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I hope that you all had a wonderful half-term break.
This final term of the school is always a very special one as the children are supported to reach their end-of-year targets with new topics, we host sports days, joint events with the Grand Union Partnership continue, reports are shared and a lot more. In addition, we focus on transition for the new school year.
We continue to advertise for two class teachers and for this reason, the staffing plan has yet to be confirmed, but... we are able to share the very exciting news that Mrs Zoe Watson will be returning to the DPS staff team in September as a class teacher!
We are delighted by this news and are really look forward to a return of Zoe's experience, enthusiasm, creativity, passion and skills.
Welcome back, Mrs Watson 
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This afternoon, we are excited to present our final sunflower awards of the school year. This is a very special award in memory of Mrs. Annette Robson.
A full Sunflower newsletter will be with you next week.
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P. E Kit/Uniform
In recent weeks the children have been arriving in a range of different colours for PE days. Can you we ask that everyone wears the correct PE uniform? If you are unsure what your child can wear please see below.
  
  White or red T-shirt*
Black shorts
Black or white plimsolls for indoor games
Tracksuit for use in cold weather. These should have no patterns and must be plain black
Black Trainers for outside PE
Reception children are not required to wear PE kit.
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Key Stage 1 Author of the Month
Britta Teckentrup
Britta Teckentrup is an award-winning illustrator, author and fine artist.l She was born in Hamburg and grew up in a city called Wuppertal. She moved to London in 1988 to study illustration and fine art at St.Martin's College and The Royal College of Art. Her awards include a nomination for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis and two special mentions at the Bologna Ragazzi Award for 'Alle Wetter' and 'The Egg'.
'Don't Wake Up Tiger' was the Dutch picture book of the year, 2018, and 'Under the Same Sky', was on the shortlist for the Kate Greenaway Award.
Britta has been invited to give workshops at the Edinburgh Book Festival, Hay Festival, Bath Festival. Her fine artwork has been frequently exhibited at her London gallery and at art fairs all over the world.
Since 1993, Britta has written and illustrated over 120 picture books which have been translated into over 30 different languages. After 17 years in the UK, Britta now lives and works in Berlin with her Scottish husband and their son Vincent.
   
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Key Stage 2 Author of the Month
Onjali Q Rauf
Onjali feels that sharing stories is very important – no matter whether they are a book, a song, a piece of art – they open up worlds, experiences, histories and imaginings we might otherwise not access. She feels it is crucial to travel as far in our minds and then farther still. Onjali recognises that it is one of the most beautiful things about the human brain – the ability to imagine. Stories keep that ability alive.
Onjali’s first novel, ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’ was published in 2018. It is a very funny and moving story of children befriending a refugee at school – it was based on her experiences working at the border camp in Calais. ‘The Star Outside My Window’ tells the story of 10-year-old Aniyah, following the disappearance of her mum, suddenly finds herself living in foster care. With her life in disarray, she knows just one thing for sure: her mum isn't gone forever. Because people with the brightest hearts never truly leave. They become stars.
‘The Night Bus Hero’ is told from the perspective of a bully, this book explores themes of bullying and homelessness, while celebrating kindness, friendship and the potential everyone has to change for the good.
‘The Day We Met the Queen’ was published for World Book Day in 2020. This story focuses on 10-year-old Ahmet, who has become the Most Famous Refugee Boy in the World. In fact, he's so famous even the queen wants to meet him - and his four best friends! So they're off to Buckingham Palace, with a list of questions for her and one special challenge: will she help more refugee children like Ahmet?
Very recently published in October 2021, ‘The Lion Above the Door’ tells the story of Leo and his best friend Sangeeta are the odd ones out in their school. But as Leo's dad is always telling him, it's because they're special. Only thing is, if they're so special, how come they never see anyone who looks like them in their school history books? Then, on a class trip to a nearby cathedral, Leo's attention is drawn to a large marble slab high above the doors of the hall. Right there, bang in the middle of a list of war heroes, Leo finds himself staring at something incredible: his own name.
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There have been lots of amazing sporting competitions and events this year. Children at DPS have competed in football, tag rugby, athletics, boccia, superhero skills, netball, and many more! These events have provided children with the opportunity to mix and compete with children from other schools and develop key skills and qualities.
We are also very excited to welcome you all to Sports Day! KS1 Sports Day will be on Tuesday 4th July and KS2 Sports Day on Friday 7th July. There will be lots of fun races and round-robin activities for children to compete in. Further information will be shared in due course.
As always, we value your feedback on the events run this year and PE in general across the school. Please get in touch if there is anything you would like to share or if there are any sporting clubs or events that you think your children would like to participate in next year.
Niall Taylor
PE Subject Champion
ntaylor@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk
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Can you help us solve a mystery?
Over the half-term break, a beautiful 5-foot willow tree went missing from our school site! It was in a big pot all ready to be planted in memory of very special staff/governors that have passed in recent years!
It is a real mystery as to where it has gone, and we'd really love it back.
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On Friday 16th June, dads and dad figures (this obviously includes mums), are warmly invited to join us for a BBQ lunch – no more than two adults per family, please. Your children will have already eaten, so this is a chance for you to join them on the field/playground and play and enjoy a BBQ lunch. As the forecast is likely to be sunny, please ensure that you bring your water bottle along too – drinks are sadly not on offer.
The lunch consists of a beef or vegetarian burger, salads, coleslaw and a potato salad. The cost is £5 and this should be paid via Arbor – you will see that you have the option of clicking on a beef or vegetarian burger as you make your booking. If you want a second adult to attend, please continue book them under a sibling on Arbor or pay £5 cash to the school office.
Recognising that in previous years this has been very popular and that the queue for lunch has been long, we are setting things up slightly differently this year!
If your youngest child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, please come and join us and the BBQ lunch queue at 12.00pm. You are invited to play on the field with your child/children after lunch.
If your youngest child is in Year 3 or 4, please come and join us and the BBQ lunch queue at 12.25 pm. If you would like to come in at 12 pm, you are welcome, but you won’t be invited to join the quiet until 12.25 pm. You can also stay and play after lunch until 1.00 pm.
If your youngest child is in Y5 or Y6, please come and join the BBQ lunch queue at 12.45 pm but you are welcome to come into school at 12.00pm to enjoy being with your child/children before lunch.
Eg, If you have children in Year 2 and Year 4, please join the lunch queue at 12.00pm. If your children are in Years 5 and 6, please join the queue at 12.45 pm.
When you arrive at school, you will need to sign in and collect your coloured tickets. These tickets will enable us to ensure that everyone gets lunch at the correct times without queueing for too long.
Please ensure that all bookings are made by Tuesday 13th June to allow us to order accordingly.
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Is your child up to date with their MMR vaccines?
The MMR vaccination helps to protect your child against the health problem caused by Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
If your child has not yet been fully vaccinated, or will not be fully vaccinated by their third birthday, you can contact your local GP to book an appointment.
Public Health West Northamptonshire encourages all children to receive the MMR vaccine to help keep your child safe from illness.
For more information on the MMR vaccine, please see:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/
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Friday 23rd June
St Marks Meal boxes are available from the school office. These are available to anyone that needs support in what are extremely challenging times.
We are asking for a donation of £1 per child. This is not compulsory and the children can still wear school uniform if they prefer.
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We continue to be very keen to have more reading volunteers in school. Have you got an hour to spare on a regular basis? We would love to have your support. Don't worry if you haven't volunteered before as we are more than happy to guide you. Huge thanks in advance.
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 Reminder that the class and leaver photos are on Monday 12th June
Please wear full school uniform on this day, even if you have PE!
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Pupil Premium Funding
Introduced in 2011, the pupil premium is a sum of money given to schools each year by the government. Many children from families who receive certain benefits are entitled to a sum of money paid to their school to boost their learning. At Deanshanger, we use this additional funding to provide bespoke learning support and resources and set aside £150 for you to decide how to enrich your chid's learning. It could be that you use it to cover school trips, books from the Book Fair, after school activities etc.
Could you be eligible?
We are given a pupil premium for:
- Children in Reception to Year 6 who are currently entitled to free school meals based on their family income: £1345 per pupil, per school year
- Children in Reception to Year 6 who were previously entitled to benefits-based free school meals, even if they're no longer eligible: £1345 per pupil, per school year, for six years after they stopped qualifying for free school meals
- Children in care: £2345 per pupil, per school year
- Children previously in care who have been adopted, or who have a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order: £2345 per pupil, per school year
- Children recorded as being from service families: £310 per pupil, per school year
If you would like to know more about the pupil premium funding or need help finding out if you are entitled to this, please pop into the school office.
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Following on from high attendance last term too, we are delighted to have received recognition for strong attendance again this term! This is obviously the result of you ensuring that your child is in school every day that they are able to - thank you.
We monitor attendance on a weekly basis and celebrate class attendance in assemblies, although we obviously recognise that the children can not be in school if they're unwell. Please continue to book appointments outside the school day wherever possible. We are unlikely to be able to authorise holidays in term time.
We are obliged to report low attendance and holidays in term time to the Local Authority, but we always hope to be able to avoid this.
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This is a reminder that children should be drinking water only in their water bottles as part of our healthy school's initiative. Children should be using their school water bottle in school, but if they have a preference for their own bottle, then this should also only hold water. Please do not send in Prime drinks or bottles.
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 As a school, we are always keen to hear your open and honest feedback in all areas of school life.
Please ensure that you contact us with all and any thoughts and suggestions as this always helps us to develop and improve. Feedback in all area including the curriculum, home learning, additional school events, PE events and opportunities, school trips, uniform and play is always very much appreciated.
Thank you
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We are always absolutely delighted to receive freebies whether this is your time through volunteering, helping school projects and/or receiving items that can be used in the school setting for learning and fun! With school budgets being tight, please always consider us if you have items that you think we could use eg, rolls of plain paper, reading books for the library, old scooters, buckets and spades, plants...there is not much that we wouldn't put to good use!
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Thank you so much for helping Emily C, Holly C, Solenn, Grace, Charlotte Y, Eva and Sienna raise an impressive £203 at their cake sake on Tuesday! All the money raised will go to support Cancer Research.
Their fundraising efforts have raised close to £1400! WOW!
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 | 18 May 2023 Our excited school council visited St Marks Meals yesterday to help make up from meal boxes. St Marks Meals provide meal kit boxes to schools all across Milton Keynes so that the school can give a box away to feed the whole family whenever they see there is a need. |
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Opening Hours
Mondays - Closed
Tuesdays 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Wednesdays 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Thursdays 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Fridays 5.30pm - 6.30pm
If you would like to know more about the Community Fridge and possibly volunteer, please make contact with either Mr. Peel or Mrs. Rice
head@deanshanger.northants-ecl.gov.uk
Office@deanshager.northants.sch.uk
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Please continue to sell as many summer raffle tickets as you can and send in the tickets stubs and money to the school office. If you have managed to sell both of the books that came home, and you need more, these are also available in the school office too.
The raffle will be drawn at the colour run on Friday 223rd June. Remember - you need to be in it to win it!
Huge thanks to the PTA for arranging this and collating a fabulous selection of prizes.
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We are excited to announce that we are holding a Colour Run on Friday 23rd June! It is over 3 years since our last Colour Run, so we are hoping for a great turnout and plenty of sunshine. The event is for children, parents, carers, siblings, and friends – it is purely for fun and is not timed.
Everyone that comes along will be splattered with coloured powder, so please come in old clothes – white T-shirts are best for maximum impact!
The run will start straight after school pick up at 3.25pm. You are invited to bring along a picnic to enjoy on the school field, and the PTA will also be serving hot dogs, burgers and cold drinks. We will also be drawing the prizes for the PTA Summer Raffle.
All the money raised will go towards fundraising to benefit the children at school.
Tickets are priced at £3.00 each. Tickets for children at DPS are available to purchase through Arbor. Additional tickets for parents, siblings etc. can be purchased at the school office.
Please spread the word far and wide so that we can ensure the event is a huge success and lots of fun.
If you would like to volunteer to help at the event please get in touch with the office.
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We are a foster family from Deanshanger, we offer our hearts and our home to local children in need, it’s one of the best things we have ever done as a family and although it is difficult at times we make a difference to a child’s life. I am extremely proud of my own children for embracing something I felt I wanted to do and being mentors for the young people we look after, but also the change in them is phenomenal their profound understanding of others less fortunate, they truly know the meaning of kindness, and they realise that a smile or an offer to listen means the world to another person, it warms my heart seeing my own children grow.
Watching the difference a little love and stability does for a looked after child is out of this world, each day I have happy moments, for me the small things are the big things, when a child is searching the audience in their school assembly and then your eyes meet and they beam, as it’s the first time someone has come to see them my heart melts, we build memories each and every day just doing normal things, taken for granted things.
We work with Milton Keynes City Council and I am the primary carer, I have doing this for nearly 4 years now the first couple of years I continued working part-time and supported one child and when they moved on, we were offered a sibling group and now both Phil and I are full time carers with three children in placement and we also we do day care.
I wanted to send a message to you all following Fostering Fortnight - 15th May to 28th May - a time to raise foster care awareness and highlight the need for more carers.
I am reaching out to explain we have too many children in Milton Keynes that need of a home, and a real need for more foster carers, and also explain you don’t have to have children of your own to have the experience needed, you don’t need to be married single carers are welcome, you don’t need to have a huge house and loads of money, a spare room for the child to have, a space of their own is essential but under 3’s can be in a cot in your room. There are many myths and lots of unknowns - I am happy for you to contact me to ask any questions you may have Moran.shelly@gmail.com
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Where possible, we like to support charities close to our school community. On Wednesday 14th June, all children are warmly invited to wear a touch of yellow (if they would like) or lots of yellow! This could range from a yellow headband or a pair of yellow socks with their school uniform, to head to toe in yellow! If possible, £1 donations would be wonderful to support research in to cystic fibrosis.
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Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
Rachel Rice
head@deanshanger.northants-ecl.gov.uk
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