Welcome Back
It was great to see the pupils back from their short break refreshed and rested ready to tackle a new half term. The message in assembly to start the week on Monday reinforced the skills of a team work and creativity through the theme of Space travel and the Mars One mission. I reinforced the message that being able to work effectively as part of team and fit into a team ethic is a vital lifelong skill. A raft of recent research studies demonstrates that creativity is vital in almost every profession and at the level of the individual to the organisation as a whole. It is important that we nurture and cultivate creativity encouraging our pupils to try a different way of solving problems and looking at things from different perspectives.
In today’s assembly, I was I was delighted to award Colours to four Year 8 pupils. Colours are awarded to pupils who demonstrate exceptional levels of skill and commitment to a particular field. Congratulations to Harry Hammett, Phoebe Thomas, Shweta Khot and Harry Connor. These pupils received a special tie which replaces their current school one.
World Book Day
I am looking forward to “costume creativity” during World Book Day next Thursday when the pupils and staff celebrate the world of books and reading for the day. We will be joining 100 other countries around the world in encouraging children to explore the pleasures of books and the joy of reading. I am sure this will be a day to remember! Thank you to you, the parents, as the children rummage through cupboards to find that perfect costume item or ask you to help create that wonderful accessory.
Parental Survey
Understanding the views of our parents is of great importance to the Governors, my colleagues and me when we make decisions about the future development of this school. To help explore your opinions in a more structured way, we have asked a respected consultancy, RSAcademics, to design an online survey. This will be circulated to every parent at the school in the coming weeks. We want this to be a considered and invigorating review of the School, which will confirm our long established values and from which new thinking can grow. I would like to thank you in advance in participating in this important study.
Open Morning – Saturday 5th March
We are holding an Open Morning on Saturday, 5th March for prospective parents and it is my intention to invite various pupils from Years 4-6 into school from 9.45am-12pm to showcase what is on offer in a selection of academic subjects, music and sport. Teaching staff will speak directly to pupils and a letter will be sent to parents.
Irish Night – Friday 11th March
If you haven’t booked your ticket – now would be the time to do so! The WPSA are organising a fabulous authentic Irish evening and we will be entertained by an Irish Band. What a great way to start the weekend meeting new and current parents and dancing to Irish music. Click here for more details or contact prep-office@wellingboroughschool.org.
Weekend Fixtures
Good luck to all the netball and rugby players who are representing Wellingborough Prep School this weekend.
Mrs Knox
Pupil Achievements
Akaash Baiju (Y8) won a gold medal at the Essex U13 Badminton tournament.
Niall Mahon (Y5) participated in a special team triathlon with Woodland Pytchley Pony Club and the team came second.
Lucy (Y4) and Noah Poole (Y6) achieved a ski diploma from Albena Borvets Ski School for their snowplough and stem turns and parallel skiing.
Emily-May Palmer (Y7) was awarded a Distinction in the LAMDA Acting Grade 2 – Solo examination.
Lili Howe (Y5) was awarded a Distinction in the LAMDA Acting – Solo examination.
Emotive Performances: Redheart Theatre
Gothic Tales
Year 7 pupils were grippingly entertained by three Gothic tales, adapted from short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens and H.G. Wells. All the key elements of this genre were in evidence: the supernatural, spooky settings, omens, darkness and candlelight, madness and heightened emotions, tension and suspense, mystery, fear and unexplained deaths. Fresh from the West End, Mr. Mason astonished everyone with his consummate storytelling skills. Not only did he remember the staggering number of words involved but he portrayed the various characters with subtle changes of gesture, accent and stance, whilst clearly delivering the meaning through countless expressions and tones. He had the audience on the edge of their seats in three spellbinding performances. What was in the Red Room? Who was the mysterious figure at the tunnel’s entrance and what horror would follow his appearance? How could the murdered old man’s heart keep beating? What a great way to experience Victorian literature.
Mr Owen’s Pocket Book
In the afternoon, Mr. Mason held Year 8 adeptly in his hands, taking them on an intensely emotional journey through the lives of World War 1 soldiers in the trenches. He intertwined biographies of famous poets (such as Owen, Sassoon, McCrae, Graves and Tennyson) with enlightening historical facts and powerfully effective recitations of numerous poems. Many of these the pupils have studied, yet his performance added layers of meaning to the written words; pupils could experience the content as if present at the front line themselves, being narrated by a living WW1 officer, from gas attacks to exposure. Parents and staff were also profoundly moved, being totally captivated by Mr. Mason’s emotive performance, portraying with great conviction the horror, the futility and the camaraderie of this war. When they visit the trenches themselves, the pupils’ increased understanding of what the men endured will help them identify with the soldiers and comprehend both the literature and the history on a more personal level.
Mrs Drye
World Book Day
Costume Parade and Book Swap Shop - Thursday 3rd March
This year we are including several events on the day. Obviously the costume parade will start us all off with its usual fantastic standard of inventiveness and hilarity; aim for those Commendations and Benes! Following the Book Fair, we will also be running a book Swap Shop, in the library. Please rummage through your shelves and bring in any unwanted books from home to swap with those discovered here on the day. All you need to do is bring them to the library, preferably before 8:30, on World Book Day and receive a raffle ticket for each book brought in. During break and lunch, pupils can swap their tickets for other books. At the end of the day, any books left over may be retrieved by anyone who would like them. (It would be useful if you could check on www.arbookfind.co.uk to see if the books have an AR book level; if so, please write this, in pencil, on the inside cover.) Each pupil should also prepare a brief (50-100 words) review of a book they have recently read which they would like to recommend. This should begin, “The best book I have read recently is …” These will be used during the day.
Mrs Drye
Year 4 Play
With less than two weeks to go, the Year 4 play is really starting to come together! The hall is buzzing with rehearsals and the Year 4 corridor filling up with weird and wonderful costumes and props. Behind the scenes, teachers from across the school are getting involved to help Mrs McDougall as she skilfully coordinates, not only a technical overview of the production, but also some impressive dance moves. The play offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils (and staff) to develop Mrs Knox's key Habits of Mind for this half term: Creating, Imagining and Innovating and Thinking Interdependently.
Miss Machin
Year 5 Victorian Day
On Tuesday, we all went to school dressed in Victorian clothes. There were a lot of chimney sweeps and even more maids. We met in the library to be briefed by Sheena who was the Victorian School mistress. We were going to spend the whole morning as Victorian pupils in a Victorian classroom. This meant being taught specific subjects in a specific way in complete silence sitting up straight.
Click here to read full article by Isobel Balzan 5CW
Miss Kingstone
Year 5 Science
The Year 5 science topic, Earth, Moon and Sun was brought to life by astronomer, Mr Andrew Green. The hall was taken over by his mobile planetarium and the children were able to view 3000 stars in the night sky, whilst enjoying a speedy and somewhat vertiginous visit to various locations in the world. We traced constellation patterns and spotted star clusters, galaxies and planets. We learned about black holes and meteorites, the Great Square of Pegasus and the Summer Triangle. Mr Green shared with us ancient myths and tales of how other cultures have interpreted the night sky. What an exciting introduction to a topic which, hopefully, will result in some fantastic projects which we plan to share on our Summer Open Day.
Mrs McMillan
Social Media Age Restrictions
As a school we are continually trying to stay on top of the social media access of our pupils and educating them on the usage of such platforms. Click here to view a poster that clearly shows at which age children are allowed to use social media platforms which is definitely food for thought amongst our school community.
Mrs Petrie
Country of the Day (just for fun)
To continually improve location knowledge in the Prep School, here is a daily challenge from Dr Fordham and the students of 7AF. Your focus for each day is to locate the country on a map! If that is too easy, there are some extension questions too…
- Locate a Country:
Monday 29th February – Malta
Tuesday 1st March – Zimbabwe
Wednesday 2nd March – Yemen
Thursday 3rd March – Brazil
Friday 4th March - Madagascar - Extension questions:
1. What is the capital city of this country?
2. What does the flag look like?
3. How many people live in this country?
4. What are the most notable features of this country?
Dr Fordham and 7AF
A mathematical “Pause For Thought” for parents!
The first person to email the correct answer will win a mathematical pencil. Please email prep-office@wellingboroughschool.org.
(Q) Countdown - Make 24 using the following digits: 8, 8, 3 and 3. You must use all the digits and you can use any operation.
Congratulations to Mrs Reeves who was the first parent to correctly answer last term’s quiz. The answer was: I had 3 apples each in three bags and then put the three bags into the fourth larger bag which, therefore, contained 9 apples.
Mrs Rowley-Burns
Music School
Woodwind and Brass Tea-Time Recital
Our next tea-time recital, featuring brass and woodwind players from Prep and Senior Schools, is on Monday 29th February at 4.30pm in the Pod (above Joe's Café). Refreshments will be served from 4.10pm, and family and friends are most welcome to come along.
Wellingborough Rotary Music Festival
The annual Rotary Music Festival runs from Friday 4th March to Friday 11th March. Parents of solo competitors should have received a copy of the festival programme by email with details of timings and venues. Competitors should arrive at least 15 minutes before their class start time. The Prep School Brass Group and String Quartet are competing on Monday 7th March at Wollaston School. The String Quartet's class begins at 5.20pm (please arrive by 4.45pm). The Brass Group is at 5.30pm (please arrive by 5pm). Parents must make their own arrangements to get to and from the festival venues.
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. Tickets are now on sale at Senior School reception, priced at £3 for adults and £2 for concessions.
Spring Concert
Tickets are now on sale for the Prep and Senior School Spring Concert, which will be held at The Castle on Tuesday 15th March at 7pm. The following Prep School ensembles will be performing: Flute and Recorder, Orchestra, Brass, Guitar, String, String Quartet, Clarinet and the Percussion Group. You can reserve your tickets either online through The Castle's website or by phoning the box office on 01933 270007.
Mr Leutfeld
Sports Announcements
IAPS Netball Regional Qualifiers
I can now confirm that the draw has been made for the IAPS regional competition for the U11, U12 & U13 matches taking place at Uppingham School. Best of luck to all involved.
- Thursday 3rd March
U11 Draw – Leeds Grammar, King Henry VIII, Wellingborough, Bromsgrove, Worksop, Bedford Modern, Fairfield, Winterfold House, Yarley School. - Friday 4th March
U12 Draw – Wellingborough, King’s Ely, St Olave’s York, Moor Park, St Faith’s. - Friday 4th March
U13 Draw – Winterfold House, Wellingborough, Bilton Grange, Gresham’s Prep, St John’s College, Foremarke Hall, St Olave’s York, Ashfold.
National School Rugby Finals
I can now confirm that the draw has been made for the National schools rugby finals for the U9 and Prep 1st XV squads. Best of luck to all involved
- 1st XV Draw – Wellingborough, The New Beacon, King’s House, Downsend, Northcote Lodge.
- U9 draw – Wellingborough, St Faith’s, Danes Hill, The New Beacon, King's College Juniors.
2016 IAPS Triathlon Championships – Years 5 to 8
We have had an excellent response for entry in to 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. There are still places for entry so 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.
- Race 1 = Year 5 (Tri Stars 1) – Swim 140m, Cycle 1.8km, Run 1.2km
- Race 2 = Years 6-8 (Tri Stars 2) – Swim 200m. Cycle 3.6km, Run 1.8km
As we are a member of IAPS we will be entering as many competitors in to the IAPS Championships at Dulwich, Kent. 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 Friday, 18th March.
After School Activities
The ever popular dance class after school on a Tuesday evening is increasing and it is great to see so many new faces attending and enjoying. There are still some remaining places for those wishing to come along and participate. The club is running in the ‘Pod’ every Tuesday from 16:15 till 17:15.
Mr Irvine
Ski Trip
Thank you to those who have booked and paid deposits for the annual WPS Ski Trip scheduled for 16th-23rd December. Places are filling up fast. If you would like your child to participate in the trip the deadline for booking forms and deposits is the end of the Lent term. We look forward to hearing from you. Click here for more details.
Mr Dennis
Cystic Fibrosis
Mrs Petrie is organising a quiz night on Friday 18th March to further add to her marathon fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis. Tickets are priced at £10 in advance or £12 on the night. If you would like to join us please contact Mrs Petrie on cp@wellingboroughschool.org. If you are unable to attend the quiz but would like to donate a prize for the raffle that would be hugely appreciated - please hand in to the Prep Office.
Mrs Petrie
Easter Holiday Camps
Book NOW to avoid disappointment – click here for more details on both camps.
- Star Sports Camp - Monday 28th March to Friday 1st April
- Art Camp - Monday 11th April until Friday 15th April 2016