It has been another busy week at Darite despite the best efforts of the rain! Class 1 have been working hard in all their learning - it was wonderful to see some of their writing this week. The standard of handwriting and presentation is going from strength to strength. Class 2 have been learning about electricity and using it to solve problems in their science lessons. Wider curriculum in both classes is a time to see all children shine. Parental Engagement project We are lucky enough to have been selected to take part in this program this year and moving forward. It is aimed at making sure that school and parents work together for the best of the children and whole school community. We are lucky at Darite to have a close-knit community around the school and a strong community in the school but there is always room to grow. To help with this, your children will have come home today with a parent survey. This is very similar to ones you've had before but with an emphasis on communication. I would be really grateful if you were able to complete this and send it back to school via the office or teachers. The results of this will help us steer the project moving forward. In addition, I am looking to form a group including myself and other members of the school including parents. This will entail meeting once a term to discuss the plan and how school can continue to improve. If you would like to be included in this group, please let Mrs Norris know and I will send invitations out shortly. Many thanks for your support of the school.

It has been a calmer week weather-wise at Darite this week thank-you again for your understanding last week. Thank-you also to those of you who have given us updated contact details for our system. Please remember, if you move house, phone numbers or email addresses, let us know so we can make sure we have details in case of an emergency. Thank-you. The children have really continued their learning well this week. Class 1 have been producing some great written work and I even learned a thing or two in their ICT lessons! Class 2 have all been getting into their DT project, helping Dr Smart at Exeter university by designing a product to safely hold archaeological artefacts in scanners! It is great to see the range of learning that takes place in school. Finally, can I politely remind you that Darite is a non-smoking or vaping site. This is for the safety of all members of the school.

Welcome back after the Christmas break. I hope you all managed to have some time to rest and relax at Christmas, whether it was with friends, family or others. This half term is a short one but we have lots to look forward to. We have a full half term with visitors, events and amazing learning. Watch this space for more details. Lots of our children received a letter from Anna Gelderd (our local MP) thanking them personally for their entry into the Christmas card competition. They should all be proud of themselves for their efforts! What a week for weather it has been from snow and ice at the start of the week, to a storm on Friday, it really has been an interesting start to the term! Thank-you to you all for your understanding in these challenging weather conditions. I know that decisions to close or open the school have a large impact on all of you. The safety of children, families and staff is paramount. Can I please urge you all to ensure that we have at least two contacts for each child including emails. This is to allow us to contact you in case of an emergency. Finally, following interviews this week, I am delighted to let you know that we have appointed Mrs A Colquhoun as a replacement for Miss Bawden. She has been working in the school for a while now and already knows the children and has many years of experience that she will bring to Darite. She will be a welcome addition to the team at Darite.

9th December 2025

Just like that, we have reached the end of the Autumn term! The weather hasn't exactly been Christmassy but the songs and festive cheer have been felt in school! The children have been enjoying their final week with some learning and fun Christmas activities. The Pirate Game is always a hit in KS2 and Class 1 have been making some amazing crafts, Christmas lunch was again superb on Wednesday - Thank you to Anna for putting on such a delicious spread! The children had great fun with their parties yesterday. Thank-you to the PTFA for providing the food - there was so much that we were able to enjoy a snack this morning! Is was a sad day yesterday as we wished Miss Bawden well as she left for the next stage of her journey. We know she will be missed but has promised to come and see us all in the new year. All that is left for me is to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year from everyone at Darite. Whatever you do and wherever you go, we hope you have time to relax with family and friends over the festive period. We are looking forward to welcoming the children back to school on Tuesday the 6th January 2026!

It's beginning to feel a LOT like Christmas in Darite. The school have embraced the festive season and have had a wonderful week baking festive treats, making cards and decorations and loads of other activities and fun. It is hard to believe that we only have one week left before the Christmas break! Our Reindeer Run was featured on the St Luke's Facebook page here. The children loved raising money for the hospice. We raised £267.80 for St Luke's Hospice. The whole school went to sing to the village Christmas dinner on Wednesday. They sang beautifully, clearly and their performance was thoroughly appreciated by the members of the club. It is becoming a tradition at Darite and is part of being part of the community! Thank-you to everyone who joined in celebrating our Nativity yesterday. I'm sure you will all agree that the performances were superb along with the singing. Thank-you to all the children for doing so well and to parents and carers for helping with lines. We raised £52.00, thank you all. Finally, don't forget that there is still time to purchase your tickets for the PTFA Christmas Raffle. Tickets were sent home last week but if you didn't receive them (or need some more) please let teachers know. There are some amazing prizes on offer. Winners will be chosen on Tuesday 16th December and informed by email. The PTFA will be in the playground after school on Tuesday to allow winners to collect their prizes, if you are unable to collect your prize will be left in Reception. The Christmas jumper swap was well received last Friday after school. There are lots of children who are proud of their new threads going into Christmas. Thank-you to Mrs Richardson-Calladine for arranging this. She has also said that the Lighthouse Community Centre have agreed to re-house the jumpers that were not required. They will be shared with those in the community who need help and support. It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Miss Bawden at the end of term. She has been a valuable member of the team at Darite for a number of years, and she will be greatly missed by children and staff alike. I am sure you will join with us all in wishing her the very best for her next adventures and we hope she will keep in touch. Although next week is the last week, we are still very busy. Christmas dinner and Christmas jumper day is on Wednesday. Please make sure that you have booked a school lunch in plenty of time. We are also having class parties on Thursday. We are requesting small donations of party food so that the children have a treat in the afternoon. This party food will not take the place of lunches and children should still bring a packed lunch or order a meal. Finally, next Friday is a half day and children can be collected at 1.30 from the normal place. If you will be unable to collect at this time, please let us know so we can put plans in place.

It's been a great week at Darite. Thank-you to those parents and children who braved the weather on Saturday at the Liskeard Lights Up parade. It was wet and wild but the children represented the school amazingly and the lanterns got lots of praise from the crowds! It was lovely to see the parents and carers in the hall on Tuesday for Class 1's "Crafternoon". The decorations look amazing and it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Talking of Christmas, the reindeer run for St Luke's hospice was a great success again yesterday. The children looked amazing and their antlers really set the mood! Sarah from the hospice was amazed by the money we raised all of which will go to support this charity. Next week is our nativity on Thursday. Tickets are selling like hot cakes so get them on ParentPay while you can! Children should also have come home with a sheet of raffle tickets for the PTFA raffle. There are some great prizes on offer so please, if you can offer them around, all money raised will support the school. If you need more sheets, let us know! Can I again remind you that if your children are going with another parent, please let the office know either by phone or email before 12.30. If plans change after than time, please email Mrs Lake or myself so that we can release the children. If we do not have confirmation from a parent or carer, we will have to contact you to check which can delay the end of the day. We appreciate that sometimes plans change last minute and we will contact you if that is the case. Thank-you for your understanding. A reminder too that the final day (Friday the 19th) is a half day and children can be collected at 1.30. If you will be unable to collect your child, can you let the office know so we can plan accordingly. Finally, we are lucky to be part of the Parental Engagement Framework this year. This is a county-wide initiative designed to further link the community, parents and school together to support all members of the school community on aspects that are important to school and the future. Part of this work is working with a parental "Steering Group". This is a small group of parents or carers who will work closely with myself on guiding this process so that it benefits the school. If you would like to be part of this group, please let Mrs Norris know and I will arrange a meeting with you in the new year.

What a busy week it's been at Darite! Christmas rehearsals are in full swing - it promises to be a great performance. Tickets are now available on ParentPay for the two performances on the 11th December. The whole school had a wonderful time at the Eden project yesterday, exploring, skating and learning. Please see some of the wonderful pictures below. Thank-you again for the community donation which made the trip not only possible but free! Darite is a very special community to be part of. Tomorrow is the Liskeard Lights Up parade and some of the children from Class 2 will be walking with their amazing lanterns that they made last Friday. We hope to see you there (hopefully the weather plays ball). The event is meeting in the Cattle Market at 5pm and the parade begins at 5.30. It would be wonderful to see lots of children there but a reminder that they need o be accompanied by a parent or carer who is responsible for them at the event. Finally, a few pieces of housekeeping. We are a nut-free school due to children and adults having allergies to nuts. This includes sandwiches with chocolate and nut spread in them. Thank-you for helping to protect members of the community. From Monday, can we ask that children attending breakfast club enter the school through the main door and the bell is rung to alert staff. This will maintain site safety in the morning.

It's been another great week in Darite. The children loved having an assembly by "Rock Steady" on Wednesday with children (and staff) playing instruments in a rock band! There will be more information coming to you all soon as this group also run tuition. On Friday Class 2 had a willow-weaving workshop to create lanterns ready for next weekend's Liskeard Lights Up! The theme was "Anything Goes" and my word they had some great ideas. Thank you so much to Biddy for coming in to lead the day. The children had a great time and the lanterns look AMAZING! Next Thursday we have our whole-school trip to the Eden Project. There is no cost to this thanks to the amazing generosity of a member of the community. Please make sure that you have given permission for this trip on Parent Pay.

Welcome back to Darite after what a I hope was a relaxing and pleasant half term break. This is one of my favourite half terms of the year with the run up to Christmas, performances and lots more trips and activities! Congratulations to our new school council who were elected this week to make the school an even better place. They will be meeting regularly and already have some great plans - watch this space! Next week we welcome Sarah Wallis from St Luke's hospice back into school to launch this year's Rudolph Run. The children had an amazing time last year and raised a fantastic amount of money for this cause which helps so many families in our community. The annual flu nasal sprays are on Thursday next week. All children in school are eligible for this and we highly recommend that children are vaccinated before the flu season really kicks off. Please see the previous correspondence to give permission if you have not yet done so and would like to take up the offer. Finally, next week if the BBC Children in Need appeal. To help raise money for this amazing appeal, next Friday will be a non-uniform day. Children can come in non-uniform or spotty clothes for a £1 donation. We are also asking for kind donations of cakes and treats for a cake sale at breaktime and lunchtime on Friday. Because of allergies in school, please could you provide a list of ingredients so that all children can enjoy a treat.