13th September 2024
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday 18th September – Year 6 Space Workshop
Thursday 10th October – Tea & Talk: Nursery – meet the parents 8.50am
Thursday 10th October – Hello Yellow
Thursday 10th October – Open Evening for prospective parents
Friday 11th October – School Nursing team: Flu Immunisation (Reception – Year 6)
Thursday 24th October – Preloved uniform sale – 3.10pm in the main hall
Friday 25th October – Half term – Collection at 3.10pm
Monday 11th November – Return to academy
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear parents/carers,
This week we held our annual Shaping the Future Event. This is a special day at the start of the year to celebrate community, coming together to induct new comers to the academy and to participate in house team activities. This year we inducted 137 new children into KS1 and KS2 with family members coming along to the Induction Ceremony. We also had special visitors and governors join us for the presentations and induction, including the Major. My message this year was to remember the importance of Imagination and how Imagination can shape the future.
We considered what was once a dream or an idea can in fact become a reality, with links to innovation, creativity and technology.
We were inspired by the Disney film, ‘Wish’ which reminded us to wish and pursue our dreams but also that we are all stars. We always reference our children as the stars on our academy logo to shine bright in their own way. We had some special videos to share with the children too, including some footage from a year 2 music lesson linked to the song ‘Your Imagination’. The performance had a little touch of additional imagination with animations of the characters in the song dancing along. We also shared a video of Mrs Hahn playing her ukulele as a duet with Kermit the Frog. What fun!
The cheer squad also shared the special message to try everything with a clip of the cheer routine. During the KS2 presentation, members of the squad jumped up and danced along to their video on screen. It was a great moment of fun, confidence and spontaneity.
Every year we share our academy at work video showcasing a collection of footage from the year before. This year, with imagination as the theme, we adapted the academy at work video and surprised everyone with our ‘Wonka at Work’ film. This was inspired by our Wonka-licious sales last year from the PTA, another demonstration of how our imaginations can be ignited by a connection or idea.
The house teams engaged in activities at three imagination stations linked to PE, Art and design. This included a Lego building challenge and Avatar designs, The movement/dance exercise with balloons on the windiest day was a challenge! The children had great fun as children and staff were chasing balloons across the field. the children worked alongside others in their house teams and year groups. They had a great morning with class activities continuing within the theme in the afternoon after our picnic lunch. The slight amount of rainfall called for the picnic to come inside but ceased with everyone returning outside to play.
I can announce that the winning house was: Yellow House – HMS Raleigh
The EYFS had a special day for the new reception intake too. They were inspired by the story book: Incredible me and celebrated how they are special in their own way. They shared their hopes and dreams for the future and engaged in imaginative play.
Thank you to all those involved in our special day; to every staff member from the kitchen, MDAs, site, admin, finance, teaching staff, support staff and the tech team at Darlinghurst and Belfairs. Thank you to Stacey Williamson-Michie for the artistic back drops and to the PTA for holding the Wonka-licious sales last year!
I cannot wait for next year’s Shaping the Future!
As always, enjoy your family time together.
Mrs Nicholls
In the spotlight
Open Evening
At this time of year, parents and carers are already thinking ahead for next steps for their children joining nursery, Reception or moving to secondary schools. We have a series of prospective tours ahead for those choosing Reception for 2025-26 and our open evening event on Thursday 10th October.
Please be aware, that due to our open evening there will be no after school provision (Little Mariners) and after school clubs on this date, year 5 & 6 football, multi sports, TTRS and gymnastics will not be held as staff will be involved in the open evening event. Please ensure that your child is collected at normal pick-up time on this date. Thank you for your co-operation.
Year 6
A reminder that secondary school applications for 2025-2026 are now open and you have until the 31st October to submit your preferences.
https://one.southend.gov.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/en
Flu Immunisation
The Immunisation team will be visiting the Academy on Friday 11th October to administer the annual flu spray. You must complete the online form to say if you give your consent or not for your child to have the spray administered. If a form is not submitted your child will not receive the immunisation.
This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu.
Most children are offered a nasal spray vaccine which is a quick, simple and painless spray up the nose.
The nasal spray vaccine is the most effective vaccine. The nasal spray vaccine contains a very small amount of porcine gelatine as an essential ingredient to keep it stable and able to work. For those who may not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine, a flu vaccine injection is available. Even if your child had the vaccine last year, the type of flu can vary each winter, so it is recommended to have it again this year or they won’t be protected.
Since the programme was introduced, most children offered the vaccine in schools have had the immunisation.
Hello Yellow
On the 10th October, we engage in raising awareness of children’s mental Health and the importance of Planting trees for sustainability. Hello Yellow supports the charity Young Minds, and on the 10th October, we will be fundraising to support this charity by wearing yellow accessories. Let’s add yellow to our uniform. It could be yellow socks, hair accessories, a hat or scarf. Together we can show young people they're not alone with their mental health!
On the same day we also raise funds for Just One Tree – so don’t forget a little green in the accessories too! Did you know by giving £1 they can plant 1 tree.
JUST ONE Tree supports reforestation projects in areas severely affected by deforestation such as Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique & Brazil. In doing so they have the greatest positive effect on limiting global warming whilst simultaneously alleviating extreme poverty within local communities through the provision of
We’re sure you will agree that tree planting is essential at this critical time for the planet. We will therefore be joining children, parents and teachers around the world on this day to demonstrate that an individual's actions can have a positive impact on the environment.
Due to our past fundraising, Darlinghurst Academy is now an Elite Plant Hero School! There are only a small, but growing, number of plant hero schools that are real plant savers.
You are able to make your donation via your child’s ParentPay account.
Preloved Uniform Sale
We will be holding our next preloved uniform sale on Thursday 24th October.
If you have uniform that you would like to donate to our pre-loved sale, we would gladly accept these at the main office.
Darlinghurst Academy
Pavilion Drive
Leigh on Sea
Essex
SS9 3JS
CONTACT US
T. 01702 478379
F. 01702 509207
E. generalenquiries@darlinghurstacademy.org.uk