Headteacher Message

Hello all,

I hope you are all well. Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of 2020. What a year for all of us! Sometimes out of adversity comes good and I feel that this crisis has brought our community closer together and I am extremely optimistic about what the future will bring for our school. This week I have completed a world record 6 school tours for prospective parents. I really think perceptions of Darell are changing and that is in no small part down to you being such fantastic advocates for the school. Thank you for letting others know what a wonderful place this is.

Our focus on the wellbeing of your children has come to the fore during coronavirus and we will continue to ensure that we do everything to ensure that your child is happy. Happy staff also make happy children and I would like to thank all of you who sent e-mails to the staff team. It is greatly appreciated and we are always happy to receive more.

During the crisis, we have really tried to apply common sense to everything that comes our way. Unfortunately, sometimes those above us are sometimes a little bit common sense challenged. This week the government sent out guidelines saying that it may be a good idea to move an INSET staff training day to this side of the Christmas break. The reasoning being that I, as head and resident track and tracer would not have to track and trace on Christmas Eve. We have already planned our last two INSET days for the 4th and 5th of January and we simply cannot move them at such short notice. Also, as a working parent myself, one weeks notice of school closure is not enough. So, we have applied common sense and will remain open on Friday next week. It would take quite a set of circumstances but I will track and trace on Christmas eve if necessary. Obviously this situation may be subject to change and we will inform you immediately if something changes. We have avoided any bubble closures but schools in Kingston have recently been hit very hard and I know of one that has had to close completely.

This does remind me to remind you. If your child does begin to show symptoms of Coronavirus please do not send them into school and alert us immediately. Next week, we will be publishing guidelines regarding informing us and the appropriate bodies if this takes place in the holidays.

Once again I would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in us during this crisis. Our current attendance is 96.3% which is quite simply outstanding and a testament to the excellent partnership we have developed with you. It is Christmas jumper day today and I have already seen some incredibly festive offerings. If you are passing Reception, please ensure that you wear some sunglasses!!

Have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and be happy.

Joe Porter

PSA

Upcoming Events

With a little over a week of school left there are still a lot of fun activities for the children to take part in. Without the usual Christmas fair, hopefully we can still have a cheerful spirit for the last days before the holidays!

DOUGHNUT SALE TODAY!

After school in the KS1 & KS2 playgrounds we’ll have a doughnut sale by donation with prepackaged doughnuts to take home.

We are very grateful to Lucy S. and Derek for their generous donation of doughnuts.

BOOKS!

Please bring in your new and used (but good condition) children’s books

There will be a £1 book sale next week. It will take place in pupils’ classrooms during school hours. The date will be announced soon.

SILENT AUCTION PICK UP

After the success of the auction, there are lots of lovely things to collect for the lucky bidders! They can be picked up at the front office at any time. Please ask for help from Miss. Gavin.

WEDNESDAY, 16th December

MUFTI DAY! (and Christmas Lunch)

Please send your children to school in a fun outfit (not uniform.) This can be Christmas themed or just something they enjoy wearing.

Can the children also bring along a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine? Thank you!

There will be stalls in the KS1 & KS2 playgrounds (or by the front office in case of rain) we’ll have stalls with our new Christmas surprises.

FRIDAY, 18th December

After school in the KS1 & KS2 playgrounds, we are hoping to organise Tombola and Christmas accessories sale with music and to have fun as much as possible. Please follow us next week for further information.

THANK YOU!

We spent a great week with our lovely volunteers and Miss. Gavin’s positive support on the Christmas market. Special thanks to Alex and his fantastic family from Reception Class, Nihan, Vlad & Tatyana and Alex from Year 1, Samta, Christina and Habab from Year 3, Lucy S. Rebecca, and Louise from Year 4.

We are looking forward to getting volunteers from other classes to share the last week of term.

Thank you to everybody, especially to Debbi and Emma, who put in so much hard work organising and donating goods and skills for the silent auction! This year has been a tough one for local businesses, but some have been very kind donating items for the auction or sponsoring the sales. Please be sure to mention Darrell if you visit or use the service.

Here are some of the local and virtual businesses that have helped:

Alan Connor - The Shipping Forecast Puzzle Book https://www.penguin.co.uk/

Cafe Torelli - Cafe in Kew Village

Camp Beaumont - Holiday camp https://www.campbeaumont.co.uk/

Debbi Marco - You’re Amazing Book https://www.hive.co.uk/

Lidl - Grocery store https://www.lidl.co.uk

Lush - Handmade cosmetics https://uk.lush.com/

Mia Wood - Boutique in Kew Village

Nature’s Choice - Fresh food delivery http://www.natureschoice.shop/

Pether of Kew - Butcher in Kew Village

QBru - Cafe on Kew Road

Smiggle - Stationery and bags on Richmond High Street

Starbucks - Cafe in Kew Village

The Kew Gardener - Garden shop in Kew Village

The Phoenix - Children’s comic https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk

The Santa Experience - http://www.santatheexperience.com/

The Shoe Station - Children’s store in Kew Village

The Upper Scale - Fish home delivery service https://theupperscale.co.uk

The Good Wine Shop - www.thegoodwineshop.co.uk

Kew Green House- www.thekewgreenhousecafe.com

Nicolas Wine House- www.nicolasuk.com

Twinkl - Educational resources for home learning http://twinkl.co.uk

Venwood Hair & Beauty - Salon on Sheen Road

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PSA

Upcoming Events

DOUGHNUT SALE TODAY!

BOOKS!

SILENT AUCTION PICK UP

WEDNESDAY, 16th December

MUFTI DAY! (and Christmas Lunch)

FRIDAY, 18th December

THANK YOU!

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