From the Headmistress
Dear Parents
I hope you all had a refreshing half term; the children seem to have done a real variety of things, from chilling out at home and reading good books to travelling off to Normandy en masse to enjoy a cultural, language and activity trip to whizzing down ski slopes in true imitative Olympian fashion. Those skiers seem to have brought the snow back with them! It has been very rewarding but frustrating in a sport packed week, but we include some results here.
Just before half term we were delighted to find out our scholarship results. Congratulations to all those pupils who have done so well and earned awards and commiserations to those who put themselves forward, but were not acknowledged this time round. You will see from the attached list that we are celebrating a fair number of scholarships to Felsted Senior School in a variety of disciplines and we hope that those pupils will go on to take a key role in leading these areas in the future.
Year 8 have been receiving their Trial Examination results this week and I have enjoyed attending a couple of lessons when they got their papers back. Gone are the days when the papers come back and the correct answers are slogged through in a rather boring fashion. I witnessed two excellent lessons with pupils marking model or not so model answers and having to play the role of the teacher to decide on what was worthy of high marks or not. It was great to see them discussing which ingredients make for really persuasive argument for example and they are pretty tough markers as well!
I was also delighted to spend time in Stewart House or rather Rio de Janeiro having a Carnival before talking about Lent and setting ourselves a personal challenge. Mr Phelan has done the same with the whole School and we are looking forward to seeing his table tennis improve. Do discuss your child's personal challenge with him or her and read Mr Phelan's article in this newsletter. Academic & Other Achievements 09-10
November 2009
World Class Tests (for 11 year olds)
Mathematics:
Distinctions: Tom Brown, Pippa Graves, Anthony Hickling, Angus Holmes, Harry Pilcher, Jamie Smart
Merits: Adam Cooper
Problem solving:
Distinctions: Tom Brown, Pippa Graves, Anthony Hickling, Angus Holmes, Jamie Smart
Merits: Adam Cooper, Harry Pilcher,
Summary: 2009-10 - World Class Tests – taken by VAPS in Years 7 and 8. In Year 7, six pupils gained distinctions and one achieved a merit on the mathematics tests, and five pupils gained distinctions and two achieved merits on the problem solving papers.
January 2010
Year 7 Entry Scholarships and Talent Awards (awarded to Year 6 pupils)
Academic: Hannah Barratt, Ben Carrington, Tom Carrington, Lara Peck
Art: Elicia Carrington
Design Technology: Madeline Witcomb
Music: Kate Butterworth, Cosima Chisenhale-Marsh, Francesca Moore, Lara Peck, Millie Stanton-Bennett
Performing Arts: Hannah Barratt, Angus Muir (drama)
Sport: Cameron Bailey (swimming), Archie Lucas, Francesca Moore, Angus Muir (hockey), Lara Peck, Oliver Walker, Laura Winter (tennis)
Summary: 2010 - 11+ Scholarships & Talent Awards : four pupils gained Academic awards, one in Art, one in Design Technology, five in Music, two in Performing Arts and seven in Sport
February 2010
13+ Scholarship Awards (awarded to Year 8 pupils for entry to Felsted in Year 9) - see information from Courtauld House
February 2010
BA Bronze Crest Awards for twelve Year 7 pupils
(National Award Scheme for project work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – STEM)
Tom Lane Feldman, Harry Pilcher, Anthony Hickling, Jamie Smart, Pippa Graves, Annabel Martine, Isabella George, Edward Gable, Adam Cooper, Angus Holmes, Toby Vignoles, Alfie Whitten
Summary: 2010 – Twelve pupils in Year 7 gained National BA Bronze Crest Awards for project work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
News from Stewart House
Year 2 pupils travelled back in time this week when they spent the day at Braintree Museum as Victorian children. They exchanged their usual uniform for long dresses, pinafores, short trousers and caps and had a lesson in the Victorian schoolroom with a very strict teacher! Their writing was done on slates, and left handed children were made to write with their right hands, which they found very tricky. However, everyone returned to school looking cheerful, and reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They all said they preferred the Pre-Prep to the Victorian school!
We were delighted to welcome many visitors to our Grandparents’ Morning on Friday. The children were very excited to show their grandparents their work in the classrooms, and involved them in some special activities in class.
We are looking forward to World Book Day next Thursday, 4th March. Our theme is ‘Fairytales’ and we would like children to come to school dressed as fairytale characters. Please ensure that your child knows the story in which his/her character appears! We shall be reading fairytales in school, but it would be helpful if you would read some at home with your child before next Thursday, to make sure that they are familiar with them.
I am very pleased to introduce a new member of the Pre-Prep staff to you. Mrs Lisa Begley has joined us as our administrative assistant, and has taken over the office next to the staff room. She will be available during the day to take messages and answers questions, and of course she will be a huge help to all the Pre-Prep teachers in their paperwork. Ffrome Court Information
Year 4, led by George Mckelvey, are feeding daily the garden birds
that visit the School site. Recent visitors have included pigeons,
blackbirds and blue tits.
Year 3 ActionAid Workshop on India
On Wednesday, Ann Fox, from ActionAid, came to run a workshop about India for Year 3 children. ActionAid helped the local tribes around Chembakolli when their habitat was threatened. Mrs Fox started with pictures of urban India and we discussed the contrasts. Then we moved on to Chembakolli and looked at rural life in detail. We looked at the differences in our and their way of life. We carried out a water-carrying experiment; mimed Chembakolli activities; guessed the Indian fruit or product; played a card-sort game of technical terms. We also had great fun with role-playing exercises and other drama activities and we learnt a lot through them. We all had a great morning.
Chinese New Year
Some of the children in Year 4 have worked on a Chinese New Year Assembly during their Drama lessons this term. They explained the customs and festivals of the 15 days of the New Year, acted out the story of how the years came to be named after different animals, sang a New Year song and performed a Lion Dance.
Pancake Tossing
The Years 3 and 4 thoroughly enjoyed the 'Pancake tossing' and 'Jam sandwich tossing races' as an early celebration of Shrove Tuesday!
News from Cloisters
Congratulations to Charlie Latham who has been selected for the West Essex District Cricket trials. Courtauld House News
Congratulations on the 13+ Scholarship results!
Lucy Adams, Max Knudsen, Isabelle Moore, Isobel Nicholson, Ed Reid and Olivia Schwier who were all awarded Music Scholarships. Dominic Latham, George Botwright & James Murphy were awarded DT Scholarships. Sarah Lewis, Harry Allen, Isabelle Moore & Gabby Doughty - Art Scholars. Alicia Breen & Emma Sweeney as Drama Scholars. Max Malins, Harry Brooke, Olivia Schwier & Gabby Doughty were awarded Sports Scholarships.
Pancake Fun in Courtauld House!
Photographs
Due to an error the photographer’s name, Mrs Gill Stringer, was omitted from the Sports’ Teams, Boarding and Leavers’ photographs on the pages listed below in the recent Young Felstedian magazine.
Page 26 - Team photographs, Page 27 - Team photographs, Page 29 - Leavers’ photograph, Page 34 - Team photographs & Page 49 - Boarding photograph.
Our apologies to Mrs Gill Stringer for the error and thanks for the considerable work on our behalf.
for Sports’ team, Boarding House and Leavers' Photographs
Contact: grs@felsted.org
www.prep.felsted.essex.sch.uk
and follow the link to ‘School Team Photographs’
This term’s photographs are already being taken. U13 and U11 Boys’ and U13 Girls’ Photos are already online for you to view at the above address. U11 Girls’ Photos will hopefully be taken next week and will then appear on the website and all U9 photos should follow in the next few weeks.
All photos can be ordered via email or if you prefer, you may give your son/daughter permission to order from me in school. Details and costs can be found on the website. Any costs are added to your school bill and the photographs are delivered to your children to take home. |
Sports Results
U11A Boys are National Hockey Finalists!
Squad: A.Muir (Captain), T.Carrington (Goalkeeper), T.Hitchcock, A.Lucas, O.Walker, C.Latham, M.Bailes, B.Carrington & J.Metson.
All the boys played extremely well and with lots of effort and determination. They managed to get into the top four and qualified to go to the National Finals in Bristol on the Monday 15th March.
Match v Kimbolton Won 3 – 0 (Goals by O.Walker, C.Latham, M.Bailes), match v St Andrews Won 2 – 0 (Goals by O.Walker, A.Muir) & the match v The Elms Drew 0 – 0. In the next group the team drew the first 1 - 1 v The Beacon and then the snow came down! The decision was made that the Plate competition was cancelled and the semi finals and finals also cancelled but they made sure the main event had four teams who qualified.
The boys went on to win the next two in style. Match v Edge Grove won 1 – 0 (Goal by C.Latham) and against Chigwell won 4 – 0 (Goals by M.Bailes 2, C.Latham, A.Muir). We came top of our group but no semi finals.
The boys were excellent ambassadors and played some very lively and quality hockey. Thank you to the very brave and adventurous parents who came to support us surviving the snow.
Mr Evans
U11 Hockey v Bradford School - 24.2.2010
A team won 10 - 0, B team drew 1 - 1, C & D teams lost 0 - 1. All the boys played with determination and effort.
Mr Evans
Football v Wellow House School - 13.2.2010
Result - Drew 1-1
We played Wellows House School for the first time in 2009 in the Roed Sports Hall due to the cold weather but the 2010 match was played out on the grass pitch.
The team : Goalkeeper and Man of the Match : Freddie Burns who made some brave saves and the opposition shot wide more than once. In defence Christian Vincent-Sloane after a shaky start played with speed and guile intercepting several passes and Joel Brice played with style and composure at left defence. The midfield of James Smith (Captain), Thomas Kingham, Roshan Soomro managed to control the centre of the field most of the time with some good skill and vision. In attack Gregory Flack and Angus Taylor ran hard and fast but could not maintain enough control to really penetrate the opposition defence. George Blythe and Ollie Salmon came on to show their skills and George passed well and Ollie showed determination in attack and in defence.
The score was 0 – 0 at half time. A very entertaining 2nd half was played out. A cross by Roshan did hit the post and there were shouts of goal as it bounced back to the goalkeeper. They went 1 – 0 up early in the 2nd half with calls of hand ball? Felsted made a last ditch effort to attack down the left with a simple shot by Thomas Kingham 1 – 1. 30 seconds to go??
Thank you to the team from Wellows House for a very exciting game. Thank you to Mrs Evans for the teas.
Mr Evans
U13 Essex Schools Hockey - we came 2nd and will go to te East tournament. Having gone 1-0 up in the final, we eventually lost 2-1.
Netball Results - 24.2.2010 v Holmwood House
U11A 24-12
U11B 15-5
U11/C10 4-8
U10A 16-9
U10B 1 - 4
Wattbikes
Cycling: The Wattbikes on loan from British Cycling have created much interest amongst the children. Several have attempted a time trial that is used for talent identification, and Caitlin Perry recorded a
time that places her 3rd in the Eastern Region for her age group! Harry Brooke also produced a good time, within the top 10 for the region. Lent Challenge 2010
This week saw the beginning of the Lent Challenge at Felsted Preparatory School. Every pupil from Year 3 to 8 have a Lent Challenge card (see link) which maps out the collective challenges this term. Focus on listening is one of the early challenges when the Public Speaking heats begin in earnest.
Each pupil has been encouraged to set their own personal challenges (see link). Discussions with 7AH revealed such challenges as; to think about listening to Mum and Dad more, looking after the family pet tortoise, spending more time on my guitar practice and the well trod path of eating less chocolate!
This year Mr Phelan and Reverend Brice have set a table tennis challenge under the very skilled tutorage of Miss Chambers. Miss Chambers has been a member of the England Youth squad; a select group of the up and coming table tennis stars and represented her country on many occasions.
During Chapel this week she played against Mr Phelan and he was convincingly beaten! The aim is to much improve both the Reverend’s and Mr Phelan’s ability as masters of Ping-Pong. A final showdown will be had in the last Chapel service of the term where the two gents will battle it out to see who has risen to the challenge this Lent.
Mr Phelan
Activity Afternoon for Visting Schools
A schools Activity Afternoon saw visiting children enjoying golf, table-tennis and dance, and a Year 5 team played their first chess match against Dame Bradbury's School. In a spirit of friendly competition, the match was tied at six wins each despite the opposition having a County chess player!
Mr B P Hays Healthy Tip of the Week!
Bananas are a very good source of potassium- very important for muscle growth! Charity News
Coffee Morning - Pre-Preparatory Parents
A reminder that there will be a Coffee Morning for Pre-Prep parents on 2 March @ 8.30am in the Courtauld Centre in aid of the Helen Rollason Charity. Coffee, Tea & Danish Pastries will be provided.
Tandem Skydive!
Mrs Victoria Lowry, parent and wife of Mr Lowry, Director of Music at Felsted School, is doing a tandem skydive on the 13th of March in aid of the National Childbirth Trust. If you would like to sponsor her please do so via her just giving page www.justgiving.org/Victoria-Lowry. The money she raises will go towards running national helplines (Breast Feeding Support, Pregnancy & Birth and Post natal) and also to support their campaigns.
Flora Tokens!
Earlier this term we asked you to collect Flora Margarine tokens so we can get free cookery equipment for the school. To date we have
received 7! If you do use Flora - the healthy option - then please send the tokens to the office or log into the Flora website and fill in the numbers - if you don't want to wash them!
Miss Sugden
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