The Bulletin – Edition 15
I am always hugely indebted to my colleagues here in both the school administration and academic teams for the usually very cheerful and upbeat ways in which they aim to support not only me, but more importantly each other and of course your children. However, Mrs Murphy and I felt compelled to press ‘pause’ on the positive approach we know is critical to the successful day-to-day running of both the Pre-Prep & Prep this week, for a moment or two at least, as she and I reflected upon the arresting news that the death toll from this awful virus topped 100,000 souls. One thing is for sure, we must keep supporting our loved ones to stay safe, as well as do the best we can to keep ourselves safe too. I have no doubt you and your families paused to consider where we are right now, and what lies ahead for us all. Please come to us if ever you feel we can assist further with responses or advice for you regarding how best to address any questions your children may be asking.
Prep
Grateful thanks received
I was delighted to hear from the Events Team at the mental health support charity ‘Mind’ this week, who wrote to me passing on their heartfelt thanks for the £1000 donation gifted to them from us before Christmas. They wrote:
“Because of your help we can support more people, answer more phone calls, and speak louder for everybody affected by mental health problems, especially now.”
In our current climate, attention to our wellbeing and being able to address matters relating to our mental health generally are more important than ever, so thank you to you as parents for assisting with the raising of these funds during the course of the previous academic year. The charity’s website is linked here should you wish to make a further personal donation to support their work:
Teaching & Learning
Parents in the Prep will have received a letter from Mr Ford outlining our plans for the first ‘Web Free Wednesday’ experience for the boys next week. Please get in touch if the pack of materials we have sent home for each boy has not arrived through the letterbox by midday on Tuesday next week. We will do our best to get a replacement delivered. Mr Ford will also be coming to parents with news of our migration from CENTURY to Firefly as the principle means of conveying teaching and learning materials to the boys in Years 3 – 6. Do please read his information carefully about that and as ever, we are here to answer any questions parents may have.
Feedback on the Third Headmaster’s Cheerful Challenge
“Si mangia prima con gli occhi” is something that is frequently uttered in my house, usually in a complimentary fashion (I say rather immodestly). The Italian idiom translates as “We eat with our eyes first” and my goodness, how I have shamefully gorged with my eyes this week upon a most wondrous selection of excellent cakes, cookies, biscuits, cupcakes and more! I have shared this amazing virtual/visual feast with Miss Jolley, so I do not feel too bad I suppose. Together we have been delighted and astonished by the photos of the carefully baked creations the boys have submitted for this week’s HMCC. In Teams catch up meetings with boys earlier this week one or two of them did ask me if they could send in their photos this weekend, as that is when they are planning to get busy in the kitchen. That is fine, (late entries will not be discounted) but come what may I shall be announcing prize winners in assembly on Monday morning. So long as all entries are received by 8.00am on Monday morning they will be in with a chance. Once again, I just love the way a significant number of boys have embraced this HMCC with such (literal) gusto!
Guidance for the Fourth Headmaster’s Cheerful Challenge
I do not wish to give too many secrets away at this stage regarding the next HMCC. Full (visual) instructions will appear on CENTURY on Monday morning. It will be the last HMCC for this half term. It will, therefore, last for two weeks. Boys will need two to three large sheets of sturdy cardboard (old online shopping delivery boxes would be ideal – anyone got any of those lying around…??), scissors, sticky tape (or masking tape), a glue stick, possibly a tape measure and definitely a selection of feathers, ribbon, old cut offs of brightly coloured fabric, pictures from magazines, colouring pens, colouring pencils, coloured paper, glitter, any other craft or art activity materials you can name or indeed think of plus an ambitious sense of fashion…you have been warned!
Pre-Prep
A word from Mrs Murphy
Like many of you, we suspect, we have all felt a bit like swans this term. We like to think we have appeared serene and unruffled as we have glided through the week, but we are definitely paddling like fury out of sight; dealing with the usual round of briefings, meetings, combination of online and ‘normal’ teaching, checking for updates on the current situation, as well as coping with issues that inevitably crop up, usually unexpectedly, from day-to-day! Among it all, we have had many supportive comments, for which we are most grateful. The real credit goes to the staff and the children, both in school and at home, as well as to you parents who are all supporting the teaching and learning so effectively. As always at Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep, it's a real team effort and my sincere thanks goes to all involved.
Kindergartern
Our week in Kindergarten primarily centred on the book, ‘Whatever Next’ by Jill Murphy. The story told us about a baby bear who made a rocket using a box. Suddenly …“whoosh” and the bear in the box flew up the chimney to visit the moon. Along the way, he made friends with an owl and together they enjoyed a picnic on the moon. Together, we wrote a list of the things we would pack if ever were to venture to the moon and then had a go at writing our own lists in the writing area.
Reception
This week Reception have been exploring the world using the five senses. Each sense has been studied in depth to see how each one works. The children have taken part in some exciting experiences to enhance their understanding, for example, they had the opportunity to experience drawing with a blindfold to explore what life would be like without sight, and they talked about the variety of tastes and had the chance to taste sweet jam, bitter dark chocolate, salty crisps and sour lemon. The children discussed their favourites and described each food. We also ‘taste tested’ a variety of crisps and guessed the flavours. By grinding herbs in a pestle and mortar, together with a little water, we enjoyed the different aromas of basil, rosemary, mint and thyme.
Year 1
Year 1 have been studying Brazil this week, exploring the differences between here and there. Some beautiful flags have appeared in the classroom from those working at school and those working at home. The children have also continued with their focus on traditional tales, looking at the Three Billy Goats Gruff in particular, focusing on writing story beginnings and alternative endings. In maths, the boys have counted in 2s, 5s and 10s and, later in the week, applied their knowledge to count in arrays.
Year 2
Marie Curie’s contribution to science has been thoroughly explored by the children in Year 2 this week. According to rules of the time, when she was a girl, Marie should never have been allowed to go to university due to the fact she was a woman and added to this her family were very poor. She overcame these hurdles, however, and studied science at university in Paris and dedicated her life to finding answers that gave the world treatments for serious illnesses. She discovered two new chemical elements to establish the term ‘radioactivity’ and furthermore found that radiology could help to cure cancer. Remarkably, Marie was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize and, then later, the first person to ever be awarded two Nobel Prizes. As part of their lessons on Marie, the boys took part in a hot-seating exercise which was much enjoyed by all!