Headmaster's Comments
Harvest Festival
As part of our ongoing commitment to developing the School’s ‘well-being’ provision, a newly furbished ‘Sacred Space’, an area given over to quietness and contemplation, has been created providing pupils and staff the chance to step out of the fast pace of school life and restore balance. During last Sunday’s Harvest Festival service, this area was dedicated by the Rev. Steven Benoy, Director of Ordinands in the Peterborough Diocese.
The Chapel Choir was enhanced with the enrolment of girls from the PS for the first time in its long history. They sang beautifully and can be justifiably pleased with their first performance.
Conference
At the beginning of this week IAPS held its annual Heads’ Conference at Celtic Manor in Wales. The opportunities to discuss, with other Heads, a wide range of school based topics were as welcome as they were informative. During the three days, a variety of speakers presented but the three personal highlights were Sir John Jones on ‘Happy Schools’, General Sir Mike Jackson on ‘Leadership’ and Times columnist Matthew Parris, the after dinner speaker, who spoke about his life in a highly amusing and self-effacing manner.
Open Morning
Next Saturday is our Open Morning, where all three parts of the School are open to visitors from 10.00 till 12 noon. The event will also give current parents of the PS a chance to have a look around the Senior School. If your child is involved, either as a tour guide or helping in one of the departments, this might give you the perfect opportunity to have your first tour of the Senior School.
Saints - Development Players Program
On Wednesday evening this week, we welcomed over 100 boys from schools around the counties to the first of four Academy trials. Held by Northampton Saints Academy, youngsters from the 13-14 and 15-16 age group were put through their paces, with the Academy coaches talent spotting throughout the evening.
Along with regular Tuesday evening Saints Academy training at the School, we also look forward to welcoming coaches and talent spotters again for an additional three Wednesday evenings of trials over the next few weeks. We were particularly pleased that there were a good number of PS pupils who had been invited to attend these trials. Well done boys!
Mr Mitchell, Headmaster
European Day of Languages:
Not my circus, not my monkeys?
To celebrate the European Day of Languages, Prep School pupils enjoyed a themed assembly and day-long challenge on Monday. Keen linguists Mark Stockdale, Charlotte Holmes, Justin Murphy, Lydia Mitchell and Sam Chell spoke to the School about the importance of the day, and tried, using a fast-paced video clip, to explain how the EU works; as well as setting up the challenge. Year 4 volunteers then performed a series of animal noises from around the world, showing how it's not just the words we use that vary between cultures. Special thanks also go to the Year 7 "backstage team" who helped to keep the Year 4 pupils calm and focused before their first appearance on the Prep School stage. Tigers and Panthers won the Club elements of the quiz, with a hugely impressive participation and accuracy rate seeking information about idioms and language facts during the day, and special mentions go to the winners of the draw for 10 correct answers; Bethany Baxby, James Taylor-Lewis and Caitlyn Booker.
Mrs Lane
Weekend of Success
On Saturday, 26th September, the girls’ hockey squad participated in the annual Bedford Modern U13 tournament of which we were the trophy holders of and the Prep School 1st and 2nd XV hosted a new rugby fixture against St Columba’s here at Wellingborough School. A huge thank you to all the parents for their continued support so far this term. Both the players and teachers really do appreciate it. To read a full report click here.
Mr Irvine
Charities Committee
The first Charities Committee meeting took place this week with our newly elected Year 7 and 8 pupils representing each club. Many charities were discussed and some fantastic ideas have already been brought forward by these individuals. Next Thursday will see four charities presented to the school and the winning charity will become the Prep School charity for the year and will be announced in assembly on Friday.
Mrs C Petrie
Romance and Tragedy Triumph
Shakespeare again? They couldn’t wait. Year 6 had an extremely emotional afternoon. They laughed a great deal, participated enthusiastically and gaped with bated breath at suicides and kisses alike. To read more click here.
Mrs Drye
DT Club
The new DT club have been working hard to learn the skills required to create a product in the workshop. To read more click here.
Mr Whitby
Music School
Open Day
Prep School pupils should check the schedule on the noticeboard in Music to see which musicians will be involved in performances on Open Day on Saturday, 10th October. There will be several small groups performing at various locations around school, as well as an open Chapel Choir rehearsal from 10.30am to 11.30am in Chapel. If pupils have been invited to perform but are unable to attend, please let Mr Leutfeld know as soon as possible.
All-Comers Recital
Any musicians wishing to perform at the All-Comers tea-time recital on Monday, 12th October, should see Mr Leutfeld. Instrumentalists and singers who take lessons, either at school or outside, are welcome to perform.
Young Voices
An email was sent out last week about ordering tickets and T shirts for the Young Voices event. Please submit your completed order form no later than Friday, 9th October. Singers should check the Music School Soundcloud on the website for all the songs and dance moves. Please remember to practise at home!
Mr Leutfeld
Sports Announcements
Twitter
Wellingborough Prep School will be using twitter to inform parents of Sports results taking place throughout the week and at weekends. We will try and upload some action shots from the matches and tweet the final results. We will also tweet travel updates such as any delays or late arrivals back at school from our away matches and tournaments. Hopefully this will help you keep up to date with the latest arrival times back at school.
Additional Sport to the calendar
The Prep School 1st XV and U11A will be representing the school at the Wellington College Rugby Tournament taking place on Wednesday, 25th November 2015. The tournament draws upon prep school teams from all over the country to compete at this event. This will be Wellingborough Prep Schools first time at the tournament and to give both our squads the best chances to compete we have decided to travel up the night before so all the boys are fresh and ready for action the next day. The tournament will take place from 9:00am until 4:00pm. There will be more information given out closer to the date and there is strong competition for places in both squads.
Mr Irvine
Learning Development Homework Club
Homework Club is available in the Pupil Development Centre from Monday to Thursday 4:10pm–5:00pm for all pupils who access Learning Development during the course of the school week. Please speak to Mrs Barltrop if you require any further information or you would like your child to attend. lab@wellingboroughschool.org
Mrs Barltrop
Macmillan Ladies’ Golf Day
After the huge successes of many previous Macmillan Ladies’ Golf Days at the Embankment Golf Club we have arranged this year’s Autumn event for Friday, 16th October 2015. ANY ability of golfer is welcome, the emphasis of the day, for those who have not played in this before, is fun as well as raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The cost of the day will be £35 which includes coffee and biscuits at registration, a delicious home-cooked lunch with wine and then tea and cake at Prizegiving and, most importantly of course, 18 holes of golf! If you wish to play please click on the link - registration form and return to Ruth Bowe via any of the School receptions or email rbowe@wellingboroughschool.org. Places will be limited to 36 so please try and return your form ASAP to secure your place. Cheques are to be made payable to ‘Macmillan Cancer Support.’ If you would like to invite anyone else to play please just indicate their name on the form. As always, I would be very grateful for any donations of raffle prizes. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mrs Ruth Bowe
Macmillan Coffee Morning
The Macmillan Committee would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Macmillan Breakfast/Coffee Morning last Friday. The whole School community was involved either baking, eating or supplying raffle prizes. The final amount raised was £3,300 which all goes directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. A particular thank you must go to Belinda Hammerschmidt and her team who baked and sold cakes in the Prep School playground and made a huge amount of money in a very manic 20 minutes!
Mrs Ruth Bowe
Nearly New Shop
During the academic year, there are a number of events where pupils can dress up in Victorian, Tudor, Saxon or Viking costumes. If you would like to donate any unwanted costumes to the Nearly New Shop they will be sold for £5.00. Donations can be dropped off at the Prep Office.
Mrs Crook