Headteacher Message

A very big welcome to everyone. I mean everyone. We have some children and families beginning their Darell journey today, and we have some children and families who will have returned this year for the eighth time. It is great to be back. We have missed you and your children.  Welcome!

This is not the newsletter I was expecting to write. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the Royal Family following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.  The news of the Queen's passing will affect us all in different ways. On a personal level she has been constant for the 51 years of my life and from what I have read she was incredibly hardworking, dutiful and personable.  I shared a story I had heard in assembly today whereby she recognised how distressed a war veteran was and took him out of the limelight and stayed with him feeding the corgis. I truly believe this country will miss her.

We are now entering a period of national mourning. The Department for Education wrote to schools last night to confirm that schools will remain open.  I am certain that we will receive further guidance in the upcoming days and I will inform you as soon as I know anything.

We have had such a great start to the new year. There is a feeling of positivity around the school that is infectious and makes it a great place to work.  We really want you to be a part of this, and I am now formally asking you to volunteer in the school.  I would like to create an army of parent volunteers to help drive the school forward.  You would be reading with children, helping with cooking sessions, running small group games, accompanying children on trips and more.  We want to get to the stage where a teacher has a design and technology lesson and has four parent volunteers to help with the practical side of the lesson. It is a great opportunity to get into your school and have a look around and also to help ‘Make a Difference to children's lives.  Mrs Claridge, our new Deputy Head and Safeguarding lead, will be running a safeguarding briefing on Friday, 16th September at 9am. Please sign up in via the office. She promises there will be biscuits!

The Coronavirus years have been hard, and we now want to open our doors and welcome you in. 

With Mr Gilbert's departure I will be taking on our Twitter account and will be updating daily from next Monday.  We now have an incredible 300 followers.  (I am not competitive, but I did check and this was the highest in regard to schools in our locality.  I am not competitive) Please follow us if you have not already.  It is a great way to see and celebrate the excellence that takes place in the school on a daily basis.

I feel like I am bursting with things to tell you but will save some things for next week.  All that remains is for me to wish you a peaceful weekend and ask you to enjoy every moment you have with your precious children.  

 Joe Porter

 Coffee Morning

You are all invited to our coffee morning on Friday, 30th September at 9:00am in the school hall. This is a great time to get to know other parents and staff and raise money for  a very good cause.