Message from Dr Hopkin

Counting down to end of third term, looking towards new academic year

Dear DCIS Parents and Guardians,

As I write this penultimate newsletter of the year there are just 14 academic days left until the end of term. After many years of leading schools I still find myself amazed at how quickly the end of the year arrives, when there is still so much to do in preparation for the new academic year. The children’s experience of the end of the year is quite different however. The excitement of the vacation period beckons and the rich indulgence of long stretches of quality time with close family members is tantalisingly close. For many children it may also be an opportunity to return to their country of origin and reconnect with important cultural experiences once more. 

Each family will soon receive their child’s report on the academic year just coming to an end. Each report will form the perfect opportunity to celebrate successes and triumphs as well as to focus the mind on targets for the year ahead. Schools are very good at providing these opportunities for young minds (and their parents) to assess their progress against useful learning outcomes. However, the reflections do not need to end there. As a school we have been reflecting upon the invaluable feedback provided through the various questionnaires and fora that parents have completed during the course of this year. Drawing significantly on this feedback we have just completed our budget setting process and so we have been able to identify key areas of development in the school’s curriculum and facilities to enhance your children’s experience and learning even further, in ways that we know address the interests of all our families.

As our new Principal arrives to take up post officially in the new year, I would like to thank all the staff, children and parents of the school for making this such an inspiring place in which to work and learn. I am delighted at all the improvements that have helped to transform the school since I was appointed nearly two years ago and offer my heartfelt thanks to all of my colleagues, without whom none of our excellence would have been possible and to whom all the appreciation and congratulations should go. They are a great team and I am very proud of them and all that they have achieved for the benefit of our children.

I wish you all the very best for the summer and a happy and successful new academic year.

Best wishes,

Dr Neil Hopkin FRSA 
Principal