Newsletters

Newsletter Friday 9th July 2021

Dear Parents,

Well, what a year! At St Bernard’s Prep we have, as always, put your children at the very centre of all we do. If it is good for your children, we aim to do it.

This year the challenges have been very different, not just for St Bernard’s, but for all of us.

As a staff we have continually asked ourselves, ‘how can we deliver experiences and education for your children, under such different circumstances?'

The answer, as is often the case, is through hard work. It has been a year of thinking outside the box and of stepping up to get the job done.

We started back in September, full of excitement to be physically back in the building. The end of term came and in January, another Lockdown, and we were back to remote lessons. Teaching online, Assemblies online, sports lessons online.

Thankfully, we all returned to school for the Pentecost Term. The Government had pulled the plug on SATS, but not St Bernard’s Prep. For us and your children it was business as usual. Maths Competitions, Science Quiz and class readers. Camping, London Zoo, beach parties and school productions. Assemblies and Liturgies. Prayer partners and Mass. In sport, matches with other schools weren't possible, but every year group got their Sports Day, we've had 50 children receive a certificate in First Aid, and we were even able to make Prize Giving possible by bringing in a marquee.

And all this hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. The children and staff have been recognised for their effort and dedication with accolades such as the RE Gold Award, Live Simply Award and National Science Champions, to name but a few.

With every additional year at St Bernard's Prep, we watch your children embody the values that we talk about so much. The last year has been a challenge, but the children have proven themselves to be resilient and resourceful. They've developed relationships and have been reflective, and we couldn't be prouder of them.

Headmaster's Award

This week Headmaster's Awards went to Anuj and Veeren in Year 1. Both boys have both shown a great attitude to learning and are always kind and polite. Perfect examples of a Prep child.

Music

The awards just keep on coming! Congratulations to:

Amaya in Yr 6 - Piano Grade 5 with distinction

Rajvir in Yr 6 - Piano Grade 2 pass - who, after only 6 months of lessons has jumped to a Grade 2!

Ayannah in Yr 5 - Singing in Musical Theatre Grade 2 with merit

Eesha in Yr 4 - Piano Grade 1 with distinction

Daya in Yr 6 - Piano Prep test

Calling all writers and illustrators

Henley Literary Festival are calling all budding writers to write a story or a poem of up to 500 words for the chance to win £50 worth of books for your school library. And for all the artists out there, there is an illustration competition too!

The competitions will be judged in three categories: 4+, 6+ and 9+, with the shortlisted entries being judged by former Children's Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Entires deadline is 1st August. You can find the application form and further details about the competitions on the school website. Good luck!

School fees during this academic year

You may recall that we promised to review our expenditure during this academic year, to see whether savings had been made as a result of lockdowns, and the unusual way in which we have had to operate. The Governors agreed that, if savings had been made, they could be passed back to parents in the form of a rebate. Now that we are almost at the end of the academic year, it has been possible to review our expenditure. We have made savings amounting to £30,733. The main areas where savings have been made include: the cost of catering, appropriate use of the government’s furlough scheme, the cost of hospitality and marketing.
However, we have also incurred extra expenditure, or have lost income as a result of the circumstances of this year. The extra costs / lost income amount to £54,439. The main areas where losses have been made or extra costs incurred include: loss of clubs income, extra cleaning, the lent term lunch adjustment for those working remotely and the cost of additional hardship support to families. The result of this analysis shows no net saving, but a net cost to the school. The Governors have therefore decided there can be no rebate on fees.

National Champions!

We always knew we were brilliant at Science, but we can now officially announce that we are the best in the country! St Bernard's Prep came first in the annual inter-school competition beating more than a hundred other schools to the top spot. Congratulations

Go Givers

While we are always proud of our academic success at St Bernard's Prep, we always know there is more to life than simply great results. Never has this been more apparent than in our current Go Givers endeavours. Year 4 delivered seeds to all our neighbours around the school so that they could plant them and encourage bees and wildlife to our local environment. Year 5 have excelled themselves by raising an incredible £1334 for Great Ormond Street Hospital through their Superhero Fun Run. Well done everyone!

This year we are saying goodbye to some families who have had several children at the school and who will now be moving on as leavers themselves.

Goodbye to the…

Afsars, Baigs, Barendses, Bhachus, Chakrabartis, Edwards, Mussas, Ogundipes, Grewals, Hassans, Khannas, Sabharwals, Samuda-Harpers, Omars, Pabbathis, Sandhus, Sroas and Surnams.

We wish all the families who are leaving us this year the very best.

Remove Class of 2021 you do not leave us as the finished article, but you do leave us confident and ready for the next chapter of your school adventure.

Finally, I would like to thank my wonderful staff, who right across the whole school are always willing to go the extra mile for your children, to help them to achieve their true potential.

Good Luck and thank you one and all and wishing Mrs Verma all the best for next year as I pass the baton. I know she will do an incredible job.

Have a wonderful summer

Yours sincerely

Mr N Cheesman