FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Start of Term
It has been a really lovely first few days back in school. The children have returned in good spirits, smiling, enthusiastic and keen to get down to their schoolwork. The hot weather has been a joy to have but it hasn’t necessarily helped with concentration levels!
The children have been enjoying many of the new things we have put in place this term. I think the most excitement came for them, however, when they were given a ‘Spratton Hall tote bag’ which, if they wish, they can use to carry their bits and pieces around school. Whilst every child in the prep school has been given a complimentary bag, if they lose it or need another one then the replacement will need to be purchased from the School Shop. As the children know, the bags are for internal use only and should not be taken home.
School Gates & Pedestrian Access into School
Thank you so much to the very many of you who have made most positive comments about our new entrance and the new signage around school. It was a huge relief to me on Wednesday morning to see the traffic flowing freely both in and out the driveway. All being well, by Monday the gates themselves will be in place.
Whilst on this subject, if you live in the village and you choose to walk into school, please only use the door into the Rose Garden to access the school. Please do not walk through the new gates which are, by and large, for traffic only. The code for the Rose Garden gate can be obtained from the School Office.
Insight
As I mentioned in my start of term letter, our annual magazine has been published. The oldest child in each family should have taken home a copy of the magazine on Wednesday. If you haven’t yet received it, please do search through your child’s bags and if it is still not found please do contact the school.
Year 8 Head Master’s Dinners
This annual event is one of the most anticipated Year 8 events of the year when the children join me and Mrs Clarke for a splendid 3-course candlelit dinner in the Dining Room. I am looking forward to hosting half of Year 8 tonight and then the other half next week.
Visiting Headmaster
Next Friday, we welcome the first visiting Head of the year, Dr Anthony Wallersteiner, Head of Stowe School, who will be speaking in assembly at 8.45am. This is a visit postponed after our snow day back in March. Parents are welcome to attend and then to Join Dr Wallersteiner for coffee afterwards in the Drawing Room.
Parents’ Information and Social Evening
Just a reminder that on Monday evening we have the Years 4, 5 & 6 Parents’ Information and Social Evening. We will gather for drinks either on the terrace or in the Hunter Hall where I will say a few words, followed by Mr Bradnam, Director of Studies. Each year group will then go off to a different area of the school to hear a little more from the Head of Year and where there will be an opportunity to ask questions. I do hope as many of you as possible are able to attend this event as a great deal of important information is given out for the year ahead.
Reminders
A couple of important reminders. It is absolutely imperative that if you are picking up your child during the day perhaps for a doctors or dentist appointment, that you do sign them out in the School Office and sign them back in when they return. This must be done by you as parents or carer, not the child themselves.
If you have changed your address, email or phone numbers over the school holidays, please do let the Office know as soon as possible so that we can be sure that we have up-to-date contact information.
Thank you and do enjoy the good weather over the weekend.
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
Happy New School Year!
If it were possible to capture the energy and excitement of the first day of school into a bottle to savour forever, I would absolutely do that! Stepping out onto the playground in the beautiful sunshine, watching as the children came together again, you could almost feel the fizz of anticipation in the air.
Moving around the classrooms, it really was not long before smiles and giggles surpassed the jangle of nerves, as construction kits started to take shape, playdough was pummelled, bubbly potions were mixed and gloopy wet sponges were dabbing into paint.
Well Done to Reception
With all that starting school involves, our new Reception children have coped incredibly well as, with new routines and grown-ups to adjust to, there is much for our youngest children to think about. One of the children’s first activities was to venture around the school, stopping to say hello to all the new people they met. Out on the playground RY discovered that the best way of remembering which way round to travel on the wheeled toy track, was to giggle and chase Miss Yeo as she ran around it!
End of the Day Safety
Whilst going home is an exciting time of the day, with many little ones needing to let off steam, may I ask parents to keep your children close to you when leaving the school please. For their own safety, the Pre-Prep children are not permitted to climb on walls, railings or on the playground equipment after school, as there is no member of staff on duty and it would be such a shame to end a super day with bumps, cuts and grazes. The railings bordering the terrace are particularly hazardous, with 6ft drops down onto concrete in some places. Your support in this matter is very much appreciated.
Spratton Hall Cake Sale – Tuesday 12th September
Next Tuesday plays host to the first of our Spratton Hall Cake Sales. Organised entirely by our Year 8 pupils, as part of their charity projects, there will be a tempting array of cupcakes, tray bakes and cookies (all nut free) available for the Pre-Prep and Prep children to buy and enjoy at playtime. The Cake Sale is entirely optional and, if you are happy for your child to participate, please could they bring a donation of 50p to school on the morning of the sale. If your child does not have 50p, the Pre-Prep staff will assume that you would rather your child did not take part on this occasion.
Curriculum and Timetable Information
Finally, the shorter week has certainly helped ease the transition back into school and, within three days, the children have already taken part in a wide range of activities spanning many different areas of the curriculum. This afternoon, your child’s class teacher will be sending home timetable information and curriculum overviews. These will give you a flavour of the learning to be covered this term, as well as provide some top tips, such as which days PE kits, spelling books, ocarinas and recorders may be needed.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
ART
Artist of the Week
Artist of the Week goes to Hannah Marchant (Y8) for the surrealist faces showing different emotions which she did over the summer.
Art Competition, ‘Paint a Pet’
How to enter
- Paint or draw a pet, yours or someone else’s pet you know. You do not have to have a pet to enter.
- No bigger than A3 size.
- Paste a photograph of your pet painting/drawing on the common drive – in Art – in the pet competition entries slide. Giving your name and form, pet’s name and tell us a bit about them.
- Deadline is 2nd November (the day before we get back after half term).
- Bring your picture into school on Monday 3rd November.
- Winners will be announced by the end of November.
I do not have any pets, so I painted Nora, a rescue dog, who lives next door to me.
In the summer holidays I was inspired by the dog paintings of David Remfry and Sally Muir (Royal Academy Artists) and thought Spratton pupils would love to paint pets!
I have really enjoyed painting Nora and got to know her really well.
Mrs Moreton
MUSIC
Meet the Music Department Peripatetic Staff – Tuesday 12th September
We are looking forward to meeting you at our ‘Meet the Music Department Staff’ event on Tuesday 12th September at 8.30 – 9.10am in the Drawing Room. Please note that this is a change from the advertised time in the calendar. The following Music staff will be attending:
Mrs King – Director of Music
Miss Govier – Music teacher and singing teacher
Mrs Williams – Guitar
Mr Giles – Piano
Ms Felszeghy – Piano
Mr Clark – Piano
Mrs Spinner – Singing
Miss Hunting – Singing
Mr Smith – Brass
Mr Batty – Brass
Mrs Malitskie – Cello
Mr Kilsby – Drums
Mrs Mourant – Oboe/Piano
Jane Leech – Violin
Due to the days that they work, and their other teaching commitments away from Spratton Hall, unfortunately Mrs Moffat (clarinet/saxophone), Miss Retford (flute) and Mrs Fountain (piano) are unable to attend. Should you wish to speak to them, they would be happy to organise a separate time.
Exam Success
Congratulations to the following pupils for their excellent music exam results.
Cornet/Trumpet
Grade 1
Martha Miles – Merit
Henry Sandall – Distinction
Grade 6
Nathanial Benn – Merit
Trombone
Grade 1
Josh Tomlins – Merit
Tuba
Grade 2
Freddie Hill – Merit
NMPAT Music Ensembles
Following on from a successful audition last term, I am pleased to announce that several of our pupils have been awarded a place in one of the Northampton Music and Performing Arts Ensembles.
Clara Bann – Violin – County Junior Strings
Nathanial Benn – Trumpet – Country Junior Wind Orchestra, Trumpet – Jazz 3, Piano – Jazz Matters 2
Sachpreet Bhangra – Voice – NMPAT Singers
George Guppy – Violin – County Junior Strings
Freddie Hill – Tuba – Country Junior Brass Ensemble
Jehan Jasinarachchi – Saxophone – County Junior Wind Orchestra
Jessica King – Cello – County Junior Orchestra
Claudia Penman – Saxophone – County Junior Wind Orchestra
Shanaya Phatak – Flute – Country Junior Orchestra, Violin – County Junior Strings
Jaypaul Sehmi – Saxophone – Jazz 3
Raghav Sreejith – Drum Kit – County Junior Brass Ensemble, Violin – County Junior Orchestra, Other – Zingaresque
Barnaby Walker – French Horn – County Junior Orchestra
Oakham Prep School Music Day – Tuesday 3rd October
Sadly, Oakham have had to cancel their Prep School Music Day in October.
Music Clubs
If your child has individual instrumental lessons or singing lessons, please be reminded that we do expect them to participate in the relevant music ensembles where possible. The only exception to this is for those pupils having drum lessons.
CAKE SALE
There will be a Cake Sale for Prep and Pre-Prep on Tuesday 12th September at break time in aid of Rainbows Hospice.
Rainbows cares for hundreds of families every year who have a baby, child or young person with a serious or terminal illness which means that their lives will be shorter than most.
Cakes will cost 50p. Any donations of made of bought cakes would be appreciated – please ensure, however, that they are nut-free. Thank you.
SCHOOL SHOP OPENING TIMES
A reminder of the days and times the School Shop is open.
Monday & Thursday 3.30 – 5.30 pm
Friday 8.00 – 9.00 am
If you would like to place an order by email you can do so and collect from the shop during opening times schoolshop@sprattonhall.com
SCHOOL MORNING MINIBUS
We still currently have availability on our school minibuses which pick up in the mornings from Rugby and Market Harborough to bring children into school.
If you are interested in finding out further information please contact Mrs Julie Gallo on JGA@sprattonhall.com.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Well done to Charlotte Berry who was cast as ‘Young Elsa’ in a summer school production of Disney’s ‘Frozen’ at Arts1 in Milton Keynes. She also won first place for her musical theatre solo at Corby Festival of Dance, giving her a qualifying mark to take part in the ‘All England Dance’ regional finals next year.
Congratulations also to Mimi Hamilton who gained her level 3 RYA sailing qualification while Mara Hamilton and Martha Miles gained their level 2. Mara also competed in the Junior Wolf Run at the weekend, completing 2 laps of the course covering 6km.
NON-SCHOOL EVENTS
Northampton Tennis Coaching Courses – September to November 2023
Winwick Hall Open Air Cinema Event
Please click here for further information on the school website.
