We have enjoyed a busy week in the Prep School!
Highlights have been the Strings and Guitars Tea-Time Recital on Monday where it was wonderful to listen to some talented performances from our musicians. It was also aspirational for our Prep pupils to listen to extremely accomplished Senior School musicians. The assembly on Friday, delivered by 7AF, was equally engaging as they talked to us about facing life challenges and overcoming obstacles. The theme linked perfectly with Mrs Petrie's forthcoming Marathon run in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. We also enjoyed wearing an item of yellow and the cake sale during morning break.
Across the School we are reviewing our rules, our Code of Conduct and the Behaviour Policy and trying to re-establish clear expectations on conduct and making clear the consequences of actions with a re-statement of our graduated scale of sanctions. During our assembly on Monday, the School’s Code of Conduct was reiterated and, in form time, the pupils will be exploring this further to delve into what this means in and out of class. The School is a caring community whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. It is our primary aim to promote an environment where everyone can feel happy, safe and secure.
I would like to wish our football U11 and 1st XV rugby teams the best of luck this weekend in their matches.
Mrs Knox
Achievements
James Taylor-Lewis (Y5) won the trophy at Olney RC (match against Long Buckby) for never giving up and being an all-round tryer!
Gideons Society
Mr Whitney and Mr Standerwick of the Gideons Society visited Year 7 today to tell them about how the guidance of the Bible has helped them, and other people, get through difficult periods in their lives and give them new hope and purpose. Each pupil received a free New Testament and Psalms to keep and use according to their need. The Gideons are a group of Christian businessmen who voluntarily distribute free copies of the New Testament and Psalms to schools, hotels and prisons in the hope that people will turn to the texts for guidance and strength. For more information click here.
Rev.d Walker
Maths in the Prep School
This week, some pupils have been getting their head around the wonderful world of fractions and algebra, whilst others have been looking into real world buildings and discovering their surface area and volume. Although 'angels' have made a brief appearance, angles were understood by most, well at least to some 'degree'. I would like to congratulate William Heath for taking part in the Senior UKMT challenge. Some super thinking skills have been demonstrated.
A mathematical “Pause For Thought” for parents!The first correct person to email prep-office@wellingboroughschool.org will win a mathematical pencil.
- How can you combine eight eights to make 1000?
- The rungs of a ladder on the side of the ship are 1 foot apart and 8 rungs are showing. The tide comes into the harbour at a rate of 1 foot per hour. After 4 hours how many rungs will be showing on the ladder?
Mrs Rowley-Burns
DT
With the various parents’ evenings scheduled this term DT Club has been on hold, however, we have not been idle. The Year 8s are currently investigating mechanisms and, to aid the understanding, two groups took part in building a 4-cylinder engine model. The model contains cams, pulleys, gears and lots of linkages that, when a button is pressed, come to life. It’s another example of how the design department are encouraging understanding through discussion and group work. Many of the pupils found the model beneficial and, for some, it has sparked an interest in the wider world of Design Technology.
Mr S Whitby
Can we follow our own instructions?
Pupils in Mrs Barltrop’s English group put their instructional language skills to the test. In a previous lesson children had written their own instructions about ‘How to make a jam sandwich’, using specific instructional terms and technical cooking jargon such as equipment and ingredients. We carefully considered whether it was necessary to spread jam on both slices of bread or whether a large dollop on just one would do the trick! Having thought wisely and written our instructions concisely we then made our jam sandwiches and celebrated our instructional success with a ‘table picnic’. The pupils proclaiming that this was the best English lesson ever! I wonder why?
Mrs Barltrop
Music School
Rock Pop & Blues
Our annual Rock Pop & Blues concert will take place on Tuesday, 8th March at 7.30pm in the Senior School Hall. This is a relaxed 'cabaret-style' event, with popular music performances from bands and solo acts across the Prep and Senior Schools. The Parents' Association will run a cash bar on the night, with proceeds going to the WSSPA. Pupils who would like to perform should collect an entry form from Mrs Burleigh in the Music School Office. These must be completed and returned by Friday, 26th February. Tickets for the concert will go on sale after half term.
Chapel Choir
Chapel Choir will be singing at Evensong for the next two Thursdays of this term, ie. 11th and 25th February. The services will start at 4.30pm in Chapel and will finish in time for pupils to catch buses.
Young Voices Group Photo
We have had professional photographs taken of all our music ensembles, and order forms will be given out to pupils during ensemble rehearsals over the next couple of weeks. Any pupils who were photographed as part of the Young Voices group who are no longer attending choir rehearsals can collect an order form from Mrs Burleigh in the Music School Office.
Mr Leutfeld
The Scholastic Book Fair is on its way!
Early warning! The Library will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair just after half term, from Thursday 25th February to the 1st March. The fair will be open during morning, lunchtime and afternoon breaks for pupils to come and browse and buy. The Fair is always very popular and is a great way for the library to boost its stock of new books. We thank you in advance for your support.
Mrs Cooper
Year 8 Production
Year 8 pupils performed Roald Dahl’s ‘The Witches’, a typical Dahl with a mixture of the horrible and the anxious all through the eyes of plucky children forced to confront a world not as nice as it should be. To read more and view photographs click here.
Mr Hargreaves
Weekend Activity Survey
Thank you to all those you took part in our Weekend Activity Survey, your feedback is invaluable and I am happy to share the outcome below from all the information provided. Over 40% of the families responded had never taken part in the Weekend Activities Programme. The main reasons given for this are:
> family time at weekends
> busy with other arrangements
> children have commitments to other activities outside of school
> school matches
On the question of whether we should continue to offer the Weekend Activity Programme, the outcome was close, with just over 50% of the responses in favour of continuing. The majority also had no real preference on what day they were held. As a result of this feedback, we will continue to offer two or three activities per term. After reviewing the current position, from Trinity term it will be necessary to have a minimum number of pupils attend each individual activity to ensure continued viability of these activities. Once again thank you for your valuable feedback.
Mrs Knox
Sports Announcements
Swanbourne Chase 2016
This week saw the cross-country team compete at a surprisingly dry Swanbourne Chase meeting; an event that has grown in size now having well over 80 runners in each race. The junior girls’ team of Etienne Maughan (22nd place), Poppy Bevan (45th), Annabel Burgess (46th) and Polly Ross (51st) all ran hard up a very demanding final hill. The junior boys’ team performed extremely well. Ethan Brazier (16th), Lucas Brazier (17th), Ben Sales (18th) and Will Middleton (29th) all worked hard to achieve a highly worthy 3rd place in the team competition. The senior boys’ team saw the performance of the day from Adam Davies, where his speed endurance was tested and pushed all the way to a commendable 4th place. Adam Davies (4th), Jack Buchan (12th) and James Sales (20th) all ran amazingly well, particularly in the closing stages up the infamous energy sapping final hill. A huge thank to all those pupils who have run for the School this term. Your efforts in both our main fixtures have been wonderful, and both myself and Mr Irvine greatly appreciate your commitment and selflessness in the face of these punishing challenges.
Super Saturday Netball
Anyone interested in watching super league netball please click here. We may have some stars of the future and one day see you live on sky sports. Super Saturday watch and be inspired!
The Perse Football Tournament
Good luck to all the boys who are representing the School at The Perse U11 Football tournament this weekend. Best of luck from everyone here at Wellingborough Prep School.
After Match Sports Teas for Parents
I would just like to remind parents/supporters who attend our home matches here at Wellingborough Prep School that there are match teas for both pupils and the parents on completion of the matches. The players match teas will be located in our dining hall and for parents we welcome you for coffee, tea and cakes in Joe’s Café which is located above our dining hall. We look forward to seeing you there and appreciate your continued support.
2016 IAPS Triathlon Championships – Years 5 to 8
I have had a good response so far for the IAPS Triathlon Championships taking place next term at Dulwich Prep School in Kent. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday 12th June 2016.
If there are any boys and girls in Years 5 to 8 who would be interested in representing our School at this event please email Mr Irvine lji@wellingboroughschool.org for more information. There is an entry fee of £20.00 per competitor for this event. The fee covers the cost of finisher’s medals and race pack (inc. race numbers). Please note: the deadline for entries is on or before Friday 18th March.
National Rugby Qualifying Draw
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Prep School 1st XV the best of luck for their regional qualifiers taking place this Sunday, 7th February at King’s House sports ground, London. The boys have been working hard in training and are looking for qualification through to the finals. We wish them the best of luck!
Mr Irvine
Victorian Television Experience
I have been contacted by Wall to Wall Media (the production company behind programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are? and Victorian Bakers) who are looking for families to take part in a new television series for BBC Two. Filming will take place this Easter and will recreate the Victorian East End of London and populate it with families who have ancestral connections to the slum areas of Victorian Britain’s industrial cities. The aim in the series will be to live, work and make ends meet exactly as the Victorian poor would have done. Please note that children must be aged 10 years old or above and children cannot take part without parents. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Wall to Wall Media at casting@walltowall.co.uk, call 0207 241 9228 or to read more click here.
Mr Pickett
Ski Trip
Thank you to parents who attended the Ski Trip Information evening this week. For more details and how to book please click here.
Mr Dennis
Easter Sports Camps
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.
Half Term Holiday Camp
15th - 19th February
Pacesetter Sports Holiday MULTI Sport Club (Age 5+)
Click here to book a place - new parents will need to register their child first on to our system and then follow the booking process. Any queries please call 01604 686367. Book all 5 days to receive a 10% discount.
Easter Art Camp
Monday 11th April until Friday 15th April 2016
For more details of what is on offer and to book a place click here.
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