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We have had a very busy and fun half-term with lots of strong learning opportunities and progress. The last two weeks have been as exciting as ever with the arrival of the pop-up pool, an open book afternoon, Monday reading mornings, a walking trip around the village for Y2, a visit to the Methodist church in Reception, an open morning event for prospective families, a harvest festival event (with support from Rev Pennington and a tractor from Jamie and family - thank you), Future Job Day, visitors on zoom for future job day and Black history month, school discos and lots of 'regular' learning in class!
Big thanks to the amazing staff team, the PTA, governors, families, and the community for planning and supporting these opportunities. Support in this way makes a huge difference to the opportunities we can provide for the children.
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Mrs Angela Aaronson was a much loved and respected teacher here for many years and her husband, Mr David Aaronson, was very active and dedicated as a governor and Chair of Governors. Both Angela and David had a huge impact on our school and the local community. In their memory, we have a special bench outside the front of the school and a display in the school library.
We have recently had the most incredible news as their family shared that they have left a substantial sum of money to the school in their will. This is incredibly touching and kind and something that has really touched us all as staff.
We are planning a long-lasting feature in the school in their memory that will positively impact on learning for the whole school community going forward for many years. The funded project is being planned to ensure that it combines their love of the school, reading, and provides access to all children to additional school opportunities.
Whilst we continue to be saddened by their passing, we send our immense thanks for their kindness.
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We are delighted that Mrs Allison Penwell will be rejoining the Deanshanger staff team after the half-term break supporting learning across the school. Allison worked in class and as the forest school leader between 2013 - 2021. A very warm welcome back.
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On Thursday 19th October, we held a subject evaluation group in PSHCE (personal and social health and citizenship education). A subject evaluation group is an opportunity for us to invite a group of children from each year group, to share their learning in this subject area; it forms an important part of school development. By listening to the children talk about their prior learning, we can also gauge the strength of their retrieval and how much the learning has become 'sticky'. Making learning 'sticky' is a key part of our curriculum development.
PSHCE education seeks to help children to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, and strategies required to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic well-being.
The session this week, clearly demonstrated the children's ever-growing understanding tin this area by talking about their understanding and sharing their learning in class floor books.
Huge thanks to Miss Claire Stanley, our PSCHE champion, for leading this subject and session and Mr. Andy Limbert, governor, for joining us.
 
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Having a temporary swimming pool on the school site has been a huge bonus and it is clear that the groups have been loving their sessions! So far, the year 4 and year 6 children have had 4 swimming lessons each, in small groups for maximum impact, and we have been able to offer swimming clubs after school.
As we return from the half-term break, these lessons will continue, plus the opportunity for groups from each year to have sessions too - something that we would not have been able to do if the sessions were off-site.
There are still a few places for after-school swimming sessions for KS2 children in the two weeks after we return. You can sign your child up for these via Arbor.
The pool is heated and, as a result, the whole area is lovely and warm.
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During the half-term break we are very grateful to the wrap club team for running a week of fun activities and to a host of externals for working in school to support school improvement.
As we speak, we have got new flooring going into the Y4 and Y6 classrooms, the Y4 classrooms are also being painted, and the French classroom is having a new ceiling! As if that isn't enough, we have been successful in a CIF bid (condition improvement fund) and a team are setting up ready to start a major heating and boiler project in every part of the school. This project should be largely complete by the end of December. Please note that we will have access to water and heating throughout the project.
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New curriculum information has been included on the class pages of the school website for you regarding your child's learning.
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PAG Meeting One – Wednesday 22nd November at 2.30pm
Our first Parent Action Group meeting of the academic year will be held in the school library. The focal point of this meeting will be behaviour including how it is viewed and how it is managed. It is my aim to keep the meeting positive and constructive and whilst all opinions are welcome, I want to use your input and ideas to help continue moving the school forward. Everyone is welcome to attend, and I hope many of you are able to attend.
Mr. Mike Pennington
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As part of Future Job Day, celebrating authors and Black History Month, the KS2 groups had the opportunity to join a zoom call with the author Atinuke and find out about her new book 'Brilliant Black British History' (and previous titles). It was a great opportunity for our children to find out about her childhood and writing. Atinuke started her career as an oral storyteller of tales from Africa. Now she writes about contemporary life in Nigeria from her home overlooking the sea in West Wales.
We have ordered a copy of Atinuke's book for the school library and hope to enjoy many more of her books going forward.
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As you'll be aware, we have signed up to the Rags2Riches4Schools recycling scheme, to raise money and help others around the world benefit from our good quality unwanted clothes and shoes. We get 50p for every kilo we collect of reusable items and would be most grateful if you could help us with this challenge at home.
We have a collection booked for November 2nd so please keep good clothing to donate to us on these dates. We have already got lots of bags ready for collection. Thank you so much.
Clean and reusable items that can be donated:
Good quality clothes and accessories.
Adults, children's and babies clothing such as jackets, jumpers, hoodies, trousers, skirts, scarves, gloves, belts, handbags, paired shoes and other footwear etc.
They cannot reuse the following items:
Worn out shoes or clothes, clothes that are wet or have holes in.
Curtains, pillows or duvets, bric-a-brac or books. Personalised items.
Work uniform, School uniform or school sports kit
If you are unsure what to put in the bags, then
STOP AND THINK - WOULD SOMEONE ELSE BUY & WEAR IT?
If it isn’t something you’d wear out and about yourself or pass to a friend, then no-one else will want to buy and wear it so unfortunately, it’s not reusable and can’t go in the bag.
Donated clothes and accessories are sent to Europe, Africa and even further away to be sold at market stalls as affordable items for those in real need of clothing.
Huge thanks
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Places are still available for the holiday club as shared below. Lots of fun activities are planned for each day including pumpkin carving for everyone.
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Attending school every day when possible, gives your child the strongest opportunity to make the best possible progress in all areas, and hence why we regularly focus on attendance.
Whilst celebrating those that have been in school 100% since September, we recognise that illness cannot be helped and that some hospital appointments can not be rescheduled, but every other day, wherever possible, we would love to see your children.
Please be reminded that holidays in term time can lead to a fine from the local authority.
Last year our overall attendance was 95.3% whereas the national rate was 94%. This is an area for continued focus this year.
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Safeguarding
Keeping children (and adults) safe in all situations is very important to us. Their safety outside the school, as they come into school, is very much part of this and this is where we need your help on a daily basis.
Please drive very slowly in the vicinity of the school
Ensure that the driveways of our neighbours are always clear
Keep a careful lookout for pedestrians at all times
Please don't try to do a three-point turn in front of the school
We'd rather that your child was a few minutes late than pulling up quickly onto the curb and dropping off
Please be reminded that parking and overtaking in zigzag zones is strictly prohibited
Thank you
As always, please report any concerns to our safeguarding team:
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - Mrs Rachel Rice
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) - Mrs. Lynn Mildren, Mrs. Natalie Parsonson, Miss. Steph Forward and Mr. Mike Pennington
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On Wednesday 4th October, children from Years 2-6 took part in a multi-skills sport festival led by David Hanson from Northamptonshire Sport. The festival involved fun and engaging activities that helped children learn and develop key skills from various sports such as football, hockey, and tag rugby.
Great sporting spirit and skills were shown by the whole team.
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 | 15 Sep 2023 There is no denying that we are definitely a community of dog owners. Looking out at the beginning or the end of the day looks like the arena at Crufts!Whilst this is seen positively by many, some of our families are more cautious, and it is important that everyone feels comfortable a... |
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The next three weeks @DPS
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Christmas concert information for Reception and Year 1 families
We have reviewed the Christmas performance dates and will be merging the Reception and Year 1 concerts into one fabulous concert on Thursday 14th December. You are warmly invited to enjoy this at 10 am or 4 pm. This new date replaces the ones published in the home school diaries.
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Although we didn't have many visitors join us for the OAP harvest lunch, we thoroughly enjoyed providing a tasty lunch and singing to those who did come in.
There will be a free Christmas lunch on 15th December at 12.30 pm. Sign up via the school office.
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We have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new prospective families for possible intake in September 2024. There is one final day for an open day planned at the present time, shown below, but individual visits are warmly encouraged. Please contact the school office for us to arrange this.
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Does anyone have contact with a vending machine company? We would like to have one in school and stock it with books as an incentive for reading. Thank you for all and any possible contacts.
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Uniform reminders
Please be reminded that full forest school kits need to be in school every day, ie, waterproofs and wellies. As the weather is getting colder and wetter, hats and scarves are suggested too as well as possible extra layers underneath waterproofs.
Forest school kits will be used, as needed, if your child chooses to play on the field over the winter months.
As we return from the half-term break, your child will be asked to either wear slippers inside or wear their socks, leaving their shoes inside the classroom door.
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 Thank you very much to Amber and her family, for providing a wonderful half-term holiday for our much-loved Terry the Tortoise.
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Wishing you all a great half-term break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 30th October.
Rachel Rice
head@deanshanger.northants-ecl.gov.uk or head@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk
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