Respect Kindness Honesty Perseverance Collaboration Responsibility
Delce news from the Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Year 3 families and a welcome back to our existing families. It has been so lovely to have all the children back in school.
As the new Headteacher of Delce Academy, I have been overwhelmed with your positive feedback and support. I am determined to ensure your children are served to the highest standard. At Delce we are striving for excellence and I have seen such a strong effort being made from all of our children in coming to school in the correct uniform. Our school oozes pride and the children's revived positive attitudes to learning is extremely motivating. Every member of staff at Delce holds a deep rooted belief that your children can achieve anything and that their potential is limitless. We are committed to working tirelessly to ensure your child comes to school every day feeling safe, happy and inspired to learn. We will always champion them!
We were extremely proud of our Year 6 children who sat the Medway Test over two days this week and displayed great resilience. We are proud of you whatever the outcome!
Our school value this term is RESPECT and I have seen our community uphold this value towards each other. We will continue to educate the children about mutual respect and tolerance of others. I will be presenting an assembly on Monday morning to the whole school to talk about The Equality Act 2010 and how we at Delce can uphold the value of respect towards the 9 protected characteristics:
Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Pregnancy and Maternity
Race
Religion or Belief
Gender
Sexual orientation
Sport is a great way to live the value of respect and earlier this week Mr. Minlah launched our autumn club offer - please sign your child up. We want to enrich every child's school life with experiences outside the classroom.
I hope you enjoyed my poem last week; for those who missed it, I have made it a permanent feature of this term's newsletter because 'At Delce We Do Belong'.
Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe.
Best wishes,
Miss Stevens
Headteacher
‘At Delce We Do Belong’
Loni Stevens, Headteacher, 2023
I’m starting a new venture,
I hope you’re glad of me!
I’m the new Head Teacher,
Of Delce Academy.
I’ve read the Ofsted reports,
I’ve visited your school;
I’ve spoken to you children,
I’ve researched it all.
Delce is my sole focus,
And without any confusion;
My first and foremost goal,
Is to promote inclusion.
To have a school of children,
Who are so accepting;
Of differences and needs,
And always respecting.
Supporting one another,
Cheering classmates on;
Being bound with the mantra,
That ‘At Delce We Do Belong.’
My aim’s to build a culture,
Of children who are proud;
To be part of Delce and know,
That slacking’s not allowed!
To know that working hard is just,
Something that’s essential!
And that every one of you,
Has limitless potential.
As your new Head Teacher,
It’s important you’re aware;
That if you need me any time,
I will always be there.
You are my priority,
You’re my whole career.
All the staff around agree;
You are why we’re here.
We have a lot of work to do,
Together as a team!
To make Delce what it ought to be,
A super school, supreme!
I pledge to do my very best,
To lead with the best formation.
Which in turn will provide you with,
The very best education.
I want you to see Delce as,
A second home to you.
A place that’s safe and full of staff,
Who are all rooting for you.
A place you all feel accepted,
And loved for who you are.
Surrounded by adults who truly believe,
That you’re going to go far.
Every single one of you,
Belongs right here at Delce.
Inclusion is right at the heart,
Ahead of everything else.
So now you’ve heard my vision,
My feelings are so strong!
We now have a brand new motto;
“At Delce We Do Belong”.
Our learning this week
Inventors
Within our Science learning this week, we have explored the concept of living, non-living and never alive. We linked this to habitats, where we completed a learning walk of our school to consider the objects that we saw within a range of habitats, grouping these into living and non-living things.
Year 3
This week in Year 3, the children have been working really hard at exploring their new core texts 'Garbage Guts' and 'What a Waste'. They have been looking at how to write an effective setting description through using nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs and similes.
Year 4
This week, Year 4 have worked tirelessly to develop their understanding of Place Value in Maths. Using our practical resources we generated numbers and found the value of the digits.
We have also started our new Curriculum topic by exploring the continents and oceans using a map and identifying the countries within the continents.
Year 5
This week, Year 5 have been looking at the fashion designer, Stella McCartney. We have been discussing how she became famous and what for. Alongside this, we used our reading skills to summarise and retrieve information from a piece of text.
Year 6
This week, Year 6 have shown positivity, perseverance and adaptability when tackling their assessments - all the adults are extremely proud of them! In addition to this, they have thoroughly enjoyed their first P.E lessons of the academic year!
DEC
This week, Adams class used teamwork to learn new gardening skills. They demonstrated a great deal of pride whilst completing different tasks.
Pupil Voice
We have enjoyed the first full week of school and gathered pupil voice about children's experiences.
"This first week at school made me feel excited because we have a kind and helpful teacher and we got to meet our friends." Isla T
"These first couple of days, I felt safer because the teachers have high expectations." Georgie
"I have enjoyed my class because Miss Condon is a great teacher to have and to teach me new things." Daniel
"I like playing football at lunch with Mr. Minlah." Kacey
"Everything is good, especially our teacher." Bethany
"These first few days made me feel excited because I got to learn new things." Reet
Birthdays
Wishing these children a Happy Birthday for birthdays this coming week!
Mia - Dyson
Jack - Rhodes
Faith - Rhodes
Alicia - Dyson
Key Messages
Medway Music Association
Medway Music Association has an exciting opportunity available for all children ageing from 5- 13 on a Saturday and Rainham Mark Grammar School.
The Music Centre runs during term time and the membership costs £15 for a whole school year. For this price, members are able to attend however many sessions they would like.
The Music Centre starts up again for the year on Saturday 23rd September.
All information can be found at: https://www.medwaymusicassociation.co.uk/saturdaymusiccentre
For any enquires, please email:
On Thursday this week, The School Effectiveness Team from Medway Local Authority visited Delce to meet our new Headteacher and while in school, Miss Stevens couldn't resist the opportunity to take both Rebecca Smith (Head of Service) and Celia Buxton (Assistant Director of Education and SEND) on a tour of our school.
Both visitors commented favourably on the calm, purposeful and welcoming atmosphere within the school. When visiting the DEC they were very complimentary of the nurture and support our children were receiving that visibly made the children feel safe and successful. We are very proud to be able to showcase the wonderful talents of our pupils and staff at Delce!
DON'T MISS OUT!
Earlier this week, we launched our School Club Offer!
Have you booked your child a place?
1. You will need to create an account on Clubbly by clicking this link: https://clubbly.co.uk/
2. Then click the red box ‘I’m a Parent’.
3. Scroll down to the bottom where it says ‘Find a Club’ then type in ‘Delce Academy’ and click ‘Bingo’.
4. Our club offer will then appear on the screen. Choose the club you would like your child to take part in then click the ‘Book now’ button.
5. You will then be asked to create an account as the parent. You need to complete this step in order to book your child into a club this term and in the future. Once you’ve filled in the form, click the button ‘My child goes to Delce Academy’.
6. You will then be able to book your child into a club.
The Delce Choir shall be starting next Monday 18th September and this year will be singing at The O2 Arena in London in January 2024!
If you haven't signed your child up already, what are you waiting for?
We have 30 spaces and they're filling up fast. You can book by clicking this link: https://dashboard.clubbly.co.uk/clubs/10618
Friends of Delce... NEWS COMING SOON!!!
Here are some ways you can participate in Friends of Delce:
Volunteering: Contribute your time, skills, and expertise by assisting in organising various events, fundraisers, and initiatives. From coordinating school fairs to supporting educational programs, your involvement will play a significant role in enhancing our students' experiences.
Community Building: Help strengthen the bonds within our school community by organising social gatherings, parent meet-ups, or coffee mornings. These opportunities for connection and networking will not only benefit the parents but also create a supportive network for our students.
SEND Coffee Mornings!
We would love to welcome you to our SEND coffee mornings. We hope to have a variety of visiting speakers.
All coffee mornings will be at 9 am in the Main Hall. This term, come and meet the Delce SEND Team!
Save the date:
28th September 2023
23rd November 2023
1st February 2024
7th March 2024
2nd May 2024
27th June 2024
Safeguarding
SAFEGUARDING
At Delce, safeguarding is paramount and we will not waver from our professional responsibilities to ensure this is upheld with integrity.
Everyone at Delce is responsible for safeguarding. If you ever have any concerns about a child or family, you can report this to any member of staff and there are Designated Safeguarding Leads who will ensure the incident is recorded and followed up. Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Mrs. Chandler - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Stevens - DSL
Mrs. Sparks - DSL
Mrs. Morish - DSL
Ms. Kogut - DSL
If relevant staff are not available and your concern is urgent you can contact Medway Children’s Services directly on 01634 334466 and / or the Police on 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency) depending on the level of concern. If you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff, please inform the Headteacher, Miss Stevens.
Key dates
Monday 18th September - School's Club offer starts
Tuesday 19th September 2023 - Year 5/6 Meet the Teacher at 3.35pm - 4pm in the classrooms
Thursday 21st September 2023 - Year 2/3/4 Meet the Teacher at 3.35pm - 4pm in the classrooms
Thursday 28th September 2023 - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Thursday 28th September 2023 - Year 6 Parent Presentation at 3.30pm in the Main Hall
Friday 6th October 2023 - Year 5 Residential Parent Workshop at 3.30pm in the Main Hall
Friday 12th October 2023 - Y6 Secondary Teach Meet at 3.30pm in the Main Hall
Thursday 23rd November 2023 - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Thursday 1st February 2024 - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Thursday 7th March 2024 - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Thursday 2nd May 2024 - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Thursday 27th June - SEND coffee morning at 9am in the Main Hall
Attendance
Good attendance at school is not just valuable, it's essential!
Whole School
Well done to Wright Class & Goulding Class!
Inventors 94.8%
Bell 95.0%
Jackson 95.0%
Wright 98.8%
Dyson 96.8%
Earhart 97.1%
Sharman 91.3%
Dickens 97.8%
Goulding 98.5%
Rhodes 96.6%
Adams 70.0%
Curie 98.3%
Darwin 96.9%
Fleming 98.2%
Useful Information
Apply for Free School Meals
Please follow the link below for more information about how to apply for free school meals.
Is my child too ill for school?
It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell.
There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't.
If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won't be in and give them the reason.
If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.
Please follow this link for more information.
Support for Families
Parental conduct on the school grounds
It has come to our attention that there have been instances where some parents have not adhered to the school values of Kindness and Respect in and around the school grounds. We believe it is essential to address this matter urgently, as our collective behaviour significantly impacts the overall environment and the well-being of our students.
As parents, you play a vital role in shaping the culture and atmosphere within our school community. Therefore, we kindly remind you to prioritise the following values of Kindness and Respect:
Be Respectful: Your words and actions greatly influence your children. Please engage in respectful communication with all individuals, including fellow parents, teachers, and staff members. Treat others with kindness, patience, and understanding.
Follow School Policies: Familiarise yourself with and abide by the school's policies. By doing so, you demonstrate the importance of rules and set a positive example for your children. Upholding these policies fosters an environment of fairness and respect for everyone.
Resolve Conflicts Responsibly: In the event of conflicts, approach them calmly and constructively. Show your children effective ways to resolve differences and promote understanding. Encourage open communication, active listening, and empathy as tools for conflict resolution.
Let us collectively reaffirm our commitment to fostering a culture of kindness and respect within our school community. We must work together to create an environment that nurtures the growth, well-being, and academic success of all our students.
We respectfully remind you that should our school expectations for appropriate school site behaviour not be met then this may result in a site ban. Thank you for your cooperation in upholding these essential values.
Complaints procedures
At Delce we aim to meet our statutory obligations when responding to complaints from our parents. Parents should follow our Complaints Policy that explains the procedures that should be followed.
Stage 1: Informal
The complainant should raise the complaint as soon as possible with the relevant member of staff or the headteacher as appropriate, either in person or by letter, telephone or email. If the complainant is unclear who to contact or how to contact them, they should contact the school office.
If the complaint is not resolved informally, it will be escalated to a Stage 2 formal complaint. The school will maintain a log of informal complaints and review this on a termly basis.
Stage 2: Formal
If the issue cannot be resolved through informal action the complainant should inform the headteacher in writing. This letter will be acknowledged within three working days. Formal complaints must be reported the local governing body. The local governing body must then be kept informed about progress and outcomes. This letter should provide details such as relevant dates, times, and the names of witnesses of events, alongside copies of any relevant documents. The complainant should also state what they feel would resolve the complaint.
For more details visit our website.
Useful Links
www.delce.org.uk 01634 845242 Twitter: @delceacademy1