Respect Collaboration Kindness Perseverance Honesty Responsibility
It has been an incredibly busy and exciting few weeks at Delce Academy, filled with enriching experiences for our pupils and strong community engagement.
We kicked things off with a hugely successful book fair, where pupils and families explored a wonderful selection of books, igniting a passion for reading and storytelling.
Next, our PTA Jumble Café brought the school community together in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Families enjoyed browsing a fantastic selection of pre-loved items. The event not only raised valuable funds for the school but also highlighted the generosity and spirit of our wonderful PTA and volunteers.
Our Year 4 pupils had the opportunity to visit a local Gurdwara, where they gained insight into Sikh beliefs, traditions, and practices. This trip provided a meaningful learning experience, deepening their understanding of different faiths and fostering respect for cultural diversity.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming Officer Rowan, who delivered an important and engaging session on internet safety. In today’s digital age, equipping children with the knowledge to navigate the online world safely is more crucial than ever. The session encouraged thoughtful discussions and empowered our pupils with key strategies to stay safe and responsible online.
The PTA continued to spoil us with their generosity by hosting a M.A.N.G.O Tea event — a delightful gathering that provided parents and carers with a chance to connect over tea, coffee, and treats, all while supporting our school initiatives.
Meanwhile, our Year 5 students embarked on a captivating journey through history at the British Museum, delving into the fascinating world of Ancient Greece. Exploring artefacts, sculptures, and historical texts, they gained first hand insights into the myths, art, and achievements of one of history’s most influential civilisations.
We are incredibly grateful to our parents, carers, and the PTA for their unwavering support in making these experiences possible. Your dedication plays a vital role in enriching the education of our pupils and fostering a strong sense of community at Delce Academy.
Coming up next: Family Marketplace Event!
Join us on Tuesday, 1st April at 2:45 PM for our fantastic Family Marketplace event! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore a wealth of support, resources, and services from amazing local organisations, all gathered in one place. Whether you're looking for advice, activities, or connections, this event promises to be an invaluable experience for all families. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Core Value this term:
This term, our school value is perseverance, a quality we believe is essential for success both in and out of the classroom. Perseverance is about staying committed to a task, even when it gets difficult, and learning from setbacks. To help your children develop this valuable trait at home, try engaging in activities that require sustained effort. Building a complex LEGO structure, completing a challenging puzzle, learning a new skill like juggling or a musical instrument, or even tackling a tricky recipe together can all provide opportunities to practice perseverance. Encourage them to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, and celebrate their efforts, not just the final result. Remember, it's the journey of learning and overcoming challenges that truly builds perseverance.
Well done to the children who received a merit last week and this week, we are so proud of all your efforts!
This week Year 3 have been using technology in the form of an e-book, to help them find the answers to key questions. Great collaboration and perseverance was shown in reading this week when using something new. Well done!
In Science we have learnt about seed dispersal and thought about which is the best way to disperse seeds.
This week in Year 4, we have been fortunate to visit the Gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship). We were able to experience going into this religious space after learning about the different parts of the Gurdwara during previous lessons. Once inside, we were able to identify significant religious items.
In English, we have explored what makes successful intructions. Next week, we will be writing our own set of instructions on how to survive in a rainforest.
This week in Year 5, we have moved on to statistics in maths. We explored what a line graph looks like and gathered data from our peers. After collecting the data, we plotted it to create our own line graphs using chalk and stones. 📈
We have also been exploring the significant event of the Trojan War in history and designing our own models in DT. After crafting our designs, we carefully planned how we will construct our Trojan horses. 🐴
Year 6 have been exploring the properties of 3-D shapes. The children have had the chance to explore the nets of different shapes. Through building the shapes themselves, they were able to identify the different properties each shape had. The children worked collaboratively and showed great team work to overcome the difficulty of understanding how the nets of each shape worked.
DEC have used the xylophone to play Frere Jacques. During music last term we learnt to sing different versions of Frere Jacques and. This term we enjoyed practicing it on the xylophone and singing along. Some children wanted to perform and were videoed so please have a look at Tapestry.
Attendance
Attendance Matters!
Well done to Bell Class and Adams Class for great attendance over past two weeks!
Jackson - 88.18%
Adams - 90%
Rhodes - 85.25%
Dickens - 92.86%
Goulding - 94.48%
Brunel - 94.16%
Curie - 89.33%
Darwin - 91.19%
SEND
A message from our SENCO, Mr Palmer...
Mr. Palmer's Strategy of the Week!
Do you find that during Easter celebrations children can often become shy or overwhelmed?
Practice some social greetings with them at home. What should they say if someone says hello? How should they say goodbye?
Some great tips can be found here around sensory overload; https://www.sensoryfriendly.net/how-to-create-a-sensory-friendly-easter/
Got a question or a concern about SEND? Book to get a 15 minute slot with Mr Palmer to discuss any concerns and strategies that may help! Just scan the QR code on the poster to book your slot.
Wishing the following children a Happy Birthday for the next two weeks & over the Easter Break!
Jamie-Lee - Jackson
Jasmine - Sharman
Daryl - Curie
Lexie - Dickens
Nevaeh - Dyson
Isojiife - Dickens
Archie - Bell
Luca - Curie
Freddie - Darwin
Oliver - Dyson
Ibrahim - Jackson
Simeon - Bell
Isabelle - Darwin
Lolarose - Wright
Willow - Goulding
Olivia - Goulding
Johnny - Dyson
Aiden - Sharman
Harry - Sharman
Luena - Rhodes
Winifred - Curie
Shuyu - Darwin
Deborah - Curie
Uniform at Delce
No hooped / dangly earrings, no trainers and long hair is to be tied back.
Please refer to our uniform policy or speak with the class teacher should you have any queries. The full overview of the uniform guidelines can be found here.
Pinafore dress – black/grey
Skirt – black/grey
White polo t-shirt
Jumper/Cardigan – with logo (purchase from School Time in Chatham)
Trousers – black/grey
Plain black/grey tights (worn with pinafore or skirt)
Socks - black /grey
Summer Dress - Chequered Blue dress
Shorts - Grey / Black shorts
We have observed an increase in footwear that does not comply with our school uniform policy, specifically non-black trainers. We understand that there may be temporary situations requiring alternative footwear, such as when new shoes are being purchased. We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring your child wears appropriate black footwear as per the uniform guidelines.
Additionally, we wish to remind you of our policy regarding jewellery. With the exception of items worn for religious or cultural purposes, bracelets, necklaces, and hooped/dangly earrings are not permitted. Starting Monday, any such items will be respectfully collected by staff and placed in a named envelope for collection from reception. This measure is to prevent loss or damage during the school day.
Please ensure your child is in full and correct uniform from Monday onwards. Your support in maintaining our school's uniform standards is greatly appreciated.
We are always looking for enthusiastic parents and carers to join the Friends of Delce Academy and help make a positive impact on our school community. Being part of this group is a fantastic way to support school events, fundraising initiatives and create memorable experiences for our children. Whether you can offer a little time or a lot, every contribution makes a difference!
We also welcome parent helpers to assist with activities such as school trips, special events and classroom support. If you’re interested in getting involved, please speak to a member of staff or contact the school office. Your support is greatly appreciated!
MedwayGo Easter Activities – Bookings Open Soon!
MedwayGo Easter activities will be running from Monday 14th April – Thursday 17th April 2025, offering a fantastic range of fun and engaging sessions for children during the holidays.
Bookings open on Monday 17th March at 10am and will now be made through a new system called Eequ. Parents and carers can follow a simple link to book activities, and eligibility will be checked automatically before approval. Families can start registering their interest here: https://eequ.org/medwaygo.
MedwayGo provides free holiday activities and meals for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals. A portion of funding (15%) is also available for vulnerable children, including those with SEND, looked-after children, and children from military families. Once this allocation is full, free places will only be available for FSM-eligible children. Paid places are also available at reduced rates from many providers, ensuring all children can take part.
Children can book up to four activities across the Easter programme, enjoying exciting sessions such as sports, theatre workshops, outdoor pursuits, music, and more—all while receiving a hot, healthy meal.
Families can start exploring the activities available from next week and secure their places from Monday 17th March at 10am. More details will be shared on MedwayGo’s Facebook page, and guidance on the new booking system can be found here: Eequ Booking Guide.
The MedwayGo team is also holding two online Q&A sessions to help families with the new booking system:
📅 Thursday 6th March, 12pm – 1pm – Join the meeting now
📅 Thursday 13th March, 7pm – 8pm – Join the meeting now
We encourage families to book early to secure their preferred activities!
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 our Headteacher, Mr Harris.
School Admissions
Admission information for Year 3 September 2025
Year 6 Secondary School Admission information.
Tuesday 1st April 2025 - 2.45pm - 4pm - Exciting Medway Event at Delce to support all families within Medway (see flyer in the family & community section above)
Thursday 3rd April 2025 - PTA Easter Disco - 3.30pm - 4.30pm (Year 3/4) & 5pm-6pm (Year 5/6) (Year 3 & 4 children to bring their Disco clothes in to school with them)
Friday 4th April 2025 - Year 3 & Jackson Class - River Boat Trip (Kentish Lady)
Friday 4th April 2025 - Last day of Term
Monday 7th April - Monday 21st April 2025 - Half Term
Tuesday 22nd April 2025 - First day back
Monday 5th May 2025 - Bank Holiday (School is closed)
Thursday 8th May 2025 - SEND Coffee Morning - 9am - 10am
Monday 12th May - Thursday 15th May 2025 - SATs Week (Year 6)
Monday 19th May 2025 - Year 6 Residential Information Evening - 3.45pm - 4.30pm
Thursday 22nd May 2025 - Whole Class Photos
Friday 30th May 2025 - Last day of Term
Monday 26th May - Friday 30th May 2025 - Half Term
Monday 2nd June 2025 - First day back
W/C Monday 2nd June 2025 (2 weeks) - Year 4 Multiplication Checks
Wednesday 11th June - Friday 13th June 2025 - Year 6 Residential
Friday 13th June 2025 - INSET Day (School is closed to pupils)
Thursday 3rd July 2025 - SEND Coffee Morning 9am - 10am
Wednesday 25th June 2025 - Sports Day (details to follow)
Friday 18th July 2025 - Year 6 Leavers Assembly / Graduation (9.30am - 11/11.30am)
Autumn Term Foodie News
Chartwells - our school meal provider – has launched their new Summer menu, filled with crowd-pleasing classics and fresh, seasonal flavours.
See the new menu below or visit the school website.
There is plenty of foodie fun planned for the summer term with themed menus such, Mexican themed Fiesta Fun in May and celebrating National Picnic Week in June.
All theme menus can be found here.
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.