Newsletters

Newsletter - Friday 20 January 2023

Dear Parents,

I am sure this recent chilly weather has made many of us want to retreat back indoors and snuggle under a blanket with a good book. Nothing wrong with that I say - and indeed, reading and a love of books was the key theme in our Assembly led by Upper Prep G children this week.

They talked about our favourite authors and plotlines, the way that a good story can conjure up the familiar, but also carry you to distant lands, or even to far away planets. The children also demonstrated the ways that discovering and building our faiths and values through reading is also hugely important, sharing their understanding of just some of the 4,200 religions that exist around the world.

Our Year 1 children have also been busy reading this week, as some of you will know. Part of their homework was to learn a lovely poem about Jack Frost - off by heart if they could. But they didn't stay cosy under a blanket to recite it, instead they set off into the school grounds to see where they could find evidence of Jack's frosty fingers. It was a perfect week for an excursion outside, for them and for our Early Years children too, who also ventured out onto the big field!

Whatever you are doing this weekend, cuddling up reading indoors or setting off on a mission in the great outdoors, I wish you good luck and lots of fun.

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Junior Dukes get cooking - and lucky assessors get tasting!

Junior Dukes is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme that we launched only last October - expecting to sign up around 20 children. We now have more than 90 keen members working towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

These awards are not easy to pass - relying on the children taking part to show real initiative and determination to learn new skills. To gain each level they need to demonstrate that they have finished seven out of ten challenges. From time management to cookery, first aid to body strength, setting these objectives helps our children to think about what their target is - and how they are going to get there! One of the first children to be assessed this week was Jasmine in Trans K class.

She brought in a delicious chocolate cake for us to sample, as well as documenting the steps that she took to make the cake with lovely photos and notes, passing her first challenge with flying colours. Well done, Jasmine! Mrs Underwood can't wait to get stuck in to some more tasty assessments next week.

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A tempestuous lesson

What must it be like to be shipwrecked in a strange land? How would you feel if you thought you were all alone in the world? These were just some of the questions our Year 6 children asked themselves this week, as they explored the famous Shakespeare text The Tempest, creating maps of the island together to match the different personalities of its visitors. The children have thoroughly enjoyed putting themselves in the shoes of the stranded passengers.

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Mr B's sport report

Rock solid ground and icy conditions meant that some of this week's fixtures were sadly delayed. However, we didn't just sit around twiddling our thumbs. Instead, we jumped at this ideal opportunity to participate in some competitive inter-house Dodgeball and Basketball, otherwise known as 'Cookie-Crumble'

We saw some outstanding all-round skills of throwing, catching, striking, dodging and shooting, which resulted in a very exciting and entertaining afternoon of competitive, yet friendly competition.

In Upper Prep, LUKE were crowned the overall champions with MARK as runners up, and both JOHN and MATTHEW each sharing third place, while in the Trans Classes competition, we had JOHN as the overall champions with MATTHEW as runners up, and both LUKE and MARK sharing the third place. Well done to all the children for their outstanding participation and efforts on the day!

Next week, on Wednesday our Remove classes will take part in our annual Inter-House Football Tournament. The children are very excited for the day and we'd love parents to come along and support if you'd like.

Upcoming fixtures

Wednesday 25 January 2023 – Remove Mixed Boys and Girls Inter-House Football - 2:45pm kick off.

Friday 27 January 2023 – Under 10A+B Netball vs Langley Hall - away - for a 2:15pm kick-off.

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Celebrating success

As well as our Junior Dukes successes this week, we're also celebrating some amazing musical achievements and a brilliant Beavers award as well.

Mia in Lower Trans K has achieved her bronze award for Beaver Scouts, showing that she is adventurous, has helped her community and has learnt about the world. It also means that she has gained skills, worked in a team, completed all the Challenge Awards and 4 Activity or Staged Activity badges.

On top of that Kaiden in Upper Trans and Hailee in Remove entered the Berkshire Maestros Young Musician of the Year String Competition. We are very proud of the hard work and dedication they showed while preparing their first-round video recorded entries - both of them received very positive feedback.

We are very excited to share that Hailee is through to the semi-finals in February and wish her every success.

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Upcoming dates

Tuesday 24 January - Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit Menu

Wednesday 25 January - Remove New Year Mass 11am - Remove parents are welcome to attend

Thursday 26 January - History of the Poppyseed Tasting Menu

Thursday 2 February - Parents Evening

St Bernard's Prep Follow

Who doesn't love to receive a letter? This week our children sent messages of love and positivity to their young counterparts at St Mary's Catholic School #Newcastle. We're already looking forward to hearing back from our new friends! @AntiBullyingPro @DianaAward #Connect https://t.co/Ww2K8gbXbT

6 hours ago

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The sound of music

Do you have a budding musician in your house? Music lessons are timetabled during class music lessons, lunchtimes and after school only for half hour.

We have vacancies for the following instruments for this term:

Recorder >>> Flute - Year 2 - 6 After school on Thursday

Recorder >>> Clarinet - Years 2 - 6 After school on Thursday

Violin - Year 1 - 6 After school Monday

Drum kit - Years 2 - 6

Years 4 - 6 Monday lunchtime

Years 2 - 6 After school Tuesday or Wednesday

Classical guitar - Years 2 - 6 In school time Tuesday and Thursday

Electric guitar - Years 5 - 6 In school time Tuesday and Thursday

Saxophone - Years 5 - 6 After school on Thursdays

Piano - Year 1 - 6 Year 1 piano lessons currently arranged.

Other years please join our waiting list.

We do not charge for homework club if pupils are waiting for music lessons and they will still receive a drink and snack at the end of the school day. All lessons can be booked via the ParentalPortal section of our website.

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 imbue our children with a love of learning.

Word of the week: Supernova (noun)

A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.

"At least one supernova occurs per century in our galaxy."

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In the news this week - banned words for 2023!

Lake Superior State University chose the ten words it found were most 'misused, overused or useless' in 2022 and has forbidden people from using them at all for the next 12 months!

The university has been making a list each year since 1976. Some of the banned words and expressions even make it onto the list more than once. This year they've included:

Does that make sense?

Amazing!

It is what it is; and

Moving forward

...as some of their bugbears. Are there any expressions or words that you find annoying or overused?

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

Wrap up warm everyone and have a fab weekend!

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Verma