“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa
Thank you so much to you and your children for your generous donations to Wimborne Foodbank today as part of Non-Uniform Day – we have transported a mountain of goods across, and this seems a fitting way to end a week where our ‘theme of the week’ was Charity.
We talk about ‘be kind’ a lot at Dumpton – but perhaps the greatest acts of kindness are those directed at people we have never met . Helping children understand how to support others less fortunate than ourselves through charity is, in a world where sadly there is still too much suffering, a moral imperative for us all. At the same time, at Dumpton we see encouraging children’s support of charities and the environment as a brilliant tool to develop greater empathy, collaboration, creativity and global citizenship amongst the pupils – very much ‘The Dumpton Way’.
We’re always so incredibly proud of how motivated our pupils are to help others – from Y6 who have decided to initiative some fundraising after learning about the devastating floods in Libya, to 4C, who as part of DECA are organising a fancy dress fun run next week, to one of our Y8s who has asked to organise a concert next term to support a cancer charity: I am so grateful to the staff at Dumpton who channel children’s enthusiasm in this direction and give them these opportunities to make a difference to the lives of others, and to the planet.
Though the global news can be slightly doom and gloom these days, if children at Dumpton are anything to go by the future looks far brighter: we are passing the baton on to a kinder, more empathetic generation of enthusiastic global citizens...
Y8 Leadership Programme
All Year 8s have made a successful start to their Leadership Programme this term. With leadership opportunities ranging from helping to manage sports teams, supporting staff, and working alongside younger pupils in the school, the Y8 Leadership Programme forms an important part of the Dumpton Diploma that all children in Y7 and Y8 work towards. Well done to all Y8 who have made a terrific start, showing real responsibility and maturity. What excellent role models they are already proving themselves to be.
Prefects
After a vote from the school staff and all of Y8 on who best ‘lived the values’ of Dumpton School, the following pupils have been selected as prefects for the year ahead – well done to James B, Kitty M, Sabela S-V, Austin R, Sophie Y and Izzy F-D. They have already begun their roles and responsibilities, and we thank them for all that they will do to support the pupils and staff over the coming year.
Charity Week Update – From Mrs Shaw
Last Friday’s Bake Sale for Macmillan - Dumpton Friends raised £773.70. Thank you to those who baked, sold, assisted, and bought! Harvest Festival Assembly on Monday helped us understand Friday's non-uniform day, where we have had a huge amount of donations for Wimborne Food Bank which were dropped off this lunchtime. Next Thursday - as part of DECA, 4C have prepared a Fun Run which will be happening in DECA on Thursday. It's fancy dress, and we can't wait to see what the children manage to dress up as! We've spoken to them about not buying a new outfit for a fundraiser, so please do use something you already have, or swap and borrow instead. This focus on Global Citizenship is such a key part of The Dumpton Way, making sure that all of our pupils understand their place in the world.
Superb Sport – From Mr Randle
It's been another busy start to the term and we are now well into our stride with games, matches and tournaments. The children continue to enjoy the daylight and warm weather and there is always a good buzz around after lunch as they prepare for their game's sessions. Over the last fortnight we have entered several tournaments and enjoyed much success. As mentioned in the previous newsletter our Under 11's were successful in the Milton Abbey football tournament and on Monday our Under 13's managed to secure a place in the national finals with a third place at the regional round in Bishop's Stortford. This week and next our Under 11 girls travel to King's Bruton and the U13's Kings College, Taunton, for their regional hockey tournaments too, good luck to them. Please read our match reports from the last week here.
We continue to work hard behind the scenes to find match opportunities for all, every week, where possible and the staff here are all fully committed to the training, pupil welfare and care, logistics and travelling required to make this happen alongside their commitments to the normal school day too. After recent 'long haul' travels we were grateful to have a short journey this week to Castle Court, who were excellent hosts and played all their sport in the best spirit too. We have enjoyed much support from parents on the sidelines and I know you are loving our match teas too! As we move closer to half term, I'll be in touch with a little more detail about boys' rugby and girls' football in the second half of term.
Neurodiversity Talk
Thank you to the many parents who attended this fascinating talk on Monday evening. It was really great to hear from expert Fin O’Regan, and share strategies for supporting neurodivergent children, and better understanding non-traditional learners. We have a video of the event which we hope to share very soon.
‘Cracking the Code’ at Sherborne – From Mr Morgan
Eight talented mathematicians from Y5 attend Sherbone for the annual ‘Cracking the Code event’ It was a really fun day with four exceptionally challenging, but highly engaging tasks to complete. These included: deciphering codes to unlock secret messages; using their geography skills to solve problems and unlock the star from its padlock; solving a series of linguistic tasks to understand a rare foreign dialect and lastly, performing a biological experiment to remove DNA from a strawberry. The pupils who attended did Dumpton proud!
Y6 Global Citizenship - Fundraising for Libya – From Mrs Cox
Y6 are studying Rivers & Flooding this term and would like to raise money to help those affected by the catastrophic flooding in Libya. They will be selling donuts at 3.30, 4.15 and 5.00 pm and running other stalls on Friday 13th October in the parents pick up area. There will also be face painting for Pre-Prep at 3.30 at the gate, along with some fairground style games. Do please give them your support for this very necessary cause.
Margo’s Eco Wimborne attachment
Parents Evenings
Our first parents’ evenings begin next week (Y1 and Y4) - a chance to check in with key staff early on in the year. Do look out for the email from Mr Morgan. Parents Evenings for a number of other year groups will be coming up soon as per the school calendar.
Dumpton Mum’s Netball
How superb to see well over 20 Dumpton Mum’s enjoying a ‘back to netball’ session in the sports hall on Wednesday. Our very own Mrs Lockwood led the session, and by all accounts she worked everyone very hard indeed! It sounds like it went down very well indeed – any other parents interested should look out for the information on Classlist.
All the best for a lovely weekend,
Christian Saenger
Headmaster
Key Events Week Beginning 09/10/2023:
Week 6: Theme of the Week - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
WEEK B
Monday 9 October 2023
13.30: Prep Schools Geography Quiz: Canford School
Tuesday 10 October 2023
8.15: Reception Parent Drop In
8.30: Prep School Senior Assembly (7O) - Black History Month
8.30: New Parent Focus Group
14.15: Sports Fixtures (Y3-Y4) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
Wednesday 11 October 2023
8.30: Acceptance and Confirmation Deadline for Reception Places 2024
14.15: Sports Fixtures (Y5-Y8) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
Thursday 12 October
All Day: Y1 Space Day
8.15: Y2 Parent Drop In
8.30: Prep School Assembly - Performing Arts & Sports Reports
15.45: Y1 Parents' Evening (in person)
16.15: Y4 Parents' Evening (in person) - English, Maths & Form Tutor
16.15: During DECA: Junior Fancy Dress Fun Run for Great Ormond Street Hospital
18.15: Y4 Parents' Evening (online) - English, Maths & Form Tutor
Friday 13 October
All Day: Year 6 Rivers Trip
AM: Vision Screening - Reception Pupils
8.30: Prep School Juniors Assembly (4C with Y2 audience)
10.45: Headmaster's Book Club
15.00: Pre-Prep Celebration Assembly
15.15: Y6 Fundraiser Donut Sale for Red Cross (Libya Flooding)