From the Headmistress
Last Sunday I set off to Epsom to support our U11s in their rugby tournament only to get there and find it cancelled due to frosty and dangerous pitches and postponed until next week. At first my husband and I were a little frustrated with our three hour apparently wasted journey, but decided to treat ourselves to lunch in a restaurant where we met lots of Felsted families all enjoying quality family time and then the cinema where we watched Avatar. I hope I am not going too far when I say that I thought this wonderfully phantasmagorical, imaginative masterpiece was very thought provoking especially on environmental, creative and political issues. If your children are old enough do go and see it!
Last Friday I was lucky enough to spend some time preparing some of our Sport, Drama, Art, Design and Technology and Music scholars for interview. I was so impressed by their passion for their art and their growing capacity to defend its place in our rapidly changing world. One budding scholar that I challenged on the need for the human touch in a world of computer technology was adamant about the need for human understanding, imagination and specification and pretty convincing he was too. I will let you know how they all got on with their scholarship applications shortly and congratulations to our Drama Scholars on their production this week.
I am pleased to be getting some response to our newsletters. Two letters I received this week caught my eye. I publish this one in its entirety and am pleased that the other tells of a better week in the car park with more respect for the now happier José. Thank you!
‘We really enjoy reading your newsletters at home and every time we are amazed at how many positive things are happening at FPS to encourage, support and educate our children in a very broad sense. We have found your family tips sensible and helpful too; we have started to make a much bigger effort to have meals as a family for example. This is hard to achieve at breakfast since that time is always a bit of a rush. At lunch, except at weekends, everyone is in a different place. But in the evenings we have started eating together much more often which means eating earlier ("High Tea") and this is much healthier as well. We have tried to avoid mundane practical talk at these times and have rather found ourselves discussing a wide range of rather amazing topics which we would never have talked about before, so all in all it is proving a great success, so many
thanks for the tip!’
Outstanding & Talent Awards
Congratulations to those who have been awarded scholarships and awards - they were all named last week - but here is a photo!
Last week we reported that Cameron Bailey was awarded a Talent Award for swimming however this was an Outstanding Talent Award. Our sincere apologies.
Food for Life Campaign
Having gained National Healthy Schools status two years ago, we are constantly seeking ways to continue to promote a healthy lifestyle to our Young Felstedians and their families. For this reason we have signed up to the Food for Life partnership led by the Government.
Daphne Murdoch, our catering manageress, who many of you already know, will be leading on this and will have a regular place in this newsletter with 'Daphne's Healthy Tip of the Week'. Food for thought - enjoy!
Tip of the week : "Eat your carrots, they help you see in the dark and they are in season".
World Cancer Day
Thank you to everyone who purchased badges to support World Cancer Day last week. The Enterprise Team from Elwyn's House raised over £200. If you or your child would like the opportunity to purchase a badge then they can do so in School on Monday at 1pm at the School Office.
Fairy Tale Theme for World Book Day - 4th March
Our theme for this year’s World Book Day is ‘Fairy Tales’ and once again it will be a whole school activity where the pupils can have fun dressing-up as well as focus on reading for pleasure.
The children may well be asking parents for help with their outfits, so here are the chosen fairy tales:
Grignon: Snow White, Lord Riche: Beauty and the Beast, Gaselee: Little Red Riding Hood, Smythies: Cinderella & Cromwell: Bedd Gelert.
Before the end of last term, the League Librarians gave a short presentation to their League explaining all about the chosen Fairy Tale, discussing the characters and possible costumes. They have also displayed posters around the school, detailing the story and with dressing-up suggestions, so your child should have a good idea as to what is involved.
However – to assist you with the dressing-up, suggestions are listed below:
Grignon (Snow White): Snow White; Mirror; Witch; Prince; Animals; Butcher; Apple; Dwarf (a prize will be given for the best dwarf!).
Lord Riche (Beauty and the Beast): Beauty; Beast; Beauty’s sisters; magical creatures from the castle.
Gaselee (Little Red Riding Hood): Riding Hood; Woodsman; Grandma; Wolf, Tree; Woodland creatures.
Smythies (Cinderella): Cinderella; Ugly Sisters; Prince Charming; Fairy Godmother; Mice; Step-mother.
Cromwell (Bedd Gelert): Prince Llewellyn; Courtiers, Servants, Princess Joan, Dog.
News from Peru!
Hello everyone
I arrived on Monday after a 16 hour flight. My flight to Cusco the next day was delayed for six hours due to bad weather. I had no idea just how bad it was. I flew to Cusco without the children because of all the trouble in the Sacred Valley. The Urumbamba river had overflown its banks and the rail track was washed away in some places. There was no way for anyone to leave Machu Picchu so they are STILL being evacutated by helicopter. There are in total 3000 people to evacuate.
I am in Ollataytambo where all of the helicopters are flying in. They land two at a time on the football pitch. They are on the ground for one minute, the passengers exit one side and provisions are loaded on the other. The peaceful town of Ollantaytambo is more like a war scene from a movie. I have never seen so many helicopters in my life!
Aquas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu has suffered severely. The only way food and water is getting to the town is by the helicopters. Needless to say people are really struggling. Villages on the Urumbamba river have been washed away. With my friend Saul and some others we have visited these people and brought them rice, pasta, eggs and fruit. I have seen their villages and they were lucky to escape with their lives as well as some of their belongings. I am here for two more days and we will be helping more people. This is not the trip I expected but I am glad I am here, it feels really good being able to help.
Although I am on my own I am really enjoying myself. I have been
welcomed into the home of Saul's family. Every afternoon they invite
me to join them for the main meal of the day, the food is amazing. Today I went to the shops with Saul´s sister and daughter to buy the ingredients to make brownies. All of Saul´s sisters and aunt were in the kitchen watching me...the nieces were close by waiting to lick the spoon and bowl. They didn´t have an oven so we had to walk a few streets away to the oven. It is a room with the biggest oven I have ever seen...like a giant pizza oven!
Tomorrow I am off to visit the places the children from Casa Hogar will be going to as well as doing some sightseeing. I look forward to going back to Casa Hogar on Monday to spend time with the children and to show them the pictures of where they will be going on holiday in February. It is a shame I can´t go with them but I know they will have an amazing time.
Mrs T Tredgett (Parent)
News from the Pre-Preparatory School
This week the children have been busy transforming those empty yoghurt pots into works of art, in the shape of miniature loos to collect small change for the Loo Appeal. Please encourage your friends and family to contribute a penny or two and bring the pots back to school after half term. We have raised nearly £200 so far, and aim to reach our target sum of £395 by the end of term. Your support is greatly appreciated.
On Thursday, Mrs Burrett presented Gold Book Awards to Poppy Saunders, Joshua Barkman, Charlotte Rowe and Olivia Gregg for their effort in class, to Ruby Phillips and Charlie Campbell for their kindness and consideration to others, and to Sarah Lye for excellent behaviour and super work in gymnastics. Well done to you all!
We have welcomed Mrs Corinne Walker to Stewart House on several occasions in the past two weeks, when she has come to read stories to the children. She has a very busy life supporting her husband Dr Walker, Head of Felsted, and we are very pleased that she can visit regularly.
Year 2 pupils trying their hand at cheerleading !
Unwanted Christmas presents or other items - in order to raise extra funds for Sports Relief, we have decided to hold a raffle in the week of 15th-19th March. Please would you donate any unwanted gifts or other items in new condition, both children's and adults. They will be put into the raffle which will be drawn on Friday afternoon. Mrs Nikki Bennett is master-minding this project, and would be very grateful to receive donations from you in the morning before school, when she may be found in the playground. Thank you for your support.
In your child’s book bag you will find paper copies of letters to grandparents, inviting them to come to Grandparents Day on Friday 26th February. Please help your child to complete the invitations and send them to their grandparents. Answers should be sent directly to the School Office by 22 February. We look forward to welcoming our visitors after half term.
Charity Organathon
Rupert Gosling, The High Sheriff of Essex will be performing in the School Chapel on Thursday 11th February at 2.30pm. He is a keen amateur organist and has taken up the challenge of playing as many organs in Essex as possible in order to raise money for the Essex High Sheriff's Fund which to date has supported 317 local charities from grants totalling over £220,000. Admission is free, all welcome.
For details about the High Sheriff's Fund contact Jo Murphy at Essex Community Foundation on 01245 355947 or visit www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
