From the Head Master
New Website
As I announced in the newsletter just before half term, our new website launched this week. I hope those of you who have had a chance to look through it have enjoyed it and are starting to navigate your way around easily. You will see a link on the home page for current parents to access the important information pages such as fixtures & team sheets, weekly lunch menu and the calendar. Producing a new website is a mammoth undertaking so please do let us know if you spot any errors or broken links etc. I am extremely grateful to our Marketing Manager, Janina Bushell, for all her hard work in producing the website.
As you will see, the newsletter is now presented to you as a link to the website rather than a PDF document emailed to you.
Staff News
I am very sad to report that Mrs Fountain will be retiring at the end of this term. Andrea has taught music at Spratton for many years across all age groups, including leading choirs and ensembles. There will be time enough and plenty of opportunities to say a thank you and goodbye to Andrea towards the end of term.
I am very pleased to announce that Miss Leah Govier, who has been teaching individual peripatetic singing lessons at Spratton for a number of years, will be joining the school on a full-time basis from September. Miss Govier will be taking some class music lessons as well as taking the Choir, Junior Song and Boys’ Choir from September. Miss Morrell will write to the parents of her individual pupils early next week with plans for next year.
Common Entrance
Year 8 can feel mightily relieved now that their Common Entrance exams are over. I do hope they have gone well for them all. They can now look forward to their post-exam programme which begins on Monday with preparations for their Fashion Show on Tuesday. It should be a fantastic final few weeks rounding off their time at Spratton.
School Photograph
It is such a shame that we have been unable to have a full school photograph since 2019 due to Covid, with those moments of posterity lost forever. This year’s photograph will take place on Monday morning and the children will need to be in ‘winter uniform’. That means no summer dresses and, for Pre-Prep, no polo shirts – the children will all need to be in blazer, shirt and tie. The children can remain in shorts for the photo as their legs will not be visible.
Gap Years for 2022-23
Unfortunately, we are struggling to recruit Gap Year students for the next academic year. We have two male gaps joining us but have had little interest from female gappies. If you know of anyone who fits the bill and might be interested in working here for the academic year, with approximately 60% of their time doing PE and Games, please let me or Mr Roberts know. We would be looking for students straight out of school but will consider graduates too.
House Events
The two recent full scale House events were a great success. Just before half term, we very much enjoyed the House Singing competition. Well done to all of the children and, of course, to members of staff who rehearsed them in each House. Congratulations to Frobisher who emerged as victors for the third year running.
Yesterday afternoon was a superb Sports Day for Years 3, 4 and 5. There was some excellent athletics on display and no doubt many personal bests were achieved. Drake took the overall trophy – well done to Team Blue!
Oundle Triathlon
I have received news from Restless Development following the very successful triathlon at Oundle. Our pupils managed to raise a wonderful £5,498 between them. £1,487 of this will be going to our chosen charity, UNICEF, to help and support those children caught up in the war in Ukraine. Oundle has created a short video that captures the day very nicely (though I couldn’t spot many Spratton pupils in it!).
Thank you
Simon Clarke
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Artist of the Week goes to Eden Farfort (Year 7) for his wonderful painting inspired by Claude Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Informal Concert – Thursday 16th June
We are looking forward to our Informal Concert on Thursday featuring musicians from Years 3 – 7. Please can I ask for any outstanding permission slips to be returned as soon as possible.
ABRSM Exams
The ABRSM exams are taking place on Wednesday 15th June and Thursday 16th June. The time of your child’s exam can be viewed by logging in to your ABRSM account. Please be aware all exam pupils need to arrive 30 minutes before their exam time.
Instrumental Lessons
Instrumental lessons are available on all orchestral instruments as well as drums, piano, guitar and singing. Individual lessons are available on all instruments. Pupils in Years 3 and 4 also have the option of choosing a shared instrumental lesson which are taught in pairs. Shared lessons are offered on orchestral instruments only (subject to availability). They are not available for singing, guitar, piano or drums. If your child is interested in starting music lessons, please contact Miss Morrell at ncm@sprattonhall.com.
Concert Band – Tuesday 14th June
There will not be a Concert Band rehearsal on Tuesday 14th June because of the Year 8 Fashion Show.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 3-5 Sports Day
Girls
| 1st | Raleigh |
| 2nd | Frobisher |
| 3rd | Drake |
| 4th | Grenville |
Boys
| 1st | Grenville |
| 2nd | Drake |
| 3rd | Frobisher |
| 4th | Raleigh |
Overall Winners
| 1st | Drake |
| 2nd | Frobisher |
| 3rd | Grenville |
| 4th | Raleigh |
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Alice and Arthur who won the Newnham Jubilee Children’s Cake Competition for their wonderfully designed cake.
Well done to Mimi Pilcher, ambassador for Waste Wise Kids, for organising and hosting an event over half term. Mimi invited friends to Encore Environment to repurpose skateboards into shelves and pet stations and introduce ‘Play Your Carbs Right’, an educational but fun game to highlight carbon comparisons for everyday travel or use of items. The event was a huge success, raising awareness about waste reduction, diversion through reusing and repurposing but also why we need to reduce carbon to protect our planet. A fun day was had by all, across all age groups.
TOWNSEND LIBRARY
After a ‘Jolly Jubilee’, why not come and test your knowledge on the Queen, by taking part in our quiz in the library.
Mrs Alexander – Librarian
NON-SCHOOL EVENTS
Long Buckby Tennis Tournament 2nd & 3rd July 2022
Outdoor Theatre showing Peter Pan at Flore on 26th June 2022
Please follow this link for further details.
PRE-PREP
Reception had a wonderful time on Wednesday when they headed off to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham. From pufferfish, jellyfish, stingrays and seahorses, the children came nose-to-fin with some incredible underwater creatures of every colour, shape and pattern that you can imagine. Wandering through the 360-degree tunnel, there were squeals of excitement as sharks glided around them and huge gasps followed when Molokai, the humongous 20 stone turtle, swam right above the children’s heads. Peeking out from the tentacles of sea anemones and bustling around a beautiful coral reef, the children were also pleased to see some familiar looking fish in the shape of blue tangs and clown fish – they looked just like Dory and Nemo!
The Summer months always present the children with numerous opportunities for foraging in the leafy flowerbeds, upturning rocks and gently rolling over logs in the quest to find creepy, crawly mini-beasts. ‘Five Acres Wood’, our forest school, is teaming with life at the moment. An array of birds, butterflies, caterpillars and even squirrels were all spotted in one visit this week. With weekly timetabled Forest School lessons, the children really look forward to their time in this much-loved and beautiful part of our school.
Turning to arrays of a very different kind, Year 2 have been developing their understanding of multiplication and division further by arranging and grouping numbers of objects into arrays. Starting off with pom-poms and counters, the children quickly transferred their skills onto paper. They busily drew groups and labelled sets with the appropriate multiplication facts, resulting in some very colourful numeracy work.
Finally, please can we ask that all children have a Spratton sun cap in school. Whilst playing out in the sunshine is truly glorious, we are very mindful of how important it is to be ‘sun safe’. Rest assured the children are also being encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water bottles are regularly topped up and, in addition to this, cups of water are provided at break and lunch times.
Mrs Sanchez
Pre-Prep Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Dakshan Premkumar (1N) who came 1st in the relay and 3rd in a 100m running race at the Rugby Tamil Sangam Tournament.
Very well done to the following children for their swimming achievements – Oscar Mason (2L) Level 3 and 10m Award, Connie Darbon (2H) completed an intensive training course and Arthur Darbon (RY) gained his Level 2 and 5m Award.
Congratulations to Arlo Crifo Garton (1N) for achieving his blue belt in Taekwondo.
A final well done to William Ogbourne (2A) for gaining two medals for his effort and skill in Rugby.
Pre-Prep Forthcoming Events
Monday 13th June – Whole School Photograph (Winter uniform needs to be worn for this event please)
Monday 13th June, 1.30-3.15pm – Acclimatisation Session for Mrs George’s Incoming Reception Class
Thursday 16th June, 1.30-3.15pm – Acclimatisation Session for Miss Yeo’s Incoming Reception Class
Saturday 18th June, 9-10am – Fathers’ BBQ Breakfast
