Newsletters

Newsletter - Friday 11th February 2022

Dear Parents,

As we break for half-term I want to thank you all for your support over what has been a wonderful, but challenging six weeks. As you know, we have been swimming against the tide in terms of staff and pupil absences, but I'm glad to report that attendance has been much better this week. As we edge towards fewer restrictions I am looking forward to reintroducing whole school assemblies and liturgies and returning to a more normal school life. 

Sport

It has been a very busy week for sports in our school with number of netball and football fixtures that have taken place.

Netball

Last week we welcomed St Benedict’s for Under 10 netball fixtures. Three matches were played in which St Bernard’s Prep won all three. Our girls really stepped up and put on a fantastic performance on the courts, and as a result many goals were scored. This is an outstanding result for this group of girls, and they have made their school very proud! A special well done to both Tara and Hailee who were nominated as MVP’s for their respective teams.  

On Wednesday we welcomed Langley Hall School for an Under 11 A and B fixture. Although our girls never picked up the win, we played very well and demonstrated creative play around the courts, resulting in some good goals being scored.  A very well done to Annaya, Ayannah and Mannat for receiving their teams’ MVPs.

 

Football

Last week Friday our Under 10 A and B football teams travelled to Thorpe House. It was a very successful afternoon with our teams winning all of their matches. Our A team put up a performance in what Mr B believes to be “One of the best he has seen in all his years at St Bernard’s” with our boys winning 6-4. Our B team were just as phenomenal in coming away with 2 wins on the day, beating the 2 Thorpe House teams 4-0 and 5-0 respectively. Well done to Suraj, Mikail and Aneni for all being nominated as MVP.

On Wednesday our U11 A and B Teams travelled to Gayhurst for a triangular fixture vs both the hosts Gayhurst and Thorpe House. Our Under 11A team played 2 matches, winning one and losing one, while our Under U11Bs picked up one victory and two losses. The football was very closely contested and all our players put up an amazing effort throughout the whole afternoon. Well done to Sai, Daniel, Aiden, Rehan and Joran for all getting MVP nominations.

 

Football Festival

Last Saturday, 5th February, we welcomed four other prep schools to our annual Under 9s Football Festival. 

Dair House, Claire’s Court, Gayhurst and Thorpe House came along with their A and B teams to compete in our tournament.  It was a wonderful showcase of Prep School football and there were lots of enthusiastic supports on the sideline to cheer the children on.

Whether it was because we were playing at home, or because of all the hard work the children have put in over the term, but St Bernard’s Prep were crowned overall champions in the A group - congratulations boys! Thorpe House came out on top in the B group, but our team made them work for their win!

Mr Barendse, who coordinated the event was delighted to be able to host the festival again, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid restrictions. ‘After not being able to run this event last year, it was great to have all the children outside enjoying themselves. The success of this year’s festival was not about the brilliant goals scored or the football skills on show, the highlight was giving the children the opportunity to participate once again.”

We done to all of our boys for being outstanding hosts and playing brilliant football throughout the whole morning. A special mention to both Arjun B and Raman for both being nominated for their respective team’s MVP of the festival.

Spotlight on Success

This week there have been two children who have been outstanding and deserve to be in the spotlight. 

Daniel in Remove C (Yr 6) for making incredible progress in English. Daniel has really found his focus, has worked hard and this has been reflected in his attainment with some very impressive results. Well done Daniel!

Aydin in Lower Trans U (Yr 3) is always so well-mannered and polite.  Aydin is the embodiment of a true St Bernard's Prep child, always respectful, kind and a pleasure to talk to around school.

Light and Dark

Early Years have been learning about light and dark this week. The children have loved making their own circuits and exploring light and dark with torches. In RE Early Years 2 (Reception) have enjoyed working in groups to retell The Presentation Story. 

Reminders and dates for your diary:

23rd February - 11+ information evening 5.15pm for Year 5 parents.

25th February - Little St Bs

11th March - Little St Bs

Reminder: Due to the restrictions in place at the time, we had to completely change the way in which the Bazaar was held at very short notice.  We took the decision to go ahead with the event for the sake of the children, but didn’t want to handle cash at that time.  We therefore added the children's purchases onto ParentMail for parents to pay online, at a cost no higher than the amount of change the children had brought into school. Please do log on and pay your outstanding balance.

Little St Bs is a new Mother and Baby group for local parents and existing parents of young children. Our first session will begin after half-term. Details to follow.

Mental Health Week

The mental health and wellbeing of our children is important year round, but Children's Mental Health Week is a nationwide initiative, highlighting the importance of supporting our children's mental health. It is much easier to learn if we are healthy and happy. Miss Mehta, our PSHCE lead, began our Mental Health Week with some disco dancing to get the endorphins going and some air guitar to get the children rocking out. We learnt about the power of Yet, discussed the importance of self-belief and started each day with a positive thought.

Today we distributed an ‘Unworry Pack’ to all the children in school to use during their half-term. It's filled with little activities to help calm their minds. We also understand the importance of supporting you, the parents, to support your children. Do take advantage of our online resources, which can be found in the parent portal of the website, or perhaps read one of the books we've recommended in this week's Mrs Verma's Big Ideas for Curious Minds.

Geography

Remove have been learning about the layers of the Earth and recreating them in mini models. 

Ready, Steady, Cook!

The children in Lower Trans (Yr 3) have been learning about root vegetables in Design and Technology. This week they made a coleslaw using white cabbage, celery, spring onions and carrots. It was delicious!

Mrs Verma's Big Ideas for Curious Minds

As a school we love to stretch and challenge our children, to enrich their education beyond the curriculum. Every week I will be sharing with you some discussion topics, new vocabulary, Maths riddles and book recommendations, that will infect our children with a love of learning. These will all be posted in the Parent Portal section of our website as well. 

Word of the week - Stelliferous (adjective)

Stelliferous - filled with an abundance of stars

He looked up at the stelliferous sky and marvelled at its vastness. Was there anything out there?

In The News This Week - Antarctic

A team of scientists has set sail on a very special expedition to find the ship of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton which sank in Antarctica more than a century ago.

The ship called the Endurance was trapped under ice more than a hundred ago, and now lies under around three kilometres of water.

The team will face heavy sea ice, freezing temperatures and extreme weather in the hunt for the iconic ship.

Calling All Book Worms - Books to support mental health

The Cloud by Hannah Cummings - This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of classmates coming together to help a little girl who has a black cloud hanging over her. 

The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas - This sensitive book helps our youngest children to identify their feelings by identifying them with colours.

The Worry Website by Jacqueline Wilson - The Worry Website is a story of a teacher, Mr Speed and his innovative way to tackle children's worries. 

Do something for someone else by Loll Kirby - 12 real-life children spreading kindness with simple acts of everyday activism with a section on ideas on how-to-help.

The Worries: Sohal Finds a Friend by Jion Sheibani - A lovely story of a boy drawing his worries to make himself feel better.

Finding a Voice by Kim Hood - A book with grown up themes for our older children. Jo struggles to maintain a facade of normality while she copes with her mother's fragile mental health. 

“Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us.”

Pope Francis
 

Have a restful and rejuvenating half-term break.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Verma