Dormanstown Blog - 5th March 2021

We are so happy that we will be open to all children on Monday, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has navigated their way around Showbie, engaged in the live lessons and submitted some wonderful work to share with their teachers. We are so proud of you all. Parents and Carers – a HUGE well done to you too for supporting your children.

Give yourselves a big round of applause!

Full re-opening

All parents and carers should have received the letter earlier in the week via text message and Facebook to explain our organisation and timings for returning to school on Monday 8^th March.

Just a couple more reminders:

*Please can parents and carers wear a face mask when dropping off and collecting their child, and leave the site as quickly as possible.

*We are sorry that we will not be able to accommodate bikes and scooters on the academy site during the current time.

*Please can all children return in full school uniform including plain, black shoes and plain socks.

*Classrooms will be well ventilated, so children can wear an extra layer under their uniform for warmth.

*Please note that food vouchers will stop from this week.

Ipad Returns

Please can all iPads that have been loaned to the children be returned to school on Monday 8^th, as well as any leads or plugs also borrowed. They will be collected in by staff when the children come into the academy. It is important we get them back on Monday in line with the agreement signed.

Science Week

Next week is British Science Week and, the overall theme for the week in ‘Innovating the future’. Each year group will follow a theme, linked to a local company, and an enquiry questions will be the focus for the week. The themes are:

EYFS – The world around us – What grows in your garden? (Westfield Farm)

Year 1 – Bridges and Structures – How can we improve the transporter bridge? (Sparks Tees Valley)

Year 2 – Floating and Sinking – What material is best to build a boat? (RNLI – Redcar Lifeboat)

Year 3/KS2 SEND – Protecting the Environment – How can we be greener? (R&C Council)

Year 4 – Electricity (Wind Farms) – How do wind turbines produce electricity? (UK STEM)

Year 5 – Chemical Engineering – How is plastic made? (SABIC)

Year 6 – Electricity – How can we produce electricity in a more sustainable way? (UK STEM)

The aim of the week is to break down stereotypes and raise ambitions for the STEM industry, as well as the children having fun and working scientifically.

We will share the outcomes of the week with you.

World Book Day and Online Book Fair

Thank you to everyone who sent Mr Stammers photos of reading in unusual places: there were some amazing ideas and many children and parents were very imaginative. Please send in any remaining photos or videos; we can’t wait to see them!

Remember our Usborne online book fair can still be accessed to order any books you would like.

We have the World Book Day tokens in school, and these will be brought home by your children next week. As many shops are currently closed, they have a longer date on them than usual before they have to be used.

Packed Lunches

Can we please remind parents of the expectations with packed lunches, as we have noted some children have excessive amounts of food in their packed lunches, particularly sweet items.

Children may bring a packed lunch to the academy but energy drinks, fizzy drinks, hot drinks, soup, flasks, or glass containers are not allowed for health and safety reasons. We would actively discourage sweets and chocolate bars in packed lunches, as we are committed to ensuring that the children adopt healthy lifestyles.