Headteacher Message

D.I.S.C.O

Hello all,

What a day yesterday was! I was lucky enough to accompany the Year 3 and 4 basketball team to a tournament at Christ’s secondary school. It was the first time we entered this competition in the five plus years I have been here. Five years, it feels like yesterday!! Anyway, we have made a conscious decision to enter every borough competition that is available this year, and that is because it is such a good experience for our children. I am particularly keen to enter the Year 3 and 4 competitions as it prepares them for organised, competitive sport. The team were superb, and I enjoyed every minute of it. We did not bring back any silverware but came away with our heads held high and keen to enter the tournament planned for the summer term.

Darell School has a very proud basketballing heritage. The current England U17 captain attended this school, and the national league-winning team from Christ’s of  2023 contained 4 Darell alumni. The KNIGHTS basketball club ran the tournament, and each and every coach came up to me to say how happy they were to see Darell in attendance. They want to run a weekly club here again, so please sign up for it when it is advertised. I am getting on a bit now and cannot slam dunk like I used to be able to, and our children need quality coaching, so please support this. 

Then we had the DISCO. It was a success on many levels, not least that it raised over £400 for the school fund. Thank you all for supporting the event; from what I could see, everyone had a great time. A big thank you needs to be extended to the staff team and parents who helped to run the event. This school benefits from a number of staff and parents who are willing and able to ‘make a difference’ and volunteer to support the school. Thank you very much. One of my many favourite things about this school is how the community welcomes new additions. It was lovely to see a new family from nursery integrating and being actively welcomed by others. 

Have a lovely weekend, 

Joe Porter

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 Where the Wild Things Are, what 'mischief' does Max make? (He hammers a nail into the wall and chases the dog with a fork) Why do you think Max feels angry? What makes him feel better at the end of the story? (being back in his very own room with his supper waiting for him) What helps you feel better when you are angry? 

Peake - Which of our special books was your favourite? (How to be a Lion, The Everywhere Bear, The Big Green Crocodile, Leaf Man, Billy and the Beast) What would you tell your friends about this book? What won't you tell them because it might spoil it for them? 

Weir - What makes an effective question? Can you think of one for the Queen of the Underworld?

Walker - Why was the cat the perfect present? (it’s not to big or too small, it’s not too noisy) 

Newton - Why have we made Christmas cards for the charity SPEAR?

Thunberg - What three words do you think Omar's family would use to describe him?

Darwin - Reading question: If you could talk to one animal, which animal would it be and why?

Attenborough - How does reading Treason help us understand what life was like in Tudor times ?

Parks - ‘Street Child’ –What did you think when you discovered that Street Child is based on a true story? Why?