Congratulations to 5JF on their assembly today. They performed a play written by one of their own classmates, Douglas Kidd. It was entertaining, well written and put a smile on our faces for the day. Playwriting is a real skill, so well done to Douglas. I would also like to applaud our performers who sang in our Singers' Teatime recital on Monday. A superb afternoon of entertainment. Opportunities to perform at a young age cannot be underestimated. Also, congratulations to the Year 8 persuasive speaking finalists. It was great listening to a variety of entertaining and informative speeches. Particular mention to our winners:
- 1st – Ria Loibl
- Joint 2nd – Tom Kenney and Pippa Chadwick
- Joint 3rd – Jonathan Rimmer and Lottie Heaver
I was reminded, following the recent "Online World" session run by our wellbeing managers, of the following article I read recently with some practical ideas to enable our children to function on social, emotional and academic levels. I hope you find it interesting too:
Limit technology, and re-connect with your kids emotionally:
- Surprise them, share a smile, put a note under their pillow, play football together, have pillow fights.
- Have family dinners, board game nights, go cycling, go to outdoor walks with a flashlight in the evening.
Train delayed gratification:
- Make them wait! It is ok to have ‘I am bored’ time – this is the first step to creativity
- Gradually increase the waiting time between “I want” and “I get”.
- Avoid technology use in cars and restaurants – talk to each other.
- Limit constant snacking.
Don’t be afraid to set the limits. Children need limits to grow happy and healthy:
- Make a schedule for meal times, bedtimes, technology time.
- Think of what is good for them - not what they want/don't want.
- Children need breakfast and nutritious food. They need to spend time outdoors and go to bed at a consistent time in order to come to school ready for learning the next day.
Children change the moment parents change their perspective on parenting. Parenting is a hard job. Help your children succeed in life by training and strengthening their brain sooner rather than later!
WPSA Family Fun Evening - Save the Date
Please note a change of date for the WPSA Family Fun Evening to Friday, 16th June. More details to follow next week.
Mrs Knox
Headmistress
This week it was lovely to have the excited chatter of the Year 4 pupils back on the first floor corridor after their successful Hilltop trip. Last week seemed very quiet without the usual stream of pupils going past my office to their form rooms! Mrs Simmons has written a report on their adventures in Norfolk and the learning experiences that they enjoyed whilst there. Dr Fordham held a meeting this week with members of the WPSA to get parents' views on some proposed changes and developments in our reporting and assessment systems. They had a really useful discussion and I hope parents enjoyed the opportunity to talk about the academic elements of their children's time in the Prep School. In addition, I enjoyed observing a Year 7 Art class this week where all the pupils were actively engaged in their learning and were able to talk about their motivation behind the pieces of art work that they were producing.
Year 4 Make Hilltop their Habitat of Choice!
On Wednesday 3rd May fifty-two Year 4s set off to Norfolk for three days of adventure and fun with their friends and peer group. It was a great opportunity for them to face a range of challenges putting Growth Mindset principles and Habits of Mind to the test. The children were delighted to find ensuite bathrooms and bunk beds in their lodges on arrival but were keen to get cracking with the afternoon activities. There were rotating activities for the six groups each with specific goals in mind: Firebuilding; Assault Course; Big Zipper; Archery and High Ropes Challenge.
- The Bushcraft activity required great teamwork and communication skills. Working together did require some compromise and adjustments but the children were quick to realize that collaboration would reap the best results and that camaraderie is a super feeling. Keeping the fires burning long enough to boil a kettle required a lot of perseverance, the right balance of silver birch twigs to branches, some blowing to reignite fading embers and countless trips up and down the hill to collect dwindling fuel supplies.
- To some the Big Zipper seemed daunting but to others the highlight of the trip. It was lovely to see the children encouraging each other and applauding those who overcame their fears. Similarly, the High Ropes was an opportunity for all the children to push their own boundaries with the challenge by choice of how far and how high to go. Archery was about focus and ‘Striving for Accuracy.’ Could you hit a balloon with a bow and arrow? The most laughter was heard on the Assault Course as the children conquered team and individual challenges. One group were told they were the best group the instructor had ever taken with their can do attitude and enthusiastic support for each other! It always makes us proud when Hilltop staff compliment Wellingborough pupils on their behaviour and ability to work together.
- The rock pooling on the final day was a huge success, as the tide was in, the sun was out and creatures unusually willing to be scooped up in nets and eyed with ‘wonderment and awe.’
The children have created lifelong memories, strengthened bonds of friendship and have even more stories to share. They left happy and buzzing, proud of their achievements and increased independence. Thanks go to Mrs Stevens for organizing the trip once again and to Mrs McDougall, Mr Hill and Mr Pickett for making the children feel safe, supported, challenged and empowered.
Mrs Owen
Deputy Head - Curriculum
The Online World
This week Gemma Saunders and Steve Hill presented to all pupils in the Prep School about online safety. Pupils were shown an age appropriate presentation on the positives of the internet as well as potential risks and consequences these pose. The pupils were incredibly attentive and asked some interesting and sensible questions. Many parents also attended the parent talk 'Your Child's Online World' and for those parents who were unable to attend but are interested in this area please click here to view the presentation. Thank you to all pupils and parents for their support with this topic.
Lions Club Meeting
As this week is Mental Health Awareness week, Lions Club meeting focused on what could help or hinder our state of mind. We started by watching a video about the issue and discussed how it was an illness that is unseen so some find it hard to appreciate its effect. Click here to view. We then had a Q&A about our own experiences and shared what we already knew. We then had a super talk from a Year 10 student Izzy who has personal experience of coping and dealing with some of the issues we had pinpointed. It was great to have the input from Izzy, as she told the Club how they should not feel embarrassed about their feelings and pointed them in the direction of our fantastic welfare department. Gemma and Steve have helped a number of students. Following the talk the year groups broke off to write a list of the good and bad things that may affect their state of mind and each group then shared some of their ideas. It was an informative experience for the students and staff.
Mr Whitby
Jaguars Cookery Masterclass
The Jaguars Cookery Masterclass on Monday evening was a culinary success. Chopping, dicing, folding, peeling, juicing, boiling, baking, stir-frying. The result: five delicious dishes. Thai salmon noodles, chicken and coconut rice, veggie quesadillas, apple and ginger crumble and the best dessert in the world... baked chocolate mousse with a passion fruit cream. Mouth watering and super tasty. Well done to my super enthusiastic chefs. Enjoy the Gala Dinner.
Mrs Whitaker
Wolves Cookery Masterclass
So the final kitchen prep is in place. Wolves found themselves put through their paces in the School kitchens this week. Chopping, mixing, baking, frying and of course TASTING their way through an impressive array of fine dining cuisine in preparation for the Gala Dinner. All thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnt a huge amount, which I’m sure they will only be too pleased to demonstrate by making dinner for their parents at home! Well that may be a stretch too far, however we are all looking forward to the Gala Dinner and I’m sure, as always, they will all rise/soufflé to the occasion!
Mr Russell
Charity Skipathon
On Tuesday, 16th May from 12.10pm in the Robinson Playground, pupils will be holding a sponsored ‘Skipathon’. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored pupils. All sponsorship should be in by 9th June and this will be added to our fundraising total for ‘British Heart Foundation’.
Club Evensong
On Thursday we welcomed parents to our Panthers, Tigers and Wolves Evensong, this allows the Charity representative from these Clubs to speak about the fundraising they have done so far and what they have planned next. Yasmine Hickey, Anna Gouldstone, Dishan Patel, Barnaby Childs and Talha Zafar did a brilliant job explaining what the British Heart Foundation does with the donations it receives. Another £100.50 was generously donated by parents and pupils, which is greatly appreciated. A special thanks to the Chapel Choir who sang beautifully.
Please click here for this week’s healthy recipe for salmon fishcakes.
Mrs Petrie
Deputy Head - Pastoral
Music Lesson Timetables
To view next week’s timetables of individual lessons, which are also displayed just inside the main entrance to the music department, click here.
Mr Leutfeld
Head of Music
Sports Fixtures Week Commencing 15th May 2017
Monday 15th May
Boys' Tennis
U13/12 v CCS – Away – 3.45pm start
Girls' Tennis
U13/12 v NHS – Away – 3.45pm start
Wednesday 17th May
Boys' Cricket
3rd XI v Wisbech – Home – 2.30pm start
5th & 6th XI v Bedford Prep – Home – 2.30pm start
Colts A v Lincroft – Home – 2.30pm start
Colts B v Lincroft – Away – 2.30pm start
Girls' Cricket
U13/12A, B & C v NHS – Away – 3.45pm start
Fillies Blue & Red v NHS – Home – 2.30pm start
Saturday 20th May
Girls' Tennis
U12 A, B, C & D v Stamford High – Home – 11.30am start
U13A, B, C & D v Stamford High – Home – 11.30am start
Achievements
Charlotte Holmes (Y8) sang and danced with Limelight Theatre School at the Althorp Food Festival.
Harriet Askew (Y8) passed her Grade 5 ballet exam with Distinction.
Arya Mukherjee (Y5) passed RSL level 1 Award in Musical Theatre Performance with Distinction held by Stagecoach Performing Arts School, Northampton.
Jack Bates (Y5) represented the County U10 Tennis team, in the two day Lionel Cox Tournament. He also represented and captained the County U10 Cricket team in a match played at Stowe School. Jack scored 39 not out, with the County team winning. 
Isabelle Thomas (Y7) competed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Representing the Farmers Bloodhounds along with 3 other hunt members in the Inter-hunt Relay, Izzy was the youngest competitor in the competition. There were 16 teams and Izzy's team won all their heats which secured their place in the finals. They came second overall.
Golf Embankment Tournament 2017
Last Friday four of the Prep School students joined a number of Senior students to pit their wits against the golfing gods on our own Embankment course. For some this was a return to the event and sport after the winter break, trying to shake off the rust from the driver and rediscover the touch round the greens. This year we also had some playing their first ever round, after only swinging a club in anger in the days previous. Although there was the occasional shaky swing and missed 2 footer all played some excellent golf with the final scores reflecting the improvement all have made. Congratulations to the eventual winner Harry Cadman, shooting an impressive 45.
St. Faith’s Athletics - Thursday 11th May
Well done to all those pupils who competed for the School at the first athletics meeting of the season in Cambridge this week. All our runners performed extremely well, with many achieving new personal best times on the track. The team as whole were very successful, finishing second out of eight in both the Junior and Senior sections of the competition. Performances of the day and first placings were from Grace Finn-Kelcey in the Year 5 hurdles, Charlie Sales in the Year 5 100m, Lucas Brazier in the Year 6 200m, Ollie Buchan in the Year 6 800m, Ethan Brazier and Ben Sales in the Year 7 100m, Etienne Maughan and John Mills in the Year 7 200m, Will Middleton in the Year 7 800m, and the Year 7 sprint relay team of Ben, Ethan, John and Etienne. Huge congratulations to all the athletes, and let’s all now look forward to the Spratton Hall meeting in two weeks’ time.
Netball News
An inspirational match was enjoyed by our Netball players on Saturday 29th April at Leicester Arena. Loughborough Lightning vs Wasps, two Super League teams containing world class players contested a fast paced match with Wasps winning 57 - 54. If you would like to know more about Netball and get tickets to events please see these websites for details: England Netball and Netball Super League.
On Sunday May 7th, the East Midlands U12 and High Fives tournaments took place in Nottingham. Lottie Griffith competing for Future Print U12 won the tournament and four Year 6 players (Isobel Balzan, Francesca Benham, Ella Lewis and Annie Burgess) representing Northants JMs came 3rd out of 16 teams in the U11 High Fives tournament. Well done to all!
Prep School Open Singles Tennis Tournament
Girls' - Thursday, 15th June
Boys' – Thursday, 22nd June
To enter please contact Mrs Whitaker. For more information click here.
Prep School Mixed Double Club Tennis Competition
Thursday, 6th July (4.30pm-6.30pm)
For more information click here.
Results
To view this week’s results please click here.
Mr Irvine
Head of Sport and Extra-Curricular
Old Wellingburian U11s v Bugbrooke and Nether Heyford
Sunday 9th May
Captained by Matthew Dobson, OW's batted first; some extremely good batting from Christian Evans (15) Matthew Dobson (20) and Alfie Redfern (7) took OW's to a total of 85. We then fielded and bowled tightly to restrict Bugbrooke to 44. All the boys bowled well particularly Jack Malton who bowled 2 overs with 2 wickets for 7 runs. A good start to the season well done everyone.
Mr Marriott
Country of the Day
To continually improve location knowledge in the Prep School, here is a daily challenge from 6LW. Your focus for each day is to locate the country on a map! If that is too easy, there are some extension questions too…
Daily challenge:
Monday 15th May - Latvia
Tuesday 16th May - Gambia
Wednesday 17th May - China
Thursday 18th May - Tonga
Friday 19th May – Puerto Rico
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
Head of Geography
Open Farm Sunday – 11th June
Open Farm Sunday is an event designed to help educate both adults and children about farming and the countryside. Hosted by the Bromborough Estate in conjunction with Christopher Reeves Lower School Governing Body, Glebe Farm, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7HP will be open on 11th June 2017 11am to 4pm. Adults £5 and Children (Under 2s free) £4. Click here for more information.
Star Summer Camp (17-21 July 2017)
Early booking and sibling discounts available - book early to avoid disappointment! For more information click here.
Information to Parents
To view copies of letters sent by Clarioncall and weekly team sheets please click here to be redirected to Parents Login. If you do not know the login details please email prep-office@wellingboroughschool.org.