FROM THE HEAD MASTER
This Week
We have reached the end of what has been a very long, busy, tiring but ultimately fulfilling week. I hope you have had a chance to read my letter sent earlier today which included some very brief feedback from the Inspection and also an important update with regard to the building works informing you that ‘The Stables’ will be out of action from Monday next week, and for a considerable amount of time while the building works take place.
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to announce that Harrison Barrow has been awarded an Academic Exhibition in Maths to Oundle. This is lovely news for Harrison – many congratulations, indeed, to him.
Frozen
We now turn our attention to the kingdom of Arendelle with the final throes of stage building and rehearsals ready for the production next week. Sadly, there are still 60 people on the waiting list across the two nights and I am afraid it is now extremely likely that there will not be enough, if any, tickets returned for us to make our way any further through the waiting list.
On arrival, parents should pick up their tickets from the Hunter Hall foyer and then make their way to their allocated seats. Please note that there will be no drinks served beforehand as we have an interval during which we will be serving refreshments. I am sure it will be a fantastic evening and I am so looking forward to it. I do need to point out that a strobe light is used for a short period of time during the production.
Weekend Events
We have a busy day ahead tomorrow with our Colts A Football team taking on Northampton Town U10s early tomorrow morning, followed by an exciting new initiative with our Years 5 and 6 girls taking part in an internal football festival. Please note this will take place on the Astro, therefore, parents should part on the overflow car park that leads to the Astro. At the same time, we have our Pre-School Easter Egg Hunt with many, many families attending – this should be a really lovely family occasion. This is then followed by Colts Hockey matches against Bilton Grange.
Easter Church Services
We also look forward to the Easter Church Services next Friday morning, with Years 6, 7 and 8 at 8.45am, followed by Years 3, 4 and 5 service at 9.10am, as always, in St Andrew’s Church. I do hope many of you are able to attend.
Chair of Governors’ Announcement
Finally, I just want to say a few words about Mr Coley, the Chair of Governors, whose departure from the Board was announced yesterday in a letter to parents. James and I have worked very closely for the past 10 years and I have thoroughly appreciated his wise counsel and the time he has given to me and to the school as a whole. There will be time enough to say a proper thank you to him later in the school year. As he pointed out in his letter yesterday, the process of appointing his successor is already well underway and we hope this will be announced early next term.
I do hope you all have a lovely weekend. I know I and the rest of the staff will certainly sleep well after such a busy, intense week.
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
‘Helping Hands’ galore in Reception
The Reception topic of ‘Helping Hands’ has seen a steady trickle of parents and visiting adults eagerly coming in to speak to the children about their jobs. This week, no sooner had Mr Ford wowed the children with photographs of his pet food factory full of robotic equipment, than a humongous, shiny green articulated lorry was rolling into the car park, driven by Mrs Boyson! Mrs Lofts then followed this with a fabulous presentation that was, quite literally, bananas – as she described the logistics of transporting bananas around the world.
A huge thank you to all the wonderful speakers who have shared their time and enthusiasm with us – the children would like you to come back again soon!
Year 1, gripped by the tales of a palaeontologist!
Having explored many facts about Mary Anning’s discovery of a plesiosaur skeleton on the Jurassic Coast, Year 1 welcomed a dinosaur enthusiast into their classrooms. The children were gripped by tales of this ferocious and colossal marine reptile, which terrorised oceans over 150 million years ago. Its fossilised skull alone was 2 metres long! Having discovered, what they believe, are dinosaur eggs in the forest school, the children are certainly asking questions about what might hatch from them in the coming weeks.
A Brilliant Performance from the Year 2 Choir
I simply cannot finish this week without mentioning the Year 2 Choir’s performance last week at the Regional Festival of Music for Youth – Mrs King and I are still glowing with pride! Pulling magnificently on their inner braveness, the children stepped out onto an unfamiliar stage, in a huge auditorium and sang their hearts out. “Such excellent rhythm,” and “What a fabulous choir!” were just some of the words mentioned in the mentors’ feedback. Very well done to the children, there were many exceptionally proud smiles last Saturday afternoon!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Myles Capelle (2M) who scooped 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in a range of categories at the Billington Poultry Club Show.
Very well done to Francesca Williams (1N) who has gained her Level 2 Award in Swimming.
Congratulations to Bertie Brady-White, whose team gained 3rd place in a recent Hockey tournament.
Very well done to Octavia Podesta (2L) for achieving ‘Star of the Week’ at her Gymnastics club.
Congratulations to Clemence Chambers-Hall (2W) for gaining her Level 5 swimming certificate.
Well done to Freddie Matts (RG) who gained a medal for his effort and skill in Rugby.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
ART
Please feel free to take a look at all the Year 4 coil pots in the Hunter Hall foyer as they are amazing! Miss Savage and I are so proud of them all.
Mrs Moreton
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 3 & 4 Netball & Football
Netball – 1st Frobisher, 2nd Drake, 3rrd Grenville, 4th Raleigh
Football – 1st Drake, 3nd Frobisher, 3rd Grenville, 4th Raleigh
Years 7&8 Cross-Country
Girls: 1st Grenville, 2nd Drake, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
Boys: 1st Grenville, 2nd Drake, 3rd Raleigh, 4th Frobisher
LEICESTER GRAMMAR CROSS-COUNTRY
It was great to be able to finally compete in the Leicester Grammar Cross-Country Competition after the disappointment of both Swanbourne and Malvern being cancelled due to the weather.
We had a very successful afternoon, with our Seniors leading the show. It was good to see all of them compete with such determination. All those who competed were tremendous but the following individual results were:-
In the boys race Eddie Greany came 1st and Teddy Blake 2nd and in the girls race, Cee-Cee Guest came 1st, Isla Allsopp 2nd and Bessie Sanders 3rd.
This set the scene for our younger runners to follow and they did not disappoint. For many it was their first competition and all of them did incredibly well showing resilience and total commitment to get over the finish line. Particularly well done to the Year 4 boys where Ralph Drage came 2nd and Zac Kooner 3rd and the girls with Alicia Szecheyni 3rd, Hannah Morgan 4th and Amelia Legg 5th.
In the Year 5&6 event, the boys were particularly dominant with Henry Sandall 1st, Byron Dayman 3rd with Oliver Cole 4th and Bertie Glason 6th. Isabella Szecheyni came in 5th, India Woollcott-Price 9th.
All 6 runners in each team played their part in the overall team event and without the outstanding effort of every runner we would not have been successful.
Year 4 Girls’ team came 1st
Year 4 Boys’ team 2nd only just missed out on a 1st place
Year 5&6 Girls’ team 2nd
Year 5&6 Boys’ team a very strong 1st
The Senior Boys and Girls winning both their races too, although this was run as a separate event with only the top 3 runners were awarded medals.
The real highlight was when all the schools competing scores were added together for the overall competition. Spratton Hall was announced the overall winner of the afternoon and retained the trophy for a 3rd year on the run.
A huge thank you to the Year 8s who supported all the runners over the afternoon. Not only did you perform well as a team, but you were supportive in warming up children, leading them to the start, cheering them on and making sure they put tracksuits on at the end. It really was a whole team effort.
Well done to everyone.
Mrs C Williams
DRAMA
Year 6 – The A to Z of Poetry
There were some magnificent and memorable performances in Tuesday night’s Year 6 play, The A to Z of Poetry. They performed a variety of alphabet poems using drama, dance and song to articulate powerful themes that were amusing, touching and poignant.
Well done everyone.
MUSIC
Year 2 Choir – Regional Festival of Music for Youth
The Year 2 Choir were absolutely amazing on Saturday when they took the stage at the Regional Festival of Music for Youth. They sang brilliantly and with such confidence. They received some fabulous feedback from the Music Mentors. A huge well done to all those pupils that took part.
Easter Church Services – Friday 22nd March
Please be aware that Junior Song and the Year 5 Senior Choir members will be singing as part of the Junior service. The Year 6, 7 and 8 members of Senior Choir will be singing as part of the Senior service. Parents are very welcome to attend.
Musical Instruments
A reminder that all musical instruments need to be taken home for the Easter holiday.
UPPINGHAM TECHNOLOGY TOURNAMENT
Spratton Hall pupils took part in a fun Technology Tournament on Thursday at Uppingham School, supported by the Rotary Club. The challenge was to make a vehicle that could cross a river on a suspended cable using a motorised pulley system. With superb creative teamwork, Spratton successfully completed the challenge.
LOST PROPERTY
Found in the bushes near Hunter Hall
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE
The lastest issue is now available, free of charge, from the school office.
SHSPA
EXCITING NEWS!!!
Tickets are now on sale for our Shspa Spring Family Event on the 19th May 2024 12-4pm. Please click on the link below to register onto our new online platform for purchasing Shspa event tickets.
