From the Head Master

Common Entrance Results

Many congratulations to the Year 8 children who received their Common Entrance results today.  There are some extremely impressive results reflecting the hard work that the children have put in over the two year course.

Now that they have received their results and they know their places in their next schools are secure, they can really relax and enjoy the next few weeks.  Their post-CE programme continues today as they head off on cricket tour to Norfolk. As a result of their ski trip being cancelled, they are having two extra residentials next week, the first to Alton Towers on Monday and Tuesday, and then my Head Master’s trip to London on Thursday and Friday. What a fun and busy week for them!

Head Master/Pupil Swap

The first of my two Head Master/Pupil swaps takes place on Monday as I head into 5W for the day, swapping with Charlotte who will become ‘Miss Spencer’ for the day.  She has an exciting day ahead, beginning with greeting pupils on the car park and then leading assembly.  The second of the auction prize-winner pupil swaps will take place in September, so Grace has a little time to wait before she becomes ‘Miss Evans’ for the day.

Informal Concert

I was hugely impressed with the children’s performances in the Informal Concert last night, particularly those who were performing in a concert for the very first time.  Very well done to them all.

Fathers’ BBQ Breakfast

I do hope those of you coming along to the breakfast tomorrow morning enjoy it.  I am very sorry not to be there myself as I will be with Year 8 on tour.  The weather does not look quite as good tomorrow but hopefully the breakfast will be outside as planned.

Summer Events

As always at this time of the year, the special events come thick and fast.  On Tuesday next week, we have our ‘Moving On Day’ for current and new pupils moving into Reception and  Years 1 to Year 3, with an exciting part of this morning when the Year 2 children find out which house they will be in come September.  Wednesday is Years 6, 7 and 8 Sports Day, always a very special afternoon of the year.  Thursday afternoon is the Year 7 play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Northants Madness’, which I am very sorry to miss as I will be in London with Year 8.  Similarly, I shall be very sad to miss the Year 3 Assembly and Pre-Prep Sports Day on Friday, again, as I will be in London.

Thank you

Simon Clarke

MUSIC

Informal Concert – Thursday 16th June

This was a fantastic concert featuring musicians from Years 3 to 7. Some were performing for the first time and were very nervous, but everybody did brilliantly. Well done to all those who performed.

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 guitar, piano and drums. If your child is interested in starting music lessons, please contact Miss Morrell at ncm@sprattonhall.com.

TEMPORARY SCHOOL SHOP OPENING HOURS

Due to appointments for new pupils, there will be some changes/reductions to the school shop opening hours for the next three weeks.  Please see details below for each week:

If you do experience difficulty visiting the shop during these times, please email schoolshop@sprattonhall.com with your order.

w/c 20^th June Opening Hours:

Monday 20^th June:  3.30pm – 5.30pm

Tuesday 21^st June:  Closed – appointments only

Wednesday 22^nd June:  Closed

Thursday 23^rd June:  Closed

Friday 24^th June :  8.00am – 9.00am

w/c 27^th June Opening Hours:

Monday 27^th June:  Closed – appointments only

Tuesday 28^th June:  Closed

Wednesday 29^th June:   3.30pm – 5.30pm

Thursday 30^th June:  Closed

Friday 1^st July:  8.00am – 9.00am

w/c 4^th July Opening Hours:

Monday 4^th July:  3.30pm – 5.30pm

Tuesday 5^th July:  Closed

Wednesday 6^th July:  8.00am – 9.00am

Thursday 7^th July:  Closed – appointments only

Friday 8^th July:  Closed – Speech Day

MOUTHGUARD FITTING

All children in Years 3-8 from September will need a mouthguard for rugby and hockey participation.  Titan Mouthguards will be visiting the school on Tuesday 13th September and, if you wish to take advantage of this service, please complete your online order form directly with Titan by clicking this link.

LOST PROPERTY

Found Items:
2 x fitbits
1 x fitbit (no strap)
1 x blue strap watch
1 x purple strap watch
1 x ladies’ gold watch (broken strap)
1 x drawstring bag of earphones

PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS

Congratulations to Cecilie Jackson who received a Double Distinction for her Acting Exam and also her Verse and Prose Exam.  Cecilie has also been selected for Northants Storm U14s Netball Squad.

NON-SCHOOL EVENTS

Pacesetter Sports Summer Holiday Clubs

PRE-PREP

Creating, singing, exploring, discovering – Pre-Prep is a bustling, fun-filled hive of activity!  At every turn, the children are busy in their learning, rehearsing songs for upcoming events, practising their ocarinas or trekking off down to the fields to practise in readiness for Sports Day.

With next Friday’s Pre-Prep Sports Day in mind, Mr McCarlie, our Head Groundsman, has painted fresh white lines on the grass for us, so our running track is ready and raring to go.  The food mixers will also be going into overdrive in the kitchens, as Mr Fowler and his catering team, prepare a wonderful ‘Spratton Tea’ for all our guests to enjoy once the races have finished.  Parents, family and friends are welcome to come along and watch and, whilst the grassy bank provides a super viewing spot, you might like to bring a blanket or folding chair to sit on … oh, and please bring the sunshine along too, if you can!

This week, our new Reception children joined us for their first play-themed Induction Session.  With their confidence already beginning to blossom, they took great delight in exploring a range of painting, colouring, construction, role-play and small world activities, as they chatted away and enjoyed getting to know each other a little better.  Watching a group of little three and four year olds involved in a mark-making activity, reminded me of how far our current Reception children have come in their learning journeys this year.  From the early squiggles, loops and lines of their first experiments with forming letter shapes, many of the children are now writing sentences on mini whiteboards, paper, the Smartboard ~ in fact anything that is available to them!

Finally, Online Safety forms an integral and ongoing part of our Heath Education curriculum throughout the school and it is also an essential part of our safeguarding work.  Currently, within my Reception Computing classes, we are exploring some simple yet important messages about online safety – you may have heard mention of the ‘Funny Tummy Song’, as we share the importance of reporting anything that makes us feel worried, sad or scared to a known, trusted grown up.  Taking this a step further, the children in Years 1 to 8 are set to enjoy presentation sessions next week from an Online Safety Specialist.  At a gentle, age appropriate level, the Year 1 and 2 children will be encouraged to think about making sensible choices when using a device online.  It is worth noting that at the end of the day, from 4.10-5.15pm, there will also be a session for parents, which you are most welcome to attend.

Mrs Sanchez