PDO
School Newsletter
6th October 2022
Dear Parents
It has been a busy week at PDO School which included a special celebration for Miss Liz!
This week will be a long weekend due to the public holiday on Monday. We look forward to welcoming all children back to school on Monday, at the usual time.
In order to view the Class Pages for more detailed information about your child's learning this week and any class notices, please click the link here .
A decade of teaching at PDO School for Miss Liz!
Congratulations to Miss Liz who has now been a teacher at PDO School for an amazing 10 years! We hope you enjoy your chocolates, you thoroughly deserve them!
Early Years - anyone hungry?
Jam Sandwiches
Children in Early Years made jam sandwiches this week which encompassed all of our areas of learning. They extended their mathematical understanding, choosing to cut their bread into triangles or rectangles. They followed a sequence of instructions and practised fine motor skills too. Children enjoyed talking about their sandwich as well as eating the end product. They will develop their mark making and writing skills in the next lesson as they write instructions for making the sandwich.
Miss Dawn, Leader for Early Years
Healthy Living - how to take care of our teeth
Phase 2 had the pleasure of a visit from 14 Dental Students from My Smile. Each class enjoyed learning all about dental health, how to brush their teeth properly and were lucky enough to receive a gift at the end! A big thank you to all the students for an engaging morning and to Nurse Munira for organising the event.
Nurse Munira and Miss Eimear - Phase 2 Leader
Science - what makes night and day?
Year 5
Earth and Space
Year 5 have been finding out all about the movement of the Earth and moon in relation to the sun. The children have been carrying out investigations in which they simulated the movement of the Earth in relation to the sun in order to demonstrate why we have night and day. They have also studied the phases of the moon and now know why it appears that the moon changes shape during the lunar cycle.
Mr Joe
Year 6
Light
Year 6 have been finding out about light. The children have conducted experiments that prove light travels in straight lines and that white light can be split into the colours of the visible spectrum using a prism. The investigation above demonstrates the effect of refraction. When light travels through the glass of water it appears the the arrow has changed direction!
Swimming
Some of our pupils from year 4,5 and 6 started some additional swimming training after school this week. The selected group took part in a trial last week and have now started the sessions which will aim to build stamina and refine their strokes in preparation for our aquathlons and swimming festivals planned later in the year. Further opportunities to join these sessions will take place in Term 2.
Mr Scott and Miss Iveth
Playground Leaders
We are excited to announce the reintroduction of our Playground Leaders to run fun games and activities during the lunchtime break. Pupils from Year 6 will organise and lead the activities for the other children.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Year 6 pupils to further develop their Personal Learning Goals, gain confidence and demonstrate their leadership skills.
We invite all children from Year 6 to submit a proposal for an activity to their class teacher.
Mr Neil, Leader for Phase 3
Personal Learning Goals
PDO School is conducting a competition in which the students are given the opportunity to design a logo for the school in relation to our core values.
Adaptable - Our students are changing and meeting new circumstance all the time to which they need to respond effectively and positively.
Resilient - Life is not always smooth and students need to be strong when facing small setbacks.
Collaborator - Working with others gets the best results in life at home and at school.
Ethical - Students need to be aware of what is fair and good behaviour.
Respectful - We all need to behave properly with other people and show the right attitude.
Communicator - being able to express understanding, questions and feelings is a key to achievement.
Empathetic - As our students mature they can identify the feelings and attitudes of others.
Thinker - thinking critically gives children the confidence to say what they think and give reasons why.
Design a logo deadline: Thursday 13th October – Kindly remind your child to submit their logo design to their class teacher.
Miss Amy - IPC Leader and Leader for Phase 1
Parent Guest Library Readers
We would like to say a special thank you to Joseph's mum who came to read some stories to Y1E this week. The students absolutely loved the very funny Book with No Pictures!
If you would like to read a short story or poem to your Year 1 - Year 6 child's class, during their Library Time, this term, please follow the link below. This will be a short story, or poem which will take no longer than 10 minutes to read to the class.
You are welcome to bring a cherished book with you, however, we have a wide range of stories and puppets in the library if you would prefer to use some of our resources.
Miss Zoe
PDO School Board
PDO School is looking for volunteers to join the School Board. If you are interested, please send an email to cfox@pdoschool.com expressing an interest.
Dates for your Diary:
Public Holiday - School Closed
9th October for the occasion of the Birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed
PTA AGM
12th October @5:30 pm in the main hall, PDO School
School reports Y1 to Y6 sent home
13th October
IPC Exit Points
Early Years - Exit Point "Wild"
17th October @9:30am (Change of date)
Year One - Exit Point "The stories people tell"
17th October @ 10:30 am
Year Two - Exit Point
"From A - B"
18th October @ 10:45 am
Year Three - Exit Point
"Dinosaur"
18th October @ 1:20pm
Year Four - Exit Point
"Active Planet"
19th October @ 1:20pm
Year Five Exit Point "Extreme Survivors"
19th October @ 11:00 am
Year Six - Exit Point "Ancient Greece"
17th October @ 12:45 pm
PTC Dates
18th and 19th October - please see the email sent to parents from notices this week
Half Term Holiday
23rd to 27th October inclusive
Parental Concerns:
At PDO School we acknowledge that, from time to time, parents may wish to express concerns about specific aspects of their child’s education. We are always happy to investigate and respond to these concerns. Please note that, for the Class Teachers, it is important that even informal discussions take place outside of their teaching time.
What do I do if I have a concern?
Please make the Class Teacher your first point of contact if your concern is not successfully resolved, please contact the school via notices@pdoschool.com to make an appointment with the Headteacher, Cheryl Fox, or the Deputy Headteacher, Ms. Kath Morgan.
Mr. Hamed, our School Manager, is also happy to listen to any parental concerns that have not been resolved successfully.