Newsletters

Newsletter 9 – Friday, 7th November 2025

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Headteacher Message

The term has started back in full swing, the week has been packed full of reasons to celebrate. We’ve had two sporting fixtures this week, and we can celebrate the amazing team spirit AND the goals, this time! Congratulations to our girls, who won not 1, but 4 of the 7 matches against local schools. Yesterday the boys' football team had a very successful game against Kew Riverside, which ended in a draw. We were very proud of your performance on the pitch.  Thank you also to the parents who went to support the players.

Within school, the celebration focus has continued. We have been celebrating positive behaviour at playtimes and children who have been spotted playing responsibility and helping make our playgrounds such a positive place have their names put into a draw for a special playtime at the REC each fortnight. 

We also had a very well-attended open morning on Wednesday. A good number of families attended, and they had nothing but positive comments about what they saw and experienced. One parent had been speaking to a current parent and this was helping inform her decision about school preferences. Thank you to those who are getting the word out, prospective parents really listen to the views and experiences of current and past parents. We have our next open day next week on Tuesday, 11th, at 9.15am. Please spread the word.

NEWS FLASH!! Mr Porter has had his operation. It was successful, and he is resting at home next week. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Emma 

Office Updates

School Gate Times

Please take a moment to review our daily gate opening and closing times for both the start and end of the school day.

Morning Drop-Off

  • The school gates open at 8:30 AM.

  • The gates close promptly at 8:45 AM.

Afternoon Collection

  • The school gates open at 3:15 PM.

  • The gates will close at 3:30 PM sharp to ensure the playground is secure for our after-school clubs.

If you anticipate being late to drop off or collect your child, please call the school office  and proceed directly to the main office upon arrival.

Free Communication Clipart Pictures - Clipartix  Communications Sent Home

  • Year 5 & 6 – Cross Country Competition (Selected Students)  
  • Reception & Y6 - National Childhood Programme – Parent Information 
  • Reception - Reception School Health Questionnaire 
  • Whole School – My Child's Art – Logins and Discount Code 

Diary Dates

Year 5 & 6 Swimming
9:15am – 10:45am
from 12 Sep and on Friday each week until 13 Dec
07
November
Nasal flu Vaccination - Recption - Year 6
9:00am – 12:30pm
12
November
YR 5 & Y6 Darell V Thompson House Football Match
1:30pm – 2:30pm
12
November
Year 5 & 6 Swimming
9:15am – 10:45am
from 12 Sep and on Friday each week until 13 Dec
14
November
Year 5 & 6 Swimming
9:15am – 10:45am
from 12 Sep and on Friday each week until 13 Dec
21
November
Y6 - National Archives Trip
12:30pm – 3:20pm
26
November
Year 5 & 6 Swimming
9:15am – 10:45am
from 12 Sep and on Friday each week until 13 Dec
28
November
Y1 - Richmond Museum Trip
9:00am – 3:00pm
02
December
Year 5 - National Archives trip
9:00am – 1:00pm
03
December
Year 5 & 6 Swimming
9:15am – 10:45am
from 12 Sep and on Friday each week until 13 Dec
05
December

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.

Reception - Can you name the four seasons? How do trees change in each season?

Year 1 – Why do you think the bear in our story is called the Everywhere Bear? Can you remember some of the places the Everywhere Bear went on his journey? (down the drain, into the sea, fishing net, fish shop, skip, lorry, tip, over the treetops, library, school)

Year 2 - What do you predict will happen next in Paper Planes one of our new class books?

Year 3 - How do you think the fisherman feels being out at sea on the moonless nights? What advice would you give to him?

Year 4 -  If you could drink one potion that made one wish come true, what would it be?

Year 5 - ‘Treason’ – What tragic accident happens at the beginning of our new class novel? Do you think Will is responsible for it?

Year 6 - In the first chapter of Letters from the Lighthouse, which character would you rather be: Olive, Sukie or Cliff?

SRP 2 - Do you think Bird is a good friend to Squirrel?

Attendance

Overall, school attendance this week was 92%. Our target is 97%.

Well done to Year 6 for the highest attendance of 96% this week. 

Let's do our best for next week!

 

 

EYFS Star of the Week

Reception

Alteo - for being a great role model every day. You are kind, responsible and show real enjoyment in your learning.

KS1 Star of the Week

Year 1

Aidee –  for excellent focus and participation in our phonics lessons - you join in with every word, every time. You also help to make Year 1 a very happy place to be by being a kind friend. Well done, Aidee!  

Year 2 

Ava - for your growing confidence and enjoyment! Your oracy skills have come a long way, as evidenced through your increasing contributions to your reading group and class discussions. Keep it up! 

 SRP 1

Adrian - for joining his friends in Year 1 and participating in their maths sessions, well done Adrian!

Nurture  Star

Mia-Rose - for showing resilience with your maths this week and persevering when you found it tricky. We are proud of you!

KS2 Star of the Week

SRP 2

Scarlett - for participating well in our lessons about telling the time.     

Year 3

Lucas - for making Darell history by being the first ever Year 3 child to turn his entire TT Rockstars heatmap green in the autumn term! Well done, Lucas; you are a times table hero!

Year 4

Mason - for having the ambition to follow instructions from teachers and working hard to improve his handwriting. Well Done, we're all very proud of you.

Year 5

Adem - for his fantastic participation in lessons and his impressive knowledge in R.E.

Year 6

Narek - for his commitment to his learning, being ambitious in every lesson and with his home learning as well.

 

What's going on in the community?

Time Travel Club: Privateers and their treasure - The National Archives

Arrrr' you ready to set sail and explore the Prize Papers? Captured by British ships in the 17th and 18th centuries, these documents share fascinating histories of treasures across the world.

Explore the Prize Papers, a huge collection of letters, papers and objects captured by British ships in wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. Where did they come from – and what treasures came with them?  This event is run in partnership with Dr. Silke Bakenhus, who leads the the QuaSU project and works at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg in the Department of Primary Education and Social Studies.

As part of the Prize Papers Project collaborative network, QuaSU explores how historical sources – such as letters and logbooks – can be used in primary education, developing age-appropriate learning tasks and teaching materials to introduce children to historical topics.

The event is supported by Dr Lucas Haasis (German Maritime Museum/Prize Papers Project).

We want as many children as possible to join us for this unique opportunity to explore this incredible collection! 

Useful Links

     darell.school

 

darell.richmond.sch.uk

 

Arbor Parent Portal - darell-primary.uk.arbor

 

 

School Uniform Shop - The Shoe Station