follow
Truly epic! Yesterday, was the first concert of the newly formed Darell School rock band. Here is a clip of our lead guitarist limbering up. We would like to thank Rock Bandz for unleashing the talent that is within. Rock on! https://t.co/RYG3Soaa1j
3 months ago
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Attendance

Overall, school attendance this week was 95%. Our target is 97%.

Well done to Thunberg Class for the highest attendance of 98.3% this week. 

Let's do our best for next week!

What's going on in the community?

Family Event including Pond Dipping

Family Event including Pond Dipping

Join us on Saturday 13 April for a family event in Pensford Field: follow the LINK for more information.

 

Useful Links

 

Darell Website - htts://www.darell.richmond.sch.uk/?login=true

 

     Arbor Parent Portal - darell-primary.uk.arbor

 

     Follow us on twitter - twitter.com/darellschool

 

     School Uniform Shop - The Shoe Station