Newsletters

Newsletters 2022-23 Friday 20th January 2023 No.10

2023 Happy New Year Card Card Free PNG Image|Illustoon

We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and winter break

Wishing you all the very best for a

healthy and happy 2023

It has been wonderful to welcome all the children (and staff) back to school this week and to get stuck back into new learning. Although we absolutely love all the excitement around Christmas and giving the children the opportunity to perform in concerts etc, it is always good to get back into 'regular' learning routines and quickly resettle them in January.

At home, supporting your child with their reading each day is encouraged as well as their number and multiplication skills (age dependent) and supporting their new topic learning too. Now that the children are well settled into their classes, this term is a special one when a huge amount of progress is made.

As staff, we started the week with first aid training. This essential skill means that nearly every member of the DPS team is well-equipped to deal with any accidents that may occur. Although we always hope to not need to use these skills, the refresher trainer has certainly helped us to have confidence and greater skills. On this note, please be reminded that if your child requires medicine, then this must be dropped off at the school office to be administered at the correct times. Please don't send it in your child's bag. Thank you

We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mrs. Vanessa Hinsley for her hard work and dedication to the school and particularly Year 1. Vanessa will be leaving her position as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA), next Friday. We wish her all the very best in her new role working with the NHS.

Thank you for being so calm, caring, dedicated and artistic.

May I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. I trust that you were able to enjoy the festive season with your family and friends. The last few years have been troublesome for all, making the school experience for your children quite difficult. I sincerely hope that 2023 will be better and your children will receive uninterrupted teaching and learning here at Deanshanger Primary School.

However, at the end of last year we heard the very sad news of the death of Mr David Aaronson. David had been connected with our primary school for well over 30 years, as a parent, a spouse, a school governor and more latterly the Chair of Governors. However, David was more than all of this, he was a loyal friend and supporter of the school. David was always ready to help with the children, take part in any activity when asked, and I know he got much pleasure from supporting the school. He will be sadly missed.

As the new term starts the governors are beginning to plan their visits into school. We do this to see what the children are learning and how well they are learning. We enjoy talking to the children, looking at their work and asking them about their learning; what they enjoy etc. We also talk to the teachers to find out how the curriculum is planned and how it builds upon previous learning. I know I particularly enjoy this aspect of our role much better than all the meetings!!

Finally, I must mention the very happy occasion I and several governors had when we joined the children for Christmas lunch. We were treated to a fine turkey dinner surrounded by very happy children, some singing carols and many blowing party poppers, not the most quiet meal I have ever eaten but certainly fun.

Peter Nickoll

Chair of Governors

PNGovernor@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk

We would very much like old tyres!

If you have access to any old tyres that you are trying to get rid of, we would love to have them to play with and/or help edge some of our play zones.

Please make contact with the school office or Mrs Rice if you can help: head@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk

As part of our Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) journey, your child may be coming home muddy! We are now committed to using the school field all year. This includes during recent months through the rain and snow. The children have gained a huge amount of enjoyment and pleasure from this play.

During play and break time we are encouraging the children to wear outdoor footwear if they are playing on the field or using our new digging pit. Footwear could be wellies or old trainers that you and your child do not mind getting muddy! If they are playing on the field, we will also be encouraging children to wear their waterproof trousers and jacket.

As a result of this play, and using the field and digging pit, we appreciate that some children and their clothing will get muddy. There will be some small bags of washing powder available in the school office area should you need it. Thank you for your understanding and supporting your child to have fun!

We are all pleased that the children are back in school and beginning to get back into the swing of school life. One thing that has been a concern, in the very short time we have been back, is learning about various social media activities over the holidays and the horrible impact some of these have had on other children and their families.

We would strongly encourage you to closely monitor your child's activities online and think carefully about the social media platforms they are using.

As a reminder, we would like to advise you about the minimum ages on social media platforms :

13 years old and upwards

Tik Tok

Instagram

Snapchat

Facebook

16 years old and upwards

Please see the following guides for further details about safeguarding concerns and ten top tips for staying safe online. We are hoping that our local community policeman will be coming to school to talk to our children about using social media platforms and the impact they can have.

Volunteering in School | Burton Salmon Primary School

We are always keen to have volunteers in the school supporting in multiple ways, including hearing readers, helping with school projects and art activities etc. If you have an hour to spare on a regular basis (or even as a one off) and would like to join us, please make contact via your child's class teacher in the first instance. We'd love to benefit greatly from your time and kindness.

Thank you very much

The school calendar dates for the next school year (September 2023 - July 2024) are now on the school website for your information

www.deanshangerprimary.co.uk - News and Events - Term dates 2023-24

The school calendar dates for the next school year (September 2023 - July 2024) are now on the school website for your information -

Congratulations to Mrs. Griffin, Mrs Tolley-Goodger and Year 6 Sherlock Holmes class for making a fabulous start on our new dead hedge; knocking in posts, dragging and using the wheel barrows to take the branches up to the site and then building the new hedge. They talked about why (habitat, protection for saplings and from wind) and how to build it! We look forward to seeing this grow over the coming forest school sessions.

2021 Invention Convention Coming in January | About Us

Even if your child hasn't considered an invention yet, there is still a little time left! All inventions need to be in school by the morning of Tuesday 10th January.

The event on 10th January, is an opportunity for all children in the school to share their invention with the school in true Dragon's Den style! Tables will be set up around the hall for the children to showcase their models on. They should be ready to talk about their invention, why they made it and how it works.

If your child is showcasing their invention on 10th January, you are welcome to come along from 2.30pm to see the inventions.

The week after our internal Invention Convention, we will be hosting a Grand Union Partnership one here @DPS for some of the contestants from our school and the other schools in the partnership.

Following on from the sad news shared with you yesterday, we will be standing outside school on Thursday 26th January at approximately 10.00am to pay our respects to Mr David Aaronson, our former Chair of Governors. You are very welcome to join us.

The service is at Crownhill Crematorium at 10.45am.

Thanks to Mrs Atkinson for her beautiful tribute poem -

David Aaronson was...

Dedicated; you won’t find anyone that was more so!

Adults with learning difficulties, Special Needs, champion of the

Vulnerable, David fought for what he believed. He possessed

Incredible tenacity he joined committees and stayed for decades!

Deanshanger:-he was a true pillar of this community!

Advocated fairness, equality and education for all,

Admired, respected and loved member of our village.

Resolute, he poured his heart and soul in to all his many ventures.

Outlandish! David relished dressing up: from Peppa pig to Shakespeare and Juliet!!

Now, we have the memories and photos to cherish.

School Governor, Chair of Governors, Parish Council, countless committees,

Over and above David gave of his time, effort and support.

No one will ever fill his shoes. Deanshanger unites in remembering David Aaronson.

If you have any comments, ideas, or questions about any aspect of school life, please always pass these on to us so that we can support you in the appropriate way. Open communication is very important to us.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Rachel Rice

head@deanshanger.northants-ecl.gov.uk