Merlin Times

Did you know our school has an online newspaper? ‘Merlin Times’ is an excellent opportunity for your child/children to write for a real audience. We have four sections on our Online Newspaper; Class News, Club News, Sports News and Other News. We welcome contributions from school or home and hope that you and your child/children will engage in this new and exciting writing project.

Merlin Times can be accessed from the pupil page within SWGfL’s Merlin. To login to Merlin visit the school website at: www.princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk and click the SWGfL Merlin logo. You can then use your child’s username and password supplied in November to access the site. Anyone who has lost or not received their username and password should see Mr. Spracklen or Mrs. Dukes.

£272 RAISED FOR S.E.N I.C.T

A big thank-you to all those who purchased Raffle Tickets at or in advance of the I.C.T Evening for Parents on Monday 8th November, 2010. The raffle raised £272 which will be used to support the use of I.C.T for pupils with S.E.N (Special Educational Needs) here at The Prince of Wales First School. The event itself was very well attended and we hope that everyone went away with a fresh understanding of how they can support their child/children in their learning at home using the power of SWGfL’s Merlin.

New Pirate Ship

You will have noticed the new play equipment that now stands in the playground. We have been extremely fortunate in receiving a Lottery Grant for £10,000 towards the cost of this new play equipment, and this, along with monies raised by POWSA and a kind donation from a local Charity, The Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes (ROAB) has enabled the school to purchase this new equipment. I would like to thank POWSA for their continued efforts in fundraising and parents for supporting POWSA events. I would like to remind parents that you must not leave your child unsupervised on the play equipment after school hours. We hope this new equipment brings many hours of fun.

We're making the news!

Article from View from Dorchester weekly newspaper; 'PUPILS at a Dorchester school have no excuse for missing homework now after it launched a pioneering new piece of technology. The school is one of the first primary schools in the country to launch an iPhone app for parents and carers after its ICT co-ordinator Gary Spracklen developed the idea. The specially devised iPhone app will make it easier for parents to keep abreast of the latest news and events at The Prince of Wales First School. Mr Spracklen said: “The iPhone app has been developed in consultation with parents and carers and is intended to continue to support the strong communication links between home and school. “Our parents and carers like to have a choice in how they access information, the iPhone app is an excellent development which supports the wide choice of communication channels already used by the school.” The iPhone app offers parents, carers and members of the wider school community a powerful tool for keeping track of news and events from the first School'. To read the full article, please click the following link: http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/7382/15/1/dorchester-school-launches-own-iphone-app

New School Website!

 As part of our continued work to improve communication between school and home we have launched a new Prince of Wales First School website. The website works in partnership with our VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Merlin to provide pupils, parents/carers and members of the wider school community the most up-to-date information. The school website will continue to provide information for prospective parents/carers, however current parents are encouraged to refer to Merlin for events, policies, timetables, club information, etc that were previously available through the school website.

Merlin access and how this platform can be used to improve communication and support learning at home as well as school will be discussed at The Parent I.C.T Evening on Monday 8th November, 2010. If you require further information please speak to Mr. Spracklen or alternatively email the school office at: office@princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk.

School iPhone App: AVAILABLE NOW!

As part of our continued work to improve communication between school and home we have launched the Prince of Wales First School iPhone App. The App is available to all iPhone and iPod Touch users through iTunes. The app brings parents, carers and members of the wider school community a powerful tool for keeping track of news and events at the school. Users of the app can view our school calendar and keep up to date with term times. The news section will provide a useful reference point for each class and you can contact the office using a built in feature. For further information please click the following link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pow-the-prince-wales-first/id399614185?mt=8&uo=4 or see Mr. Spracklen.