18th September 2024

Dear Parents

Welcome to the new and updated newsletter. We have collected information on the preferred devices our parents use to open our newsletter and we can see that the vast majority of parents (80%) read the newsletter on a mobile device. We have changed the format to ensure that the newsletter is more user friendly; you should now be able to scroll through sections and focus on the areas of interest.

HSE- You may recall that we reported an incident recently on an adult taking photographs of 2 of our children on the way to school. We have connected with the Ras Al Hamra HSE team (Development Project). They indicated that they have highlighted this incident to their teams who will intervene if they see a similar event occurring.

PTA -Many thanks to all the volunteers who have agreed to support the PTA. We have received several applications from our parent community. We will engage with interested parents in due course.

Tim Robinson

Headteacher

Seesaw Survey

Thank you to all parents who took the time to share your thoughts on Seesaw. We were thrilled to find that 78% think it is user friendly and 87% feel it helps with supporting your child's learning at home. We appreciate the additional comments offered and we will forward these directly to the Seesaw team for them to consider, as they are related to the technical aspects of the software platform beyond our control.

Milepost 1 - Safety Awareness

Important Safety Reminder for Year 1 Parents

We kindly remind parents that the gate between Early Years and Year 1 is closed at 8am. If you arrive after this time, please report to the main office with your child to ensure they get to class safely. Please do not open this gate if it is closed.

This gate leads directly to the car park, and keeping it closed after 8am is an important safety measure. We need your help to keep all of our children safe. By reporting to the main office, you’re helping us make sure the children stay safe.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our children safe!

Early Years

Sharing fruit has begun and the children are really enjoying the opportunity to prepare the fruit for all their friends.

It's a great opportunity to discuss what a healthy snack and lunch is and why we have to keep certain items like food that contains nuts and juices for hometime. We also talked about why it's important to cut some fruit in special ways like the grapes. The children also worked on their independence and fine motor skills.

Milepost 1

This week in IPC, Year 1 our children have been developing their knowledge of the Zones of Regulation. We’ve been building the skills to calm down, relax, and self-regulate our emotions.

The children have also been deepening their understanding of how to recognise others’ feelings by observing facial expressions and reflecting on how different situations affect our emotions. Through these activities, they are not only learning to manage their own feelings but also developing empathy and becoming more empathetic learners.

Milepost 2

As part of our 'Footprints From the Past' IPC unit, Year 3 students have been exploring the concept of timelines.

Children created personal timelines, arranging key events in chronological order. The highlight of the activity for many of the children was sharing significant moments from their lives with their peers. Year 3 enjoyed showing photos and telling stories to each other, which beautifully illustrated how these memories hold personal meaning for them.

Milepost 3

This week the Year 5 children had their Entry Point for their 'Existing, Endangered, Extinct' IPC unit.

For our Entry Point, Y5 designed their very own apex predator. We were so impressed by the creativity and ingenuity on display as many of the imagined creatures certainly demonstrated apex-like attributes. However, we shall see if these animals can maintain their predatory prowess as we explore extreme habitats around the world!

Reading and Phonics Workshop for

Milepost 1 Parents

Dear Parents,

We invite you to join our Reading and Phonics Workshop for parents of children in Years 1 and 2. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, 25th September at 8:00 am in the staff room.

We will explain how we teach reading in school and offer tips on how to support your child’s reading at home. We hope you can attend and look forward to seeing you there!

Computing

Children in Years 2-6 are currently learning about computer systems and networks. This week, they explored technology use in school, identified input and output devices, and discovered how networked devices form the internet. They also examined the role of computer systems in everyday life.

Staff News

We are proud to congratulate our Learning Support Assistant, Ms. Marwa Al Hashli on achieving her NCFE CACHE Level 1 Award in Learning and Teaching. Her dedication and hard work have been outstanding, and we look forward to her continued contributions to our students' success. Well done, Ms. Marwa!

Congratulations to all our Learners of the Week, keep the good work!

Please swipe above to see the photos.

PDO School Newsletter