Keep up to date with the latest news headlines at Downderry...

• Safer Internet Day

  Fri 11 Feb 2022

  This week children have been learning how to stay safe online as part of Internet Safety Day. We have been exploring respect and relationships online and had a

  presentation from The Breck Foundation.

   

  Parents were also invited to join a presentation from The Breck Foundation via Zoom, if you missed it you can view a recording of the meeting by following the below.

   

  Click here for Meeting Recording

  (the link will be available until 17th February 2022)

• Children's Mental Health Awareness week.

  Fri 04 Feb 2022

  Children's Mental Health Week is taking place on 7th - 13th February 2022. This year's theme is Growing Together.

   

  We will be delivering sessions to Key Stage 1 and 2, encouraging children to consider how they have grown, and how they can help others to grow.

   

  Be a Star of Your Emotions

   

  

• FREE Swimming Lessons

  Thu 03 Feb 2022

  Saxon Crown Swimming Club, funded by Lewisham Council and supported by 1Life, is providing free school top-up swimming sessions to students of Lewisham primary schools. The sessions are provided to help swimmers achieve the National Curriculum standard in swimming, which requires children to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. The sessions are for Lewisham Primary School Pupils in Year 4 and above, and will be running at Downham Health & Leisure Centre during February 2022 half term holiday on the dates below:
  
  Monday 14 - 18 February 2022
  
  To register interest please email: developmentofficer@saxoncrown.org.uk
  
  Bookings can only be made via this email address, not through the centre directly. Each top up course runs from Monday to Friday and participants are expected to attend every day.
  
  When registering your interest, please include the following information in your email:
     Contact name and mobile telephone number
     Your child’s name, date of birth, the school they attend and their year group
     Stage level of swimmer:  ASA Stages 1 – 7 or equivalent, if known*  
     Any relevant medical information or special requirements
  
  *If you are unsure of your child's ability, please select from the following:
     Confident: can swim lengths (25m) comfortably on their front and back and in deep water, and all four strokes.
     Improver: can swim comfortably on their front and back for 10m + unaided.
     Beginner:  comfortable in water but cannot swim on both front and back unaided.
     Non-Swimmer: no or limited previous swimming experience.
  
  NB: Please select carefully.  If the wrong session is chosen, your child may not be able to swim in that session and we may not have a place available for them in the correct session.
  
  There will be four sessions per day:
       12pm-12:45pm.  12:45pm-1:30pm.  1:30pm-2.15pm.  2:15pm-3pm.
  
  After you apply, if we have a place available for your child, you will be assigned a time slot. Session times are based on swimming ability, therefore, you must attend the session you are allocated. This will be the same time slot daily for the week.  Places are limited and will be allocated via email.

• How to help your child

  Mon 24 Jan 2022

  On behalf of the School, I would like to thank you for your condolences, messages of support and kindness following the tragic passing of Mr Paul Hitch on Thursday. Your kind words will provide us with much needed strength and courage in the coming days and weeks as we move forward.

   

  This week, starting from today, we will be opening the Key Stage 2 gates ten minutes earlier at 2:50pm to enable the community to pay tribute where flowers have been laid in our quiet area.

   

  Whilst children are extremely resilient they may be profoundly affected by recent events. We hope the Guide, linked below, helps you to support your child during this difficult period.

   

  How to help your child Guidance for Parents and Carers

• Paul Hitch, Premises Manager

  Fri 21 Jan 2022

  It is with deepest regret that we must announce that yesterday, Thursday 20th January 2022, Paul Hitch our Premises Manager suffered a suspected cardiac arrest whilst at school and despite efforts from paramedics, sadly passed away.

   

  This has been a huge shock to the whole school community. Mr Paul Hitch was a much loved, valued and respected member of Downderry and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Paul’s immediate family and to all of those who knew him.

   

  We are working closely with the Local Authority to provide support to staff and pupils. More details on this will follow shortly.

   

  Thank you for your support during this difficult period. Yours sincerely

   

   

• School Closed, Friday 21st January

  Fri 21 Jan 2022

  Due to unforeseen circumstances school will be closed on Friday 21st January 2022. School will reopen on Monday 24th January 2022.

• COVID-19: Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive

  Tue 18 Jan 2022

  This change came into effect in England on Monday 17 January and applies to all positive cases, regardless of vaccination status.

   

  People who are self-isolating with COVID-19 have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with an LFD test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

   

  The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

   

  If the result of either test is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest. 

  The new rules also apply to people who are already isolating – so if someone was already isolating before Monday 17 January, they can take LFD tests on day 5 and 6 and if they are both negative and they have no temperature they can end their isolation.

   

  Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation.

  Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.

• Street Trees

  Fri 07 Jan 2022

  This week Street trees were planted outside the school, as part of our commitment to counteracting climate change. Studies show that street trees improve the urban air quality, flood resistance, temperature regulation and biodiversity. We would like to thank you for your contribution towards the cost of these trees through our fundraising (non uniform) day before Christmas, and look forward to watching the trees grow over the coming years.

   

  

• Tackling race inequality in Lewisham schools

  Wed 05 Jan 2022

  Last year Downderry proudly signed up to Lewisham’s council-wide commitment to tackle race inequalities and ensure all of our young people get the best education they can. It’s important to remember that tackling race inequality in educational settings will help all pupils of all backgrounds, regardless of their heritage, to thrive.

   

  Please visit the "School Information" page to read our Race Equality pledge and the "Letters" page of the website for an update on this borough wide initiative. 

• COVID-19 Update

  Fri 17 Dec 2021

  Thank you for helping us slow the spread of COVID-19. Increasing case numbers and the new Omicron variant, means face coverings, keeping windows and doors open and hand washing are more important than ever. We have a letter on the school website, from Lewisham Council with the latest guidelines; please take the time to read the letter and help keep everyone in school safe, www.downderryprimaryschool.com/letters.