FROM THE HEAD MASTER
New Entrance Gates
I am very pleased to inform you that we will be having splendid new gates at the entrance to the school which will be built and installed during the summer holidays. The reasons for the gates are threefold:
1. This will improve security in the school as the gates can be closed and locked at key times.
2. It will allow us to widen the entrance to the school as we will be removing the hedge between our drive and our neighbour’s drive and removing the trees on the left as you exit the school. (While I never like taking trees down, we have planted over 200 new trees over the last couple of years.)
3. It will make the entrance to the school rather more impressive.
The work is due to begin immediately term ends and will continue right through the holidays, hopefully being finished before term begins. As a result of this work, access to the school will be severely limited so, unfortunately, we are not able to offer any holiday clubs throughout the summer holidays. Parents will be able to access the school if you need to (such as for coming to the School Shop) but it may be that you have to park on the road outside the school and walk in.
Old Sprattonian Success
I was delighted to hear that Ivana Peat, who left Spratton in 2019, has just been appointed Head Girl at King’s Ely. Fantastic news and very well done, Ivana.
Sports Days
Yesterday’s Years 3, 4 & 5 Sports Day was a super afternoon with all the children doing so well in their events. Raleigh just edged the competition, coming out as victors – well done, them!
We look forward to Senior Sports Day next Wednesday afternoon at 2.00pm. Although I wrote in the newsletter a few weeks ago that dogs are welcome at our sports events, please do note that for this event there should be no dogs – thank you.
Year 8
Well done to Year 8 for getting through their CE exams so calmly and responsibly this week. We now await the results from their senior schools. The children now embark on a 4 week post-CE programme, so often the highlight of their time at Spratton. This begins with the ‘Play in Two Days’, culminating in a performance to parents on Tuesday. On Friday I am very much looking forward to my Head Master’s trip to London with them, as a reward for all their hard work and efforts over the year.
Make-up and Jewellery
Please can I remind parents that the children should not be wearing make-up or jewellery (including wristbands) at school. The children will be asked to remove any jewellery and make-up, so it is much easier for all concerned if you could ensure that they do not come into school wearing any. Thank you so much for your support in this matter.
Thank you
Simon Clarke
PRE-PREP
There may have been a rather surprising chill in the air on our return to school this week, but watching the beaming smiles of the children as they reunited, it was soon sunshine and smiles all round!
Year 2 Venture Off to Stanwick Lakes
What a fabulous start to their week it was for Year 2! On a mission to spend a day immersed in the wonders of the great outdoors, the children set off to Stanwick Lakes for a day of climbing, digging, exploring, discovering and pond dipping.
The huge, extensive adventure playground provided hours of entertainment, from navigating the stepping-stones across the moat, scaling the climbing wall, clambering through tunnels and operating water wheels and pulley systems.
The pond dipping activities provided some very fascinating finds. From the safety of the wooden platform, the children scooped their nets through the murky pond water to bring up all sorts of ‘pond treasure’ – water boatmen, leeches and worms, dragonfly nymphs and pond snails were all delicately emptied onto trays before being identified on charts. Lowering the creatures gently back into the water, the children certainly had much to talk about.
What the Bumblebee Heard!
Moving on to a different sort of minibeast… this time, bumblebees. Using the wonderful Julia Donaldson story, ‘What the Ladybird Heard’ as a starting point, the Reception children have been making good use of their growing directional language skills to follow instructions and take their own little crocheted bumblebee on a guided tour of the playground. Clutching their bees and only stopping to decipher the next instruction, the children travelled over, across, through, around, up, down, left and right. ‘Buzzing’ with excitement, the children set about drawing their own route maps once they returned to their classroom.
Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!
With a whole host of exciting activities planned, the remaining four weeks of the academic year will be hugely enjoyable, highly rewarding and, without doubt, quick!
Next week, we open our doors to welcome in all of our new Reception children for their first ‘stay and play’ session. Year 1 will be entertaining us with an Ocarina concert on Thursday which, listening to the rehearsals, will be absolutely foot-tappingly superb. Then, before we know it, excitement will be brimming over with ‘Moving On Morning’, on Tuesday 20th June – this is when all the Pre-Prep children immerse themselves in activities in their new classrooms, with the teachers and teaching assistants that will be caring for them next year. It is worth noting in your diary that, at 6.00pm on the same evening, we will be holding an ‘Information Evening for Parents’, where you can get to meet your child’s new teacher too.
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Evan Boyson (2A) who was awarded ‘Manager’s Player of the Year’ within his football club.
Very well done to Charlie Scott (1S) who has achieved his Level 3 and 25m swimming awards.
Final congratulations go to Myles Capelle (1S) who won the ‘Today’s Best Trainer’ award, for his effort and skill within his football club. Myles is also to be congratulated on completing a mile long fun run around his village.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
MATHS
UKMT Junior Maths Challenge
At the end of April, a number of Pupils from Year 8, 7, & 6 sat the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. Aimed at pupils in Year 8, this is a 60 minute, multiple choice challenge paper which encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The problems are designed to make pupils think. While most are initially accessible, they quickly become extremely challenging and, by the end, they are exceptionally taxing!
All of the pupils who sat, should be commended for accessing the questions. The following pupils performed well enough to earn themselves a bronze, silver, or even a gold certificate:
Year 6
Bronze: Shyla Pal, Jake Constable, Thomas Greany, Athena Adam, George Tan, Lilly Brook
Silver: Nathaniel Benn, Raghav Sreejith
Gold: Jacob Brown, Oscar Beynon
Year 7
Bronze: Niku Hunter, Benedict Briggs, Zara Bushell, Hannah Marchant, Max Yuill
Silver: Imogen Parker-Jones, Jehan Jasinarachchi, Zayn Shah
Gold: George Smart, Harrison Barrow, Eddie Greany
Year 8
Bronze: Ellis Godfrey, Teddy Green, Alfie Fowler, Libby Doughty
Silver: Dylan Ogden, Jonty Collins
Gold: Theo Ryan, Charlotte Suggitt
Of these results, three pupils, Eddie Greany, Theo Ryan, & Charlotte Suggitt, performed so well that they have been invited to take part in the follow-on round, named the Junior Kangaroo, to be sat on Wednesday 14th June. We wish them the best of luck.
MUSIC
Informal Concert – Monday 12th June
We are looking forward to the Informal Concert on Monday. Tea is provided for all performers and for any siblings that have requested it. All are welcome to come and support.
ABRSM Exams
The ABRSM exams will be on Thursday 15th June and the morning of Friday 16th June. The timetable is now finalised and is on display in the Music Department. Your child must come to the Music Department approximately 30 minutes before their exam time.
Summer Concert
All of our music ensembles will be playing in the Summer Concert on Tuesday 4th July. Please do make sure this date is in your diary.
Music Lessons
Music lessons are available on a wide range of different instruments, for all children in Years 3-8. Please contact Mrs King (nck@sprattonhall.com) for more information.
ART
Rugby School Art Competition
Last weekend, 10 Spratton pupils and parents attended the Rugby School Art Competition opening of the giant rugby ball which displays the winning competition designs.
The Art competition was to celebrate the bicentenary of the game of rugby. The top 50 entries were chosen and the designs printed onto the giant ball, 17 of which were designed by Spratton pupils.
It was a very proud moment to see so many excellent images created by the children after many hours of work in the Art Department on their designs during lunch times and breaks.
Mrs Moreton
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Junior Sports Day
Girls: 1st Raleigh, 2nd Grenville, 3rd= Frobisher/Drake
Boys: 1st Raleigh, 2nd Frobisher, 3rd Grenville, 4th Drake
Overall: 1st Raleigh, 2nd Frobisher, 3rd Grenville, 4th Drake
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Well done to Daisy Drage who entered her first rowing regatta in the Sea Cadets last weekend and came in third place.
Congratulations to Elsa Miles, Imogen Turney, Kitty Kanjurs and Cecilie Jackson who have been selected for the Northamptonshire Storm Netball U13 squad this season.
LOST PROPERTY
Thomas Greany – blazer (named)
Eddie Greany – running spikes in blue boot bag (named)
Albert Rand – tracksuit top and bottoms
ONLINE SAFETY
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging service, with around two billion users exchanging texts, photos, videos and documents, as well as making voice and video calls. Its end-to-end encryption means messages can only be viewed by the sender and any recipients: not even WhatsApp can read them. In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as scams, strangers and location sharing.
Here is the link to the school website where you will find more details and further helpful information about online safety.
