FROM THE HEADMASTER
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to report that Martha Holley has been awarded a Drama and Musical Theatre Scholarship to Princethorpe College. This is a tremendous achievement and just reward for Martha’s talent and hard work in those areas. Congratulations, too, to Arthur Westaway who has been awarded a Sports Exhibition to Stowe. Again, this is a reflection of Arthur’s sporting skill and hard work over the years, particularly in cricket. Very well done to Martha and Arthur!
Cross-Country Captains
Congratulations to this year’s Cross-Country Captains, announced in assembly this morning: Captains: Isabella Szechenyi and Henry Sandall; Vice-Captains: George Guppy and India Woollcott-Price. Good luck to them and the team for first event of the season at Beachborough on Tuesday.
Car Park Extension
Those of you who have driven and parked in the overflow car park beyond the Underwood may have seen some work going on this week. We are extending the overflow car park to create more parking spaces. As you will know, every time we have afternoon events the car park fills very quickly and then the 3.30pm and 4.00pm pick-ups become difficult for parents to find spaces. These extra spaces will ease the parking considerably once completed, which we hope will be early in the new year.
Request from the Registrar
Please can we encourage Spratton parents who have little ones who are not yet registered and would like them to attend the school, to register or make contact with Mrs Church. We are in the very happy and fortunate position of already having full numbers for Reception next year (waiting list now in operation) and nearly full for the year after. Registration lists are open through to 2030 entry and we do encourage parents to register as early as possible as we don’t want anyone to miss out.
Advent Season Begins
We look forward to our Advent Services in St Andrew’s Church on Monday morning, with the Years 6, 7 and 8 service at 8.45am, followed closely by the Years 3, 4 and 5 service at 9.10am. As always, parents are welcome to attend.
As well as signalling the start of the Advent season itself, the services also herald the start of the Christmas celebrations here at school, with the first performance of the Pre-Prep Christmas plays on Tuesday and then further seasonal events to follow.
On the subject of Christmas, we are so very grateful to Welford Christmas Tree Farm for donating our beautiful Christmas wreaths this year. Our own Christmas elves will be busy this weekend decorating the school so it will look most festive on Monday morning. We also look forward to the annual Art Christmas installation that will be appearing on the terrace early next week.
Do have a good weekend.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
PRE-PREP
Year 2, Mini Strings Violin Club
I enjoyed the most wonderful start to the week when our Year 2 children in the Mini Strings Violin Club gave a truly heart-warming performance in their very first concert. Watching them play with such confidence — plucking an array of notes with their fingers and drawing their bows so carefully across the strings — was utterly mesmerising. All of this was made even more remarkable by the fact that they have only been learning for 10 weeks. The children’s progress has been extraordinary, and we cannot wait to see what they go on to achieve next term!
Autumn Treasures on Ice
Making the most of the recent drop in temperatures, our Year 1 children have been busy turning autumn’s treasures into eye-catching ice sculptures. Inspired by the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy, they gathered cups brimming with colourful leaves and seedpods, and carefully immersed them in water before leaving them out to freeze. Each morning has brought a burst of excitement as the children have dashed outside to admire the icy crystals forming on the top.
Christmas Nativity Photographs
It is always a magical moment when the children wriggle into their nativity costumes for the very first time. On Wednesday, excitement bubbled over as they posed under bright lights in front of the camera—shepherds and angels giggling, stars twirling, and multiple camels jostling about! The photographer worked quickly and carefully to capture the magic of each child’s special moment. Mrs Cohen will return on Monday to take performance photographs during our dress rehearsal, and she will then create a secure online gallery where you can view and purchase the pictures if you wish. Full details, along with the live streaming links for each of our Christmas performances, will be sent out ahead of the plays next week.
Glitter, Sparkle, Shine!
As we creep ever closer to the festive month of December, so the tops come off the glitter pots and the children’s artwork becomes dominated by sploshes of red and green paint, and balls of fluffy white cotton wool! The entire department, from tables, little hands and faces, and even our bathroom hand basins, are positively twinkling and glistening with glitter!
To add to the seasonal atmosphere, all the children have made beautiful snowflake and robin decorations to hang in our Pre-Prep entrance. We hope this will provide a cosy, wintery welcome to the Christmas tree, which will sparkle and shine when it stands proudly in our middle area next week!
It’s Showtime!
The countdown to our Christmas performances is nearly over! Stage directions, songs and lines have been polished, and the children’s voices have grown stronger and more confident with each passing day. All the e-tickets have been sent out by email and, with two bumper audiences filling the Hunter Hall, we cannot wait to welcome you!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Rosie McKenna who has achieved her 5m and Level 2 Swimming Awards.
Very well done to Isabella Wiseman for gaining 2nd and 4th place rosettes in a Working Hunter equestrian event.
Further congratulations go to Romilly Boyson who achieved 1st place in the U8’s National Schools Outdoor Ski Championships and also to Callum Boyson who gained a medal in recognition of his effort and skill on the slopes.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
EDI WORKING PARTY MEETING
Eight members of staff, and six parents, from right across the age ranges of the Prep and Pre-Prep school, met last week for the third EDI Working Party Meeting. At a time when Equity, Diversity and Inclusion seem to be under fire in some areas of society/business, both here and abroad, Spratton continues to hold in the highest regard the need to make our school as inclusive as we can, and to ensure that we are doing our best to teach Spratton pupils to value, celebrate and respect difference, in all its forms. We feel that such lessons are as important for the children to carry forward into adulthood as any Maths, English or Science ones! The Working Party is the only Staff/Parent group of its kind at Spratton, and is a unique forum for discussion and learning, combining the expertise and lived experience of parents, with the day-to-day work of staff.
We focused first on actions taken since the last meeting – such as the successful Cultural Festival in the summer, the continued work on Pupil voice opportunities and the commencement of an EDI Resources Audit at school – before discussing topics such as opportunities in sport for different genders, the role and teaching of History in connection with EDI issues, and the potential for Parent Networks to offer support.
The Minutes from the meeting, along with a Powerpoint presentation from EDI Lead Mr McKenna, can be found here: EDI Meeting and Presentation – click here
If any parent has a particular interest in this area, and would like to contribute or attend the next meeting, please do get in touch with Mr Dow on rpd@sprattonhall.com
CAKE SALE
Thank you to everyone who made and bought cakes for our Year 8 Cake Sale on Tuesday. We managed to raise a total of £230 for MS Society.
MUSIC
Christmas Concert – Monday 8th December
We are really looking forward to the Christmas Concert on Monday 8th December. A letter was sent out this week to the parents of all the children involved. Tea will be provided for all performers, please let the school office know if you will require a sibling tea. A reminder to all pupils performing to bring something Christmassy to wear. This could be a Santa hat, headband or some tinsel. No Christmas jumpers though please.
Carol Services
Our Carol Services at the end of term are always a really lovely occasion. Please be aware that Junior Song and the Year 5 Senior Choir members will be singing as part of the Junior Service on Tuesday 16th December. The Year 6, 7 & 8 Senior Choir members will sing in the Senior Service on Wednesday 17th December. Parents are welcome to attend.
Piano Exam Success
Congratulations to Kai Patel for gaining a merit in his Grade 1 exam and to Yilin Zhang for achieving a merit in her Grade 5 exam.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 3&4 Rugby
1st Grenville, 2nd Frobisher, 3rd Drake, 4th Raleigh
Years 3&4 Hockey
1st Frobisher, 2nd Grenville, 3rd Drake, 4th Raleigh
Years 5&6 Rugby
1st Frobisher, 2nd Drake, 3rd Raleigh, 4th Grenville
Years 5&6 Hockey
1st Grenville, 2nd Drake, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
Senior House Verse Speaking
1st Drake, 2nd, Grenville, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
FOREST SCHOOL
Year 3 have been enjoying Autumn in the forest. They have been whittling, conker-crafting, den building, leaf threading and much more!
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTSWell done to Leilana who won a golf competition at Collingtree Park last weekend and has progressed to the next round. She also achieved a ‘hole in one’ on the 7th hole!
Congratulations to Shanaya and Grace who have been invited to take part in the Cricket Pathway Early Engagement Program with Northampton County Cricket Club.
MEDICAL – Nits!
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.
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 will not 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 may be embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they do not usually cause illness. However, they WILL NOT 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 12 hours 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 20–30 minutes 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.
Debs Hadfield – Matron
SHSPA
Christmas Fayre – Wednesday 10th December
Thank you very much for the donations we have received so far. We are still need of more of the following;
– Jolly Jars (filled and decorated glass jars – no chocolate/nuts) please see photo for an example
– Small wrapped gifts for the lucky dip (no nuts)
– Gifts for the tombola and hampers
– Nearly new toys (please ensure they are clean and in good condition)
– Clean and in good condition soft toys for the teddy tent
Please leave all donations in the Hunter Hall.
Thank you in advance for your generous support – SHSPA
