Curiosity
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious".
Albert Einstein
The focus this week has been to encourage curiosity. It starts in babies who have an itch to explore and grows into an instinct for inquiry. When very young, children ask hundreds and hundreds of questions a day to satisfy their curiosity. Nurturing this can be hard work, can't it? Curiosity is like a muscle, it declines if not used. As parents and teachers we too need to remain intensely curious ourselves; it’s good for our children to see. This week, I encouraged the pupils to ask curiosity-inspired questions. If you get a moment over the weekend, ask them the difference between fat and skinny questions and how many they asked at school.
Work Reviews
This week, 40 students participated in subject focus groups to give feedback to the teachers on the teaching and learning experiences in the classroom. This feedback is invaluable to us as we continue to refine lessons to ensure pupils are engaged and challenged.
Young Voices
It was a real pleasure to accompany students and staff to the concert last week. The experience of joining over 5000 others in song was a truly thrilling and memorable experience. I would like to particularly acknowledge the parents who joined us for the day. We are truly thankful for your support as it enables us to offer these wonderful opportunities to the pupils.
Staff News
A warm welcome to Mrs Jenny Furlong who has joined us for the next 10 days covering lessons for Mrs Clare Whitaker. Mrs Furlong is an experienced teacher and is well known to the school and pupils.
Mrs Knox
Achievements
Finley Wood-Penn (Y6) achieved a Distinction in his Grade 1 'cello exam.
Molly Barnes (Y7) achieved a Distinction in her Grade 4 Classical Greek exam.
Casey Hollyman (Y8) achieved a Distinction in the Rock School Performance Arts Awards for Grade 3 Musical Theatre
Prep Office
Mental Health Awareness Week
During the week of 8th-12th February, a number of events are being held for pupils focussing on Mental Health Awareness. On Wednesday, 10th February, ‘Talk it through a Brew’ is being hosted by Cat Brooker and Steve Hill, our Wellbeing Managers, for parents to have a coffee and a chat. This will be held in the Pod from 8am-9.30am. All parents welcome.
Mrs Petrie
Music School
Young Voices
Congratulations to Young Voices on their enthusiastic performance at the Genting Arena on Friday. Please continue to come along to rehearsals on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes - we will be learning new repertoire. If there is anything pupils would like to sing, Mr Leutfeld is open to suggestions!
String and Guitars Tea Time Recital
Our next tea-time recital is at 4.30pm on Monday 1st February, and will feature strings and guitar players from across the School. Pupils who take lessons outside School on guitar or a stringed instrument are welcome to perform. Please see Mr Leutfeld as soon as possible.
Mr Leutfeld
Spratton Hall Relays 2016
This week saw the first of the annual cro
ss-country fixtures and the teams travelled to Spratton Hall for the wet and muddy ‘Relays’ event. The Junior and Senior Girls’ teams ran well over the boggy course with each runner pushing themselves hard up the final hill to the finish line. The Senior Boys’ team ran hard against some dedicated runners to finish in a commendable 4th place but the performance of the day goes to the Junior Boys’ team who battled hard to finish in a muddy and well deserved 3rd place. My thanks go to all the pupils who ran for the School and, no matter where you finished, we are all extremely proud of the effort you have put in and the commitment you have made for the School.
- Junior Girls - Poppy Bevan, Annabel Burgess, Etienne Maughan and Polly Ross
- Junior Boys - William Middleton, Lucas Brazier, Ethan Brazier and Ben Sales
- Senior Girls - Imogen Smith, Romilly Benham, Millie Webb and Sophie Richardson
- Senior Boys - Adam Davies, Jack Buchan, James Sales and
James Brazier
Mr Williams
WPSA
New Members
The next meeting of the WPSA will take place on Tuesday, 26th January at 8.00pm in the Prep School Library. We would welcome any new members to join our small, friendly committee. We meet once every half term and meetings usually last for about an hour. We are aiming to have parent representation in every year group, so would especially like to invite parents with children in Years 4, 5 and 7 to come along. If you are interested in attending please reply to the Clarion email.
Save the Date - Irish Night
The next event we will be hosting is an adult only Irish night on Friday, 11th March. This promises to be a really enjoyable evening with a three course meal, cash bar, dancing and dancing to a traditional Ceilidh Band. Tickets will go on sale after half term, please save the date.
Mrs Cunningham
Equipment
Please could parents ensure that pupils have essential equipment in their pencil cases for lessons. This should include pen (blue ink), pencils, eraser, sharpener, rubber, ruler as a minimum. All items should be named.
Mrs Barltrop
Medical Information
There is a lot of useful medical information on the website for parents to access including preventative measures against illnesses such as Norovirus which has recently been in the press. For more information on this and other illnesses click here.
School Nurses
Acrobatic Circus Workshops at The Castle
Open to Years 7 & 8
The Castle Theatre has been awarded funding from Northamptonshire Sport to run a series of acrobatic circus workshops in local secondary schools. There are only 25 places available running on Tuesday’s at The Castle from 4.30pm-5.45pm. The 6 sessions begin on Tuesday, 1st February through to 18th March. For more information and how to book your place click here.
Mr Hargreaves
Easter Sports Camp
Monday 28th March to Friday 1st April
Lots of sport, lots of fun and our infamous Easter Egg hunt! Book before half term and receive a 10% discount. For more details and a booking form click here.
Mrs Petrie
Active Kids Vouchers
Sainsbury's are launching their ‘Active Kids’ vouchers scheme on the 27th January through to 3rd May. We have been collecting vouchers for many years now and have exchanged them for a number of sports items for the pupils. Any donations will be greatly appreciated and these can be handed in to the Prep Office.
Mr Williams
Christmas Disco DVD
The Christmas Disco DVD’s should by now have made the journey home in school bags and the WPSA hopes that you enjoy looking back at all the happy smiling faces. If you would like to purchase copies of any of the photographs featured on the DVD please contact Mrs Heath via email clareheath@me.com and provide your child’s name and their form. You will be forwarded a link to the photographs from the relevant disco together with a password to enable you access them. Photographs can be purchased for as little as 20p per print.
Mrs Heath
London Marathon
In April, Mrs Petrie is running the London Marathon for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. In support of this, 7AF are leading an assembly on Friday, 5th February, with a focus on 'Overcoming Challenges in Life' which will also give some more information on the condition. In addition, on Friday, 5th February, all pupils will have the opportunity to substitute one item of their usual school uniform with a yellow item for a donation of £1 which will go towards the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. There will also be a cake sale supported by 7AF. Mrs Petrie would like to thank everyone for sponsorships received so far. If you would like to sponsor Mrs Petrie please click here.
Milton Keynes Half Marathon
Miss Clark is taking part in the Milton Keynes Half Marathon on 6th March to raise money for Cransley Hospice in memory of Allan Ramsden. If you would like to sponsor Miss Clark please click here. Alternatively text MKAR80 £1 to 70070. Thank you for your support.