FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to report that Hannah Marchant has been awarded an Art Scholarship to Leicester Grammar. Not to be outdone, younger brother James Marchant has been awarded an Academic Scholarship also to Leicester Grammar. Many congratulations indeed to Hannah and James.
Stationery Reminder
I am reliably informed that quite a number of children do not have a useable pen in school. Clearly, this is a very important piece of equipment that the children should have in school every day. I would be very grateful if parents could ensure the children have the right pen loaded with ink. It would also be very useful over half term if you could do a general stationery check as there are many children who do not have the various items required for certain year groups, such as protractor, pair of compasses etc. Please do refer to the stationery list in the children’s daily planners. It will be particularly pertinent to Year 8 who will need every item of stationery for their mock exams later this month.
IAPS Events
We are very much into IAPS events season with our U11s taking part in the Regional IAPS Netball tournament at Uppingham yesterday with the girls acquitting themselves very well. Our 1st VII are also at Uppingham today in the U13 tournament. I wish them the best of luck.
House Events
Next week sees the first of the House Cross-Country events with the Years 5 and 6 race beginning at 2.55pm on Monday and then the Years 7 and 8 race at 2.55pm on Friday. As always, parents are very welcome to attend.
Ash Wednesday Church Services
These are taking place next Wednesday morning (actually a week before Ash Wednesday itself). As always, the Years 6, 7 and 8 service is at 8.45am, followed by the Years 3, 4 and 5 service at 9.10am. Parents are very welcome to attend these services which take place in St Andrew’s Church in the village.
Young Shakespeare Company
Years 7 and 8 are to be treated to an interactive performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ this afternoon with the Young Shakespeare Company. The children will be involved in a workshop with the company before enjoying the performance.
Thank you.
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
When seeking out photographs for this week’s newsletter, I feel that the words of Mrs Littlewood summed up the last few days in Pre-Prep beautifully ~ “So many moments of awe and wonder. I just can’t choose!”
A Spotlight on the Artist L. S. Lowry ~ Reception and Year 2
A lovely L. S. Lowry theme has been rippling through the Pre-Prep this week, as both Year 2 and Reception have been studying this artist’s paintings of industrial scenes.
Reception have enjoyed twisting and bending pipe cleaners to create the artist’s infamous ‘matchstick’ style figures, which they then used to decorate carefully painted backgrounds.
The children in Year 2 have been sketching and painting the school buildings in Lowry’s unique style. They were then treated to a visit from artist, Sophie Slade, who focuses on local architecture, such as the Guildhall and Franklin’s Gardens, using bright, neon colours to bring her artwork to life. The Children’s finished pieces are now all up on display – a wonderful example of local history, with a modern touch!
A Visit from Dr Argyle, Dragonologist Extraordinaire!
Linking to their non-fiction writing focus of informational texts, Year 2 received a visit from dragon-net wielding Dragonologist, ‘Dr W. Argyle’ (covered in plasters from a recent near miss with a Cornish Blue Dragon and … who looked curiously similar to Mr Wilson!) The children were treated to epic tales of his many dangerous and fascinating encounters. They asked their burning questions and even and had the opportunity to run their fingers along a stretch of dragon wing skin. To add to the excitement, a small, heavy, rainbow iridescent egg has been found by Year 2 in the Forest School. The children are now completely inspired to set about writing their own information texts and we cannot wait to read them!
Recycling Fun in Reception
The Reception children (and staff!) are really enjoying delving into their topic, ‘Helping Hands’. This week’s focus led them to delve into the fascinating world of refuse trucks, recycling and reusing materials. Equipped with a collection of paper and plastic wrappings that were no longer needed, the children set about wrapping and winding the materials to create colourful recycled bangles.
Dinosaurs Rule in Year 1
A poetry focus has been rumbling through Year 1. The children have enjoyed creating their own Dinosaur shape poems, where they have used descriptive adjectives to decorate the scaly skin of their dinosaurs, with carefully written similes weaving around the horns, frills, feet and bodies on the outside. Culminating in a glorious display of shape poetry work – it has definitely been a roaring success!
World Book Day – Thursday 2nd March
Finally, with World Book Day being celebrated nationally on the 7th March, I cannot resist a quick (and tremendously excited!) mention of our intentions for Pre-Prep to join in the fun. The teachers are currently toying with all sorts of amazing ideas and activities for the children to take part in – and yes, dressing up as a story character for the day is definitely one of them! Decisions, decisions …. who will your child come dressed as? Peter Rabbit, the Very Hungry Caterpillar or maybe even Paddington Bear or the Gruffalo? We can’t wait to see!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Alfie McManus (1S) who has achieved his 5m and Level 2 Swimming Awards.
Well done to Ottilie Osborne (1N) for gaining her Level 1 Skiing Award.
Congratulations to Hugh Berry (1N) who achieved 2nd place in the U8’s ‘Beanies’ Pony Club Shoot and Run Biathlon at Oundle School.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MUSIC
Year 8 Informal Concert
The Year 8 Informal Concert was a wonderful showcase of the musical talent that we have. It was a lovely evening which featured many of our Year 8 musicians. They played a variety of different style pieces, all to a very high standard. Many congratulations to all those who took part.
Uppingham Orchestral Day – Thursday 8th February
We are really looking forward to the Uppingham Orchestral Day on Thursday. Please be reminded that refreshments will be served to parents in the Paul David Music School from 4.15 pm, prior to the concert which starts at 4.45 pm. The concert will finish at approximately 5.30pm. For those pupils who have requested transport back to school, the minibus will leave Uppingham at 5.45pm and will arrive back at Spratton at approximately 6.45pm.
Termination of Music Lessons
Please be aware that, if you wish to cancel music lessons from the start of the Summer term, notice must be received by February half term.
ART
ARTArtist of the Week
Artist of the Week goes to Oscar Hutchings (5W). Oscar naturally loves working in clay and finds it very easy to do. He has produced a wonderful African ceramic mask which is neatly represented.
Art Scholarships
Congratulations to Hannah Marchant who was awarded an Art Scholarship to Princethorpe College, and now also to Leicester Grammar, which she has accepted. Please click the link below to view Hannah’s wonderful portfolio.
HOME CLOTHES DAY
We will be holding a Home Clothes Day on Friday 9th February to support the RLNI.
Please wear your own clothes in blue, orange, white and yellow and bring in £1 as a donation.
SAVE THE DATE!
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Freddie Mayfield who has been awarded the Golf Foundation Skills for Life Medal which is awarded to junior golfers showing great potential and key skills. Freddie will be competing in two national tours this Summer which is a huge step in his golfing journey.
MEDICAL
Head Lice
As this is a problem throughout the school at the moment, please could you take the time to check your child’s hair and treat accordingly. PLEASE TREAT CHILDREN AT HOME BEFORE ATTENDING SCHOOL.
Head lice are wingless insects that live on the scalp and neck. They are grey or brown, have six legs and when fully grown are about the size of a sesame seed. Females attach their eggs to your hair close to your scalp. The eggs hatch about 7 – 10 days later and it takes 10 days for them to be adults and laying new eggs.
When the lice hatch they leave empty shells called nits attached to the hair. Nits are white and you may mistake them for flakes of dry skin. Nits stick to the hair and you won’t be able to remove them with normal shampooing.
You can only get head lice through head to head contact. They cannot hop, fly or swim. Although head lice maybe embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they don’t usually cause illness. However, they WON’T clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly.
Treatment of head lice
There are many treatments available including:
- Insecticides – e.g. Full Marks liquid or Derbac M
- Wet Combing with special fine toothed comb
- Non–insecticide based products – e.g. Hedrin
Insecticides and Non-Insecticides
When using these products for treating lice they are available as lotions, liquids and shampoos. Always follow the instructions carefully. Usually the insecticide lotion should be rubbed onto scalp and hair, left for approximately 12hrs before you wash it out. Then comb using a fine toothed comb. This process should be repeated after 7 days to kill any new lice that may have hatched.
Wet Combing
This is a method of removing lice with a fine toothed comb. You need to spend 20 – 30mins combing through the entire head of hair. It is easier to remove the lice and nits if the hair is wet and conditioner still on hair. The process needs repeating every 3 days until there have been 3 consecutive sessions without seeing any lice.
Many thanks
Matron
SCHOOL SHOP
Please note that the school shop will be closed on Thursday 8th February. However, it will be open as usual on Monday 3.30-5.30pm and Friday 8.00-9.00am. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
LOST PROPERTY
Edward Pett: New school coat size 9-10 (named)
Found in carpark – small cuddly red squirrel and a small vampire bat!
Found – grey padded adult coat (Polo Ralph Lauren)
Found – black/silver effect child’s helmet hat
