Headteacher Message

Hello all,

This week I really want to celebrate how our children are making a difference! Firstly, you may have seen via our Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/DarellSchool, @DarellSchool) that we had a wonderful letter from our local MP Sarah Olney. As you may know, we were having continuing problems with a bin located on the corner of Darell Road which regularly overflowed into our Key Stage 1 playground. To combat this problem, four of our amazing writers in Year 2 got together to write a letter to Sarah Olney to request that the bin be removed. To our delight, not only was the bin removed but the children also received a lovely letter in response. I would like to share the final line from her letter here:

Keep fighting for what you believe in, no matter how big or small!

I was also hugely privileged this week to support our two teams of Year 5 & 6 pupils in participating in the first round of the Urban Debate League. This competition is run by the charity Debate Mate who we have been working with this academic year. Whilst the competition could not take place in person, the children were able to join the debates virtually. We entered two teams who each took part in two debates, both with unseen motions to discuss. It was also our first time taking part in any debating competition. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the children’s debating skills. They expertly applied the skills they had been taught in their club and spoke confidently despite some minor tech issues! Of the 4 debates the children participated in, our teams won 3 against a number of other schools from across London! I was incredibly proud of the children and I know that they were absolutely buzzing after the competition. Our children being able to express themselves and speak clearly is a key driver for our curriculum. It is one of our main goals in our curriculum vision statement, so it was fantastic to see these children really excelling in this arena. Massive congratulations to all the children who participated.

I must end here as I again need to collect more books for children as prizes for reaching 100 dots in their reading records. Next week, we are very much looking forward to enjoying a well-earned hot chocolate with those children who have reached 100 dots. Please remember to read with your children over the weekend.

Paul Gilbert

I am currently reading What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami

Office Updates

Nursery Open Day

Covid Help Guide

Earlier this week, we sent out the document below. As the guidance changes frequently we thought this would be a useful quick guide.

Lost Property

We have a number of unclaimed lost property items in the office. Please come and have a look through the items, in the lost property trolley.

No parking

This a polite reminder that NO PARKING or WAITING is permitted on the yellow zig zag lines on Niton and Darell Road surrounding the school.

Diary Dates

Y5 Swimming

12:45pm – 2:45pm

February

Nursery Open Afternoon

1:00pm – 2:00pm

February

KS1 Trip - London Philharmonic Orchestra

9:00am – 3:15pm

February

Nursery Open Afternoon

1:00pm – 2:00pm

February

Half Term

All Day

From 14 Feb until 18 Feb

February

Y5 Swimming

12:45pm – 2:45pm

February

Y5 Swimming

12:45pm – 2:45pm

February

Parents Consultation Evening

3:30pm – 5:30pm

March

Parents Consultation Evening

4:00pm – 7:00pm

March

Easter Holiday

All Day

From 04 Apr until 19 Apr

April

Wellbeing

Be Kind to Yourself

Make 2022 the year that you are kinder to yourself. Being kind to others often comes naturally but being kind to ourselves may not. So with that in mind, here are 10 ways to show yourself some kindness – this week and beyond.
1) Talk kindly to yourself.
2) Practise gratitude.
3) Perform acts of kindness to others.
4) Reflect daily.
5) Self-care.
6) Be responsible for yourself.
7) Invest in your interests.
8) Practise mindfulness.
9) Spend time in or around nature.
10) Think of the opportunities.

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 - Why do you think the penguin left its home in the first place?

Peake - What do you think will happen to Beegu now that the adult in the playground has told her to leave?

Weir - What advice would you give to the bear?

Walker - What did Percy do to help the animals on a cold winter's night?

Newton - When Floyd went to bed, what had he forgotten?

Thunberg - If you were Arthur what would you have done at the end of your adventure?

Darwin - Would you prefer to visit Kenya or Nigeria?

Attenborough - What is special about Castle Mila?

Which of the four realms would you like to enter? Why?

Parks - How would you describe the characteristics of each of the four children from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

After Lucy's brief meeting with Mr Tumnus, do you think that Mr Tumnus is a 'goodie' or a 'badie'? What evidence do you have to support your answers?

KS1 Star of the Week

Wonder Class

Louie - for trying his best and listening to instructions in PE

Peake Class

Tilly - for being a kind and supportive friend, and challenging herself to be the best she can be in phonics lessons. Well done, Tilly!

Weir Class

Lily, Chad, Freya and Caitlin - For fighting for what they believe in and for making a difference to Darell School and the wider community!

Walker Class

Caleb - for being a positive role model and a super classroom helper. Well done, Caleb!

Rashford

Harry - for always trying to make good choices and for being a brilliant friend to everyone in the group. You’re a superstar, Harry!

KS2 Star of the Week

Newton Class

Tyler - for excellent participation in his Science learning and learning new concepts and vocabulary.

Thunberg Class

Millie - for enjoying everything about school! Your enthusiasm for your classwork is consistently amazing

Darwin Class

Rayaan - for being an excellent learning partner in class and working hard on projecting her voice.

Attenborough Class

Ruby - for her commitment to her learning across all subjects. What a great attitude!

Parks class

Katy CA - for taking responsibility for her learning and making great progress in maths as well!

E Safety News

Stay Safe Online

Playing games, chatting, and sharing photos and videos can be fun. If you ever feel worried, upset of scared about something that happens online, tell an adult you trust. They will help you.Whatever happened, its not your fault. Follow the link for more advice

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/worried/

Darell Primary & Nursery School Follow

This house proposes that this group of children are expert debaters! This week, Y5/6 pupils took part in the first round of the Urban Debate League run by @Debate_Mate and won an incredible 3 out of 4 debates! A fantastic performance! https://t.co/h48foLlkIK

9 minutes ago

Attendance

Overall school attendance this week was 86.6% our target is 96.8%.

Well done to Wonder and Walker class for the highest attendance of 100% this week.

Best for punctuality was Attenborough and Parks class with 2 late!

Let's do our best for next week!

Cooking and

Craft Corner

Chocolate chip muffins

Ingredients

250g self-raising flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
150g chocolate chips, milk, white, dark or a mix of all three
100g golden caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
150ml natural yogurt
100g unsalted butter, melted

Method

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl, then stir in the chocolate chips and sugar.

Add the beaten eggs, yoghurt and butter, and stir to combine. It doesn’t matter if the mixture looks a bit lumpy, it’s more important not to over mix or the muffins will turn out tough.

Fill the paper cases with the mixture

Pop in the oven and bake for 20-25 mins until risen and golden brown.

Transfer to a rack to cool – or eat slightly warm.

Will keep for three days in an airtight container.

Super Slime Recipe

This version of slime (also called Gak and Glue Slime) shows you how to make slime with glue and Borax. This is a fast & easy slime recipe!

You will need

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
Borax (Sodium tetraborate)
Beaker or jar
Food coloring (optional)

This is the real gooey deal! (This slime is non-toxic, but still, keep these slime ingredients away from unsupervised children and wash your hands after playing with the slime.)

How to Make Super Slime

Pour ½ cup of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution into a beaker, jar, or bowl. If you want coloured slime, add food colouring to the PVA solution and stir with a stir stick.

Add 2 teaspoons of the Sodium Tetraborate (Borax) Solution into the PVA solution and stir slowly.

Try lifting some of the solution with the stir stick and note what happens. Once the slime has formed, you can play with it. Just don’t eat it!

Your slime will last longer if you seal it in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge, otherwise it will dry out or mold.

Community News

Useful Links

Arbor Parent Portal - darell-primary.uk.arbor

Follow us on twitter - twitter.com/darellschool

School Uniform Shop - The Shoe Station

Newsletters

Newsletter 19 – Friday,4th February 2022