Newsletters

Newsletter – Friday, 9th December 2022

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Headteacher Message

Hello all,

I hope you are all well. I have just returned from the hall where our EYFS and Key Stage 1 children are practicing hard for their performance next week. It is a quirk of the timetable that these shows invariably take place when the pupils and staff are quite tired after a long term. Credit must go to the staff and children as you would not know it. Their performances are excellent, and I cannot wait to see it in it’s entirety. Do you remember how it felt when you were due to go on stage at your primary show? A mixture of fear and excitement is how I remember it. To be fair I remember having to play the part of a frog and wearing green tights but that did not stop me from enjoying my moment in the limelight. I have been so impressed with how inclusive the show is. Some children find the process harder than others and this has been taken into account, and they have been incorporated into the show in a way that supports them.

I did a prospective Reception child tour this week. The mother was so impressed with the ethos of the school. We have such an incredible mix of children at our school, and it is the way in which all staff treat each and every one as an individual that humbles me. It really doesn’t matter what your starting point is. We will challenge and celebrate you from that point. What is lovely here is that this is lived on a daily basis at this school and that makes it a great place to work and an honour to lead.

Memo to self: Try not to go off on one of your rambling pieces about how lovely the school is (it is!) You must mention the Christmas Fair.......The Christmas Fair.

Just a reminder that we are having our Christmas Fair on Tuesday afternoon, 2-4pm. Thank you all for your kind donations. I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to chat with the community and bring some more joy to our children. Hope to see you there. In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and stay as warm and as safe as you can.

Joe Porter

Office Updates

Spring Term Clubs

All clubs will be live to book on your Arbor account at 8:00am on Wednesday, 14th December. Please follow the link to the website for all the available clubs for next term. Please book directly with the external clubs.

Christmas Fair

Our Christmas fair is on Tuesday, 13th December. Please remember to collect your child at the earlier time of 2:00pm.

EYFS - Collect at 2:00pm from normal pick up point

KS1 - Collect at 2:00pm from their normal pick up point.

KS2 - Dismissed from the hall after singing , class by class (approx. 2.30pm)

International Buffet

We are still looking for parents to provide nut free food for our international buffet. If you are able to make a contribution please contact the school office. All donations welcome.

Nativity

Nativity performance is on Thursday, 15th December at 9:30am. Please bring your email with your ticket numbers to the performance.

Communications

Sent Home

Whole School - Scarlet Fever Update
Reception & Year 6 - Height and Weight Screening
Selected Students - Swimming Gala Invite
Reception & Year 1- Reading Eggs login details
Nursery - Sing a Song Concert

Diary Dates

Year 1 Forest School - Group 1

9:00am – 12:00pm

December

Year 6 Swimming

12:30pm – 2:30pm

December

Christmas Jumper Day - (non uniform)

All Day

December

Year 1 Trip - Richmond Museum

9:00am – 1:00pm

December

Darell Christmas Fair

2:00pm – 4:30pm

December

Darell Christmas Lunch

12:00pm – 1:00pm

December

Last Day of Term

All Day

December

Wellbeing

Top Tips for Winter Wellbeing

Tip 1: Keep to a daily routine – with shorter, colder days, it can feel harder to keep our normal activities going. We usually feel better if we’re up and dressed, eating at regular mealtimes and going to bed at the same time.
Tip 2: Stay connected – a friendly natter by phone, online or meeting friends in a way that feels comfortable to us can help us feel connected.
Tip 3: Do things you enjoy – in the bad weather, it is even more important to take time to enjoy ourselves each day. It can also be fun to try something new, get creative or dust off an old hobby.
Tip 4: Get outside for some sunlight and exercise – try to get outside for at least 20 minutes of exercise each day.
Tip 5: Look after your physical health:
Keep warm – Public Health England recommends that indoor temperatures should be between 18 and 21°
Eat well – eat regular, nourishing, hot meals including plenty of vegetables. Stay hydrated – drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid each day and have regular hot drinks on cold days. Sleep well – if you’re struggling to get a good nights sleep, check out NHS Get Help Sleeping guide.
Keep active – it’s important to keep moving. We can walk the stairs or try an online exercise or yoga video.
Tip 6: Make a plan – make a plan for days of
celebration that are special to you.
Tip 7: Relax and unwind – Take some time each day to relax. Find what works for you, whether that’s
watching the bird table, caring for your plants, going for a run, or getting up and moving to your favourite festive tunes.
Tip 8: Drink sensibly – taking a mindful approach to what we’re drinking can have huge benefits for our physical and emotional health.
Tip 9: Write it down – keeping a journal can be a great way to explore and organise our thoughts. It can help us plan our day, express gratitude and understand our worries and feelings.
Tip 10: Ask for help – if we’re struggling, it’s ok to ask for help if we need to, there’s always someone to talk to. Ringing or texting a helpline such as SHOUT if we’re lonely can help us feel better too. Individuals can text WILTS to 85258 to receive free, confidential
support from a trained volunteer via text message.

Do Good 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.

Wonder - In the Nativity, how did the shepherd find his way to the stable? And how did the 3 kings find their way to the stable?

Peake - Major Glad and Major Dizzy are heroes. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why.

Weir - How many stars would you give Claude and the City? Who would you recommend this book to and why?

Newton - Why did the Grinch hate Christmas so much?

Thunberg - What has happened to the little boy, and who is he?

Darwin - If you went on holiday to Trinidad and Tobago, how would you spend your time?

Attenborough - What did you like about Henry’s Blog? What would you say to publishers of children’s fact books?

Parks - 'Letters from the Lighthouse' – Where do you think Sukie is and why?

Stars of the Week!

Early Years Star of the Week

Wonder Class

Reed - for always taking responsibility for his learning and for learning all the lyrics for our Christmas performance!

KS1 Star of the Week

Peake Class

Liv - for being aspirational and always trying her best in everything she does!

Well done, Liv!

Weir Class

Andrei - for having the courage to try new things in class!
Well done, Andrei!

Walker Class

Dineo - for having a fantastic week in her new class in a new school, and always having a smile on her face. Well done, Dineo!

KS2 Star of the Week

Newton Class

Tyler - for his enjoyment and excellent participation in making Roman aqueducts. Well done, Tyler!

Thunberg Class

Go - for enjoying school. Go has been trying very hard all week to speak English in full sentences!

Darwin Class

Amelia - for aspiring to improve her handwriting and spelling in English and showing a phenomenal improvement.

Attenborough Class

Aidan - for living our school values every day, always trying his best and being helpful in class.

Parks Class

Lexi - for always trying her best and her wonderful contributions in class.

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

E Safety News

Darell Primary & Nursery School Follow

Future stars and broadcasters. Year 4 have been planning, recording and editing their own podcasts on topics they are passionate about. Our amazing computing curriculum in action! https://t.co/L1HSLw4Mbf

1 week ago

Attendance

Overall school attendance this week was 88.9% our target is 96.8%.

Well done to Weir class for the highest attendance of 96% this week.

Best for punctuality was Attenborough and Parks class with 4 lates!

Let's do our best for next week!

Community News

Santa Special Weekend Trains! 10/11 & 17/18 December 2022

Santa will be 'sleighing' into the railway this Christmas, so come along and experience a magical Christmas with Santa and his elves!. Our beautiful heritage locomotive 'Darent' will be decked out in fun and festive lights ready for Santa and his helpers to come onboard and deliver Christmas gifts to all the children on his 'nice' list.

Follow the link for more information: https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/events/santa-special-weekend-trains-10-11-and-17-18-december-2022-p1831811

Headteacher Message

Office Updates

Spring Term Clubs

Christmas Fair

International Buffet

Nativity

Communications

Sent Home

Wellbeing

Top Tips for Winter Wellbeing

The Reading Corner

Stars of the Week!

Early Years Star of the Week

Wonder Class

KS1 Star of the Week

Peake Class

Weir Class

Walker Class

KS2 Star of the Week

Newton Class

Thunberg Class

Darwin Class

Attenborough Class

Parks Class

E Safety News

Attendance

Community News

Santa Special Weekend Trains! 10/11 & 17/18 December 2022

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