Dear Families,

 

In order to keep us all safe, you will see all staff wearing a face covering when they come to collect your children from the yard each morning. For the same reason, staff wear a face covering in communal areas of the school. Thank you for helping  us to keep our children, staff and family members safe by choosing to wear a face covering when you are on the school yard. 

 

It has been another fun week in school. Phase 3 have been improving their street dance moves with an Active Kids  coach. Our Year 3 children have been learning to play the ukulele with a Newcastle Music Service teacher and some families have booked Music lessons in school for their children with Rocksteady Music. As part of an Outer West Learning Trust (OWLT) initiative to develop Art skills and an appreciation of what Art is; some of our Y3 students are working with the artist John Quinn. Also, Phase 1 children had fun working with the NUFC Primary Stars team and getting fit out on the field. 

 

Today, Friday 16th October, our  Y5 students had an amazing Raising Aspirations Programme (RAP) Talk with the broadcaster and author Jonathan Dimbleby via Teams. Jonathan emphasised the importance of working hard, knocking on closed doors and caring about people in order to make your dreams come true. He was truly inspirational. 

 

Please follow us on our Twitter link at the bottom of the home page as we regularly post pictures of children enjoying stimulating learning experiences. Also, check your child's Class Page each Friday to see what they have been up to during the week. 

 

At WDPS we have created our unique WDPS Life Skills Challenge Award (LSCA) which promotes a 'Natural Me' and 'Healthy Me' focus  as we believe that children and adults  benefit from positive time spent playing and exercising outdoors. Research shows that physical exercise is important for mental as well as physical wellbeing. Please encourage your family to spend quality time outdoors together as it is a lovely respite from screen time.

 

Improving Reading is a whole school priority focus as all children need the skills to conduct research and also to enjoy the creative pleasure of the written word. As a family enjoy reading some of the book reviews which you can access from the homepage: 'About Us' then 'WDPS-Whole School Focus.' Let’s all work together to make every WDPS child a fluent, keen and resilient reader at home and at school. Reading includes everything from learning and practising the Read Write Inc (RWI) Phonics to helping your children to conduct research for a school topic and also to improving their language knowledge through reading a wide range of challenging books from different genres. 

 

Let’s make sure all our children receive the best wraparound support so that they achieve all that they are capable of in life.

 

Enjoy a relaxing and fun family weekend.

 

Kind regards,

 

Mick