29thJanuary 2016
Dear Parents
NEWSLETTER 2015/16 – 7
Our busy day started with the runners leaving for the ISA Regional Cross Country Championships and our Year 5 children departing for a long but fantastic day at the O2; I know they will have a wonderful experience. All of the children have been involved in many activities and here is a flavour of the term so far.
ISA Swimming Nationals
Twelve of our Prep children set off last Saturday to represent East Anglia at the ISA Swimming Nationals at the Olympic Pool in Stratford. What a wonderful venue to compete in! All the children performed brilliantly and although no medals were won, everyone agreed that it had been an amazing experience. Well done swimmers and thank you to staff and parents for their support!
Year 5 Young Voices Concert at the O2
Forty excited Year 5 children boarded the coach this morning bound for the Young Voices event at the O2 Arena in London. Mrs Pashby has led singing practices over the last few weeks and all were looking forward to tonight’s performance following an afternoon of rehearsals. Many parents have tickets and will be joining their children tonight. We look forward to hearing about this exciting event next week.
Year 4 Drama Workshop
This will take place over two days, Wednesday 3rd February and Thursday 4th February, culminating in a performance for the school and Year 4 parents on Friday 5th February at 8.50 am in the Sports Hall. The Year 4 children should wear their school tracksuits on these days please.
Mufti Day
This term’s Mufti Day on Friday 12th February is in aid of the NSPCC. Donations to be handed to Form staff please.
Parents Evenings
Reports will be sent home with your child on Friday 12th February. Parents’ Evenings have been arranged for all classes from Nursery to Year 5 after half term should you wish to discuss the reports.
These evenings are as follows:
Wednesday 24th FebruaryReception, Year 1, 2 and 3
Thursday 25th FebruaryYear 5
Tuesday 1stMarchYear 4
Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd MarchUpper Nursery
Wednesday 2nd MarchLower Nursery
(Please note that the Nursery Parents’ Evening dates are different to those previously published in the School Calendar).
Please see the calendar for times and contact the School Office should you wish to make an appointment. (Nursery appointments should be made directly with the Nursery staff).
Internet Safety Meeting for Parents
We hope that you will consider attending the Parents’ Internet Safety Meeting at 2.00 pm in the Mallett Room on Thursday 4th February. This is primarily to raise awareness of the potential dangers online, especially of social media.
Parents play a vital role in the e-safety education of their children through promoting safe use of technology at home. However, many parents are not aware of what they should be telling their children about staying safe online.A key message is that children under the age of 13 should not be using Facebook or other forms of social media such as Instagram.
The Prep school children have guidance as to how to keep themselves safe online in PSHE and ICT lessons, and when using the internet generally.
Reception Toy Day
Learning how children played long ago was enjoyable for the Reception children as they looked at toys from days gone by. The children had the chance to be archaeologists, discovering various objects in trays, deciding what they were made of and how old they might be. The afternoon finished with the children making their own toys so they could take home a bag of homemade treasures.
Reception Taster Morning
Many of the children who will be starting Reception in September came with their families to a Taster Morning on Saturday 23rd January. The children loved exploring the activities on offer and engaged with the theme of Traditional Tales. Decorating gingerbread men, playing in the Three Bears’ cottage and retelling the story of Billy Goats Gruff meant that the morning just whizzed by. Many thanks to all those who came and to the Nursery and Reception staff. A big thank you also to prefects Taylor Clark, Honor Bartlett and Maddy Mann who helped to entertain and organise the children.
Young Ornithologists
Year 1 children have been taking part in the RSPB Bird Survey linked to their science curriculum.
It was quite challenging trying to spot and count birds in flight but sparrows, blackbirds, pigeons and robins were all noted. How lucky we are to have such a lovely outdoor area to pursue such studies.
The Talbot family have kindly donated a smart new bird table, handmade by Grandpa, which was presented in last Monday’s assembly by Molly and Zach. Hopefully we will all be inspired to take part at home in the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch which takes place this weekend.
Entrance Examinations
Year 6 children are no doubt relieved that the last of the entrance examinations are in sight. They have all worked hard to reach the levels of attainment expected by the various schools. Results are filtering through but schools do not always contact us directly regarding results so please inform us if you have some good news to share.
Nursery News
Once again the Stay and Play sessions have proved popular with parents and have been a great success. One particular father seemed to enjoy joining in with the Lego activities. No wonder he was especially talented in this field as he revealed that he attends Lego Conventions!
Provisional Date for Sports Day
We have provisionally reserved Friday 17th June for Sports Day with Prep in the morning and Pre Prep in the afternoon. Nursery Sports Day is planned for Friday 24th June at 2.00 pm. For those planning ahead, I hope that this helps you.
I hope you avoid Storm Gertrude this weekend and are able to enjoy a pleasant and relaxing time!
Yours sincerely
Peter H Jones