Newsletters

Newsletter 14 - Friday, 11th December 2020

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         

              

Office Updates

Clubs

Clubs will be returning in January. Next week you will receive the clubs list for spring term.

Meal Accounts

As the end of term is approaching, please can you clear any outstanding balance on your child's meal account.

Christmas Cracker Donations

As the Christmas lunch is fast approaching, we would appreciate Christmas crackers donated for the children to pull during the lunch celebration. Please drop any donations into the front office.

Christmas Cards

Please can we ask all Christmas cards for children are clearly marked with names and classes  are put in the box outside the main school office and these will be distributed on the Thursday, 17th December. By doing this we are adhering to the quarantine rules and keeping everyone safe.

The last day to drop cards off is Monday, 14th December.

Upcoming Diary Dates

Tuesday, 15th December -

  • Year 5 and 6 Tennis at Pensford Field

Wednesday, 16th December - 

  • Year 2 Football at North Sheen Rec 
  • Darell Christmas Lunch - Payable via Arbor
  • Christmas Mufti Day - Please make a donation in class

Thursday, 17th December - 

  • Year 3 and 4  Tennis at Pensford field

Friday, 18th December -

  • Last day of term

Wednesday, 6th January

  • Reception - Year 6 return to school

Thursday, 7th January

  • Nursery return to School

Communications Sent Home

  • No attachments this week

Wellbeing

 

We just wanted to remind everyone that here at Darell Primary and Nursery school we feel that wellbeing, including your physical and mental health are extremely important. We want to support the whole family during this time.
It is important that our parents and carers feel supported and well in themselves so the tips and links you will find within this section are to support adults and children.

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 happens in the Christmas Nativity story? 

Peake - Imagine you are Beegu. Tell your parents what has happened to you using words like 'First', 'Next' and 'Then'.

Weir - What do you think Granny Sylvie's garden will be like in winter?

How will it be different to the summer?

Mozart - What happened to the presents on Santa's sleigh? 

Newton - Why did Lila's village stay inside?

Thunberg - Would you rather explore Antartica in Ice Trap or the African highlands of Fly Eagle Fly?

Darwin - How would you finish the title of this cautionary tale:

Desmond who stole sweets and…

Can you come up with your own cautionary tale title?

Attenborough - Is Henry's Blog a non-fiction book or is it historical fiction?

Parks - Summarise the Hero on the Bicycle extract you have read this week.

Explain why the city is deserted at night.

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

We had no winners last week, so we are keeping the same challenge!

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

 

  

         

Online Safety 

Sitting down with your child and exploring their favourite app or game is a great way for you to learn more about what they like to do online.

You can ask them why they like to use an app or play certain games, as well as who they’re talking to and what sorts of things they’re sharing.

You can follow the online safety links for tips on how to keep kids safe on popular apps, sites and games.

Please click on the links below to find some useful information.

At Darell we have a zero tolerance approach to cyber bullying please follow the below link to find out more information.

https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/cyberbullying/protect-your-child/utm_source=ss_facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alwayson_nov_cyberbullying_B&fbclid=IwAR34BYPXaREwGymz4rAM65mC7GeEiEsZGpRNZE2a-JOe5-OVvdQF8vWCDl8

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/8-tips-for-keeping-your-kids-safe-online-during-lockdown/

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/parents-vs-kids

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/youtube-kids/

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/whatsapp/

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/gaming-keeping-kids-safe/

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/among-us/

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/tiktok/         

Darell Primary & Nursery School Follow
DOUGHNUT SALE! After school in the KS1 & KS2 playgrounds, the PSA has organised a doughnut sale by donation to celebrate Hanukkah. Thanks to our diverse community, we celebrate all special festivals at Darell Primary School. HAPPY HANUKKAH! https://t.co/H4rcH4jt1a
4 hours ago
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Attendance

Overall school attendance last week was 96.2% our target is 96.8%.

Well done to Parks Class for the highest attendance with 99% last week.

Best for Punctuality was  Mozart and  Newton class with 0 lates!

let's do our best for next week!

Stars

Follow the link below to reveal our stars for this week!

 

Star of the Week

Community news

The village is illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights hanging in and from the trees.

Darell School will be donating the money raised from their Christmas Jumper day to support the  Kew Village Christmas lights.

 

Useful Links

     Arbor Parent Portal - darell-primary.uk.arbor

     Follow us on twitter - twitter.com/darellschool

     School Uniform Shop - The Shoe Station

      School Meals  -  Feeding Hungry Minds ISS