As we approach the end of the year we unfortunately have to say goodbye to several of our families and teaching staff. We have spent the last few weeks saying goodbye to our students in assemblies, it is always sad to see children leave, but they of course go with our best wishes for their future journey.
This is an emotional time for the school as we say goodbye to several of our colleagues; on a positive note several have taken roles within Oman and therefore we will undoubtedly stay connected to them all.
This year we have leaving our school, in no particular order: Ms. Emma, Ms. Hayley, Ms. Leanne, Ms. Eimear, Ms. Gina, Mr Scott, Ms. Kirsty and Ms. Rachel.
All the above staff have played an integral role in the school life over the last few years; apart from developing the academic progress of our children they have also developed positive wellbeing approaches that have all helped to provide a positive and vibrant environment for learning.
I would like to thank them all personally as they have all played such significant roles in the development of PDO school in the last few years. They have dedicated themselves to our whole community, offering guidance and support to students and parents. We send them best wishes from our whole team and thank them for the commitment, dedication and care they have demonstrated to PDO school.
New Staff.
We have eight new staff arriving in August and last week we introduced the first five teachers who had completed the onboarding checks. We can now introduce 2 more this week.
We are on schedule for all new staff to arrive in mid August in preparation for the new school year.
We have several very experienced teachers arriving, some of whom have held positions of Headteacher and Vice Principal. All the teachers who are arriving have experience of the IC (IEYC and IPC).
HSSE
As you are aware we had a fire alarm in school yesterday caused by the extreme humidity. We received an email from the PDO fire department recognising the professional way in which the evacuation was managed.
A reminder to all parents about the use of seat belts and car seats for younger children. Accidents can happen at any time and other road users may cause accidents. Please ensure that all your passengers are belted up, and for younger children please ensure that they have the correct sized car seats. As parents it is important that we create a strong safety culture for our children, your support is appreciated.
End of Term
This is the busiest time of the school year with several events taking place, including new classes, reports and graduations. Hopefully, we will all be supporting the Y6 graduation car parade on Thursday.
A reminder that we finish at 12:00 next Wednesday.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support this year. This year has provided a number of challenges to our small community.
Several of our families have faced difficult decisions on their futures. As highlighted above we are seeing several of our teachers leaving the school. However, through all of the these personal trials our school staff have remained fully committed to their roles, despite the personal challenges that they all faced. As a school leader, I am extremely proud of all our staff, it is a privilege to be part of such a dedicated and committed team who go above and beyond on a daily basis.
That just leaves me to say that I hope you all have a positive and rewarding break over the summer. I hope you and your families get the chance to relax and connect with friends and family. For those of you who are leaving PDO we wish you best wishes for the future.
Thank you if you have already returned levelled reading books and library books to school.
So that we can organise resources for next year, in case you still have books at home, please return any remaining books to school on Sunday. Thank you.
Is your child missing anything?
You can find the Lost and Found right inside the front doors during school hours until Wednesday, 24th June 2025.
Any items left at school over summer break will be donated or if not appropriate, disposed of.
It has been business as usual in the Early Years as we have continued to be Dinosaur Detectives. We have learnt about different dinosaurs, explored volcanoes and studied fossils.
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We are building our knowledge:
That dinosaurs lived a long time ago.
Their names.
That some dinosaurs were herbivores and others were carnivores.
That fossils help us learn about dinosaurs.
That paleontologists study dinosaurs by examining fossils and bones.
That dinosaurs are extinct (no longer alive).
About the size, features, and environments of different dinosaurs.
We are building skills in:
Observation, asking and answering questions, sorting, classifying, expressing ideas, fine and gross motor, researching and working collaboratively.
We are building an understanding of:
living things changing over time.
Learning about the past through evidence (like fossils).
Scientists ask questions and investigate to find out more.
There being many different types of dinosaurs with different features and needs.
Careful observation and recording in science.
As part of our IPC unit People from the Past, Year 2 have been using a range of sources such as books, videos and websites to research Louis Braille and Helen Keller, two remarkable individuals who showed great resilience. The children researched how Braille created a reading system for the blind and explored the Braille alphabet by making their own name labels using Braille characters.
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The children then chose how to present their learning (using posters, mini books, or using Google Slides) which they will share with Year 4 next week. Throughout the unit, they discussed the impact Braille and Keller had on the world and reflected on the personal learning goals they used.
As part of our IPC topic Chocolate, Year 4 students immersed themselves in a wonderfully rich and delicious journey! This unit explored not only the origins and production of chocolate, but also important global issues such as fair trade and sustainability.
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One highlight of the unit was definitely our hands-on chocolate-making experience. Children had the chance to melt fair trade chocolate and experiment with their own versions of sweet treats. From swirling in fillings to molding unique shapes, each creation was a reflection of their imagination and growing confidence.
This week, 5J completed their final major writing piece of the year: a powerful internal monologue inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
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The children drew upon every skill they’ve developed over the year—crafting vivid, thoughtful, and purposeful writing. With focus, creativity, and maturity, they demonstrated just how far they’ve come as writers. It was a magical end to a year of growth!
As we have been wishing our leavers goodbye in assembly this week, our Learners of the Week have been celebrated by their class teachers within their Mileposts. Congratulations to you all, keep up the hard work!
18th June - Y6 Production - 5pm
19th June - School reports shared with parents
19th June - Y6 Graduation Assembly - 1pm
19th June - Y6 Graduation Car Parade - 4:30pm
24th June - Reception Graduation - 1pm
25th June - Last day of school year - 1200 closure