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Odd socks day

Tuesday was ‘Odd socks day’ It was an opportunity for the children to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and uniqueness! It was fantastic seeing odd socks proudly displayed during gymnastics and in all lessons. Children came in excited to share their odd socks with everyone with most ensuring that they could be seen over their school uniform.

Positive noticing day

On Wednesday, we had ‘positive noticing day’. At Darlinghurst Academy, all staff positively noticed the children throughout the day, and we wanted to encourage the children to do the same. All children will have come home with a brown luggage label which their peers have written or drawn something positive they noticed about the child. Everyone wore their labels with pride and loved showing them off . The children want to keep the wave of positive noticing going and we set you the challenge of positive noticing at home.

We received a comment from ‘theadultschange'

‘We are so glad that the day was a success, such lovely images! ‘

There is so much power in positivity! Use positive noticing to talk about kindness and to think about friendships and a chance to remind one another about positive behaviours.

Perhaps Positive Noticing Day can be the start of daily noticing at home?

Children in Need

Today is ‘Children in Need’. Children in Need believes that every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. For this to happen, we want every child to have someone they can turn to for help or support to overcome challenges they face.

We remind our children that here at Darlinghurst we are a listening school. They know that Mrs Grant and Mrs Hahn are our safeguarding leads and that the Marina is a safe space. They can talk to Mrs Wheeler, our behaviour support about their feelings or they can find any other trusted adult.

At Darlinghurst, we support our children holistically and empower them to be:

• Successful Learners,
• Prepared for change
• Active citizens
• Confident Individuals
• Effective Contributors

Next week, we continue to focus on RSHE with road safety week. The children will have special assemblies looking at how they can be safe when around roads. Perhaps you could practise crossing roads safely while coming to school next week maybe teaching rhymes or rules as you go?

Should you wish to know more about RSHE take a look at our website.

Faith & Well-being – Darlinghurst Academy

Thank you for taking the time to read about this important part of the curriculum.

Ms Rosso – RSHE lead

Mrs Nicholls ‘Faith and Wellbeing’

Remembrance

At Darlinghurst Academy this week, children across the academy considered Remembrance Day and its importance within British History. Children came to school dressed in various uniforms including Scouts, Beavers, Brownies, Rainbows, St Johns Ambulance and Badgers and Cadets. Staff also wore their Scout leader uniforms with pride.

At 11am, a 2 minute silence was observed by all with sounds of the Last Post in many classrooms. Children were encouraged to explore why this day is of such significance and how some things have remained the same since the first Poppy Day on 11th November 1919. Discussions were had and respect shown for those who have protected our freedom and still do today.

To support this, and with a particular focus on becoming better historians this term, the children were provided with various clues or ' sources' and encouraged to ask further questions to develop their historical enquiry skills.

Clue: Arthur wrote a letter to his parents.

Why didn't he email or text?

Is he a teenager?

Clue: He was 17 at the time.

When was his birthday?

Was he living away from home and if so, why?

Clue: He was born in 1897.

What was happening in Britain at that time?

Clue: Arthur had to get his eyes tested and went camping where he ate lots of tinned beef.

Was he part of the Scouts? Why was it important to have good eyesight? Was he blind?

Clue: He visited France

Was he going on holiday? Is there any other evidence on the map?

After each 'clue', pupils worked together to ask more questions, helping them better understand who Arthur might have been.

Last Clue: He died in 1918

The children were very happy to know that they had been true historians and used the evidence to guess correctly. With their talk partners, they discussed whether they thought Arthur was an important person.

It was also lovely to see some poppy art from year 1.

Year 2 Trunk Theatre

On Thursday, Year 2 stepped back in time to 1666 and experienced events of the Great Fire of London. Through story and song, a theatre group enriched our children’s learning, bringing history alive and arousing curiosity. Children were encouraged throughout the performance to think about many questions. How did the fire start? Who was to blame? Why did it spread so quickly? Pupils helped Samuel Pepys find his hidden wine and cheese, rowed across the River Thames and danced with King Charles II!

At the end of the show, the children ‘rebuilt’ London with their drawings of buildings and houses found in the city today. These included hotels, Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and even a London tour bus! The experience was truly immersive and helped children recall key facts in addition to understanding why things happened and the consequence of these events.

Back in class, pupils assembled various Tudor houses, ready for our own burning, to help pupils understand why the fire spread so quickly and the reasons for the choice of specific materials used in housing today.