27th January 2023
This week has been another busy week for everyone, with many exciting activities and events taking place.
Firstly, I must mention the hugely successful movie night which took place after school last Friday 20th January. The children had a wonderful time and I am very grateful to all those who planned and executed the evening. What a special way to end the week. Also, well done to our Year 5 pupils who did a fantastic job at the Queen Anne’s Spelling Bee last Friday, finishing joint first overall and making us all proud in the process.
Young Voices
I was fortunate to attend the Young Voices Concert at the O2 arena in London with pupils from Years 4 to 6 on Tuesday this week. It was a long day of travelling and practising, during which the children were very well behaved and enthusiastic throughout, but so worth it for the performance. At 7pm, we, together with 9000 other children from across the UK, sang, danced and waved our torches as part of the largest children’s choir concert in the world! It was a very special evening, with many of our parents in the audience, and one that we shall all remember for years to come.
Year 2 and 3 mix-up day
Whilst the rest of the Prep school were out at the O2, Years 2 and 3 enjoyed a ‘mix-up’ day, during which the older children showed their younger peers what life is like in the Prep part of the school. Activities included Art, Science, ICT, Wellbeing and a trip to Forest School. You can read more about what they got up to in the news section below.
Busy end to the week
This morning I popped in to see the Year 2 children enjoying a French breakfast organised by Madame Sheriff, before running out the door to join a fresh and muddy running club, before then coming back to welcome Julia Kidd, a speech and language therapist, who spoke to a number of Pre-Prep parents about speech development in young children. Julia’s presentation was fascinating and her slides will be included in next week’s newsletter.
Next week
Next week we shall be busy preparing for our Open Morning on Friday. There are still a few spaces so please do let any friends or family know who may like to attend. Thank you to all the parents who came to hear Rebecca Dougall from St Helen & St Katharine speak yesterday and we have Thomas Garnier, head of Pangbourne College, coming in for the next in our series of ‘Meet the Head’ coffee mornings at 8.30am in The Studio next Thursday. If you would like to join us, please sign up here. I look forward to hearing the Chamber Choir sing at the Candlemas Service at St Mary's church, also on Thursday.
Big Garden Birdwatch
Finally, this weekend is the Big Garden Birdwatch. There's still time to sign-up and take part. The idea is to spend one hour between Friday 27th and Sunday 29th January counting the birds on your garden or whlist on a walk, to help monitor how birds are faring. It's free, fun and a great way to keep an eye on your local wildlife. We shall be taking part in the Big Schools Birdwatch during the first week of February.
I hope you have a restful weekend.
Nick Armitage