The Bulletin – Edition 16
With a week to go until the half term break, we have been reflecting upon what has worked well for the pupils and staff across both the Pre-Prep & Prep during this current period of enforced school closure, and where we might reasonably be able to make some improvements. Mr Ford has been in touch with Prep parents regarding our migration from CENTURY to another virtual learning environment, by the name of Firefly. Boys in Years 3 – 6 have had some training on how to use the platform, the Prep staff here are ready to begin posting material for boys on Firefly from next Monday onwards, and we are hopeful it will all run smoothly. The ‘nuggets’ on CENTURY will still be available for boys and staff to explore, but they will sit on Firefly as one in a range of online resources we will periodically steer boys towards. If parents wish to get in touch with us here at school with any observations or ideas that would be useful for us regarding the use of Firefly going forward, please do.
Prep
An Update for Parents, from Mr Bendelow, Head of Maths
Thank you for the incredible turnout at Monday’s Maths Workshop. It was the first time any of us had hosted such an event for parents, with a specific curriculum focus, and we are all glad that parents have fed back that you found it worthwhile. Over 80 families tuned in to find out more about how we teach mathematics at Hampton Prep. Information was shared on how we incorporate the National Curriculum into our schemes of work, the importance that we place on the process as much as the end result and also the variety of methods and approaches that we expose the boys to during lessons. Key themes for supporting your son at home included being mindful of his time management as well as the amount of independence that the boys employ and should be aiming to develop, with our support. If any parents have any follow up questions then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Prize Winners from the Third Headmaster’s Cheerful Challenge:
I explained in last week’s Bulletin how much fun it was for Miss Jolley and me to judge the baking from the above last week. I announced the following Prize Winners in Assembly on Monday, and Mrs Henderson has already kindly sent out the boys’ Certificates:
Guidance for the Fourth Headmaster’s Cheerful Challenge
The 4th HMCC was posted on CENTURY earlier this week, and as it is a problem-solving challenge, the boys have two weeks to have a go at it. In fact, if they wish to rise to this challenge and carry it over until the half term break, then that is fine by me. After all, Rome was not built in a day and working out how to make their own weird and wonderful cardboard hat (seriously) may take them more than just an afternoon or two! Can parents please email a photo of your son wearing his hilarious, higgledy-piggledy, hoopla-laden hat to Miss Jolley, who will organise them into files for me. Her email address is h.jolley@hamptonprep.org.uk
Keep an eye out on the mail…!
Mrs Tinkler had a message for parents in SchoolPost today regarding the “Grow Your Own Best Runner Bean Plant” House Competition. Do please keep an eye out for the fully biodegradable carboard box being sent to your son, as referenced by Mrs Tinkler, containing everything he will need to take part and compete on behalf of his House. Any questions, please get in touch with Mrs Tinkler directly. As for the SURPRISE coming your son’s way from me, to which Mrs Tinkler also alluded which is due to arrive at home towards the end of next week, well, it is just that: a surprise! I hope you and the boys will enjoy it together when it comes.
Pre-Prep
A word from Mrs Murphy
Firstly, a huge thank you to all for the lovely parcel containing delicious brownies delivered to Pre-Prep this week with an accompanying note saying they were from ‘all parents’ - they were quite simply divine and, I have to confess, didn’t last too long in the staff room, but we all want you to know we were very touched by your kind gesture, thank you.
Kindergarten
It has been another ‘spacetastic’ week in Kindergarten. We read, How to Catch a Star’ by Oliver Jeffers; it is all about a little boy who loved stars so much that he wished he could have a star of his very own. We were glad the story had a happy ending, as the little boy finally managed to get a star of his own.
Reception
This week we have gone back in time to the Jurassic period in Reception! We have read information books about dinosaurs to learn interesting facts about these incredible creatures. We have also read lots of stories about dinosaurs including the ‘Harry and his Bucketful of Dinosaurs’ series. The children wrote in detail about the dinosaurs they had been learning about and matched bones to dinosaur bodies.
Year 1
Exploration of Brazil in Year 1 continued this week, discovering just how important music and carnivals are culturally. The word ‘carnival’ refers to the era where followers of the Catholic faith would indulge in one last day of dancing, drinking and general fun before the start of Lent. Today, this one day of indulgence has extended into week-long festival of merriment and partying. Different cities in Brazil have their own ways of celebrating, but the most famous festivities take place in Rio de Janeiro. Masses gather at the city’s Sambódromo stadium, often wearing masks and colourful costumes, dancing to the rhythmic drumbeats of Samba music!
Year 2
In Year 2, attention this week turned to two important figures in history, suffragettes Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Davison. The boys discovered a suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections. Women, of course, were not afforded the right to do this until it was officially ratified on 18 August 1920.