Dear Parents,

What a pleasure to see so many parents attending the exit points this week, the students clearly explained the learning process to parents with confidence, and enthusiasm. It is always positive to see so many parents in school, supporting encouraging and having a clear understanding of their own child's learning journey and how they are developing in school.

Postponed Events- Unfortunately after extensive discussions with the MOE we have postponed until further notice our Glow Part and Hat Day, please note the tickets for the glow party will still be valid in the future when we hold the event. The current situation is complex, however it is important that we listen and take on board the advice that  we are given by the MOE. The MOE play a significant role in the school and it is important that we work as partners at all times.

HSSE-  Bathrooms- We are in the process of changing signs in the school to ensure that at all bathrooms are designated students or adult bathrooms . Our current system is not clear. We have provided additional signs to support adults and children in making the right choices. We appreciate your support with this.  We will be sharing this with the students in assembly in the future.

Parent Portal- We have posted on our Parent Portal our school policy on Code of Conduct and Consequences. We are unable to have conversations in school with parents and students, if we are not clear on our expectations. The aim of the policy is to create a safe positive learning environment for all. We understand that as children develop and become more mature then their decision making process becomes more embedded. Our aim as a school is to support this process.

Parent Board Member- A reminder that tomorrow is the last day for the PDO school Board nominations.

 E-Scooters- PDO school are now collaborating with road safety teams on the camp.

We have recently had conversations with the PDO Road Standards and Safety Body. 

They have sent this information for parents and children to read so they are aware of the risks associated with e-scooter use:

The impact electric scooters have on road safety (risk exposure) is increasing as their use get popularised. Certain studies indicate:

·        The majority of close encounters between scooters and pedestrians happens on narrow pedestrian paths;

·        Only 26% of non-riders think the sidewalk is appropriate for e-scooter use;

·        Both riders and non-riders would prefer more separate spaces, such as bike lanes;

·        58% of the pedestrians were interested in a mobile application alerting them about potential encounters with e-scooter riders;

·        E-scooter riders bend the rules (32% of 777 shared e-scooters' riders observed violating existing road rules);

·        76% of those respondents who had no experience with riding e-scooters reported that walking around e-scooter riders was unsafe or very unsafe;

·        Most pedestrians were annoyed by an e-scooter approaching at 20 km/h - however, there was no difference in the anger levels between speeds of 10 km/h and 15 km/h;

·        Out of 1272 e-scooter users - 232 (18%) had been involved in an accident. The vast majority of accidents did not involve another road user; 45 respondents (20%) had collided with someone else.

It is safe to conclude that:

• e-scooters may be considered as a relatively new mode of transportation / vehicle;

• MAF / RAH infrastructure (road, sidewalk, lanes) is currently not designed / adjusted / constructed to safely cater for such movement;

• pedestrians are not feeling safe sharing the same space with e-scooters;

• legislative solutions are not yet unified (meaning: different countries – different rules) and many impact-studies are still on-going;

Further research of Electric scooter brands (Porodo and Xiaomi / Mi.com) which are used by PDO school kids indicate that these devices / vehicles may reach speeds of 25km/h. That is significantly higher than a usual speed of a bicycle (12-16km/h).

We would like to remind all our families to adhere to the road safety rules when travelling around PDO and take particular care when travelling by e-scooter. 

Tim Robinson

Headteacher

Early Years

Nursery Rhyme Week was a delightful adventure at school this week! Our youngest learners immersed themselves in the magic of rhymes, sparking creativity and joy in all areas of the curriculum. From lively sing-alongs with some of the older children to imaginative crafts inspired by beloved nursery rhymes, our children celebrated the power of words and melodies in a fun-filled exploration of language and music.  We also linked up with Panaga School in Brunei and shared our learning and hope to continue this throughout the year.

Coffee & Curriculum: The Power of Play Tuesday 21st November 2023

Have you ever wondered why your child seems irresistibly drawn to tipping out all their toys, much to your dismay? Or perhaps they constantly insist on stacking everything in sight, turning your home into a never-ending tower-building challenge?

It's not just random chaos; it's a fascinating phenomenon called 'schematic play.' These repetitive actions and behaviours actually have a purpose and offer valuable insights into your child's development.

For instance, when your child empties every drawer and cupboard, they might be exploring the concept of 'trajectory.' This is the foundation of physics, helping them understand how things move and the effects of gravity. And when they create towering structures, they're engaging in 'positioning play,' which teaches them about balance, stability, and spatial relationships.

Early Years parents are invited to join us in the Early Years gym on Tuesday 21st November at 8am, as we unravel the world of schematic play, sharing tips on how to encourage and guide your child's explorations in a way that benefits their development.

Milepost 1 Exit Point -The Stories Peole Tell

Parents and grandparents joined their children and grandchildren in Year One this week for our end of unit Exit Point. Family members were treated to some Traditional Tale performances and our audience members shared their favourite parts from each performance. Children worked hard to speak with expression and project their voices. Back to the classes and we finished the Exit Point with a game of Kahoot.  Children loved participating in the Quiz and it was a great chance to share all the facts we learned during the topic. Finally, children had the chance to lead some role-play activities in our Continuous Provision area and show parents their favourite places in school.

Milepost 3

The Brave, The Bold and The Great - Year 6 Exit Point

On Monday, Year 6 shared their learning journey with their parents when they were invited to join us for our exit point. In the learning souk, they were treated to a wonderful display of ancient Greek pottery and optical illusion vanishing-point pillar art, that they created in their Art lessons with Ms. Jo. Up in Mile Post 3 parents got hands-on with learning and took part in deciphering words in Greek lettering, drawing pillars, making theatre masks and ordering events on a timeline. The children really enjoyed sharing their learning. We have lots of wonderful photos from the event which can be found HERE.

Medical Notices

Wishing you a pleasant weekend,

The PDO School Team