The Explorer – Primary Update

Dear Parents and Carers

As we come to the end of another bustling week at Discovery College, I’m thrilled to share with you some of the wonderful moments we’ve captured in this week’s Explorer article.

Before we dive into these highlights, I’d like to gently address a topic that’s become increasingly relevant in our students’ lives: the use of technology. In today’s digital age, technology is an integral part of our children’s world, and indeed, it will continue to play a crucial role in their future. We are fully committed to preparing our students for this digital future through our Digital Citizen Framework, developed by our Head of Library, Mrs Sercombe, which is used across all ESF schools.

Our curriculum emphasises the importance of online safety, digital footprints, and responsible use of mobile devices. However, the school environment should be a place of focus and engagement, free from unnecessary distractions. Therefore, we strongly discourage the availability of smartwatches with call functions and mobile phones during the school day.

We understand that these devices can be a source of reassurance. Still, rest assured that if there’s ever a need to relay an urgent message to your child, our school staff are here to assist. Simply call the school or email your child’s class teacher, and we will ensure your message reaches your child promptly.

We believe in fostering healthy relationships among our students, and real-life conversation is a vital part of this. Encouraging moments away from screens assists in developing these important interpersonal skills.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the wonderful learning instances that have unfolded across our primary school this week:

Our Year 1 students have shown great enthusiasm in becoming the teacher during phonics lessons. Seeing them eagerly teach each other is truly heartwarming.

In Year 2, students are exploring a variety of celebrations through their unit of inquiry ‘How we Express Ourselves’ – a testament to the diversity and inclusivity we cherish in our school.

Our Year 3 students are engrossed in their ‘How We Organise Ourselves’ unit of inquiry. They are also honing their teamwork skills during Discovery Time with puzzles and games.

In Year 6, students have been reflecting on their ‘Who We Are’ provocation, library fun, and Maths Olympiad. They are delving into the Rights of the Child, acknowledging the privilege of a supportive school environment and available resources.