Dear Parents,
This week, as we celebrate Diwali and All Saints and All Souls' Day, we have been thinking about Light. Jesus speaks about our light in the Gospels and encourages us not to hide it, but to let it shine to the rest of the world. Our Year 1s interpreted this beautifully in this morning's assembly, where they read, sang and performed brilliantly.
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This is a painting by Michel Sittow called The Nativity of Light. Have a look with your families and discuss where you think the light in this painting is coming from.
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London's burning! Our Year 2s have been learning about the Great Fire of London and have seen first hand how quickly a fire can spread. #experientiallearning #londonsburning #greatfireoflondon #KS1 #stbernardsprep https://t.co/ofmlu5eMR81 hour ago Follow |
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Remembrance
We welcomed Mr Johnson, Headmaster of St Benedict's, to our Liturgy on Tuesday, as well as our Head of Governors, Mrs Nockles and a Headteacher Our Lady of Peace. The theme was one of Remembrance and the children behaved with real reverence and sang their socks off. Our visitors were really impressed, and I was very proud.
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Science Quiz
Thank you to Aarush, Aryaman, Jagat and Tilak for representing the school at the Quiz Club Science Heat at Chesham Prep on Thursday. A very exciting competition with the Team achieving 4th place overall. Well done.
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Sport - Hockey
Trans – Year 4
St Bernard's Prep 4 vs 4 Long Close Player of the Match – Manpreet
St Bernard's Saints 9 vs 0 Long Close Player of the Match – Elle
Remove – Year 6
St Bernard's Prep 5 vs 3 Long Close Player of the Match – Annaya
St Bernard's Saints 9 vs 0 Long Close Player of the Match – Anisha
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Maths Week
As part of the annual Maths Week England we have been participating in The Times Tables Rock Stars competition with Upper Trans C being the class champions and Evan our highest scorer. A big thank you to all who participated I hope you have enjoyed the range of activities linked to Maths week.
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Anti-Bullying Week
Next week, 15th-19th is Anti-Bullying Week. This year’s theme is ‘one kind word’. In a world that can sometimes feel like it’s filled with negativity, one kind word can provide a moment of hope. It can be a turning point. It can change someone’s perspective. It can change their day. It can change the course of a conversation and break the cycle of bullying. Best of all, one kind word leads to another. Kindness fuels kindness. So from the playground to Parliament, and from our phones to our homes, together, our actions can fire a chain reaction that powers positivity. It starts with one kind word. It starts today and we need your help to make it happen!
On Monday 15th to mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week, we would like the children to come in with Odd Socks. Odd Socks Day is designed to be fun! It’s an opportunity for children to express themselves and celebrate their uniqueness. There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes. All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks to school, it couldn’t be simpler!
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World Kindness Day: Saturday 13th November 2021
On the 13th November it is World Kindness Day, so that the children celebrate it I have created a Kindness Scavenger Hunt.
World Kindness Day is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. The purpose of this day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together.
Ephesians 4:32 - ‘Be kind to each other’.
Proverbs 16:24 - ‘Kind words are like honey; sweet to the soul and healthy for the body’.
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STEM
Yesterday, Lower Trans had a STEM themed Science lesson to celebrate reaching the end of their Animals including Humans topic.
Over the first half-term, they had learnt about the human skeleton and how it supports us, helps us move but also protects us.
The Lower Trans Scientists were given a scenario to explore protection and design the next human skull! They created intricate designs in their Science books and brought their designs to life within the time limit. They then tested the strength of their skulls by placing a delicate tea cake inside their skull structure and dropping them from the same height – making sure their comparative test was a fair test. They also had a Lower Trans Scientist on Remote, testing their skull design with an egg... It was egg-cellent! Well done Lower Trans!
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Reminders and dates for your diary:
Uniform We are planning to move uniform suppliers to Billings & Edmonds in Eton on 13th December www.billingsandedmonds.co.uk. Please wait to purchase any required items until after that date as the stock is in the process of being transferred.
School improvements Work to extend the Early Years outside space is ongoing and now incorporates a larger area complete with mud kitchen.
Building and grounds redevelopment: There are lots of new strange markings around the school footpaths, which are part of the ongoing survey works for our exciting new redevelopment plans. We are currently seeking planning permission and as soon as we have approval we look forward to sharing the plans with you all.
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Sponsored Dance
Our lovely Early Years children (and staff!) wore their pyjamas to school on Thursday and took part in a danceathon to raise money for The Baby Bank, a local charity that supports young families. If you would like to make a donation via Parentmail, there is still time. We will share the total raised next week.
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Mrs Verma's Big Ideas for Curious Minds
UN Climate Change Conference - COP 26
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.
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Word of the week - Caliginous (adj) dark, dim, gloomy
We face a caliginous future if we do not look after our environment.
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The World This Week - New Zealand
New Zealand, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, is in the news this week because they've just announced the winner of their annual Bird Of The Year contest - The Pekapka-tou-roa, which is not actually a bird, but a bat! The Pekapka-tou-roa is one of the rarest mammals on Earth and in New Zealand because bats face the same threats as birds they are considered just as important.
What can you do to make sure endangered species are protected?
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Calling all bookworms - books on the environment
Tidy by Emily Gravett
Pete the badger likes everything in the forest to be neat and tidy, but when his over-zealous tidying begins to have a damaging impact on the forest and its inhabitants, Pete realises that he may have gone too far - and sets about trying to put things right. As well as providing plenty of laughs, it also carries a valuable message about the importance of caring appropriately for the environment.
Beetles for Breakfast...And other weird and wonderful ways to save the planet by Madeline Finlay, illustrated by Jisu Choi
This uplifting book tells children all about the new inventions currently being worked on by scientists, from insects as a new food source to making fuel from fatbergs.
It’s Up To Us: A Children’s Terra Carta for Nature, People and Planet by Christopher Lloyd
It’s Up To Us highlights how to slow down climate change and create a better future for everyone. The book explores renewable energy sources, protecting coral reefs, forests, savannas and wetlands and working with scientists to find smart solutions. The glossary at the back is useful as some language in the Terra Carta itself is rather grown up - one for our older children.
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“Listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, who suffer most because of the unbalanced ecology”- Pope Francis.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs A Verma
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