From the Headmistress
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Spring concert last Saturday and indeed to see so many of your children performing. Having just attended Swing into Spring, the Ffrome Court Concert and the Stewart House Concert, I had the feeling that everyone in the whole School was making music – a happy impression indeed. I am sure that you will agree that the standard is very encouraging!
As I reflect upon this term and prepare for the end of term assembly, I feel confident to tell you that overall we have had another hard-working, yet fun-packed time. Reports tell of happy Young Felstedians, considerable learning and individual targets achieved, but with always more to be done, much happening in many different environments, different subject demands, international experiences and national experiences, sporting challenges, dramatic, artistic, musical and technical moments alongside so many other opportunities. Perhaps your child’s individual Lent Challenge has made a difference within your household or elsewhere. Whatever, I hope you too can reflect upon a satisfying term and see the progress your child has made. I continue to be struck by how distinct each Young Felstedian is and how great is our mutual challenge to support and challenge each one to the right level each day of their lives.
Please remember that we would like you to get back to us if you are worried, concerned or dissatisfied in any way. We have ambitious aims and want to keep working towards them. The link to the Parents’ questionnaire on Survey Monkey will be sent to you on Monday and please complete the questionnaire over the holiday. This is part of my own appraisal which comes up in the summer term and I would really value your feedback on the School you have chosen and that I am leading.
Global Membership of the Round Square
I am delighted to announce that Felsted has been approved as a full global member of the Round Square International Organisation with immediate effect. This has now been ratified in a meeting of the Round Square Board, the International Steering Group for the organisation, which includes King Constantine of Greece, Prince Andrew and a number of other notable figures! We are now one of only seven schools in the UK and 80 around the world to be accepted and this should provide some wonderful opportunities for international exchange, the shared philosophy of the IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventurous Pursuit, Leadership and Service) and self-development. Our speaker at Speech Day this year will be Round Square guardian Mrs Ann West.
This Term's Points & Awards!
Click here to see the Points for this term and click here for Sports news.
Staff News
We say goodbye at the end of this term to Mrs Banks and our one of our caretaking staff - Jeff Howell.
Mrs Banks has made a huge difference to a number of children through her individual in-classs coaching, particularly in Maths. She is fascinated by how children learn and it is her care and interest in each individual that has helped their progress.
It is no surprise that she is now going on to further study and has a particular interest in autism. Her work will be picked up by the Learning Support team.
Mrs Banks pictured with Mrs Short.
Jeff pictured with former colleageue Ted Hawkes.
Mr Barnes, Mrs Macaulay, Mrs Garcia and Mrs Peart have let us know that they are moving on at the end of the summer term and we will say good luck and good-bye to them properly next term. I know that some of the children will worry about this but I have told them that this is life – change, new faces, new challenges and it is as exciting and interesting for them as it is for the staff whilst tinged with sadness as we say goodbye to people that have come to be such a special part of our lives.
We have appointed some super people but are just taking up references and will be in a position to tell all very shortly.
News from Stewart House
Easter is almost upon us, and the children are ready for a holiday after a busy term. Thank you all for the support you have given the school this term, both on a daily basis and for our special events.
We do not send reading books home for the holidays, but we would ask you to encourage your child to read as much as possible. Be aware of the written word around you such as signs, labels, information and notices. We would also suggest that your child visits the local library where there will be a wide choice of reading material at the appropriate level. Please also take time to play board games with your children, as these will help to reinforce mathematical skills in an enjoyable way.
Reports and Parents’ Morning - at the end of this term you will receive your child’s school report. This is a full report which deals with different areas of the curriculum in detail. As Mrs Phelan has unfortunately been absent due to ill health this term, ICT reports will be included in the children’s reports at the end of the summer term.
On Saturday 24th April you will be able to discuss the report with your child’s class teacher at the Parents’ Morning. Letters have been sent home in the children’s book bags this week so that we can arrange interviews at a convenient time. If you have not yet responded to the letter please email the school office (ppadmin@ felstedprep.org). At the beginning of next term you will be sent a specific appointment time with your child’s teacher.
Summer Uniform - next term the pupils will wear summer uniform when the weather is warm enough. Girls will wear summer dresses, cardigans and white socks, while boys wear open-neck aertex shirts instead of their shirt and tie, and shorts rather than long trousers. Please note that the aertex shirt should only be worn with shorts, not long trousers.
If you buy your child new shoes for the summer, please remember that sandals are not allowed for school. Shoes must have solid toes and heels, so that they are suitable for an active day at school in all weathers. Children must bring their school coats every day, even if the weather seems to be fine. Every child should have a regulation sun hat in school to wear when necessary. Please ensure that all clothing is clearly named.
In the early weeks of term, please be guided by the weather when deciding whether your child should wear winter or summer uniform. We shall expect all children to be in summer uniform by half term.
After School Activities - Mrs Pyle has already sent out the letters for next term’s activities and will display the new lists for next term on the notice board by the green gate.
After School Club - in the summer term, children in the After School Club spend much of their time in the playground. It may be tempting to linger in the playground with your child at 3.30pm, but this makes it very difficult for the After School Club staff to supervise their charges. We would therefore appreciate your co-operation in leaving school promptly when you have collected your child.
Collection of children at the end of the day - if you are unavoidably detained and cannot collect your child at the normal time, please ensure that the school is informed. It is important that you make alternative arrangements with a friend or family member to collect your child. Woodlanders After School Club is full every evening and we cannot accept extra children because of the staff: pupil ratios which we have to maintain. Please do not assume that staff are able to ‘babysit’ your child until you reach school.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s Tokens - the Preparatory School is collecting the ‘Computers for Schools’ tokens from Tesco, and the ‘Active Kids’ tokens from Sainsbury’s. We would be very pleased to benefit from your family’s household shopping bill! Please bring tokens into school next term and give them to your child’s class teacher.
Wishing you all an enjoyable and restful holiday.
Mrs J E West
Ffrome Court News
Year 4 boys enjoying the recent Disco at the end of Sport Relief Day!
Spring is sprung ! Year 3 & 4 area is brightened by the flowering tubs that they planted in the Autumn term.
India Day - on Friday 19 March, Year 3 took part in India Day. We were lucky enough to be visited by Shrimati Suzanna, who is an Indian dance teacher. She spent the morning discussing and demonstrating Indian dancing to us. We were all keen to try the new dance moves out ourselves. We learnt an Indian prayer dance and an Indian Bollywood dance. We all followed Suzanna’s clever movements and were soon all dancing like real Indian dancers. We are looking forward to performing these in the dance show next term. In the afternoon we learnt some hand mudras and Suzanna demonstrated how to play the Tabla drums, some of us were lucky enough to have a go. Lucy was chosen to wear a Sari and Ilyd was dressed up in a dancing Sari, with eye makeup and jewellery. We had an excellent day!
By Joshua Bird
News from Cloisters
Another busy and productive term completed in Years 5 and 6. We celebrated the success of each Form group; handing out Gold certificates and a £5 gift voucher to H A’Violet, A Dalman, L Peck, J Mulley, S Stoner, S Malins, T Smith, H Barratt, and E Carrington of Year 6. In Year 5 G Frewin, C Lewis, B Lesta-Candal, K Gregory, A McFadzean and E Yeatts also gained gold. Congratulations to them all.
Year 6 have been working very hard on the Passport activities and there have been some excellent reports of roast dinners cooked, bedrooms tidied and pets fed! Please do continue to encourage your son or daughter with the different challenges. We continue in the summer term in earnest and many pupils have their eye on gold medals and the ‘longest journey’ prize.
Congratulations to Lara Peck who came 38th in the County in the recent 11+ examinations.
Rehearsals for the Year 6 play continue in earnest and reports of much dancing, singing and all round excellent entertainment suggest that we are all in for a treat!. I know Miss Sugden and her team are very excited.
Year 5 continue to work hard and have been enjoying the different activities on offer. The arrival of two out door chess boards has certainly caused a stir with many of our Year 5 pupils vying to become the next ‘Kasparov’. Several Yr 5 girls sang with great confidence in the Spring Concert and I am sure that we will see even more on the stage in the future.
Have a lovely and relaxing Easter holiday and we will all see you fresh and ready for the many challenges that the summer term brings.
Mr Phelan
Courtauld House News
This term has again been unbelievably busy as our Courtauld House pupils continue to lead by example and show that you can perform at the highest level both in and out of the classroom.
In addition to the normality of school life including Year 8 Trial Examinations they have, for example, been involved in: the Chateau trip, 'Then there were none', the leadership weekend, the Battle of the Bands, the Art, DT, Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships, the Guernsey tour, the swimming galas, hockey and netball at regional and IAPS level, winning soccer tournaments, the inter league cross-country, public speaking,
the Spring Concert, the Probationers' Service, Science back to School days, 'Swing into Spring', a trip to see 'Warhorse' in London and the ski trip to name but a few!
Congratulations to each and everyone of you for being involved, for being successful and for enjoying the success of others. Next term obviously brings different challenges and for the Year 8's their Examinations must be the real focal point but I hope the Easter holidays are spent reflecting on another truly memorable term for Courtauld House.
Mr M C Stringer
Sport Relief
Well done to everyone for their efforts on Sport Relief Day - over £670 was raised by the leagues and the various different activities for their chosen charities.
Science Week
Science Week 2010 - here is a brief summary of this week's activities :
SATURDAY - Science week started off with the Year 7 parents ‘back to school days’. Our parents were successful in working alongside their children to solve a murder mystery using science.
MONDAY - the Year 7 children organised ‘fun science’ activities for the Year 4 pupils. Activities included lava lamps, magnets, catapults and chemical volcanoes.
TUESDAY - Year 4 taught Year 3 about circuits. The children were successful in using motors, buzzers and lights to make their cardboard houses, aeroplanes, cricket pitches, sweet shops and castles come to life!
Year 8 Biologists taught Year 2 about the vertebrate groups.
WEDNESDAY - rat dissection – only for the brave in Years 6, 7 and 8. Pupils learned about the structure of the body through this activity.
THURSDAY - dropping eggs in parachutes. Organised by Year 7 for pupils in Year 5 and 6.
FRIDAY - Year 5 taught pupils in Year 2 about the Solar System.
Years 7 and 8 make bath bombs using citric acid and bicarbonate of soda and learn about chemical reactions.
Well done to all involved.
Mrs C F Bury
Spring Concert
On the morning of Saturday 20 March the young musicians of Felsted Preparatory School performed a fabulous Spring Concert. The Chapel Choir were in fine voice to open the concert. They delivered a beautiful rendition of Bruckner's 'Locus Iste', and a subtle rendition of 'Swing Low' in four parts. Many of the school's ensembles performed a wide range of repertoire.
Classical music was represented by the Recorder Ensemble playing Bizet, the FPS Orchestra playing Holst, the Wind Ensemble playing Brahms and the Strings ensemble playing Vivaldi. These ensembles demonstrated some fine playing and showed how much hard work has been put into rehearsals throughout the term. The arrangement of 'Jupiter', by Holst played by the FPS Orchestra was particularly challenging, and was played with skill and passion.
It was lovely to see the Junior Orchestra performing with real confidence. It is so important for younger musicians to play with others on different instruments - Well done!
Lucy Adams sang a beautiful version of 'Ave Maria', and Suzie Burton delivered a fine version of 'I could have danced all night!'. Our instrumental soloists were Max Knudsen (cello) and Thomas Brown (piano). Both played challenging pieces by Bach and both performed with great skill.
The second half was full of uplifting contemporary music. The School Choir and band played 'Love Story' by Tayler Swift and the Saxophone Ensemble played a couple of great jazz numbers. The Year 7 & 8 Steel Band ended the concert with their uplifting sound and skillful playing.
All our young performers deserve a big 'Well Done!'. Dedication and teamwork throughout the term resulted in a concert full of musical variety and interest. Hard work and practice leads to quality performances and a real sense of communal achievement.
Thanks to all parents and staff, particularly our fine instrumental teachers, for their support and encouragement. Many thanks to Mrs Clarke, Mr Moore, Mrs Hougham and Mrs Lauder for leading and inspiring our young musicians towards this excellent concert.
Mr O C Rees
Cultural Experience
The School is keen to take Spanish students from next September to integrate with our own pupils. We are hoping to engage our own Felsted families as 'host' families for weekends, exeats etc (especially for pupils in Years 7 & 8). We would hope that this would be a fantastic cultural expereince for both sides giving the children a chance to converse in different languages, sharing cultural experiences and even the possibility of an exchange.
If you think you may be interested then please contact Mrs Wyganowski (rmw@felstedprep.org or 01371 822611). The immediate family members would need to undergo an enhanced CRB check and be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. A payment towards the cost of taking a child may be available.
Tailor's Shop Opening Hours
The Tailor's Shop will be closed for the duration of the Easter Holidays. Anyone wishing to purchase items of clothing or equipment during this time may do so but by appointment only. Please call 01371 822636 and leave a message on the answering machine and someone will get back to you.
Last Night at the Proms!
It has recently been announced that Katherine Jenkins is performing with the National Symphony Orchestra at this concert on Sunday 27 June.
The Preparatory School, through one of its parents, has been able to secure a number of tickets for the 'Last Night of the Proms' evening in the fabulous setting of Hylands House on Sunday 27 June 2010.
The School and its guests will have exclusive access to a private marquee and a picnic supper will be included in the ticket price of £45 per person. Drinks can be purchased from the bars at the venue or you can bring your own (together with your blankets and/or deckchairs).
The show begins at 7.30pm and will finish at approximately 10.15pm. Adults and children are equally welcome. If you are interested in purchasing tickets then please email Mrs Karen Lilley (kal@felstedprep.org).
Parents' Association Drinks Party
Please add this date to your diary :
Parents' Association Summer Drinks Party - Saturday 15th May at 8pm in School House & Garden. Tickets are £20 per person and includes drinks and canapes.
