FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to announce that Teddy Green has been awarded a Sports Scholarship to Rugby School. This is a fine achievement and richly deserved, particularly after his performances on the cricket field so far this season. Well done, Teddy.
Common Entrance
When the children return after half term, Year 8 will be sitting their Common Entrance exams. These exams are such good practice for their GCSE exams in a few years’ time as they give them the experience of going through the exam preparation process but also sitting a set of exams that come thick and fast. I so very often receive positive comments from past Spratton parents who tell me that a big part of the reason their children did so well at GCSE is because of the CE process that their child went through here.
After the exams are completed, Year 8 have a fantastic 4-week post-exam programme with so much to look forward to. The last few weeks of Year 8 are always some of the most special times the children have during their schooldays. Before that, though, they have those exams to sit and I do wish them the very best of luck.
House Singing Competition
As I write, I can hear the strains of various songs emanating from different corners of the school as the children go through their final rehearsals before the big competition this afternoon. As mentioned last week, sadly we cannot welcome parents to watch in person (except parents of soloists) as the school already fills the Hunter Hall. I hope parents enjoy, though, watching the competition from the livestream.
Drama Club Performance
Many congratulations to all the children involved in the Years 5 and 6 Drama Club performance of Pirates of the Curry Bean last night. As I said after the show, there was superb acting, singing and excellent delivery of some truly terrible jokes! Very well done to all the cast, the members of staff and Director, Mrs Hanford.
Half Term
How quickly the first half of this term has flown by. It doesn’t seem two minutes since those first rather damp and chilly few days at the start of the term. I do hope the children have a fantastic week away from school. The weather looks as if it will be most splendid. I look forward to seeing them return on 5 June.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Keeping Fingers Busy!
Physical Development is one of the Prime Areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, it also continues to be an integral part of our curriculum throughout the Pre-Prep. An important focus within Physical Development is the growth of children’s fine motor skills. Daily exercising and strengthening activities for all the tiny muscles that control the hands, fingers and thumbs enables children to build the manual strength and dexterity needed to complete important tasks. From writing, using cutlery, fastening buttons and handling scissors, little did the Reception children know this week that their leaf threading activity in the forest school was so invaluable!
Animals in Mind
There were, literally, hundreds of little legs in our assembly on Tuesday, and not just the ones of the Pre-Prep children, sitting ready to listen!
We were treated to a visit from ‘Animals in Mind’, a locally run group whose mission is to help people learn, grow and heal through the benefits of the human animal bond. Kayda the bearded dragon was quite happy basking under her heat lamp in our middle area and even enjoyed scuttling up to the children to be rewarded with tasty mealworms. A very cute Egyptian Duprasi generated many questions because of its very plump, pink tail attached to its gerbil like body – handy for storing food and water in when in the hot, dry desert, how clever! It also slept on its back, which was very cute.
Mr Tickles, the giant millipede, proved a firm favourite too, as the children were able to examine his shiny shell-like exoskeleton as he climbed up their arms.
Such an interesting, calming and fascinating visit, we can’t wait to invite Animals in Mind back again.
It’s heads down for Pen licences in Year 2!
Bursts of excitement, followed by focused moments of hush have been emanating from our older children for many weeks now ~ all in the quest for a ‘Pen Licence’! To prepare them for writing with ink in Year 3, the Year 2 teachers have challenged their children to ensure that their handwriting is evenly sized, contains a range of taught joins and has clearly defined ascenders and descenders. Once the children have demonstrated that they can keep this up in their everyday writing, they are rewarded with their very own handwriting friction pen to use in all of their lessons.
Sun Cream and Cap Season!
Our green Spratton Hall sun caps have been essential for shielding young eyes and protecting the tops of heads, from the beautiful sunshine this week. No doubt, they will be even more needed in the next half of the summer term, along with sun cream. Please can I ask parents to be super vigilant about the ingredients in sun cream as, worryingly, some contain almond oil, which could potentially be incredibly harmful to anyone with a nut allergy. We would really like to avoid these creams in school please.
Finally, now that half term is upon us, it provides a valuable opportunity to check the fit of children’s trainers, ready for the much anticipated Pre-Prep Sports Day, which we will soon be limbering up for! Have a restful week, and I look forward to seeing the children fully charged and ready to embrace the final stretch of this academic year.
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to the following children for their swimming achievements: Joel Paul (RG) Level 1 and Harry Wall (1S) Level 3.
Very well done to Orion Adam (1N) who achieved 2nd place for his piano solo at the Northampton Festival of Music and Performing Arts.
Final congratulations go to Hugh Berry (RG) for his bumper crop of rosettes and trophies, including ‘Lead Rein Gymkhana Champion’, on his pony Piccolo.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MUSIC
Parent/Staff Choir – Outdoor Concert
It was lovely to see so many people at the rehearsals this week. It is not too late to join, so please do come along if you would like to join in. We rehearse on a Thursday morning 8.30-9.00 am and on a Friday morning from 8.10-8.30 am. All rehearsals will be held in the Music Room.
Informal Concert – Monday 12th June
Letters have been sent out to all those who have been invited to play in the Informal Concert on Monday 12th June. Please can all reply slips be returned by the end of today.
ABRSM Exams
The ABRSM exams will be on Thursday 15th June and the morning of Friday 16th June. The timetable will be finalised during the first week back after half term.
Music Lessons
Should you wish to terminate your child’s individual music lessons from the start of the autumn term, please be advised that notice must be emailed to Mrs King (nck@sprattonhall.com) by the end of May half term.
HOME CLOTHES DAY
Summer has arrived at last and we all wore summer colours for Home Clothes Day on Monday to support Cancer Research. We managed to raise a total of £369.00.
Thank you for your support.
YEARS 5&6 DRAMA CLUB
Well done to the Years 5&6 Drama Club who put on a wonderful performance on Thursday evening of ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’!
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Year 4 enjoyed their DT lesson this week when they made Hexbug Mazes as part of a STEM challenge.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to to Archie Gowling for winning the coaches Player of the Year for Market Harborough Rugby Club U11s for the second year running!
Well done to Mara Hamilton who won 1st place with a gold medal for Year 6 & Under Memorised Prose and 2nd place with a silver medal for Solo Acting at Northampton Festival of Performing Arts.
Clemmie Harrison and Thomas Bellamy had a great time down at Portland Harbour at the U13 IAPS sailing event and came 28/35 which is a fine achievement given our ‘pole of inaccessibility’!
SCHOOL SHOP MANAGER
Today we say goodbye to Sonja Walker as School Shop Manager, we would like to wish her every success in her new job. Sonja has done a sterling job this past year keeping the shop in order and we are very sorry to see her go. However we would like to welcome Alex Blake to the role. Alex is already settling in very well and I am sure that everyone will make her feel very welcome.
LOST PROPERTY
Isabel Cheng (3D) – lost her blazer after cricket on Thursday last week – left on the field (named with smart watch in the pocket)
Alba Tilley (4B) – Waitrose bag containing blue leopard print roller skates and purple helmet (bag is named)
Alice Callan (4S) – games bag containing kit (named)
ONLINE SAFETY
Under the influence? For many young people, social media influencers are ‘the new rock stars’ – but how much of these emerging celebrities’ content can really be trusted? #WakeUpWednesday highlights potential online safety risks
Here is the link to the school website where you will find more details and further helpful information about online safety.
NON-SCHOOL
Northamptonshire Tennis Coaching – May half term tennis festivals
Ashby St Ledgers Fun Run – Sunday 4th June
Camilla Treharne Millinery
Luxury handmade hats, headpieces and accessories – camilla@camillatreharnemillinery.com/07770 287894/@camillatreharnemillinery
Please follow this link for further details.
