OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our school community will provide a caring, safe and supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to be creative, challenged and happy in their work and play, and where United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are respected and valued by all.
Language of the Month
Cantonese
Key Dates
14th - 18th February - Half Term
21st February - INSET DAY - School closed
W/c 21st and 28th February - 5B Intensive Swimming @ Wimbledon Leisure Centre
22nd February - Merton Nursing team on site to measure Y6 for National Child Measurement Programme & National Dental Survey for Reception & Y1
22nd February - Year 2 trip to Brooklands Museum
25th February - PTA Uniform Sale (Rose Garden)
4th March - EYFS Mill Cottage Farm Experience (on site)
TENNIS CHAMPIONS
Rory, Sergey & Jacob (3 of a 4 man team) from 5C won their tennis semi final on Sunday playing for Wilton 9 & Under in the Surrey National League Junior team trophy. The final is to be played at the end of February!
A huge thank you to Miss Butler for leading the Rights Respecting School reaccreditation and to the parents/carers, governors, staff and children for speaking so passionately about the culture and their understanding of the Rights Respecting ethos at the school. We wait with anticipation to find out if we have upheld the Gold Award; fingers crossed!
Year 2 had a hugely successful trip to Wimbledon Common - no Wombles spotted but lots of fun and joy nonetheless. Huge thank you to the accompanying adults, without whom the trips could not go ahead. Do check out the pictures below!
This week was Safer Internet Day. The children had a fun-filled day with activities along the theme 'All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online'. A big 'thank you' and well done to the digital leaders who were leading the assemblies in the morning and put a lot of effort into the preparation of the day.
I hope you all found your parent/carer consultation useful this week, please do email the office if you were unable to make the meeting, we want all families to have the opportunity to discuss their child's learning. Please do take the time to provide feedback on the consultation to help us make changes in the future - click here for the form.
On 22nd February we will be celebrating World Thinking Day and the children can wear their Brownie, Guide or Scout uniform if they would like.
I am delighted that we are able to welcome parents and carers back on site after half term and that masks have been relaxed. Thank you for your patience and support throughout this time.
Today we say thank you and good luck to Michelle who leaves us for an exciting new chapter which will include her cake baking business!
Have a lovely half term!
Fiona Duffy
General News & Reminders
It has been noted that Dundonald children have been using the adult fitness equipment in the Rec before school. This is dangerous and the children could hurt themselves. The equipment is built and designed for use for children aged 15 and over. Please remind your children not to use this and be safe when in the Rec.
Road Safety - Please can all parents ensure they adhere to the parking restrictions surrounding school, they are there for the safety of the children and our community. You will be asked by staff to move along if you are parked in a no parking zone, please respect our community and the safety of our children.
Job Opportunity - Teach Wimbledon are looking for a Initial Teacher Training Coordinator to start as soon as possible. Please click here for full details.
State of the Nation 2021: children and young people’s wellbeing February 2022. The report includes key findings from data on personal wellbeing, mental and physical health, education and skills, relationships, ‘what we do.’ For the first time, the report this year includes a chapter which focuses on children and young people’s concerns about self, society, and the future.
PTA News
Second hand uniform sale, Friday 25th February - Rose garden from 3pm
Remember, you can drop off uniform donations with the school at any time.
Please donate clean, good quality uniform in a state you’d be happy to buy it in.
The sale is first come, first served. If you can’t make it, why not ask a friend to pick up what you need?
COVID- 19 Update
Dear Parents/ Carers,
We are delighted to inform you that our COVID-19 numbers are now sufficiently low enough for us to withdraw some of the extra measures that we had put in place.
Therefore, from after half term, parents/carers will:
be allowed on site (e.g. for meetings)
wear masks, if you choose to (this is recommended but not required)
no longer be required to take a lateral flow test prior to being on site
However, if your child develops symptoms at any time, even if these are mild, they must self-isolate immediately, arrange to have a COVID-19 PCR test and follow the guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms.
We are aware that Government guidelines may change over half term and will update school policy as necessary.
Yours Sincerely,
Fiona Duffy
Headteacher
Science Week - Parent/Carer Volunteers Needed
From Monday 28th March - Friday 1st April, we will be celebrating Science Week at Dundonald!
As part of this, classes will be exploring the questions 'What is Science?' and 'What is a Scientist?'. To help with this, we are looking for some parents/carers/family members to visit classes (either virtually or in person) during the week to talk about how they use Science in their jobs. This could be anything from carrying out scientific research to being a vet or a fitness coach - we would like the children to understand the everyday value of Science and that Science is for EVERYONE!
If you would like to be involved, please let me know via email/note to the office.
Miss Hall (Science Lead)
ECO NEWS
Reducing Plastic Waste at Dundonald - COMPETITION
The Eco-Warriors are continuing to highlight the problem of plastic waste and how we can all make small changes to reduce the amount of plastic waste that we create. This week the Eco-Warriors shared a video with all classes explaining the problem of plastic pollution.
Gayatri (6M) suggested running a recycled model making competition to coincide with Waste Week (7-11th March) and our adoption of our WWF hawksbill turtle. "We would like children to make a sea creature out of recycled materials including plastic. The aim is to highlight the rubbish we create and also how we can re-use it to make art."
The closing date of the competition will be Thursday 10th March.
Please give your entries to your teacher and remember to put your name and class on them. There will be prizes for the following categories: Early Years, Lower School and Upper School.
Coming soon ….. Sustrans - Big Walk and Wheel (previously called The Big Pedal)
For two weeks, from 21st March to 1st April, children will be encouraged to make active journeys to school wherever possible. During this time, if children have walked, cycled, scooted or made a different active journey to school, they might be a lucky winner of a Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel logo.
More information coming soon!
NEWS
Fantastic Fundraising for Lunchbowl Network!
Thank you all for your kind donations and purchases of the Christmas Angels last year, we raised a huge £904 for the Lunchbowl Network!
Sharing Stories Together | Newsletter | Children's Mental Health Week
The video, books and activities can be found here: https://www.worldbookday.com/share-a-story-corner/
Year 1 - Talk on Islam
This week Year 1 were lucky enough to have a visit from Arzan's mum who led a talk on Islam.
The children loved learning about the 5 pillars and were very curious with their questions:
Olivia K - "When did Islam first start?"
Timmy - "Why do muslims have to pray?"
A huge thank you to Arzan's mum for giving up her time - we loved the dates too!
Who Are You?
Year 1 enjoyed listening to author Smriti Halls reading her new book 'Who Are You' during a virtual author visit on Thursday. The book is illustrated by Ali Pye and made us thing about ourselves, our families, what we look like and what we enjoy. The book celebrates the fact that we are all unique! Year 1 particularly enjoyed creating their Doodleyous, adding pictures and notes about things that are special to them!
'I liked trying to guess which place Smriti hadn't lived in.' (Marcus 1VC)
'I liked doing the Doodleyous. It was a big squiggle with eyes and a smile. I put all the things I liked. I definitely added pizza and cake!' (Sankya 1VC)
YEAR TWO - WIMBLEDON COMMON TRIP
ONLINE SAFETY AT HOME
Find Your Balance Tea Party
You might remember that Vaishnavi (2C) was one of the winners of the 'Find Your Balance - A Day in my digital life' competition last year.
https://parentzone.org.uk/find-your-balance-day-my-digital-life-gallery
This week she had the chance to visit the Houses of Parliament to attend the "Children's Art Competition Reception" organized by ParentsZone and Google UK.
Congratulations Vaishnavi!
CELEBRATION CERTIFICATES / HEADTEACHER AWARD
EARLY YEARS
FLOYD AWARD: Mia (NAM)SMARTEST GIANT AWARD: Dilan (NAM) & Jane (NPM)
LOWER SCHOOL / UPPER SCHOOL
CURIOSITY AWARD: Timur (2B), Uras (3M), Keni (6R), Charlie (6M) & Zoe (6M)CONFIDENCE AWARD: Gwyneth (3S), Isabel (4D) & Tyler (5B)COMMITMENT AWARD: Boyan (2B), Guldana (2C), Nicolas (3M), Maia (4S) & Oliver M (6R)COMMUNICATION AWARD: Pippa (1VC), Olivia B (1VC), Ibrahim (2B), Sumin (2C), Tess (4D), Bolton (5B), Victoria (5B), Jenni (5C) & George (6R)COLLABORATION AWARD: Anaiya (3M), Vasilianna (4S), All of 5C, Helios (6M) & Payton (6R)CREATIVITY AWARD: Elena (1VC), Henry (2C) & Alisha (3M)
Ayesha (4D) - For writing an incredible non-chronological report about her fictional animal. It was informative and entertaining and included all of the features from our success criteria. Ayesha worked incredibly hard on planning and writing her report, as well as taking the time to edit and improve her work at the end. Well done, Ayesha!
Elizabeth J (5C) - For being extremely focused in ALL subjects this week. I have been particularly impressed with her non-chronological report on the moon Pandora and her science work on the Geocentric and Heliocentric models of the solar system.
Ivo, Caleb (3M)
Josh (3S)