Dear Parents and Caregivers,
What a delightful start we’ve had in the Primary sector of our wonderful college. Our children have been dancing, skipping, laughing (a lot) and sharing incredible stories of their holidays around the world. It’s been a joy for us as educators to fill our rooms with the excitement they bring for learning.
By next week, all year groups will receive a welcome-back email from your Year Group Team Leader that will be available in the DC App. This will contain important information about daily life at Discovery College. Please take some time to read it and reach out if you have any questions.
Our first Parent Teacher Conferences are on Thursday, 26 September, further information will be sent soon but please save the date. This initial meeting allows you to share important information about your child with the class teacher and discuss how they have settled into school. It’s a brief meeting in September, followed by a comprehensive one in December. Our first short, written report providing the next steps and areas of growth for your child will be available in February with a more detailed report at the end of the academic year. There are many other opportunities to talk to teachers face-to-face throughout the year and if you are new to the Primary Years Program (PYP) hearing your child talk about their learning in the Student Led Conferences towards the end of the year is always an incredible feeling.
If you bring your child to school each day, we welcome you to read a story in the shared area before you leave. We love having our community in the school and will be asking for volunteers soon. When you hear the music at 8:18 am, it’s time to exit the College so that classes can begin promptly. Our students’ days are filled with intentional learning, and punctuality, routine and structure help to set them up for success each day.
At pick-up time, Years 1, 2 and 3 are to be collected towards the foreshore, with Years 2 & 3 on the football pitches and Year 1 at the gate used during the first few days. Years 4, 5 and 6 should be collected from the main entrance. Teachers will ensure students leave with a trusted adult. Please inform your child’s class teacher if there are to be any changes to the daily pick-up routine.
Only Year 6 students are allowed to walk home alone; written permission must be given to the class teacher before this is permitted.
Life can be busy, and if you’re delayed, please inform the class teacher or the front office as soon as possible so we can reassure your child. Please avoid calling your child on a mobile phone, as they are not permitted in school. Smartwatches with calls and photos enabled should also not be in school at all. Calling students during the school day or enabling them to take photos of other students is not permitted. We have school phones for all necessary communication and will call you if there are any concerns. Please remember to inform both the class teacher and the bus company if there are any changes to your child’s bus routine.
Curriculum newsletters will be sent every six weeks, providing information about your child’s Unit of Inquiry and their learning experiences. A Primary Years Programme (PYP) workshop is provided each year in the first term to help showcase how incredible the PYP is and I encourage all parents new to this pedagogy to come and join in the learning on 10 September.
I’m excited to spend time with your children in the coming weeks. It’s a privilege to be part of their growth, and we look forward to updating you on their learning journey.
Finally, enjoy some pictures of our wonderful students from these first few days.
I hope you have an incredible weekend with your children!
Best Wishes,
Emma-Louise
