From the Head Master
I am writing to you from Edinburgh where, as I mentioned last week in the newsletter, I am attending the IAPS Annual Conference which, this year, is a joint venture with HMC (senior school heads). It is, therefore, believed to be the biggest ever gathering of independent school heads in the UK.
Cross-Country Success
I was so pleased to hear how well our runners did at the Shrewsbury Hunt on Sunday. 56 Spratton runners took part in the race, with all doing so well and many winning medals. A very special mention to Isla Allsopp who came 1st in the U11 Girls , Kitty Kanjurs who came 2nd in the U9 Girls and Ellie Allsopp who came 3rd in the U13 Girls races. We did so very well in the team events too with both the U9 Boys and Girls teams taking 2nd place, the U11 Girls coming in 1st place, U13 Boys 2nd and U13 girls 1st place. Tremendous results!
Postponed Visiting Headmaster
We were due to welcome Mr Paul Sanderson, Headmaster of Bloxham, to speak in assembly next Friday. Unfortunately, he is no longer able to make that date; therefore, this is postponed until next term with a date to follow.
Oakham Music Day
Many of our musicians thoroughly enjoyed attending the ‘Oakham Music Day’ on Tuesday. They enjoyed a splendid day, culminating in a wonderful concert. Well done to all involved.
House Competitions
This afternoon sees the first sporting House event of the new year with Years 7 and 8 Hockey and Rugby. I am very sad to miss it but I do wish all the children the very best and, of course, may the best House win.
Next Week
There are a number of events to look forward to next week:
Home Clothes Day
Home Clothes Day on Monday, which is supporting one of our Year 8 chosen charities for this year: Rainbows Children’s Hospice. I am looking forward to seeing an array of colour with Year 8 wearing purple, Year 7 blue, Year 6 green, Year 5 yellow, Year 4 orange, Year 3 red, and, finally, our Prep-Prep children wearing the full rainbow of colour.
Internet Safety Talks
On Wednesday, we have ‘Internet Safety Talks’ to the children from Years 1 to 8. The importance of these sorts of talks cannot be understated. It is vital that parents and the school work together in educating the children in using the internet safely and in a responsible and friendly manner. There will be a talk to parents after school – I would urge as many of you as possible to come along to that.
Informal Concert
Then on Thursday, we have the first musical concert of the year, our Informal Concert at 5.30pm with many soloists performing.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Year 1 Venture to Pizza Express
To support their topic on ‘Italy’, Year 1 ventured off to Pizza Express on Tuesday, where they thoroughly enjoyed a pizza making (and eating!) experience. Rolling up their sleeves, the children dusted their hands with flour before pummelling and stretching balls of gooey, wet dough into flat, round shapes and slathering on lashings of tomato sauce. After four minutes in the oven, the pizzas were ready for the best part … tasting! Please do visit the Pre-Prep Gallery on the website to view the photographs.
Christmas Cards
This week, believe it or not, Pre-Prep have been putting the finishing touches to their Christmas cards! From plump figgy puddings and prancing penguins, to multi-coloured Christmas trees and fingerprint snowmen, every child has created their own unique piece of artwork. Having been carefully packaged up, they are now on their way to the printers ready to be transformed into beautiful, glossy cards. Sample cards will be sent home shortly after half term, with the opportunity for parents to purchase sets of cards online, should you wish to do so.
Internet Safety Talks and Parent Presentation
Online Safety forms an integral and ongoing part of our Heath Education curriculum throughout the school and is also an essential part of our safeguarding work. From Reception, we continually weave in simple yet important messages about online safety. Next week, the children in Years 1 to 8 are set to enjoy presentation sessions from an external speaker. At an age appropriate level, the Year 1 and 2 children will be encouraged to think about making sensible choices when working or playing online. It is worth noting that at the end of the day, from 4.15-5.15pm, there will also be a session for parents, which you are most welcome to attend.
Year 1 Assembly – a Taste of Italy!
This afternoon, parents, friends and family will be entertained in the first of our Year Group Assemblies. With an abundance of fascinating information about their topic on ‘Italy’, we will enjoy watching the children performing a lively collection of songs, while all rubbing our tummies and thinking of pasta! Next week, it is the turn of Year 2, for what I know will be a very proud experience for them.
Homes Clothes Day – Monday
The school will be a vibrant, burst of colour on Monday as we invite everyone to come to school dressed in rainbow colours. For a donation of £1, which will go to the Rainbow Children’s Hospice, it is sure to be a dazzling day.
New Look Newsletter
Finally, I hope you are enjoying our new look newsletter. Pre-Prep Pupil Achievements will continue to be celebrated on our page, however, all the diary events can now be viewed by clicking on the link at the bottom of the newsletter. This will take you to the website calendar, where you will see any amendments, additions or cancellations to the printed calendar that may affect your child for the following week and beyond.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MUSIC
Informal Concert – Thursday 13th October at 5.30pm.
We are looking forward to the first Informal Concert of the Year on Thursday. Tea will be provided for all performers and for those siblings that have requested it.
Oakham Music Day
We had a brilliant day with our Year 6 singers at Oakham on Tuesday. They had a great time rehearsing under the direction of Oakham’s Director of Music, Peter Davis. The pupils then came together with a group of instrumentalists to perform a wonderful concert to staff and parents. It was a fantastic day and a wonderful experience for everybody who took part. The standard of performance, after just a day of rehearsing, was excellent.
ABRSM Exams
These will take place during the week beginning Monday 14th November. A timetable will be displayed in the Music Department after half term.
Music Lessons
Should you wish to terminate your child’s individual music lessons from the start of the Spring term, notice must be received by October half term.
SPORT
Cross-Country – Shrewsbury Hunt
Well done to all the runners who took part in the cross-country at Shrewsbury last weekend.
ART
Artist of the Week
Well done to Jack Greany for his wonderful Angel design for his Christmas Card which is so neatly presented.
All our amazing Christmas card designs are now flying off to the printers!
HOME CLOTHES DAY
We are holding a Home Clothes Day for Prep and Pre-Prep on Monday 10th October to support Rainbows Hospice. Please bring in £1 to wear your own clothes as follows:-
Year 8 – Purple
Year 7 – Blue
Year 6 – Green
Year 5 – Yellow
Year 4 – Orange
Year 3 – Red
Pre-Prep – Rainbow colours
ONLINE SAFETY
As part of our ongoing Online Safety provision, we are delighted to have Gareth Cort from ‘Connected Minds’ visiting the school to deliver sessions to all pupils in Years 1 to 8 next Wednesday 12th October. Gareth is a highly experienced speaker in this area and has visited the school several times before.
He will also be running a session for Parents after school (4.10pm – 5.15pm) in the Townsend Library – please do just come along – no booking necessary.
The outline of his sessions are as follows:
- Year 1-2: The Mishaps of Morgan Monster – A story about identifying and making safe choices online. The children get to choose what Morgan does at key points in the story and see how it plays out.
- Years 3-6: Do you THINK online? – Discussing a range of online safety areas such as critical thinking, health and wellbeing, protecting personal information, managing tricky online situations and being kind and respectful online. Each area is explored with engaging examples.
- Year 7: Keeping yourself and others safe online – Discussing positive online behaviour, critical thinking and how to respond to and tackle online bullying.
- Year 8: Managing our relationships online – Focusing on positive online behaviour, deciding who (and what) to trust and managing peer pressure situations such as sexting.
- Parents: Supporting your child online – A broad overview of online safety risks that can affect children and young people, with practical advice and guidance provided throughout.
We know the children will find this useful, and hope that many parents will take up this opportunity also.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Joe, Bea, Imogen, Cee-Cee, Ellie, Kitty, Cecilie, Jenson, Felix and Alfie who have been selected for the U13 County Hockey teams and also to Hester who was selected for the U14s. Well done everyone.
Well done also to Florence, who came 10th at the School Equestrian Games Eventing Championships.
Congratulations also to Stevie who completed the London Mini Marathon (1 mile) on Saturday. The course is the actual last mile of the full London Marathon.
Well done to Imogen Turney who was awarded Girls’ U13 Batter of the Season and to Cee-Cee Guest who received the U11 Steelbacks Award at the recent County Cricket Awards. At the same event, Teddy Green picked up awards for his fifty against North Wales and four wickets vs Worcestershire, as well as the U12 ‘Young Steelback’ award, and Milo Green won awards for his two fifties, against South Wales and Derbyshire, and the overall U11 Batting prize.
We are very proud of all our cricketers for representing the County so successfully!
LOST PROPERTY
Gabby Ayensah (1N): school tie
Zac Smith (6L): glasses in red case
Ava Ashton (2L): 2 x cardigans (named)
SPRATTON HALL SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
We are planning our next event to be held on Friday 11th November so please SAVE THE DATE! Full details to follow shortly.
NON-SCHOOL EVENTS
Half Term Hockey Camps with Northampton Saints Hockey Club – £32 per day (discounts available)
24-26 October at Moulton College 9am-4pm
No equipment needed, hot lunch provided
www.saintshockey.org.uk/evolution_camps
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