New Year Blog 10th January

Message from Mrs Kell

Welcome back!

I hope that the school community had a happy festive period.

It has been a settled return right across the school this week, both staff and pupils were keen to get back to their classroom routines and the business and fun of school-life! I have been so impressed with the quality of the work that the children have produced this week, they have simply picked up where they left off before Christmas. 

I have attached the Spring dates again this week so please do make a note of the dates relevant to your family. We are always so pleased to welcome our school community into the building to share in your child/ren’s learning journey. 

In the Autumn Term we invested over £5000 in new reading books for our book scheme. Every book has been stamped with the school name. Please support us in ensuring that future years all experience these quality texts by returning your child’s reading book as and when your child has read it, so that we can make sure that we maximise the potential of all of our precious new books. Thank you.

We were so thrilled with your support at the Christmas Fair. Along with the raffle, the enterprise stalls and Santa’s Grotto we raised a staggering, £1412.50! Thank you. We have recently placed an order for a book reward vending machine and we will use some of that money to stock up on irresistible ‘must-reads’ that winners of all ages will get to select and ‘vend’ books from. To be in it to win it, pupils must return their reading diaries with signatures to show that an adult has listened to them read. Happy Reading!

When you next join us in the main hall, you will notice that national flags have been fitted. We have used the information that parents provide the school with as their child enters our school regarding their birth country and we are celebrating the increasing diversity of our school community. In our school community everyone is valued and our similarities and differences are celebrated. We think they look fabulous. We hope you agree! 

Wishing you a lovely weekend, albeit, a cold one!

Mrs Kell and the DPA staff team 

Shrek the Musical

On Tuesday, KS2 had a special singing assembly led by Mr Nixon. We are very excited to be taking part in Shrek the Musical later on in the year. Any child who is part of our choir will be able to take part. Choir meets every Wednesday lunchtime. As well as taking part in Shrek, choir also attend many other exciting events throughout the year allowing children to showcase their talents. If you or your child would like any more information on choir, please speak to either Mrs Smuk or Ms Lees.

Class Dojo

Do you know the school now uses Class Dojo? This is a great service for parents/carers to see what the children get up to daily at school.

It also shows parents/carers what the children have been getting points for, including being on time, working hard during class and good manners to teachers and their friends.

The children are also scored for meeting the Values we hold closely at Dormanstown Primary of Inspiration, Aspiration, Collaboration and Celebration

Also just a reminder that the Academy still uses School Gateway for any messages to be sent to the school. This includes Attendance, medical appointments and general questions.

Attendance

Each week we have an ‘Awesome Attendance’ competition for the class or classes with the highest attendance. The class with the highest attendance will receive a letter and the first class to spell out ‘Awesome’ receives a treat for the whole class.

Which class will be the first to receive that treat?

Missed Learning

20.5 days of missed learning occurred this week due to unauthorised absences. Unauthorised absences are for holidays, parents/carers not contacting the academy or any other unexplained absence. With most minor ailments, children can be in school, so we really encourage you to think about keeping your child at home.

100% Attendance

This week we had 216 children who achieved 100% Attendance for this week, which is Amazing!!

A huge WELL DONE to you all.

Can you get 100% next week?

Missed Appointments

We strive to accommodate parents/carers with appointment times within the academy. Unfortunately we have noticed that many appointments have been missed, occasionally this may be due to unforeseen circumstances. If you have to cancel and/or re-arrange your appointment, please ensure you contact the academy as soon as possible. Failing to turn up for an appointment and not contacting the academy to cancel it has an adverse effect on other parents/carers appointment times. This can also take valuable staff time that could have been utilised by other parents.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice comes to Dormanstown Primary Academy 

Every Tuesday

Book your appointments NOW
Drop in – 14th January  – Debt/budgeting theme

Does opening your letters cause you anxiety? Are you struggling to manage your money after the Christmas period?

Heidi from Citizens Advice will be at the school from 9am to 4pm today, to discuss any concerns you have. 

We can offer support and advice on how to managing budgets and also help you open your letters.  

You can pop in to the school for a face to face appointment or contact the school on (do we have a number to contact?) or email Heidi on enquiries@citizensadvicedrc.org.uk to arrange a telephone call and Heidi will contact you. 

Through working in partnership with the Woodsmith Foundation, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting Citizens Advice on school site every Tuesday during term time this academic year. 

We all face problems that seem complicated or intimidating. Citizens Advice believe that no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice. That’s why they’re here: to give our families the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward. Citizens Advice recognise that this time of year can be tough for many people, so we hope that our families take advantage of this fantastic resource on our doorstep.

Citizens Advice are able to support families with benefits, work, debt and money challenges – from understanding your welfare rights, to debt management, to completing DLA applications. 

All appointments are private and confidential, and the entrance to the meeting room will be through our separate ‘Community Hub’ entrance. To access this support, please contact Mrs Sherwood on: Sharon.Sherwood@tved.org.uk or if you would prefer to contact Helen Kennedy, Dormanstown’s Community Connector, you can do so on Helen.Kennedy@woodsmithfoundation.org.uk.  Please get in touch with any questions. Appointments will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Appointments may be booked well in advance or up until the day before.

Diary Dates and Reminders

Lunch Menu

Menu choices from next week will be from Week 3.

Nut Free Academy

A reminder to all parents we are a Nut Free Academy, please read below.

Actions for Happiness

Starting off Happier January with a bang and keep it going with new actions that can be done throughout the month.

Stay Safe and Warm

CEA Cinema Card

For those that aren’t aware, the UK Cinema Association has a discount card which enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a free ticket for someone to go with them when they are visiting a participating cinema. 

To be eligible the person must be 5 years of age or older and be in receipt of one of the following:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Attendance Allowance (AA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Adult / Child Disability Payment (ADP / CDP in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Or hold:

• Severely Sight Impaired Registration (formerly Registered Blind)
• Sight Impaired Registration (formerly Partially Sighted)

Cards are valid from 1 year from the date of issue and there is a fee of £6.

For more information and/or to apply please visit the CEA webpage –  Home – CEA Card

Green Doctor

Lollipops

You can get your children’s uniform here.

Lollipops have a preloved rail out on the shop floor with various items on including polo tops, trousers, sweatshirts/cardigans, shoes, plimsolls, summer dresses etc. All items on the rail are free for anyone to take, they just ask for customers to be considerate of others when taking items. There is a box for anyone who would like to make donations which we then add to the rail.

Facebook – @lollipopsmiddlesbrough

Twitter – @LollipopsMiddl1

Instagram – @lollipops_middlesbrough

Lollipops
20 Norfolk Place
Berwick Hills
Middlesbrough
TS3 7PA

Links to support our Children and Families

All our links and flyers to help our families can now be found here. https://dormanstown.teesvalleyeducation.co.uk/parents/mental-health-well-being/