A light at the end of the tunnel

 Hello and welcome back to the Dorchester Middle School Blog!

So, we now know that you will all be back at school on 8th March and I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are to have you all back in the DMS fold! The place just hasn't been the same without all of you! 

There are bound to be lots of questions along with nerves and excitement about coming back to school on the 8th so I am hoping that this week's Blog will not only report what everyone has been up to but also to, hopefully, reassure you about a few things.

Here goes...

Wednesday Waste Warriors

I am pleased to report that our inaugural Wednesday Waste Warriors session was a huge improvement on the previous attempt at The Daily Mile. What a relief!

I think one of the highlights was when April found a £5 note - what a find! We simply had to share the good fortune with Ms Pluck who was thrilled for her.

Kind April decided that she would like to donate the money to charity and her equally kind Mum has said that she will match the donation that will go to Parkinson's UK, a cause that is very close to the family's heart.

It was incredible what we found in the school grounds! From the inevitable errant crisp packets we found a chair back, a huge scarf, bottles, cans, wood and all sorts of weird and wonderful things.

Isla - our resident expert

The lesser-spotted Primark Bag!

The fruits of our labour!

As you can see, we had and extremely productive hour - the time ran away with us.

Next week is our last week but I am hoping that we have started something that will continue throughout the year and, who knows, beyond!

Creativity Rules

Well, my challenge for you to share your creativity was certainly taken up by a few of you. Here are a few of the pictures of the incredible creations that I have received:

Odette

Odette's Dad wrote:

From start to finish this is all of Odette's work, idea, inspiration and creativity. She was completely alone in the kitchen to create, cook and tidy after! Mary Berry eat your heart out. 'Frogs in a Bog' a swap really but bog rhymes with frog.

Apparently this is something to do with TikTok?

Who knew!

Joseph

This young man has been very busy in the kitchen. In fact, all of his family have been! I bet these flapjacks tasted as delicious as they looked.

Olivia

Olivia was on the previous Blog with some of her incredible creations.

Well, she has been at it again - look at the fabulous things she has made!

Jamie

Jamie took on the loo roll challenge from our assembly before half term and look at what she made! 

So impressive!

Isla

Look at this fabulous cross stitching! Isla very kindly made this for me over half term and I absolutely LOVE it. It is currently pride of place on my desk in school. 

I used to love making things like this when I was (a lot) younger but it never turned out as good as this!

Seb

Seb showed this to me and Mr Haigh. He created it with his uncle - it's amazing isn't it?

You are such a creative bunch - keep the pictures coming - I love them!

The Giant's Necklace

In Year Six, we have started to read and study the story 'The Giant's Necklace' by Michael Morpurgo.

Freya and Madison brought in a cowrie shell to show us what one looks like - it was teeny tiny!

One of our lessons was focusing on some of the vocabulary that we were going to find in the opening section of the book. We kept asking Olivia, Lissy and Ruby for the meanings of some of words because we kept forgetting! 

They were very obliging so we called them 'Dictionary Corner'!

Playground Fun

In Key Stage Two, there has been a lot of fun in the playground. I never cease to be impressed with the ways that the children entertain themselves (well, most of the time!).

Here are a few pictures from playtime this week...

Caring for our Community

One of the PSHCEE projects that has been running through this Lockdown has involved the children writing to various organisations in our community to thank them for all of their hard work.

One of our Year Six children received this lovely letter this week:

I know this project has made quite an impact so thank you and well done to all of those children who took part.

World Book Day - Thursday 4th March

We may well still be in Lockdown on the actual day but we are still going to mark and celebrate it this year! Mrs Spackman, our wonderful Librarian, has got a couple of competitions planned, along with lots of other events.

To find out more about World Book Day please visit the Library Blog at:

https://dorchestermiddleschoollibrary.wordpress.com/

Red Nose Day - Friday 19th March

Just to warn you in advance but as a school, we have signed up for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day next month.

More details will be heading your way in due course.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing

A DMS Blog wouldn't be a DMS Blog without referring to the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Just when I think I've not really achieved any of them, I reflect on the past few days and realise that I actually have included them which is always reassuring.

Get Active: I was very active over half term and went on a walk or a run virtually every day. This included a Run Blandford Relay in aid of the Blandford Foodbank (13 bags of food and £700 raised!)

Connect: I connected with a few of my friends and my family when out for a walk.

Learn: I learnt that rabbits do actually snore!

Take Notice: I did this when taking part in some mindful colouring in.

Give: I gave my daughter time - that was brilliant. From that, I was able to achieve the other four steps.

Return to School

As I mentioned at the beginning of this Blog, we are so looking forward to welcoming everyone back into school on the 8th March. I hope that you are looking forward to returning.

Ms Pluck has sent out a letter but in case you haven't seen it, here are the main points:

* On the first day back you will be off timetable. The focus of our day will be reconnecting by continuing with the Children's Mental Health Week's theme of Creativity.

* Your zone entrances are the same so when you come back you need to head to them as per usual.

* Children in Key Stage Three will need to wear masks in lessons, children in Key Stage Two can do so but it is not compulsory.

* Full, correct school uniform must be worn unless it's a PE/Games Day when PE Kit is worn to school.

* After the first (off timetable) day, we will be back on the timetable that we were on before Lockdown. 

* If there are any pieces of work that you produced during Lockdown that you are proud of then please bring them into school to show your teachers. We are hoping to create a display to show off the amazing work that has been created in and out of school.   

Harry with some of the work he has produced at home.

With just one week to go, keep going with Google Classroom and attend the Live Lessons. 

Don't take your foot off the metaphorical pedal as far as your learning is concerned!

Well, that's it for this week. Keep your eyes open for an invite from Miss Clements I as we are ambitiously planning a whole school assembly before you return. Eeek!

Have a good week everyone and we will count down the days before we see you!

Mrs Ray

(who was introduced to these cute little bunnies. Their names? Roy and Beryl of course!)