FROM THE HEADMASTER
Scholarship Success
I am delighted to announce that Isla Wallace, Poppy Turney and Reuben Lindsay-Smith have each been awarded a Sports Scholarship to Rugby. Additionally, Arthur Westaway has been given a Head Master’s Award, also for Sport to Rugby. Congratulations to all four pupils on this very special achievement.
Beachborough Cross-Country
I was hugely impressed with how our four teams did at the Beachborough event on Tuesday, the first of the new season, with all four teams coming in the top three. Very well done to the Junior Girls and the Junior Boys, both of whom came 3rd, the Senior Boys came 2nd and the Senior Girls came a brilliant 1st place. Particularly well done to the following individuals who came in the top three: Eoin Fitzpatrick 3rd in the U11 Boys, George Docker 3rd in the Senior Boys and then in the Senior Girls, Mara Hamilton and Isabella Szechenyi came 1st and 2nd respectively – a fantastic run from them all!
Seasonal Events
Always a highlight of the year and most definitely heralding the Christmas season, very well done to all of the children for the magical Pre-Prep Christmas plays held over Tuesday and Thursday this week. Well done, too, of course, to all the staff involved for the huge amount of hard work and efforts towards putting the plays on.
As we move into the last full week of term, the seasonal events come thick and fast, with the big end of term Christmas Music Concert on Monday at 5.30pm, there are various theatre trips next week and we look forward to the SHSPA Christmas Fayre on Wednesday starting at 2.00pm. On Friday it is Home Clothes Day, aka ‘Christmas Jumper Day’, when we also look forward to our splendid Christmas lunches – a full roast with all the trimmings.
Last Weekend of Fixtures
Tomorrow sees the final sports fixtures of the term with U10 and U11 Rugby v Bedford Modern and the Senior Boys Rugby v Ratcliffe. At this point I want to mention the 1st XIII Rugby team who have had an outstanding term, including beating the ‘unbeaten’ Beachborough side on Wednesday. They have been a credit to the school and a pleasure to watch. I wish them, and all the teams, well in their final matches tomorrow.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
PRE-PREP
As we merrily dip our toes into 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, along with 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!
Pre-Prep Christmas Performance Magic!
The countdown of sleeps was finally over, bringing with it two of the most magical and joy-filled days in our Pre-Prep calendar: our Christmas Plays! Words cannot fully capture how immensely proud the staff and I are of all the children.
After weeks of rehearsing stage movements, perfecting lines, and practising songs and actions, the children’s hard work culminated in two truly delightful performances of ‘Camel-Ama-Ding-Dong!’ and ‘Lights, Camel, Action’. From the cantankerous wit of Caesar Augustus to the hoof-wiggling humour of Donkey; from party-loving camels, tangoing inn keepers and disco-bopping stars, watching our little ones in their Christmas performances was a heart-warming reminder of the wonder and sparkle of the festive season—the children were amazing!
Pre-Prep Christmas Performance Photographs
On Wednesday, I emailed parents with the secure online links for each class’s gallery of Christmas photographs. Scrolling through the pictures of the children in their costumes really does help to relive those magical nativity moments. A friendly top tip: If you’d like to make a purchase, be sure to place your order by Friday 12th December. This way, your prints will be delivered directly to the school, saving you the cost of postage and packaging.
Christmas Jumper Day – Next Week!
The fun continues next week with our much-anticipated Christmas Cracker Lunch and a wonderfully festive Christmas Jumper Day on Friday. The children are invited to come to school in their home clothes, ready to dazzle in festive jumpers, Christmassy colours, or anything bright and sparkly. If you wish to donate £1, then any voluntary contributions will go towards the three Year 8 charities. It promises to be a day bursting with colour, excitement and seasonal cheer!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Penny Cross who has graduated to the Rock Hopper class in her swimming lessons and to Sofia Morris who achieved a medal for her effort and skill when demonstrating her front crawl.
Very well done to Harley Horton-Walker who entered her first competition in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, gaining a medal for her effort and skill.
Congratulations to Finn Ryan who was awarded, ‘Beaver of the Week’ for his brilliant presentation about this favourite hobby, rugby, at his Beaver Scout group.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
ART
The Art Department have been busy making this year’s Christmas art installation which are famous portrait faces lit up with a Christmas theme. Well done Years 3-5 for all your hard work and to Mrs Moreton of course! Parents can see the lights on the Terrace at the end of the day lit up in their full glory.
MUSIC
Christmas Concert – Monday 8th December
We are really looking forward to the Christmas Concert on Monday. Tea will be provided for all performers and any siblings that have requested it. 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, which take place on the last two days of the term, are something that we always look forward to. Spratton Singers and the Year 5 Choir members will be singing as part of the Junior Carol Service on Tuesday 16th December and the Years 6, 7 & 8 Choir members will be singing as part of the Senior Carol Service on Wednesday 17th December. Parents are most welcome to attend.
BEACHBOROUGH RUN
There was real excitement on Tuesday, on a lovely day for our first Cross Country competition of the season, and the team truly rose to the occasion!
U11 Girls:
The team placed 3rd overall, with Sofia Slowey leading the girls home in 8th, closely followed by Alicia Szechenyi, Amelia Legg and Jemima Paul, all finishing in the top 17 — a commendable achievement! They were followed by Sofia Roseveare, Lexi Mercer, Sofia Hodgkins, Florence Van Herrewege, Siana Dalby and Hannah Morgan.
U11 Boys:
The team achieved 3rd place, led by Eoin Fitzpatrick in 3rd, closely followed by Ralph Drage, Zak Kooner, Rory Waite, Albert Rand, Thomas Hassell, Diel Wright-Levy and Jago Hanson.
U13 Boys:
The team placed 2nd, with George Docker delivering a fantastic performance to finish as the 3rd boy, closely followed by Oscar Phipps, Eddie Szechenyi, Blake Purcell, Ralph Castledine, Bertie Glason, Henry Sandall and George Guppy. Our top four finishers secured spots in the top 13, and all eight boys finished in the top 19 — an incredible result!
U13 Girls:
Huge congratulations to the team for finishing 1st, retaining the trophy! A special mention goes to three girls: Mara Hamilton for winning the race, Isabella Szechenyi for finishing a very close 2nd, and India Woollcott-Price for finishing 4th. Flo Mills then completed our first four, all of whom placed in the top 16 — an amazing achievement! They were followed by Ivy Urquhart, Anna Saunders, Emily Spencer and Bea Harrison.
One last fantastic achievement was the fact that we were the only school to place in the top three in each race.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 7&8 Hockey
1st Frobisher, 2nd Grenville, 3rd Drake, 4th Raleigh
Years 7&8 Rugby
1st Raleigh, 2nd Grenville, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Drake
Junior Verse Speaking
1st Grenville, 2nd = Raleigh, Frobisher, Drake
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Well done to Oliver Sharrock who competed in five swimming events last weekend and gained four gold medals and three personal bests. Good luck in the County Championships in the new year.
SHSPA
Calling all bakers – we require cakes and bakes for our refreshment stall at next week’s Christmas Fayre. Please leave them in the Hunter Hall on Wednesday morning and do remember we are a nut free school!
Thank you very much for your help.
LOST PROPERTY
Found – Takeuchi key with fob attached
NON-SCHOOL EVENTS
