Headteacher Message

A happy half term to all,

I would sum up this half term by saying it has been a rewarding challenge. As usual, your children have been magnificent, full of life and laughter. The quality of work produced ha also been superb. We continue to develop our curriculum. Mr Gilbert will be showing some examples of how we are getting knowledge to stick. Knowing more doing more and remembering more. This week we have also had a very successful visit to the Royal Festival Hall. The magnificent Year 1 and 2 teams led a trip to see the Royal Phillarmonic Orchestra. I love these trips. I would like to share some feedback from one of our lovely parents who helped with the trip. Thank you to all of those who also did so.

‘The children were all so well behaved, charming ( and cheeky )today. They are great ambassadors for the school. My big thanks to the hardworking team who look after our kids every day, and make their educational experience so pleasurable.’

As a leadership team we have ben reflecting on how we can further improve the school. Next half term and forever more we are introducing ‘Tea with the SLT (Senior Leadership Team).’ Initially we will be trialling this on a fortnightly basis. What we will be doing is rewarding those children who consistently exhibit the best learning behaviours. We want to make sure that they get recognition for turning up to school on a daily basis and always giving their best. We will be recording these children in the newsletter and giving reasons why they were rewarded. They may have the option of fruit juice rather than tea.

I also wanted to offer tours around the school to all parents, not just prospective parents. Every external visitor we have comments on the great behaviour they see within the school and we want you to see this. Please sign up through the office and I will give you a personal tour of the whole school. We really need to celebrate the excellent teaching and learning that is taking place throughout the school. Besides, it will be a nice to have a chat, reconnect and hear your views on the school as we move forward.

I have a cup cake to eat so I am going to leave it there.

Have a lovely half term with your families.

Joe Porter

Curriculum

This is the first part in our new feature in our newsletter celebrating fantastic work across the school curriculum. As a school, we pride ourselves on living our values every day and this work really showcases our value of ‘Aspiration’ – placing no ceiling on what we can achieve and challenging each other to be the best we can be. Today we wanted to share some brilliant work that has been produced by children in Year 4 & 5. We have focused particularly on developing opportunities for the children to showcase their knowledge and demonstrate that they are able to know more, do more and remember more. We are hugely proud of the academic rigour that our curriculum provides and look forward to continuing to share work with you.?

Office Updates

School Meal change for Monday, 21st February

The kitchen have informed of us of a change to the menu due to a stock issue.

Please note that on Monday, 21 February meal options are:

Option 1 - Margarita Pizza

Option 2 - Tomato and Lentil Pasta

Option 3 - Jacket potato with beans

All meals will be served with, bread, vegetables, salad and a dessert.

Kew Bookshop Competition

Our friends at Kew Bookshop are running a simple guessing competition in the shop through the half term break. They have a large jar of Bourbon biscuits in the shop and children just need to estimate how many of Grandpa Frank's favourite Bourbon biscuits are in the jar to be in with a chance to win a signed copy of 'Grandpa Frank's Great Big Bucket List'. Why not pop in to the shop and have a go?

Diary Dates

Half Term

All Day

From 14 Feb until 18 Feb

Parents Consultation Evening

3:30pm – 5:30pm

March

Parents Consultation Evening

From 04 Apr until 19 Apr

April

Wellbeing

Well being quotes. 1 – Surviving Miscarriage Together

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 - How will you show someone you care over half term?

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

Weir - What would you do if the Thing landed in your classroom? How would you make it feel welcome?

Walker - Did Small catch up with Big? What happened to that bad old cat?

Newton - What do you predict the story will be about?

Thunberg - Can you make up your own quest adventure, like Arthur's? Where would you be sent? What would you have to get and why?

Darwin - Do you think there is life on other planets?

Attenborough - What do you think the Heart of the Mountain means to the Skret? Is there a way that Imogen and Marie can set things right?

Parks - How have you chosen to describe your mythical creature?

What adjectives does C.S.Lewis use to describe Narnia?

KS1 Star of the Week

Wonder Class

Dario - for his excellent contributions in maths lessons

Peake Class

Aaliyah - for always listening attentively to others and developing the confidence to explain her thinking in maths. Well done, Aaliyah!

Weir Class

Ada- for writing a stunning setting description in English. Well done, Ada!

Walker Class

Sonia - for using her words to express how she is feeling and participating in some group activities. Well done, Sonia!

Rashford

Lily-Rose - for being really enthusiastic and thoughtful member of the nurture group. Well done, Lily-Rose!

Hussayin - for encouraging and helping others in the group and always making us laugh. Well done, Hussayin!

KS2 Star of the Week

Newton Class

Tyler - for a positive attitude towards school, overcoming fears and participation in PE

Thunberg Class

Gabi - for aspiring to be a great writer! You have created a wonderful diary entry this week

Darwin Class

Eliza - for making great progess in speaking aloud in class. I am so proud of your growing confidence, Eliza!

Attenborough Class

Teddy - for his commitment to editing his writing and striving for excellence

Parks class

Phoebe - for a sensational character description

E Safety News

Safer Internet Day

Parents and carers, you play a crucial role in empowering and supporting children and young people to use digital technologies responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively. Indeed, parental influence, guidance and education have a significant and long-lasting impact on children’s safety and wellbeing in the online world. Therefore, there are plenty of ways for you to participate in Safer Internet Day, whether it is by ensuring an open dialogue with your children, educating them to use digital technologies safely and positively, or acting as digital role models. To help you achieve that, you may want to have a look at the SID resource gallery, where you’ll find a range of resources to use with your children, from information sheets on various online opportunities and risks to conversation starters and even games, which are available in a variety of languages and for a variety of age groups. If you would like to find out more about specific actions and resources in your country, you can get in touch with your local Safer Internet Centre or Safer Internet Day Committee.

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

Darell Primary & Nursery School Follow

This morning, our Year 2 writers took their learning outside. Before beginning a recount of yesterday's very exciting trip to @southbankcentre, they built a timeline of the events. What a fun way to prepare for writing! https://t.co/nT0n6epgiv

2 hours ago

Attendance

Overall school attendance this week was 89.5% our target is 96.8%.

Well done to Weir class for the highest attendance of 97.5% this week.

Best for punctuality was Mozart class with 0 late!

Let's do our best for next week!

Cooking and

Craft Corner

A collection of apple ‘doughnuts’

Apple ‘doughnuts’

Make these doughnut-style apple rings for a picnic with the kids. Children will love helping to make, decorate and eat these fruity treats, and there's no cooking required

Ingredients

150g soft cheese
2 tsp honey
3 apples (use a crunchy eating variety)
3-4 tbsp almond or peanut butter (optional)
coloured sprinkles , to decorate

Method

STEP 1
Mix the soft cheese with the honey and set aside. Peel the apples, then slice each through the core into five or six rings, about 1cm thick. Use an apple corer or small round biscuit cutter to stamp out a circle from the middle of each slice, removing the core and creating ‘doughnut’ shapes. Pat the slices dry using kitchen paper – they should be as dry as possible to help the toppings stick.
STEP 2
Spread some nut butter over the slices, if using, then top with the sweetened soft cheese. Decorate with the sprinkles and serve.

Old Key Wind Chime

Giving old items new life is not only green, it’s a lot of fun. It is so cool to take something destined for the rubbish and turn it into something beautiful and useful. And when we do a craft like this with our children, we are teaching them to see “rubbish” in a new, creative light. With little more than a handful of old keys, a piece of wood, string, and paint, my son and I created this DIY key wind chime. It would make a lovely gift for anyone who has a garden or balcony, a birthday present for grandma, a housewarming gift for a new neighbour, and of course Mother’s Day is just around the corner.

You’ll need

5 or more old keys
A strong stick
String or fishing line
Acrylic paint

Method

Paint your keys and stick. Choose a few coordinating colours and have your child paint the keys and stick. Our keys took two coats, let the first side dry before flipping and painting the other side.
Tie a piece of string to either end of the stick so that you have a way to hang it.
Tie a piece of string to each key.
Tie the keys to the stick making sure that they are close enough to each other that they will chime when the wind blows them.
Gift, hang, enjoy!

Community News

CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR (part-time)

for St Philip & All Saints (The Barn Church) and St Luke’s Church, Kew

20 hours per week over 4 or 5 days (potential to increase to 25 hours).
Salary: £15.56 per hour

The United Benefice of Kew, comprising St Philip & All Saints with St Luke’s, is looking for a friendly, efficient and organised person to run our busy benefice office, supporting the Vicar and the work of our lively and welcoming churches in the Kew community. Previous office administration experience is essential. The role can be flexible to suit personal circumstances.

For a full Job Description and Person Specification and how to apply please email: office@kewparishes.plus.com

Application Deadline: 5 pm on Friday 25^th February 2022

Interviews: Friday 11^th March 2022 or by arrangement

Start Date: Ideally Monday 25^th April 2022 or soon afterwards

Useful Links

Arbor Parent Portal - darell-primary.uk.arbor

Follow us on twitter - twitter.com/darellschool

School Uniform Shop - The Shoe Station

Newsletters

Newsletter 20– Friday,11th February 2022