Headteacher Message

Hello all,

I hope you are all  well.  I have just returned from a morning in Richmond Park with our lovely Year 5.  It was an absolute joy to spend the morning roaming around the vast open spaces of the park encountering wildlife and deer on our way. Year 5 visited Richmond Park to support their non-fiction writing and it was a good example of ensuring that a learning stimulus is real and motivating.   I believe that you will be able to see their finished writing as it is part of their termly ‘Make a Difference project.’  As a school we have made a real effort to ensure that we utilise the outdoor space that we have available in the locality and will continue to make use of North Sheen Rec and Pensford Field.  Pensford Tennis Club have been really supportive of the school and have agreed to continue coaching across Key Stage 2.  

Next week we will be holding our parents' evenings.  As you will know, on this occasion it will be a phone call.  I wanted to explain our thinking.  For the first parents evening, we really wanted to ensure that issues with technology were not going to be a factor so we are hoping that our sturdy phone lines continue to work.  We will be looking to move to virtual face to face or real face to face as the year progresses.  Communication with you is not limited to a once termly meeting and we would want you to contact us at any time if you have any concerns whatsoever.  I attended a meeting yesterday with a parent that was completely focussed on the needs of the child and the provision for this child will improve as a result.  Please take a moment to thank your child’s teacher.  We truly have a magnificent staff team here and everyday I am humbled by their commitment to the children of Darell School.  

Today we received the delivery of our Chromebook charging trolleys.  We have someone in school currently setting them up and the Chromebooks will, fingers crossed, be allocated to all children in Key Stage 2 next week. 

It is lovely that I have not mentioned Coronavirus and will only do so to say it is great news about the proposed vaccine and that the local authority has informed all heads that cases are slowly decreasing in the locality. 

Finally,  our twitter feed is receiving the accolades it deserves.  A big thank you to Mr Paul Gilbert for maintaining content which reflects the vibrancy of this school.  I have had a look at a number of other primary school twitter feeds (not that I am competitive!) and quite simply ours is the best.  Please follow and spread the word.  

Have a lovely weekend.  If you are going for a walk, I can recommend Richmond Park. Please go on Saturday as the forecast is terrible for Sunday. Enjoy your time with your family and friends and stay safe.

See you next week.

Joe Porter

Upcoming Diary Dates

Tuesday, 17th November -

• Parent Telephone Consultation Evening 
• Year 5 Tennis at Pensford Field

Wednesday, 18th November - 

• Parent Telephone Consultation Evening
• Year 3 tennis at Pensford field

Thursday, 19th November - 

• Parent Telephone Consultation Evening

Friday, 20th November -

• Year 6 Tennis at Pensford Field

Communications Sent Home

Individual photos order form - Whole School

Christmas Card Order Information Leaflet - Whole School

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.

Packham - What is in the Witch's kitchen?

Peake - Bird was a good friend to squirrel. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why?

Weir - Does Claude in the CIty remind you of any other stories? Which ones? Why? 

Mozart -   Would a spider make a good pet? And why?

Newton - What happened to the acorn? - Book is What did the tree see? By Charlotte Guillain?

Thunberg - How can you show bravery each day like Arthur did? 

Darwin - If you had to tell a story to a Sultan, what story would you choose?

Attenborough - Why is Will not excited about going to London?

Parks - How did Sukie make her way back to Britain and what had she been doing?

What do you think is the most shocking part of the text and why?

Maths Challenge

The mighty maths challenge is back!

Each week you will find a new maths challenge in this section of  the newsletter and your Google Classroom along with the winner of the previous week.

Good Luck! 

Please email your answers to maths@darell.richmond.sch.uk