Newsletters

Newsletter - Friday 27 January 2023

Dear Parents, 

Our Assembly this week was courtesy of our lovely Upper Prep B children and what a fantastic job they did, from the intro piano music from four budding maestros, to the comprehensive content of the main affair - all linking to their current focus on our wonderful capital city. 

Seeing the children stand up with such confidence to share the facts they have absorbed and also to share their pride in learning is what the St Bernard's ethos is all about. 

Their geography of London exploration connected so nicely with religious education - as they spoke about places that Jesus visited - and their prayer was apt too as they gave thanks for their education, and the very fact that we can all keep on learning, whatever age we are. 

A quick waltz through some of London's famous landmarks led us nicely onto the topic of World Geography Day - which, would you believe it - is today. Read more below about the competition to design a flag for the school that could well be flown to show when we are here in the building, rather like the King in Buckingham Palace, or so I am told!

I hope you all enjoy joining in with the design contest, and that you will keep writing in to tell us about visits and events that happen at home, I love to hear all about the trips and adventures that you are all having. 

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Sticky questions mean arguing with grown-ups is allowed!

As you all know I love to encourage our children to use their voices and express their opinions. One of the ways we do this is by sending home 'sticky questions' homework. I love the way that these discussions start in one place and can spiral off into all kinds of directions. 

This not only encourages independent thinking, but also allows our children to know that sometimes people will have different opinions to them, and that it is OK to (politely!) express disagreement, or offer a counter-argument or idea.

You will see a sticky question at the bottom of this newsletter each week, but a couple of favourite questions of ours, recently set to Year 5, were: 'what would make a computer human?' and 'if you could make any law, what would it be?'

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The cakes just keep coming!

More brilliant work from the Junior Dukes this week, as Anaya in Year 3 shared an incredible chocolate cake - complete with icing decoration on top.

Well done also to the many others completing their first challenges and filling in their records wonderfully. 

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Find the flags

Our flag scavenger hunt for World Geography Day today was a great success, with children matching the 15 flags hidden around the school with 15 countries around the world. The winning entries will be announced by Miss Kirk next week.

To celebrate geography to an even greater degree, this week I would love if every child could think about designing a flag that represents us at St Bernard's Prep, on the template which has been sent home. Feel free to let imaginations run wild with colours, animals, our badge and more.

It would be brilliant if a small description about the design and choice of colours could be added to the back of the flag ideas, with the winning one hopefully being made up in real life!

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Mr B's sport report 

This week our Remove classes took part in our annual Inter-House Football Tournament, with some really exciting football taking place. Players from each House pulled their weight and gave everything for their teams.

We also saw some excellent leadership amongst the children, demonstrating good inter-team play and well-formed structures on the pitch. As a result, we saw some fantastic goals scored and outstanding efforts from the goalkeepers too.

The overall winners were MARK with LUKE being the runners-up. JOHN were placed 3rd and MATTHEW 4th. Well done to all the players for their diligent efforts on the day!

Fixtures next week:

Monday 30 January

Year 2 football away to Papplewick in Ascot

Tuesday 31  January

Year 4 netball and football vs Long Close School at home

Wednesday 1 February

Year 6 football away to Dair House in Farnham Royal

Friday 3 February

Year 5 netball away to Gayhurst in Gerard’s Cross

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Story jars jammed with great ideas

Congratulations to the children who won last term's Headteacher's Challenge. I asked the children to put items into a jar that represented their favourite tales.

Winners included a jar packed with a mini diary, pen and set of keys - can you guess the name of the book? It was Anne Frank's Secret Diary, and a wonderful spinning wheel made from pipe-cleaners with vines creeping around the jar told the story of Sleeping Beauty.  Well done to all the entrants and winners for taking part.

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Upcoming dates

Wednesday 1 February - Mass with Father Kevin

Thursday 2 February - Parents Evening 

Monday 5 February - Team GB athlete visit 


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We've been spinning, jumping, looping and hula hooping...not to mention climbing, shooting hoops and quite simply rolling with it. Fab gym classes this week from Mr B & Mr H! @StBernardsPrep #SportForAll #HulaHooping #PhysEd https://t.co/9YSO55gJ7L
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 Lessons from St Bernard's Grammar

More than 20 Year 12 students joined us this week from St Bernard's Grammar School, teaching Catchechism to our Year 2 and Year 5 students, through question and answer lessons. 

The children talked and wrote about the role of the Bishop, and how a new Bishop might address their Dicoese, as well as creating their own prayers and acting out the story of Moses. We had some fantastic fun imagining that they were parting the waves in our classrooms! It was also delightful to have one of our ex-pupils (Maria D) come back to us and lead an amazing lesson.

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Tulsi's weekly book review

Jam packed with absolute action and adventure, things just seem to get curiouser and curiouser in this book...

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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: Auspicious (adjective)

Auspicious: showing or suggesting that future success is likely

"It was an auspicious day for a wedding, the sun was shining and birds sang."

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In the news this week - tuk tuks go green

Thai tuk tuks are being given an environmental makeover, offering travellers a cleaner, greener way to get around the country.

The iconic but gas-guzzling mini vehicles are being replaced with electric versions, a boon for a country that has some of the worst air pollution in the world.  

In 2019, it was estimated that there were around 20,000 tuk tuks in the country, so it's excellent news that the country has set some net zero targets. 

“My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.” – Jane Austen

I hope you all have fun chatting and drawing this week!

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Verma