FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to announce scholarship awards to Princethorpe College for Year 8 pupils Zara Bushell and Hannah Marchant. Zara has been awarded an Academic and Choral Scholarship and Hannah an Academic and Art Scholarship. Additionally, further to her Sports Award to Stowe announced in last week’s newsletter, Romy Earle has achieved a Sports Scholarship to St Edward’s, Oxford. Huge congratulations to all three girls – well done, Hannah, Zara and Romy.
Staff News
As the parents of pupils in his Maths sets will know from my letter yesterday, sadly, Mr Ray will be leaving this term to take up a position at Rugby School, Thailand. With much to prepare for a move across the world, Mr Ray will actually be leaving a few days earlier, his last day with us being next Friday. I am so very grateful for all he has done for our pupils, particularly for his outstanding Maths teaching – his pupils will miss him very much. I wish him all the best in his exciting new adventure.
I am delighted to tell you that Mrs Gillam, Latin teacher, has successfully completed her PhD in Anglo-Russian Relations 1708-1719 – Crisis Diplomacy & Monarchy. This is a fine example to us all of lifelong learning and never stopping taking on new challenges. From hereon, we now need to remember her new title – very many congratulations indeed to Dr Gillam.
Winter Uniform
With this cold snap upon us, I would very much recommend that the children are wearing jumpers or cardigans as a number of them have complained that they are cold but are not necessarily dressed appropriately. It is good to see the children wearing gloves, hats and scarves into school. Please do remember though that these should be Spratton hats and scarves.
Christmas Events Next Week
What lovely services we enjoyed in church this morning for Advent. Well done to all the readers and particular praise to Florence Granger for her beautiful guitar solo. These services very much lead onto the beginning of our Christmas events next week.
We have the always utterly delightful Pre-Prep Christmas plays on Tuesday and Wednesday and then our seasonal Home Clothes Day on Friday when the children are invited to wear Christmas jumpers or indeed anything Christmassy. That day will also include our Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. How are we at this time of year already?!
Thank you.
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Another bustlingly busy and productive week has passed us by in Pre-Prep, as we keep all the fun of the curriculum going, in between scuttling over to the Hunter Hall to practise our Christmas plays!
Switched On With 1S!
The darker afternoons lent themselves beautifully to some investigative Science work in 1S this week. The children have been exploring sources of light and, armed with torches, they had a fabulous time casting shadows. Having created their own stick puppets, the children also had fun creating hand puppet shadows. Bobbing about in front of the torches, there were plenty of giggles when they discovered how distance could change the size of their shadowy images.
Pre-Prep Christmas Nativities ~ the countdown begins!
Pre-Prep is truly in the grips of ‘Nativity Fever’ at the moment, with hardly a conversation passing that isn’t camel, donkey or shepherd related. It is only in a school at this time of year that you hear such statements as, “Kings, please don’t forget your presents,” and “Mary, you are hiding the donkey!”
Our rehearsals are in full swing, stage directions, songs and lines are being polished and voices are growing louder and more confident by the day.
The e-tickets were sent out by email yesterday and, as you will see when you attend, we have two bumper audiences filling the Hunter Hall. Please do keep a lookout for my separate letter, which contains the live streaming links for both days.
Christmas Nativity Photographs
It is always a glorious moment when the children wriggle into their costumes for the first time. On Wednesday, the children could barely contain their excitement, when asked to pose in their costumes, underneath bright lights and in front of a big camera. With shepherds and angels giggling, stars twirling and stable animals jostling about, the photographer worked quickly and carefully to capture those magical nativity pictures of each child. Mrs Cohen will be back on Monday to take performance photographs during the dress rehearsal. She will then set about creating a secure online photo gallery, so that you can view and purchase the pictures, if you wish. Details will be sent out ahead of the plays next week.
Glitter, Sparkle, Shine!
Just as the temperature outside begins to dip, so the tops come off the glitter pots inside the classrooms and the children’s artwork becomes dominated by sploshes of red and green paint, and balls of fluffy white cotton wool! The entire department, from tables, little hands and faces, and even our bathroom hand basins, are positively twinkling and glistening with glitter!
To add to the seasonal atmosphere, the children have made beautiful snowflake and robin decorations, which are hanging in our Pre-Prep entrance. We hope this will provide a cosy, wintery welcome to the Christmas tree, which will sparkle and shine when it stands proudly in our middle area next week!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to William Dorrian (1N) for achieving ‘Player of the Week’ at Long Buckby Rugby Club.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MUSIC
Christmas Concert – Monday 11th December
Letters were sent out via email this week to all those involved in the Christmas Concert. Tea will be provided for all performers, please let the school office know if you will require a sibling tea. A reminder to all pupils performing to bring something Christmassy to wear. This could be a Santa hat, headband or some tinsel. No Christmas jumpers though please.
Carol Services
Our Carol Services at the end of term are always a really lovely occasion. Please be aware that Junior Song and the Year 5 Choir members will be singing as part of the Junior Service on Thursday 14th December. The Year 6, 7 & 8 Choir members will sing in the Senior Service on Friday 15th December. Parents are welcome to attend.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 3&4 Rugby & Hockey
Rugby – 1st Grenville, 2nd Raleigh, 3rd Drake, 4th Frobisher
Hockey – 1st Grenville, 2nd Drake, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
Senior House Verse Speaking
1st Frobisher, 2nd = Grenville & Drake, 4th Raleigh
HOME CLOTHES DAY
We will be holding our Christmas Jumper Home Clothes Day on Friday 8th December to coincide with our Spratton Christmas Lunch.
Please bring in £1 which, this year, will support Guide Dogs for the Blind, RNLI and Cancer Research.
CAKE SALE
Thank you to everyone who donated cakes to the Year 8 Cake Sale on Tuesday. We raised a total of £232.63 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
STEM WEEK 2024
SCHOOL SHOP
The School shop will be closed on Thursday 7th December. Should you have any urgent requirements, please email schoolshop@sprattonhall.com.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
LOST PROPERTY
Found in school – toddler’s boot
SPRATTON HALL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
SHSPA Quiz Night
The SHSPA team would like to thank all those who attended and supported us at the recent Quiz Night. We would like to give special thanks to Frances Barber for all her hard work leading the organising and to Mr Clarke for being a very enthusiastic quizmaster, even giving up his birthday to help us. We managed to raise over £2000 and we hope you all had a lovely evening and look forward to seeing you all at future events.
Our chosen charity for this year is Service Six who provide mental health and wellbeing support for children, young people and their families around Northamptonsire.
Ange and Raine
SHSPA Christmas Fayre
Donations for the Christmas Fayre are still required please and can be left in the Hunter Hall foyer. Cakes for the refreshment stall are to be brought to school on the day of the Fayre.
Thank you.
NETBALL COACHING
