Dear Parents
What a brilliant three days. Things have been buzzing with enthusiasm and positivity here at Dumpton since the children returned on Wednesday. It has been so lovely to welcome all of you back after the summer break – but I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to all of our new families. We do hope your children are settling in well.
As longstanding parents will know, I will write to you in this way each Friday – and this letter aims to capture the highlights of the week that has gone by, whilst also helping you as parents prepare for the week ahead and upcoming events. It is always a pleasure to put the letter together given all the exciting exploits and wonderful achievements of the pupils. I do hope you will enjoy reading it each Friday as much as I enjoy writing it.
Perhaps my highlight of the first week back was the whole school assembly on the front lawn on Wednesday morning, held in beautiful sunshine. It was a special moment, coming together as one community of pupils and staff, and a chance to remind pupils - old and new - of the values and ethos that sit as the cornerstone of life at Dumpton. Together, we reflected on our determination to ‘be kind’ and 'aim high’ in all that we do this year.
I also shared a poignant poem - ‘The New School Year’ by Brenda Williams – which evokes the anticipation and sense of possibility that the beginning of a new academic year brings, the last line of which reads: “Inside, deep at its very core, the building sighs and breathes once more.”
The poem captures it perfectly: Dumpton has certainly felt very much alive once again over the past three days...
The Year Ahead – Information Evenings
We hope as many parents as possible will be able to join us on Monday/Tuesday for a chance to hear some key information about operational, pastoral and academic matters, spend some time in your child’s classroom with their form tutor, and also enjoy a drinks reception with parents and staff. The arrangements are as follows:
- Monday 11 September for Y3 to Y7 parents, and Tuesday 12 September for Reception to Y2 parents
- Please arrive at 7.30pm for a presentation in the Assembly Hall
- Parents will then be guided to their child’s classroom to hear from form tutors and have a chance to discuss more details about the year ahead for your children
- The evening will finish with a drinks reception for parents and staff on the Sports Hall Balcony
Performing Arts Success
37 musicians took exams in the Summer Term – we received the results over the Summer and gave out certificates in assembly yesterday. We were delighted to have a 100% success rate. In addition, we were also treated to our first performance of the year: the Performing Arts Summer Club pupils singing ‘Lean on Me’ in beautiful harmony, as well as ‘We’re All In This Together’, with some very impressive singing and dancing combined.
DECA and Hobbies
On Thursday, DECA (Dumpton Extra Curricular Award) was launched for the Juniors (Y3 to Y5) and how superb it was to see around 80% of the pupils committing this year – they are desperate to earn their DECA badges! Prep School Hobbies kicked off tonight too, with the majority of Prep School pupils staying for some varied and enriching activities, including Scholarship Preparation, Photography, Science Investigators, Badminton, Swimming and Water Polo, and for the first time, Laser Tag! My thanks to Mrs Clemmitt and Mrs Siggers for their organisation here.
Residential Trips Next Week – Y8 and Y5
Our Y8s head off to Scotland tomorrow for the trip of a lifetime at the Ridgway Adventure centre on the North West Coast of Scotland. It’s a remarkable experience for them, and we’ll be sure to update you on their various experiences next week on our social media channels. The same can be said for our brave Y5s who head to the Purbecks for a beginning of term team building and camping trip. What a way to start the new academic year! My thanks go to the dedicated staff accompanying them as ever.
Music Instrumental and LAMDA Lessons Next Week – From Ms Oakes
Our music, instrumental, singing and drama programmes begin next week, with around 200 individual lessons across the school.
Pre-Prep Hobbies Begin Next Week
Parents will be hearing soon (if they haven’t already) a confirmation of hobbies on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you for your patience.
Prep School Sports Fixtures Next Week – From Mr Randle
Next week sees our first sports fixtures of the year, with teams playing hockey and football against Bryanston Prep and Forres Sandal Manor. Good luck to the Y3 boys and girls who will play their first fixtures for Dumpton! A reminder to all parents to check the Dumpton Sports Site (www.dumptonsport.com) where all the fixtures, team lists, locations, timings and match reports can be found.
Dumpton Talks: Supporting your Child's Reading through Phonics – Friday 29th September 8.30am
Our very own Mrs Al-Masri will discuss how Phonics is taught in Pre Prep to develop early reading and writing skills. The session will explore what phonics is, how to pronounce different sounds, how we support and extend children at school, and how you can help your child at home. A valuable opportunity to ensure a consistent approach to supporting children at home and school. This will be most useful for all Reception parents but we welcome any parent of children in the Pre Prep.
Future Schools - Clayesmore
For those of you considering the next steps after Dumpton, Clayesmore is holding a drinks reception in Wimborne on Wednesday 20 September at Nusara. You are warmly invited to meet the Head, staff, and current parents. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Best wishes
Christian Saenger
Key Events Week Beginning 11/09/2023:
Week 2: Theme of the Week - Be Kind (RULER)
WEEK B
Prep School Individual Music lessons, LAMDA, Early Morning Tennis all begin this week
Monday 11 September
All day: Y8 Residential Trip to Ridgway Adventure, Scotland
15.30: Monday Pre-Prep Hobbies Begin
19.30: The Year Ahead : Information Evening for Parents (Y3 - Y7)
Tuesday 12 September
All day: Y8 Residential Trip to Ridgway Adventure, Scotland
All day: Y5 Residential Camp
14.15: Sports Fixtures (Y3-Y4) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
15.30: Tuesday Pre-Prep Hobbies Begin
19.30: The Year Ahead : Information Evening for Parents (Reception to Y2)
Wednesday 13 September
All day: Y8 Residential Trip to Ridgway Adventure, Scotland
All day: Y5 Residential Camp
8.30: First Musical Ducklings Session (Parents with children age 2 years and under - please contact Mrs Siggers if you would like to attend)
14.15: Sports Fixtures (Y3-Y4) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
Thursday 14 September
All day: Y8 Residential Trip to Ridgway Adventure, Scotland
All day: Y5 Residential Camp
8.30: Prep School Assembly - Performing Arts & Sports Reports
Friday 15 September
All day: Y8 Residential Trip to Ridgway Adventure, Scotland
All day: Y5 Residential Camp