Chocablog!

Hello and welcome back to the Dorchester Middle School Blog!

Well, that was a rather fabulous week wasn't it? Another week has whizzed by and I don't think many of us have actually stopped have we? 

From Remembrance Day to Children in Need, we have had a lot to think about and reflect on.

I warn you now, there is a lot on the Blog this week so grab yourself a nice cup of tea/coffee (alternatives are available!), find yourself a comfy seat and enjoy the wonderful world of Dorchester Middle School!

Children in Need

I was delighted that, as a country, we raised £37 million on Friday night for such a fantastic cause. 

The generosity of the nation included Dorchester Middle School who definitely entered into the spirit of it as you can see in the pictures below.

Joining in with 5MW doing PE with Joe brought back memories of the first lock down when I did his session every single morning. His PE Lessons were brilliant and such an important part of my daily routine. I felt like I knew him personally!

Doesn't Mrs Gowers look brilliant? No-one had the heart to tell her that it wasn't a dressing up day! I still think she looks amazing though!

Once the money has been quarantined, then it will be counted. I will let you know the total that we raised next week.

Reading Stripes 

This Monday, the Year Five children are totaling up the reads they have had signed by an adult so far this year so that they can receive their Reading Stripes. 

I am planning to present them to the children in a special assembly via Teams so I'm feeling a little apprehensive as technology isn't always on my side!

Year Six will have their reads totaled up the following week so get reading! The expectation is that they children complete a minimum of three reads a week.

In case you are not 100% sure what you have to do, the picture below is good examples of how to fill in the Reading Journal section of the Home/School diaries.

Whilst I'm on the subject of reading, I spied this beautiful display in 5CWT. Mrs Whiting is reading 'Wolf Wilder' to her class and giving them some really interesting questions to think about.

Fantastic!

Worth a Mention Children

When I come into school on a Friday morning, it fills my heart with pride to see the names that are already on the Worth a Mention boards.

I love looking at the reasons why the children have been chosen. I can't but help admire the variety of reasons why the children have been chosen - it what makes these boards so very special.

Let's start with the Super Sixes:

Now for the turn of the gorgeous Year Fives.

Huge congratulations to all the awesome children who were chosen to be WAMS this week. I can't begin to tell you how incredibly proud I am of each and everyone of you.

Amazing Year Six

The work that the children have been producing in Design Technology has been nothing short of incredible.

Even though they have not been able to access the specialist facilities that we have in our school, the quality of what they have been making is beyond impressive.

Miss Enever sent me the following pictures of the work that has been made by the delightful 6RB and 6PE. I couldn't choose one or two pictures so apologies in advance but I think you will agree that they deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Brilliant!

Honey Update

Do you remember the baby hedgehog (hoglet) that was rescued from the school playground before half term? 

Well, here she is! Honey is making fabulous progress. Not only has she put on weight, she has been released into the rescue lady's garden so she is close to school.

I believe that Mrs Whiting has been involved in another hoglet rescue. Maybe she should open her own rescue centre?

Remembrance Day

It was a privilege and honour to stand out in the school field, with the rest of the school, to commemorate  Remembrance Day. 

Mr Roberts is a key part of this event in school and had organised for a member of the community to play The Last Post which was incredibly moving for us all.

Four children from Mr Robert's class wrote and read out the poems that they had written in class. They were brilliant. So that you can enjoy and appreciate how brilliant they were, we are going to record them reading their work and I will share it on the Blog next week.

Damers Book Appeal

This week, I had an email from the lovely Mrs Hardinge who is a Year Four Teacher at Damers First School.

She has asked that if you were in Year Four last year and you still have one of the books that you were lent at the beginning of Lock Down in March, please could it be returned as soon as possible?

This is what I have collected so far but there are many more to come in.

 

Please give them to me and I will pass them back to Damers on your behalf.

Anti-Bullying Week

Next week is Anti-Bullying Week and we are kicking it off with our 'Odd Socks' Day on Monday to celebrate our children's uniqueness.

Next week we will be running a series of activities during the afternoon Homebase sessions. 

Bullying is not OK.

We must stand up against it.

United we stand.

Well, that's it for another week.

I hope that your first full week in Lock Down was as OK as it could be under the circumstances.

Have a fabulous week and don't forget to wear your odd socks on Monday - I know I will be wearing mine.

Take care everyone and stay safe!

Mrs Ray

(who is struggling to run without her usual running buddies so has had to go out on her own or with her husband in the pouring rain!)