School Games Gold Award Winners!
We’re proud to announce that Darwen St James has been awarded the GOLD School Games Mark! This brilliant achievement is a reflection of the perseverance, courage, and hope shown by our pupils—and the dedication of our PE and Extra-Curricular Sports Team, who work tirelessly to promote sport and physical activity across our school. This year we have participated in netball, football, cross country and cricket to name a few! The School Games Mark is a national award that celebrates a school’s commitment to PE, school sport, and competition, both within and beyond the school gates. It also supports schools in reviewing and strengthening their provision. A huge thank you and well done to Mrs Cookson and all the staff for making sport such an exciting and important part of life at Darwen St James. We’re incredibly proud of our pupils for stepping up to every challenge with determination and team spirit. Keep going, keep growing! ???? #TeamDSJ #DSJFamily
Year 5 Science - The Life Cycle of a Bird Roleplay
This week in Science, as part of our 'Living Things' topic, Year 5 embarked on an interactive journey through the life cycle of a bird. The classroom was transformed with various 'nests,' each representing a distinct stage of development. Children enthusiastically role-played each phase according to instructions, from carefully 'incubating' a tennis ball to taking tentative 'fledgling' journeys from their nests. This immersive and highly enjoyable activity significantly deepened their understanding and recall of each life cycle stage.
Year 5 DT - Sharing our Pop Up books with Year 1
In Design and Technology, Year 5 students have been busy creating captivating pop-up books specifically for our Year 1 children. Earlier this week, their hard work culminated in the completion of these books, which are ingeniously designed with various levers, mechanisms, and delightful moving parts. The highlight was undoubtedly sharing these creations with Year 1, who were thrilled to explore the interactive elements and enjoy having the stories read to them.
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Online Safety - Violent Content Online
Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. Violent content online isn’t just something young people are occasionally stumbling across – in many cases, it’s becoming a routine part of their digital world. From fights and stabbings to toxic ideologies , disturbing videos are often just a click away on social media or group chats. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights the unseen risks this poses to children’s mental health , sense of safety, and social behaviours. With insights from a leading expert , it offers practical ways for parents and educators to respond with empathy and support – not punishment or panic.
Year 1 - Story Time - Year 5 Sharing Their Books
What a fantastic learning experience! Our Year 5 students recently shared their incredible D.T. moving mechanism books with an eager audience of Year 1 pupils. It was wonderful to see the older children proudly demonstrate their designs and explain how their mechanisms worked, while the younger children were captivated and full of brilliant questions. A truly inspiring example of collaboration and creativity across the year groups!
Online Safety -Minecraft
With its limitless opportunities for building, exploring and collaborating, Minecraft remains a global gaming phenomenon. Its broad appeal lies in how open-ended it is – but this also means it’s not without risk. From chatting with strangers on public servers to the grief of having a beloved creation destroyed, young players can face challenges if left unsupervised. Minecraft can also become a time sink for enthusiastic players, with late nights spent crafting and constructing, potentially impacting school and social lives. We’ve created this free guide to help parents and educators understand how to keep young gamers safe – from choosing age-appropriate game modes to setting boundaries around screen time and spending.
Year 5 Fluency - Fluent in 5 Arithmetic
Through daily Fluent in 5 arithmetic sessions, Year 5 are demonstrating impressive concentration as they strive for accuracy and consistently improve their scores. Well done Year 5!
Year 5 History: Collaborative Learning Making Inferences about Photographs of the Blitz
This week in History, Year 5 delved into the devastating impact of the Blitz, specifically the relentless bombing of British cities and towns throughout 1940. They explored the vital role of air raid shelters and examined the poignant destruction of Coventry Cathedral. Through analysis of six powerful photographs depicting post-bombing ruins and people seeking refuge in shelters and the London Underground, the children made insightful inferences. They considered the emotions, sounds, sights, and smells experienced by people during those moments. This collaborative activity sparked rich discussion as they moved around the room, thoughtfully recording their observations.
Reminder: Please Send Water, Not Juice
Dear Parents and Carers, A gentle reminder to please send your child in with a bottle of water each day. While juice can seem like a convenient choice, plain water is the healthiest option and is recommended by both NHS and EYFS nutrition guidance. If your child isn’t used to drinking water, here are a few helpful tips: • Gradually water down juice, reducing the amount each day until it’s just water. • Use a fun or colourful bottle to make drinking water more exciting. • Add a slice of fruit (like lemon, orange, or cucumber) for a natural flavour boost. • Be a role model – children are more likely to drink water if they see you doing it too. Thank you for your support in helping us create a healthy and happy environment for all children.
Sun Safety
☀️ Sunshine at School! ☀️ Dear Parents and Carers, As the warmer weather is finally here, we're so excited for the children to enjoy some sunshine during their time at school! To make sure everyone stays happy, comfortable, and safe while they play and learn in the lovely weather, we kindly ask for your support with a few things: Sun Hats: Please ensure your child brings a sun hat to school every day. This will help protect their head and face from the sun. Sun Cream: Please apply a long-lasting sun cream to your child before they come to school in the morning. If your child needs to reapply during the day, please provide a named bottle of sun cream that they can easily manage themselves (staff can offer guidance if needed, but are unable to apply it). Weather Appropriate Clothes: Please dress your child in light, comfortable clothing that is suitable for warmer temperatures. Layers can be a good idea in case the temperature changes throughout the day. Water Bottles: It's really important that the children stay hydrated, especially when it's warm. Please ensure your child brings a named water bottle to school every day so they can have access to water throughout the day. We have water fountains available for refills. We absolutely love seeing the children enjoy the sunshine and make the most of the warmer days. By working together to ensure they have these essentials, we can help them stay comfortable and safe while they do so! Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our children happy and healthy.
Year 5 Tuesday Carousel: Badminton, Arithmetic, Reading and SPAG!
The Year 5 curriculum on Tuesday afternoons incorporates a carousel of enriching activities designed to develop a range of skills, including physical literacy through badminton, numeracy through arithmetic practice, literacy through focused reading activities, and linguistic competence through the explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Fostering a Sense of Belonging
Creating a strong sense of belonging is essential for children's emotional wellbeing and academic success. This guide explores ten simple and effective strategies, such as encouraging participation, celebrating diversity, and addressing bullying, that help schools build inclusive environments where every child feels valued and connected. We’ve created this free guide offering parents and educators effective solutions to build inclusive, nurturing environments that help children and young people feel a strong sense of belonging.
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