Headmaster's Comments
Welcome Back
I hope that the two week break will have fully re-charged the batteries and prepared you for a busy second half of term.
Out-of-School Visits
Just before halt-term, two year groups went on residential trips. Thank you to the trip leaders Dr Fordham and Ms Machin for organising Y7’s visit to the Peak District and Y6 to France respectively. Full reports can be found further on in this newsletter, as well as pictures and comments on Twitter at @WboroPrepSchool.
Meet Mrs Knox
Over the forthcoming week parents and staff will have the opportunity of meeting Sue Knox and her husband, Tim. All the details about the events have been sent out via Clarion - if you have not received any information please contact Prep Office.
Centenary Plate
The final Friday of half-term saw golfers, representing all parts of the School, coming together to play for the Prep Centenary Plate. In a match where Past Pupils and Parents played against Current Parents and Staff (who regained the Plate), the golf may have been variable but the camaraderie was unmistakable. Thank you to all that supported the event, either as a golfer or those who donated raffle prizes. I must make special mention of Christian Castle and his wife Annabelle, who not only donated a gift of wine from Tilley’s Wines, but also contributed £60 to our School Charity, Cransley Hospice.
Music School
If you have walked past the Music School during the last week, you cannot have failed to notice the makeover that the ‘older‘ of the rooms has had. However, it has not just been the room that has been refreshed but over the last few weeks new equipment has also been installed. If you follow us on @WboroPrepSchool you will also have the chance to hear music that pupils have been performing and posting on SoundCloud. It was a joy at yesterday afternoon’s break to be shown what is happening in the Music Department by Josh Barton-Grisewood, Robbie Warren-Thiemann, Harry Shaw and James Kemp, who are all clearly very enthusiastic about the new initiatives.
Chronicle
The latest edition of the Chronicle has arrived and will be distributed via tutor groups to your children. Our thanks go to Mrs Drye for collating and editing all the material.
Achievements
Lucy Poole (Y4) performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on 20th September.
Daisy-mai Crossman (Y6) attended three swimming galas achieving a PB in 200m Breaststroke and bronze medal at Flitwick Gala, four PBs and bronze in 50m Breaststroke and a silver in 50m Backstroke at Corby Championships Gala and at the Corby 50th Anniversary Gala she made both finals in 50m and 100m Freestyle and achieved a silver medal in 50m Breaststroke and three more PBs.
Poppy Bevan (Y6) and Ella Harvey (Y6) have been selected to join the Northamptonshire Cricket EPP development team. EPP is an elite sporting programme offered to players who have the potential to make the ECB England Women’s pathway.
Azaan Shah has successfully auditioned for a part in A Christmas Carol at the Castle Theatre.
Harvey Turner (Y4) successfully completed a Bubblemaker Dive at Waterworld in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
Elliott Drury (Y4), Matthew Dobson (Y5), Krishna Lakkappa (Y5), Noah Bryant (Y5) and Ben Bowman (Y5) participated in the Irthlingborough Town Cricket Club’s Kwik Cricket tournament reaching the semi-finals.
The Winter’s Tale
One of the pleasures of working in an all-through school is the opportunity of seeing how past pupils are progressing and last night’s performance of The Winter’s Tale, the second of three nights, was one such occasion. All involved in the production should be very proud of the result of their hard work. Shakespeare’s line, ‘The wheel is come full circle’ would seem apt because the very first PS play that I watched in December 2004 was Mrs Drye’s abridged version of The Winter’s Tale.
8SA Assembly
All aspects of Bonfire Night were covered in this assembly, with most curriculum areas being represented; the science behind fireworks, where fireworks came from and the history behind the event, plus an information service with Health and Safety tips. All this wrapped around an amusing sketch with links to 12 of the 16 Habits of Mind clearly explained. Thank you to Miss Allan and 8SA.
Mr Mitchell
Drop-Off Collection
Due to the dark nights and cold weather pupils will be asked to attend Late Prep from 4.30pm or from 5.30pm following an after-school activity. Late Prep is held in the Robinson Centre (Room 15) and parents will need to either park and collect pupils in person or phone Late Prep (Tel: 07887 911046) to ask for your son/daughter to be sent down to the collection point. Staff will not permit pupils to be outside without supervision. I would be grateful if parents would encourage pupils to use this facility in the interests of their own safety and comfort.
Mr Gray
Anti-Bullying Poster Competition
Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors have been meeting over the last few weeks to discuss Anti-Bullying week which is coming up very soon. They have many ideas which will be put into action during this time. In order to promote this week, they are launching an 'Anti-Bullying Poster Competition' for all year groups. The poster should be A4 in size, be colourful and have an important slogan or message about Anti-Bullying. The closing date for the posters is Monday, 9th November, and entries should be taken to the Prep School Office. There will be a prize for the winning poster.
Mrs C Petrie
Year 7 Peak District
On Thursday 15th October we took Year 7 to the Peak District National Park for their residential fieldtrip. This trip was part of our studies on National Parks within Geography and will conclude with an assessed report. The trip had a full itinerary of activities, so the students were able to learn lots. To read more click here.
Dr Fordham
Year 6 French & History Trip - Côte d’Opale, France
The annual Year 6 French and History trip saw nearly 50 pupils packing their bags and saying “Au Revoir” to their parents before setting off for a cultural whirlwind of activities at the end of the first half term. With visits to Dover Castle, Agincourt museum and battlefield and Dunkirk. To read more click here.
Ms Machin
Roman Armour Workshop
Year 4 history came alive this week with a chance to handle and try on a set of Roman armour and also learn a little about archaeology. Dr. Sarah Scott, an archaeologist and lecturer from Leicester University (and mother of Fiona and Douglas Kidd), kindly agreed to spend the morning working with the children to give them a taste of what archaeology is all about. They also had the opportunity to develop their empathy skills by trying to imagine what it would have been like to be a Roman soldier.
Miss Kingstone
Theatre Tour and Terminology
There’s only one place to learn some of the weirdly wonderful theatrical terms used by thespians and it’s not in the classroom; of course, it is at the theatre. During an English lesson, Mr. Hargreaves kindly showed Year 7 and 8 how items of scenery are “flown” into the tower, using stage designs from the Senior School’s production of ‘The Winter’s Tale’. To read more click here.
Mrs Drye
Music School
Pianists' Recital
Our next Tea-Time Recital, which will feature pianists from Prep and Senior Schools, will be on Monday, 16th November, at 4.30pm in the Recital Room. Any pupils who take piano lessons, either at school or outside, are invited to take part. Please see Mr Leutfeld or Mrs Burleigh in the Music School by Monday at the latest, with the title and composer of your piece.
Chapel Choir - Remembrance Service
Chapel Choir members should arrive at Chapel at 9.30am this Sunday, for the Remembrance Service. The service will start at 10.15am, and will end at approximately 11.15am.
Mr Leutfeld
Sports Announcements
National Schools Rugby Tournament
I am pleased to confirm we have entered the National Schools Regional Rugby Qualifiers. The dates, venues and timings are below. Further information including the tournament draw, timings and schedule will be given out in due course.
Sunday 22nd November
U9, U10 & U11 Rugby v Warwick School – 10:00am till 3pm
Sunday 7th February 2016
U13 Rugby v King’s House School – 10:00am till 3pm
Fixtures Update
I can confirm the following fixtures over the next few weeks. Some are new additions and others the timings may have changed.
Wednesday 11th November
U10 & U11 Rugby v Bromsgrove now Away (approx. return 7pm)
Friday 13th November
U13s Floodlit Hockey & U11 Rugby Tournament - CANCELLED
Saturday 21st November
1st, 2nd & 3rd XV Rugby v Winchester House (A) – 10:30am KO
U11A/B & U10A/B Rugby v Winchester House – CANCELLED
Wednesday 25th November
3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th XV Rugby v Bedford (H) – 2.30pm KO
Friday 27th November
1st XV Rugby v The Perse - CANCELLED (moved to Sat 28th Nov)
Saturday 28th November
1st & 2nd XV Rugby v The Perse (H) – 11:00am KO
Mr Irvine
U9 Hockey Festival – Friday, 16th October 2015
The U9A hockey team enjoyed attending the Bedford Modern Hockey Festival where they succeeded in reaching the semi- finals. To read more click here.
Miss Kingstone
Old Wellingburian Youth Cricket – Summer 2015
U11s - Played 9, Won 5, Lost 4
Another excellent season with 18 children representing the team over the season. As the season developed and the team settled there was a huge improvement in skills and understanding of the game.
U9 Tournaments
The U9’s played three tournaments this year at Rushden, Thrapston and Irthlingborough Cricket Clubs. We had a very young inexperienced side as mostly the Year 4 children were not available. To read more on both articles click here.
S M Marriott
Arts Action Christmas Camp
17th and 18th December for Years 3-10. For more details click here.