Head's Blog

Update 22nd January

Update on Friday 22nd January 2021

As we come to the end of another week of remote teaching, it has been so lovely to see the huge amount of learning that has been flooding Teams this week. We are looking at ways that work can be sent to teachers so that they will be able to give feedback like in school. This will be through the use of Assignments and teachers will have training in how to setup and use this – watch this space!

The live sessions are very much worth joining if you can (though they are all recorded too), as the connections made in these sessions are fantastic. The positive feelings that we get when we connect with others, shows how much we need contact and I have to tell you – I miss it! Last term I missed our whole school assemblies so I am planning to record an assembly each week, which will be ready to watch from Monday onwards on my blog.

I want to encourage activity beyond lessons do each week there will be a little challenge. Parental entries are always welcome. We will share the best on our website. There will also be links to “Clubs” that the children can access should they want to. Please tell us if you are needing help. We want to help, and we are here to support you.

Thank you to all the messages of support that you have been sending to school. It has been lovely to read the emails and notes and keep the contact with you as well as the children. To help us improve further, I would be really grateful if you could find time to complete the questionnaire below by next Friday. It will help us to know where we can get even better. If you do have any comments, please contact the school.

https://www.bridgeschools.co.uk/Parent-Questionnaire-January-2021

My last message to you and the children for today is that kindness matter: be kind to others, but also, please, be kind to yourselves. Please stay safe and look after yourselves.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you have had a peaceful Christmas and managed to relax.

No doubt you will have been watching the latest governmental briefings on the start of the new term. In line with this, I would like to confirm that Darite Primary Academy will be open for children as planned on the 4th January. We are looking forward to welcoming the children back and continuing with the learning that we started in the Autumn term.

As you are aware, we start this term in Tier 3, having left at Christmas in Tier 1. In addition to the existing guidance in school, staff will be continuing to use the staff room in a one in one out fashion and face coverings will be worn in communal areas such as corridors. To help us maintain safety in school please continue to follow the guidance provided last term.

We will continue to have windows and doors open in school so can we please ask that children wear appropriate, warm school uniform.
The same arrangements for timing for pick-up and drop-off will apply this term. Friday afternoons will still be reserved for additional cleaning. Children who are in need of educare for this time need to be booked in with Mrs Evett at the office.
Can we please remind parents to drop off as close to the time that the bubble your child is in opens to avoid gathering on the playground. If you have children in more than one bubble, please arrive for the opening of the earliest bubble. Staff will be in the playground to supervise children in younger bubbles. We ask that you leave once the first child has gone into school to enable the school grounds to be as empty of parents and carers as possible. This is to protect the children and staff as well as parents.
Only one member of a family should drop off or collect children.
You are encouraged to wear masks when collecting or dropping off children.
Further guidance for Tier 3 can be found here.

We understand that returning to school at a time when the local infection rate has increased may be a cause of concern to our families at school. Please contact the school office if you would like to talk to a member of staff. We will continue to inform you of any changes in guidance of school arrangements as soon as possible. We are all looking forward to seeing the children on Monday.

Mr Whipps.

Christmas Lunch

Jokes, japes and food!

The whole school was rocking to the sound of Christmas today as we had our delicious Christmas dinner. The jumpers were again on display and I heard many terrible cracker jokes. My "favourite" was "What is black, white and noisy? - A zebra with a drumkit!

The food was excellent and even though we couldn't all sit in the hall this year but the festivities were in full swing. Thank you to Elsie for her fabulous culinary skills.

Image Gallery

Documents

Wintry Thanks

It has been lovely to see all the children back in school this week. The buzz of learning around the building makes a school like Darite come alive. Thank-you to all the parents and carers who have given us positive feedback about the Teams learning and we are very proud of the children for coping well.

With the holiday season fast approaching, the children have been asking about Christmas cards. We are happy for them to be brought in and to comply with COVID regulations we have made the following arrangements. Each classroom will have a post box from Monday. We ask that the children in each bubble post their cards into the box in their classroom only. We will then quarantine the cards for 72 hours and then staff will deliver them to the correct children and class. This will be done at a distance. We have arranged for each child in school to have a brown paper bag that they will be able to decorate. They will be able to put their cards and any gifts from friends into their bag to take home on the last day of term.

As we edge into colder, more icy weather can we ask that the children bring a waterproof coat and warm clothing. There have been a few children without jumpers and coats and we do not want anyone to catch a cold. Can we politely remind parents that to avoid bubbles meeting, we request that once your children are in the playground, you leave the school grounds quickly. There are some parents who are staying in the playground until the classroom doors open. This increases potential risks. If you are having problems with this arrangement, please contact the school and we can work together to find a solution. Thank-you again for your support of the children and school.

Have a fantastic weekend – wrap up warm! Mr Whipps

Welcome Back

Welcome back and thanks

All the teachers were over the moon today as we welcomed back Class 2 from their period of isolation.

We have been so proud of the children in Class 1 and 2 over the past few weeks as they have logged in to access their learning using Teams. It has been a steep learning curve for staff as well as the children but being able to see smiling faces each day as we taught them made up for the technical gremlins. We are looking forward to seeing Class 1 back in school on Tuesday.

We are lucky to have Mr Vinton – a trainee teacher from Exeter university – join the class. Alongside Miss Barton from Plymouth, we are very proud of being a part of supporting the next generation of teachers.

Can I say a personal thank-you to all the parents and carers who have supported their children with the online learning. It has been great to hear your feedback through the chat and message functions. Thank-you. We are aware on an article in the local press and, as always, are more than happy to work with you. Please phone us or let us know on the playground, if you have any worries or concerns, so that we can support each other during these unprecedented times.

We are aware that these are difficult times for all and everyone at Darite thanks you for your continued help and support of the children and school.

Bubble Closure

As you will be aware from the letters sent home on the 13th November, following a confirmed COVID-19 case, the school has been deep cleaned and sterilised using an anti-viral fogging machine. We are confident that the school is safe to use and those children expected to attend school should continue to do so. The Class 2 bubble has been shut until the 26th November and the learning has moved online via Teams.

If you have any problems accessing the online learning, please contact the school office and Mrs Evett will be happy to help.”

Thank-you

Happy Halloween Half Term

It is the end of the first full half term back after lockdown and the children have shown their true colours. They have been superstars, working hard, making friends and returning to school like they have never been away.

Thank-you so much for all the kind words that you shared with teachers this week during parent consultations this week. It always makes us happy to know that your children are coming home happy.

Thanks to everyone who has completed the permission forms on Arbor or the paper copies. Your permissions allow us to provide lots of opportunities to enhance the curriculum offered at Darite.

As we go into the half term holiday everyone at Darite would like to thank the children for their hard work and support this term alongside your support as part of the Darite Primary community. Please have a relaxing and well deserved break. We hope you enjoy whatever you get up to and we are looking forward to seeing you all on the 3rd November. Have a fantastic break.

Updates

It's another busy week at Darite this week. We've had our flu nasal sprays, balancability and the Class 1 photo for the Cornish Times! thank-you once again for your understanding and patience with the morning and afternoon routine. We will open doors to the classrooms 5 minutes early on days when it is raining. We are currently running with fewer staff and to avoid having additional supply staff, where possible, staff members are performing multiple roles. I am very grateful to them for their efforts and thankful to you for your understanding.

There are several important updates that I would like to make you aware of. Please read the information below to ensure you are up to date with everything that is going on.

1) Year 6 trailed the use of Microsoft Teams when in Year 5. This is a secure way for teachers and pupils to collaborate with learning and communicate ideas. All children in KS2 (year 3 and up) will shortly have access to the secure class site. This is to allow learning to continue should a bubble need to close. It is important to note that this is just in case, we have no need to close bubbles at Darite.

2) We would welcome your feedback on the introduction of the new PSHE and RSE curriculum that has just been launched across the trust. As the DfE stated in July “Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way. (Gavin Williamson Secretary of State for Education). The documentation can be found on our website here. Please use the form on the website to leave feedback by the 22nd October. Thank-you.

3) There will be a letter sent out shortly with the dates and times of the parent consultations for this term. We would like you to book these using the Arbor Parent Portal. If you need some help with this, please contact Mrs Evett at the office.

Thanks again for your support of the school.

Mr Whipps

More baby news!

More baby congratulations!

A huge congratulations to Miss Godby on the birth of Oliver. Both baby and mum are doing well. We are really growing our Darite family! We are sure you will join us in wishing them both well.

The staff are forming queues to give cuddles when we are allowed!

Baby Congratulations

Congratulations

Everyone as school hopes you will join with us in welcoming the latest addition to the Darite family. Mrs and Mr Alberts welcomed baby Lowenna a few weeks ago.

Mother and baby are doing well and we can't wait to meet her (and see Mrs Alberts) when we are allowed to.

Huge congratulations to you both!!!