FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Coronation
The children appear to have enjoyed seeing the Union Flag flying from the mast and the bunting fluttering in the wind this week as the country builds up to the Coronation weekend.
This morning, we enjoyed a special Coronation assembly in which the children learned more about the ceremony itself, some of the religious symbolism involved and we crowned our very own King and Queen in our own very truncated version of the service. Our newly crowned King and Queen, played most regally by two of our Year 8 pupils – Dylan and Camilla (of course!) – stayed in their crown and regalia all morning to add to the fun with the rest of the school having to bow or curtsey to them whenever they passed by.
We have just enjoyed a picnic lunch on Arthur’s Square field, successfully managing to dodge the showers, with entertainment, music and games. To add to the occasion, it was a sea of royal red, white and blue with all the children and staff in home clothes.
Visiting Headmaster
Next Friday, I look forward to welcoming Mr Grove du Toit, the new Head of Princethorpe College, who will be speaking in assembly at 8.45 am. As always, parents are welcome to attend and then meet Mr du Toit afterwards over coffee in the Drawing Room.
Athletics Meeting
Our annual athletics meeting held on Tuesday was a very special evening with so many of our children taking part. We welcomed four other schools to the meeting and I am pleased to report how well our own teams did, with our boys coming 2nd overall but our girls’ team going one step further and coming in 1st place. Well done to all involved.
Monday on Tuesday
Do remember that, to make up for the lost Monday lessons this term, we are having Monday’s lessons on Tuesday next week. It is a little more complicated than that, so do please read Mr Dow’s explanation below.
Pick-up after Away Matches
As you will know from my start of term letter, we have been tightening up our pick-up arrangements for children from away matches. I am pleased to report that the new tweaks have worked really well with parents either letting the Games teacher or the Office know beforehand if their child is being picked up by another parent. The system has also worked well with the parent picking up able to show the teacher a text message giving permission. Thank you for all your support in this matter.
I do hope you and the children thoroughly enjoy the Coronation events tomorrow and the long weekend.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Our Pre-Prep Cake Sale Triumph!
My first mention in this week’s newsletter must be of Tuesday’s (and Wednesday’s!) fabulous cake sale. It was a wonderful experience for the Year 2 children who delighted in setting up their stalls and advertising their wares with chants of, “Come and buy our delicious cakes!” A huge, heartfelt thank you must go to the Pre-Prep parents and staff for their time and effort in baking and buying the gorgeous array of cakes, and cookies, for us to sell. For proof of how good the cakes were, there were squeals of delight when Mr Clarke was spotted hotfooting across the playground holding three!
I am delighted to announce that the total raised for the Motor Neurone Disease Association was £391.80.
Year 2 Welcome a Visiting Speaker
On Wednesday afternoon, the children in Year 2 welcomed a visitor into their classrooms. Mrs Elijah-Sigston arrived laden with boxes full of fascinating objects and special religious artefacts, all linked to her Jewish faith. Listening with intrigue, the children learned of the symbolism behind the kosher wine overflowing from the Kiddish cup, as a Shabbat meal was re-enacted. They even sampled some sweet Challah bread and now cannot wait to make their own next week. Concluding with a dynamic question and answer session, the children showed great respect for the beliefs of Jewish people in relation to those of their own.
Newt Friends in the Forest
It was two weeks ago now that some eagle-eyed children spotted a pair of newts cosied up amongst the damp leaf litter in Five Acres Wood. It seems, this week, that our little amphibian friends are becoming quite used to the children’s visits and are even enjoying some very gentle, delicate handling!
Coronation Picnic
What an important and historic event we will witness this weekend with the coronation of King Charles III. The Pre-Prep classrooms have been awash with red, white and blue, as the children have enjoyed a variety of coronation themed art activities. Some spectacular portraits of King Charles are on display in windows and around classrooms, with crowns and flags in abundance too. As I type in advance of our whole school celebration picnic on Friday, I can only hope that the weather is kind to us as we munch our lunch underneath the flapping bunting.
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Rupert Davies (1S) who has gained his Level 2 Swimming Award.
A further well done to Samuel Bradshaw (2M) who gained a medal for his effort and skill in Rugby.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
TUESDAY 9th MAY WILL BE ‘MONDAY’ LESSONS
As advertised in the Calendar, Tuesday 9th May is going to be Monday lessons. However, it is not quite as straightforward as that:
- Before School Clubs will be Tuesday Clubs (Netball and Rugby for Yrs 5-8, and Jazz Band)
- Lessons 1-9 will be Monday lessons (including Games for Yrs 5 and 6)
- Lunchtime Clubs will be Tuesday Clubs (French Clinics, Snr School Council, Monkey Island, Geog Club, Art, Brass Ensemble)
- After-school Clubs will be Tuesday Clubs (Spanish, Archery, Concert Band, Yrs 3&4 Construction, Sewing and Knitting, Portfolio)
Hopefully this is clear – please do ask Mr Dow if not.
MANAGER OF SCHOOL SHOP
We are looking for somebody to step into the shoes of the Shop Manager who will be leaving at the end of May. Ideally, it will be a parent or a former parent with a few hours to spare each week. We would like the shop to be open three times a week, two afternoons to include a Monday, and on a Friday morning during term time. Additional hours will be needed at the end of the summer term and during the summer holiday. Some flexibility will be required regarding the exact working hours. The role involves keeping the shop in order, controlling the stock, answering emails and assisting with uniform orders. If you are interested in applying, or require any further information, please contact the Bursar, Mrs Clare Cull, on 01604 847292 or email bursar@sprattonhall.com
ATHLETICS
This week saw the annual Spratton Athletics meeting hosting Bilton Grange, Beachborough, Swanbourne and Wellingborough Schools.
Well done to everyone who took part and for helping us to gain overall 1st place for the girls and 2nd place for the boys.
EQUESTRIAN SUCCESS
Congratulations to Lola, Maisie & Tiggy for achieving rosettes in the Maidwell Hall show jumping competition on Sunday.
Maisie came 1st in the 70cm & the 80cm, Lola came 4th in the 55cm and Tiggy came 6th in the 80cm.
Well done to all who competed for Spratton that day, including Charlotte, Claudia, Olivia & Ottilie.
ART
Rugby Art Competition Winner
Well done to Bessie Sanders who has won her age group for Spratton Hall in the Rugby School Art Competition celebrating 200 years of the game of Rugby.
Bessie and 16 other Spratton pupils will have their picture printed on a giant rugby ball which will be positioned outside the Rugby Art Gallery & Museum. This will be unveiled at 10.30 am on Saturday 3rd June. Out of the 50 images printed on the ball, Spratton pupils’ paintings will cover a third!
Jessica Dorrian, Lucas Fowler, Elliot Briggs, Byron Dayman, Isla Allsopp, Amber Bowyer, Juno Dow, Ava Kooner, Ginny McAra, Isabel Smith, Ludo Lindsay, Bessie Sanders, Archie Bateson, Joshua Tomlins, Eddie Greany, Jonty Collins and Theo Adkins.
Well done everyone.
MUSIC
Summer Concert – Tuesday 4th July
Our Summer Concert will take place on Tuesday 6th July. All of our music ensembles will be performing in this concert. Please make sure that the date is in your diary.
Music Lessons
Individual music lessons are available on a wide range of instruments. If you are interested in your child having music lessons in school from September, please speak to Mrs King.
NMPAT Auditions
It has been wonderful to see so many of our pupils involved in the external music groups organised by Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust.
Should your require further information about auditioning to take part next academic year, please click on the link below.
SCHOOL PRINT
For those of you not familiar with the artist – Martin Taylor (previous Head of our Art Department), please see below is a little information about his work.
Martin Taylor is a contemporary English landscape painter and since moving to Northampton in 1989 has been largely preoccupied with the landscape of Northamptonshire, often working ‘en plein air’, in fields and the open countryside. During inclement weather he shelters in the back of his land rover painting scenes down bridleways, on a fields’ edge or wherever he can access with such a vehicle. He also finds subjects in back gardens, sheds, churchyards, cellars or wherever the atmosphere moves him, which is sometimes in the most unlikely of places. Works are also developed in the studio, a converted stable on a farm in East Haddon. Martin’s work reflects his love of nature, played out in exquisitely detailed studies of the countryside surrounding this studio. Every season brings fresh inspiration, the combination of intricate detail and careful composition in his work celebrates nature on every scale, from the grasses in a headland, to the clouds skimming vast skies. Having previously worked purely with watercolour Martin is now working in oil in pursuit of an even greater freedom of expression and intensity of colour. Drawing continues to be essential in his work from conception to completion. Taylor has worked abroad in Spain, Italy and India where a change of culture, light and the variant textures of buildings and architecture is an inspiration. He exhibits regularly in Northamptonshire and London, and is widely collected in the UK and USA.
PRE-PREP CAKE SALE
Well done to our Pre-Prep Department who made and sold cakes this week to support Motor Neurone Disease Association raising a total of £391.80
CORONATION PICNIC
To celebrate the Coronation, the whole school took part in a celebration picnic lunch today on Arthur’s Square.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Tom Miles (2L) who won the Under 7s Most Improved Player Award at the Old Northamptonians Rugby Club this year.
SHSPA EVENTS
Tickets are still on sale, however, there is now limited availability.
ONLINE SAFETY
Snapchat – AI Chatbot
Artificial Intelligence has been around for years, but in the last 6 months or so it has taken on a whole new dimension. Everyone is talking about ChatGPT, but that’s one very small example compared to what is out there now. All the big companies are either implementing or starting to implement AI into their services now, and this includes Snapchat who a fortnight ago introduced their AI Chatbot. For companies, this is all about engagement, in other words keeping people in the app. However, as much as AI can be used for good, there is always a negative side too with the bot responding and giving wholly inappropriate advice to questions that are being asked, even when you tell the bot how old you are. To combat this Snap have stated that they will introduce filters and Family Centre parental controls to help. Once again, it feels safety is an afterthought.
AI is here now and it is here to stay, it is growing very quickly, faster than we have ever seen before, so this is an area that we need to start discussing with children and young people, both the positives and the negatives. To read a little more about the AI chatbot on Snapchat see the article in this link….
Here is the link to the school website where you will find more details and further helpful information about online safety.
