FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Scholarship Successes
I am delighted to announce a most splendid number of scholarships awarded since I last wrote to you before half term:
* Archie Bateson has been awarded an Art Scholarship to Oakham
* Cee-Cee Guest has been awarded a Sports Scholarship to Oakham
* Mimi Hamilton has been awarded a Spirit Scholarship to Northampton High School in recognition of characteristics prized by the School
* Romy Earle has been awarded a Drama Exhibition to Stowe and now a further award for Drama to St Edward’s, Oxford
* Tabitha McAra has been awarded a Performing Arts Scholarship to Quinton House
* Jaypaul Sehmi has been awarded a Music Exhibition to Bedford
All fantastic achievements and many congratulations to each and every one of them.
‘Frozen’
With just a few weeks now until the production of Frozen, you will have received your invitations in the post. Please be aware that the Wednesday performance is now full and we are operating a waiting list. There are places available on the Thursday evening. For those of you who have booked already, please do let us know if not all your party are able to attend, so we can reallocate the seats elsewhere. It is worth getting on the waiting list as we usually manage to make our way through most of it before the performances.
Common Entrance Mocks
Our Year 8 children are busy preparing and revising for their mock exams next week. They are all about practice and there is plenty of time between now and the real thing in June for them to further consolidate and improve. Good luck to them all.
Next Week
There are a number of other events taking place next week, from the Year 4 Indian Workshop on Monday – always an enjoyable event, to the Years 3–7 Informal Music Concert on Monday evening, to the online Parent/Teacher meetings on Tuesday (Year 5) and Thursday (Year 3).
Skydive
In a moment of sheer madness, as many of you will know from our social media and from my showing videos in assembly to the children this week, I did a skydive over half term, along with my brother and sister. It was something I have wanted to do for some time and it is now firmly ticked off. I have been asked two frequent questions following the jump: ‘Would I do it again?’ – probably not. ‘Do I want to keep my new skydive hairstyle?’ – definitely not!
Do have a good weekend.
Thank you.
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Make Way for the Dinosaurs!
1S and 1N kick started the new half term with a rip-roaringly fabulous assembly on ‘Dinosaurs’ this week. They included some interesting facts and even some fascinating evidence suggesting that, just maybe, dinosaurs have been roaming the school grounds, unnoticed! Rounded off with a lively song and some dinosaur jokes, our Year 1 children are certainly enjoying getting their claws into their topic.
Reception – It’s an Emergency!
I enjoyed a heart-warming moment this week, when a Reception parent shared with me that their little one had struggled to get to sleep the previous evening. When trying to find out the nature of the problem, the child exclaimed that they were just so excited because the firefighter dressing up clothes would be out in the morning! Imagine the excitement next week, when Reception’s focus on the emergency services will see a fire engine and a police car roll into school!
World Book Day, Thursday 7th March – the countdown begins!
With just under two weeks to go, we are beginning to pick up on thrilling snippets of chatter about who the children (and the staff!) may come dressed up as for World Book Day. We have an array of fabulous activities planned. As well as the Pre-Prep Costume Parade, we are particularly looking forward to the Pre-Prep ‘Big Book Swap!’ Fiction or non-fiction, any unwanted books can be brought into school and swapped for a tantalising new read to take home! Please look out for my letter early next week, in which all the details will follow.
Pupil Achievements
Well done to Alber Coleman (1S) who has graduated from the Bambino class in Go-Karting.
Congratulations to the following children for their swimming achievements – Leonardo Dep-Shepherd (1S) Level 5, Wilf Canty (1S) Level 3 and 10m, Isabella Wiseman (RG) Level 2 and Arthur Strike-Doyle (2M) Level 4 and 20m.
Very well done to Ahana Diu (2L), Elisa Phipps (2L) and Alice Maule (2L) who have all achieved their Level 2 award in Skiing.
Congratulations to Emma Hassell (RG) who has passed her Ballet Pre-Primary Dance exam.
Well done to Bertie Brady-White (2L) who was awarded ‘Player of the Week’ in his football club.
Final congratulations go to Willa Mercer (1N) for gaining her Level 7 award in Gymnastics.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MUSIC
Informal Concert Years 3-7 – Monday 26th February
We are really looking forward to the Informal Concert on Monday. Tea will be provided for those on the programme and for an siblings who have requested it. All are welcome to attend.
DRAMA
Props Request
This is a plea for prop items for the school play. If you have any of the following you could donate or lend, it would be much appreciated:
- A feather duster (we’re talking long, slender, real feathers – Downton Abbey opening credits style)
- A realistic looking toy sword with scabbard (or not)
- A large hessian sack
- Lederhosen, to fit a small Y8 boy
- An old fashioned or ‘dress’ military style jacket (to fit a Y8 boy – think ‘Nutcracker’ style)
- An orb (as in a sceptre and orb) or something that might pass as one
- Summery items, such as: bright sun hats, beach ball, bucket and spade, flip flops, beach bags/holdall, beach shorts (these are all to go in a cart/shop, they will not be worn or used)
- Bed clothes (quilt cover and pillow case or something like that) to fit a junior bed
Please contact Mr Williams on jjw@sprattonhall.com if you can help with any of the above.
If you would like the item back, please put a sticker on the item with your name, so it can be returned to you.
Thank you.
EQUESTRIAN
Last Sunday, members from our Equestrian team competed at the Bloxham Arena Eventing Championships held at Aston le Walls. Having qualified for the event before Christmas, the girls were up against some very tough competition. Our 65cm team, consisting of Emily, Ottilie and Olivia, rode superbly achieving 2nd place with Olivia 10th overall individually. Chloe also rode a fantastic round competing at 90cm.
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
