Newsletters

Dorchester News - 1st December 2023

Newsletter

1st December 2023

Dear Families,

It feels like Christmas is well and truly in the air today - the beautiful cold, crisp weather, the junior choir singing Christmas songs as our guests arrived for Open Morning today, our always creative Christmas Hoops being hung in the hall in preparation for the Fair tomorrow, a visit from the donkeys, and an Advent Calendar chocolate for breakfast!  It must be December 1st. 

I want to extend a huge thanks to the FODS Committee and volunteers for all their hard work in organising the visit from the donkeys today.  The children loved meeting them and finding out more about these amazing animals.  Special thanks go to Jackie (mum to Ella in Orange Class and Chloe in Rose Class) and Becky (mum to Lily in Blue Class, Oliver in Saffron Class and Rosie in Red Class) who spent a good deal of time outside in the cold overseeing the donkey visit, and making sure that our donkey handler was kept with a good supply of hot drinks.  In addition, there have been FODS volunteers all over school today collecting cakes and donations for the Fair, and I know they will be here well into the evening getting set up for tomorrow's festivities.  Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to man a stall, or to help set up or clear down - your support is hugely appreciated.  Please join us between 12pm and 3pm tomorrow for the Fair - see the FODS information below for further information.

A reminder that our Junior Choir will be singing at The Hamptons Christmas Tree Light Switch On from 5pm tomorrow.  If you live on, or near to The Hamptons, or you just want to come for a mulled wine/hot chocolate, hear the children sing and see their fabulous tree switch on you will be made very welcome.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Kind regards

Cathy Bell
Headteacher

 


News

01 Dec 2023
The Day the Donkeys Came
We had a wonderful day with Flash and Dermot visiting our school.
Read more

Sports News

01 Dec 2023
Team A and B Netball Matches vs Westbourne
It was a cold evening for netball on Thursday but the matches didn’t disappoint those that braved the temperature to spectate!
Read more


FODS

We are extremely excited for the Christmas Fair tomorrow and hope you all are to. Please be reminded all stalls are CASH ONLY apart from the Christmas Tree stall. If you haven’t bought some raffle tickets already and would like to, please simply follow this link to enter now https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/friends-of-dorchester-school-big-xmas-raffle 

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code on the poster below. We have lots of fantastic prizes which are all listed on the website & the poster. Please buy as many tickets as you like and feel free to share with family & friends; everyone is welcome to enter the raffle.

Please note you can only pay via debit card on the website & all tickets are £1 each! Winners will be announced towards the end of the fair, if for any reason you are not there and win a prize, you will be contacted so please don’t worry. Good luck everyone and we look forward to seeing you all at the fair.

If you have not yet booked a slot to visit Santa, do not worry we will be accepting bookings on the day were available but please note these will be for cash only.

A massive thank you to all parents and carers for all your support and donations towards the Christmas fair. We hope your children enjoyed visiting the donkeys today and are looking forward to seeing you all at the fair tomorrow.

Important Dates:

  • 2nd December Christmas Fair & Christmas tree sale 12-3pm.

 

  • 3rd December Christmas tree sale by the main office 11am-2pm.
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Class Notes

01 Dec 2023
Nursery: Why do Christians celebrate Christmas? What happened in Bethlehem?
This week in nursery we have been finding out about the first Christmas story and thinking about why Christmas is special to Christians. We read 'The story of Christmas' by Hayley Down and the children enjoyed using a Nativity set to retell the story. Next week we are going to make a stable...
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Reception: Why do Jews light eight candles at Hanukkah?
The children in Reception have learnt about the story of Hanukkah and why Jews celebrate it every year. They have made candle flame headbands, which they will wear to sing a song about Eight Little Candles in a school assembly. Find out what else we have been learning in our Peek at the Week!
Read more
29 Nov 2023
Year 1: What do pets need to stay happy and healthy?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Our highlight for this week has been making gingerbread for our Christmas hoops which will decorate the hall for the Christmas fair on Saturday!
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Year 2: How does Christmas compare with other festivals of light?
This week, the children in Year 2 have been very lucky indeed. On Monday, our Sutton Schools Workers came to deliver a 'Discover Christmas' workshop - the children watched our guests perform the Nativity story to us, and then the rest of the afternoon we had a range of activities to complete...
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Year 3: What did you enjoy most about our Spain day?
On Wednesday, the children all enjoyed participating in our 'Spain Day'.  The children all looked fantastic in their Spanish clothes and enjoyed learning a flamenco dance.  We used the Class VR headset to see what life is like in Spain and look at the architecture.  We th...
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Year 4 - How have we shown our best creativity this week?
This week, we have been getting creative by making our decorations for our Christmas hoops that will decorate the hall ready for the Christmas fair on Saturday. We have been using a range of recycled materials to create different decorations across the year group. Also in preparation for the sc...
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Year 5: What were the differences between Viking Laws and Anglo Saxon Laws?
The Year 5 children loved learning about how criminals were treated in Britain during the Viking and Anglo-Saxon period this week. After learning the facts about the different judicial systems, the classes broke up into smaller groups working cooperatively together to role-play d...
Read more
30 Nov 2023
Year 6: Which Mayan glyphs did you use to create your version of the word 'jaguar'?
In History this week, Year 6 have been finding out about how the Maya communicated, through over 800 glyphs. Each child has made their own version of the same word, in clay. To complicate matters, there are 24 different combinations of glyphs that all form the word 'jaguar', hence some very...
Read more

Are you worried about a child?
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/spotting-signs-child-abuse/

If you think a child could be at risk of significant harm, you can call the children's social care team at the council in Sutton (Go to their website)

020 8770 6001 (Monday to Friday, 9am and 5pm)     020 8770 5000 (out of hours)

Always call 999 in an emergency


Safeguarding

Celebrating 10 years of Talk PANTS!

Pantosaurus has helped 1.5 million parents Talk PANTS and keep their children safe from sexual abuse.

Developed in consultation with children, parents, carers and teachers, Talk PANTS is here to help children understand their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

 

Tips and advice to help keep your kids safe

Talk PANTS is here to help children understand that they have a right to say no and if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen.

We know that a simple conversation can make a BIG difference, and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about. To help you get the conversation started, we’ll send you helpful tips, advice and materials by email Sign up

 

What are the PANTS rules?

 

Privates are private

Always remember your body belongs to you

No means no

Talk about secrets that upset you

Speak up, someone can help

When's the right time to talk PANTS? 

Every family is different, and when and where you have these conversations may depend on your child's age, or how grown up they are - it's all about whatever feels natural for you and them.

Some examples of times you can talk PANTS are:

  • After school - If they've had a lesson on personal relationships or Talk PANTS at school, ask them what they remember when they get home.
  • Bathtime - you could start a conversation when you're running your child's bath, or helping them get dressed.
  • Car journeys - this can be a great time to talk, and your child will have plenty of time to ask questions if they need.
  • Reading our new PANTS storybook together.
  • Singing - Sing along to our PANTS song with Pantosaurus!
  • Swimming - A great time to say that what's covered by swimwear is private.
  • Walking - Walking home from school, or a weekend walk to the shops can help you both feel more at ease as you stroll and chat.
  • Watching TV - If a TV show features a sensitive storyline, you can encourage them to talk about anything that upsets them.

Support from the NSPCC Helpline

If you're worried about a child, we're here to provide support and advice to help you. Whatever your concern, you can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 

Due to an increase in demand across our services, our voice Helpline is currently operating between the hours of 10am–8pm Monday to Friday. You can still talk to us or make an online report by email at any time at help@nspcc.org.uk. 

Always call 999 in an emergency 

Lunch Menu

Our menus are available here.  Next week is week 2.


Upcoming Events

To view the school calendar click here.

Net4all Mums and Daughters (Years 4-6) Netball
9:30am – 10:30am
From 12 Nov and on Sunday each week
26
November
Discover Christmas Workshop - Year 2
1:15pm – 2:45pm
27
November
KS1 Diwali assembly
9:20am – 10:00am
28
November
KS2 Diwali assembly
10:05am – 10:45am
28
November
Year 5/6 Girls' Football vs Avenue
2:45pm – 4:45pm
28
November
Speech and Language UK No Pens Day
All Day
29
November
Year 3 Flamenco Workshop
9:00am – 12:00pm
29
November
Year 5/6 B Tag Rugby Festival
9:00am – 1:00pm
30
November
Donkey Visits
All Day
01
December
Donkeys Visit
1:30am – 2:30am
01
December
Open Morning
9:30am – 11:30am
01
December
FODS Christmas Fair
12:00pm – 3:00pm
02
December
Junior Choir at Hamptons Christmas Light Up
4:50pm – 5:45pm
02
December
Net4all Mums and Daughters (Years 4-6) Netball
9:30am – 10:30am
From 12 Nov and on Sunday each week
03
December
Personal Bests Week
All Day
From 04 Dec until 08 Dec
04
December