From the Headmistress

Dear Parents

What a wonderful Arts Festival we have had this year, masterminded by Mr Andrew Widdowson, but supported by so many who lead and inspire our pupils' creative talent.  I hope you enjoyed it and I believe you did if the number of thank yous that we have received for Swring into Spring are anything to go by.  I cannot tell you how powerful and motivating a thank you can be and in turn wish to thank the many of you who take time to say it when you feel it is deserved.

One of our parents took time to affirm that the stress and worry of finding the fees was worthwhile when he reflected on last Saturday's experience.

'The day started with the Parents Back to School Morning, a Science lesson, 'Who Killed Mr Deadman?' where I had to work with my son to solve the mystery.  This was a very professionally executed event by Dr Taylor and Mr Burgess'.

This particular parent was then very pleased that I had noticed his increasingly honed and streamlined physique as he passed through the car park before going on to watch his youngest son play hockey.  He considered this and the hockey of the other players to be really developing under Mr Hays' tuition.

Then came Swing into Spring which showcased some fantastic musical talent that the School has produced (including three of his family!)  'I thought Mrs Clarke and Mr Rees did a brilliant job.  With the opportunity for Felsted pupils to play with a real band was something very special.  I didn't know you could be cool with a beard but with that band he proved me wrong'. (Mr Rees performing on trombone with his band 'Payback' was very cool indeed!)

Enjoy reflecting on this week and see what you think of the new pupil commendations - an award which pupils can now give teachers.

Mrs J M Burrett

Sports Results

U11 Girls win the U11 Felsted Tournament! 

The U11 girls were the very worthy winners of the Felsted Preparatory School U11 Netball tournament. They easily beat the other schools in the first section to reach the triangular final. There they drew, in a nail bitingly close match, against Widford Lodge, but then with nerves of steel and tremendous determination they went on to take control of the match against Forest School and to beat them convincingly to take the tournament trophy.

Girls Netball v Haileybury

U13A - Lost 8-34, U13B - Lost 12-13

Girls Netball v Greshams 

U12A v their U13B - Won 19-14, U13C - Lost 2 - 8, U13/12D - Lost 2-14, U11A v their U12B - Won 21-11, U12B v their U12C - Lost 2-13, U11B - Won 15-2, U10/11C - Lost 3-6, U10A - Won 11-15, U10B - Lost 1 - 9.

Netball News - on Saturday 27 February, Felsted Preparatory School hosted the Guernsey Island team, who flew in for the day, just for a fixture with us!

A tournament was organised with the U13 and U12 teams, which began very well, but the weather intervened and the last 2 matches were played in the Sports Hall, with the kind support of Felsted Senior School. Although Felsted came out overall winners, the Island team played spirited netball, using this occasion as invaluable practice for their own prestigious tournament in Jersey this month. The day was completed by a much needed shopping trip to Freeport, enjoyed by all!

Special thanks must go to Daphne Murdoch and her team who laid on a late breakfast, lunch and a packed tea for the visitors, who were very grateful.

On Friday 5 March, the U12 and U13A teams played in the IAPS regional round at Brandeston. The standard was high, as usual, and the girls played very competitively but, on this occasion, were not successful – by very slim margins!  The U12s came joint third on points and the U13s, although going through to the play-offs, missed being runners up just by a few goals. All of the girls should be congratulated on their persistence.

Miss K Durbin

Boys Hockey v St Faiths

1st XI - Won 6-1
2nd XI - Won 5-0
3rd XI - Won 8-0
4th XI - Won 4-0
5th XI  - Won 2-0
6th XI - Won 3-0

U11 A - Won 3-2
U11 B - Won 4-0
U11 C - Lost 0-1
U11 D - Drew 1-1
U11 E - Lost 0-3
U11 F - Lost 1-2


Hockey v Blue Hornets

U9 B - Drew 1-1
U9 C - Drew 1-1

U 13 Boys Badminton v Perse won individual - first place Perse

U13 Fencing v Perse (our first fencing fixture!) Felsted Won 32-2.

Prep Staff & Pupils Visit England Rugby Training!

The Cook family invite our top rugby coaches, Andrew Finch and Andrew Le Chevalier to learn from the England team. Xavier Cook and Owen Thomas learn some top training tips too!

Stewart House News

Eggs-traordinary goings on in Reception! The children have been testing the shock absorbency of different materials by wrapping eggs and dropping them from a height. The children chose their own wrapping materials, which included bubble wrap, old socks, bags of sand and paper. The results were interesting though rather sticky!

The Reception classes also went on their monthly walk on Monday. The sun shone and they were able to investigate their shadows. After all the wet weather the ground was very soft, and the children were glad of their wellies.

All the children have been busy this week preparing for the Pre-Prep Concert which will be held next Thursday, March 18^th, starting at 1.30pm. The programme contains many individual instrumental players as well as performances from the choir, the ballet and jazz dance groups and the speech and drama group. We look forward to welcoming families to the concert.

Next Friday March 19^th is Sport Relief day. Mrs Nikki Bennett has organised a raffle in aid of the charity, and tickets will be on sale every morning before school next week. Many thanks to all those who have donated raffle prizes for this good cause. The raffle will be drawn on Friday.

Mrs J E West

Ffrome Court Information

A month later than last year Years 3 and 4 planted some vegetable 
seeds, in hope that the ground will warm up soon to allow germination.  The greenhouse bought with the Annual Fund should help bring on seeds and new plants.  Thank you to OFs Mr M Brewer, Mr R Brewster and Mr S Pilsbury who gave specifically to provide the greenhouse.  

Mrs C A Lee

News from Courtauld House

Mock Elections - pupils in Years 7 & 8 have been invited to stand as candidates for a school Mock Election, to be held next term.  Applicants have been asked to write a letter to Mr Hays, outlining the manifesto of their party, either an existing political party or one that they want to create. Next term, successful candidates will be allowed to campaign for the party!

Zurich Conference on Democracy 
As European members of the Round Square, pupils in Years 7 & 8 at 
Felsted have been invited to attend a conference on Democracy at the Inter-Community School in Zurich. This exciting opportunity to meet with pupils from Germany, Switzerland and the UK and learn more about Zurich and Democracy will take place in the May Bank Holiday weekend, leaving the UK on Saturday and returning on Monday.

Because places are very limited (we can only take three pupils!) selection is by a letter of application addressed to Mrs Lucius-Clarke and received no later than Monday 15 March. In the letter the interested pupils should state why they want to go and what they do at school that is linked to the Round Square IDEALS i.e. Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventurous Pursuit and Leadership & Service.

Mrs M E Hurriaga

This Week's Headmistress' Commendations

Congraulations to the following pupils who received Headmistress' Commendations this week :

Harry Beaton-Brown, Tom Chaplin, Max Cochrane, Edward Yeatts, Harry Britton, Samuel Barratt, Alex Manson, Lucy Adams, Harry Pilcher, Thomas Brown, Max Knudsen, Jamie Smart, Alex Smart, Ben Malden, Murray Lawson, Gregory Flack, Adam Sheehan, Louis Howard & Charlie Sturge!

Pupil Commendations

Anthony Hickling led the way with an external teacher award for Dr Taylor and then Jack Speakman had the inspired idea for pupils to be able to nominate a teacher for a commendation in much the same way as a teacher can give a Headmistress' commmendation to a pupil. He chose to give his to Mrs Lucius-Clarke for the variety of activities in her French lessons and the interesting way in which she teaches language.   He feels he has really come on and really enjoys his lessons.

Chloe Payne has also awarded a commendation to Mrs Christina Bury and here are her reasons why. I am not prepared to award the commendation unless I have observed the pupil in the lesson and they have written to me explaining why the teacher deserves it. 

Dear Mrs. Burrett

I am pleased to inform you that I would like to put Mrs Bury up for a Pupil Commendation . I would like to put Mrs Bury forward because I  feel that I have  thoroughly improved my science and not only that but  I find her methods of teaching really work for me and I think my class would agree with my point of view that Mrs Bury is very fun, nice and a helping teacher. if you do not understand she will sit down and  explain it to you. I hope you take my point into account.

Yours sincerely
Chloe Payne

Beavers visit local Farm Shop

On Monday 1st Felsted Beaver Scout Group visited the The Barn at Felsted.  We had a super time learning all about organic foods and foods that keep you healthy.  Thank you to the farmer who gave us lettuce to plant and vegetables to take home.  If you have time please visit your local The Barn at Felsted your local Farm Shop.

Healthy Tip of the Week

Drink lots of water - we can only survive a few days without it.

Public Speaking

Suspension

An act of violence on the part of one of our Year 7 pupils against another has been severely punished with a two day suspension during the Easter holidays.  The pupil in question will spend two days at School with Mrs Burrett making sure that he understands that violence is not acceptable at Felsted.

Educational Matters

By Gove, It would seem that a new Conservative Government under current Shadow Education Secretary, Michael Gove, would plan a new curriculum and a return to traditionalism. We pride ourselves on our traditional elements at Felsted, but equally on the way that we have embraced the present and the future in our curriculum and our thinking about the whole child. I am concerned that this new curriculum be fully thought through and the views of experienced educationalists be sought before Mr Gove goes ahead and brings too much of a new paper trail. He claims the value of learning the Classics by rote with no reference to the sea of changing information in this modern society where the skill to resource and analyse information is at least as fundamental as learning by heart and 'unashamed traditionalism' in my humble view. We seem to share a desire for high standards, but how we get there would need some careful consultation by the sound of his initial interview. Interesting times!

Jenny Burrett

Team Photographs

All Prep School Team Photographs, including the U9s, can now be viewed on the School's internet site at www.felsted.essex.sch.uk and follow the link to 'School 'Team Photographs'. All remaining orders for this term need to be made via email to me at grs@felsted.org

Charity Event

Parent Forum to close

It appears that our initiative to create an online parent forum (found in the Parent Zone on www.felsted.org) has not been as popular as we thought it might. We are proposing to close the forum down as it really needs regular updates to make it effective. If you feel strongly that you would like this to continue please let us know by the end of term at marketing@felsted.org.

Earth Hour !

On 27 March at 8.30pm the WWF are asking for your support to turn off your lights for one hour to raise money for wildlife threatened by climate change.  This has been brought to our attention by one of our pupils, Chiara Rocker-Cook, who has recently become a member of the WWF.

For more information please log on to www.org.uk/earthhour.

Reduced Train Fares!

Apparently Sir Alan Haselhurst has lobbied for reduced train fares from Stansted Airport to Liverpool St for people in Uttlesford.  You need to show photo ID with your address to qualify.  The cost is reduced from £28 to £18!  

Irlen Tests

Bicester Shopping Trip

Thursday 18th March - there are a few spaces left for the shopping trip on Thursday 18th March.  The coach picks up outside Felsted Prep. at 8.30am and arrives back at Felsted at 5.30pm.  The cost is £20 per head.  Please call Sam Cochrane on 07715-000005.