Prep for the Week Issue | 1796

Prep for the Week Issue Number 1796– 8 May 2015

In this week’s issue…

Headmaster’s Welcome Kingfishers News Lower School News Upper School News

Individual Achievements Notices Birthday Celebrations The School Week Ahead

A Visit to SS Great Britain by Year 4

Miss S E Ramsay, PE, Swimming Girls' Sport Britain in Bristol this week!

Year 4Head wereoflucky enough toand visit SS Great

Having learnt about explorers and their discoveries throughout history, it was a great opportunity to discover more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and delve into the past of the former passenger steamship. Following a guided tour around the ship, we explored the luxury cabins of First Class passengers, before being led down to the Steerage accommodation.

At the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to walk along the ship's enormous hull and see its impressive propeller!

Overall, we had a fantastic experience and we look forward to learning about Explorers, Discoveries and Travel.

Miss K E Stovold, Lower School Class Tutor

TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE PREP PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE Prep for The Week Issue Number 1796– 8 May 2015

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Headmaster's Welcome

Dear Parents

It was interesting to spend two days at the Boarding Schools Association's Annual Conference. Adopting my usual approach that 80% of my time would be spent listening to advice that I had already heard, whilst from the remaining 20% I might garner something new, I returned with a clear aim.

Having listened to the Head of Human Resources at Unilever, it was clear that the 40 successful appointees to Unilever’s HR department, from a field of 8000, all had similar stellar academic qualifications.

What made the successful candidates stand out was their emotional intelligence. Now, in all great schools, we track the path to achieving academic potential. But do we have a similar checking procedure for emotional intelligence?

Not yet, and this is something that I, along with Mr Jenkins, Deputy Head (Pastoral), will investigate.

Time out of school is something that I am sensitive about, as I must achieve a fine balance between ‘spreading the word’ and ‘taking my eye off the ball’.

Therefore, let me explain where I will be next week, in order to give you a flavour of the less obvious aspects of my role.

On Monday, I will be at Kingham Hill School and on Thursday I will be at Radley College. As a preparatory school, we aim to prepare children for a range of schools and as parents have shown an interest in these two schools, I am obliged to visit in order to report back accurately.

On Wednesday, I will be at Beaudesert, a preparatory school and one of our main competitors.

Healthy competition is valued and it is important that I maintain a relationship with our competitors so that we can work together for the benefit of the market.

The strength of a good leader and manager is that he/ she can step away from the business and all continues to run smoothly. However, in such a relationship based organisation as a school, the absence of those who lead can be keenly felt.

Mr J F Whybrow

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Kingfishers Kookaburra Club has enjoyed a sunny start to the Summer Term.

The children have had lots of fun playing on the outside toys, chasing bubbles and playing sports on the field.

At the end of each session we have introduced traditional games such as Duck Duck Goose and What's the Time Mr Wolf, enabling our children to learn to interact as part of a large group.

Miss S Matthews, Kingfishers Teaching Assistant

This week, our Year 2 boys and girls have continued to look ahead with excitement to Lower School.

They took the opportunity to have lunch with Year 3 and it was delightful to see the alacrity with which they attacked the salad bar, as well as the care and consideration that our Year 3s displayed in making them feel comfortable. Upcoming events and activities in our transition programme include further visits and assemblies by Mrs Isaachsen and her Year 3 staff, further opportunities to choose their lunch in the Dining Hall and our Flying into Year 3 morning. Mrs Isaachsen will also be making herself available at some of our Kingfishers events this term, in addition to the Year 2 transition meeting for parents on Friday 22 May, just before the half term break.

Exciting times for Year 2!

Mrs R L Buttress, Head of Kingfishers

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Lower School Year 2 visit Lower School‌ How lovely to have such a happy, smiley group of Year 2 children visit on Tuesday. The highlight for many was being able to choose their own lunch - hot lunch or salad took quite some thought!

Outdoor play followed and it was wonderful to see the Year 3 playing so nicely and joining them in their games. We look forward to the children visiting again soon.

Mrs D J Isaachsen, Head of Lower School

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Daylight Theatre Experience for Year 3 On Tuesday 5 May, Year 3 were visited by the Daylight Theatre Company. The children experienced this lively theatre involving actors, puppets, scenery and audience participation.

The production was set at Hadrian’s Wall during Roman times.

Mrs A M Coley, Lower School Class Tutor

"I thought it was very fun and really exciting, particularly when the spy hid the horse shoe in the secret cupboard."

Siena "I loved taking part and dressing in the costumes."

Flora

"The best bit was when the Roman fell down the well!"

Harry "It was really entertaining and we were impressed with the acting."

Zara & Martha

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Upper School Year 7 Prefects and Positions of Responsibility Over the last few weeks Year 7 have been thinking about their choices and preferences for Positions of Responsibility and Prefects next year.

All of Year 7 have had the opportunity to write letters of application for their chosen position:

Head Girl Head Boy Head Boarding (boy and girl) Heads of Houses Captains of Sport Leader of the Orchestra Head Chorister Chapel Monitors General Prefect The letters written by Year 7 have been superb in content and conviction and I have selected some (anonymous!) quotes below.

“I love the Prep and I am proud to have been here since Year 3. I really would love to be Head of House so that I can try and support my House to win whether in sport or singing.”

“Although I have only been at the Prep this year, I feel like part of a family. I would be proud to be a Prefect and try and lead by example.”

“I have been at the Prep since I was three years old and I would like to look after and help the younger boys and girls, so that they can enjoy school as I have.”

“I’m looking forward to being at the top of the school and think I can help out and be responsible.”

I am so impressed with the time and care taken over the letters – we now have some decisions to make!

Prefect trials start next week, with all of Year 7 spending the day with a Year 8 Prefect during the next fortnight.

We also have Open Morning on 16 May, with Year 7 guides, so there are many opportunities coming up for the boys and girls to shine and show off their leadership and communication skills.

Mrs S Reid, Director of Upper School

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Art Department News

Last Sunday, 52 Prep parents, children and friends travelled to The V&A to see this sell out exhibition.

The much anticipated event did not disappoint.

We were taken on a journey through the creative, genius, and often dark, mind of McQueen.

Every room had been meticulously planned to present a selection of garments and accessories, many of which have become fashion history and iconic symbols of modern British fashion.

I had not imagined there would be so much to see.

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A highlight was a holographic moving image of Kate Moss, swathed in white, appearing to be suspended and floating in a pyramid, like ‘Tinkerbell’.

The same sequence could be seen from both sides, it created a magical illusion and, set to music from Schindler's List, it felt eerily moving; a goose bump moment.

A truly amazing exhibition!

Mrs A V Parsley, Head of Art

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Boys' Sport Following a number of years of trials, the RFU (Rugby Football Union) are adapting the rules within mini-rugby to try and create a more open game. This started at U7 and has gradually moved up year by year; this year it has now moved up to U11.

Last season was a difficult one, as many Prep Schools were playing the new laws, whilst others were playing the old laws and fixtures became tough to organise. Cheltenham, along with a number of our local rivals, played an amalgamated game, with a mix of both the old and new rules. At a recent conference, our area was praised for our “forward thinking” and we learnt a great deal about how best to approach the new laws.

Over the Spring Term, IAPS and the RFU came together and made the new laws up to U11 compulsory in all Prep Schools. Not only were all schools playing the same rules, but the children would be playing the same rules at school and club, which is good news for all.

Over the next two years, the laws at U12 and U13 will change, followed by U14 and U15 in the years thereafter.

However, these rules are still being trialled, and at present we are only concerned with the rules up to U11.

One key difference is the end of Colts rugby: we will now be playing U11 and U10 rugby. Based on our predicted numbers, we will run with an U11A, U11B, U10A, U10B and Barbarians side, made up of U11 and U10 boys who miss out on selection to the B team.

Below shows a table with the overview of the new rules, this is not definitive and will be finalised over the summer.

AGE

NUMBERS

TACKLE

RUCKING

SCRUM

LINE-OUT

KICKING

Year 2 - U7 Year 3 – U8 Year 4 - U9

4 a-side 6 a-side 7 a-side

Tag Tag Yes

No No No

No No No

No No No

No No No

Year 5 - U10

8 a-side

Yes

2 v 2 contest including ball carrier and tackler

Uncontested 3 man No

No

Year 6 – U11

9 a-side

Yes

3 v 3 contest including ball carrier and tackler No limit

Uncontested 3 man No

Yes, but no conversions

8 man contested

Yes

Year 7/8 – U13 15 a-side

Yes

Yes contested

As you can see, there is a huge jump from the New Rules of Play (NRoP) at U11 to the Continuum Rules at U13, however this will change over the next two years.

The boys will adapt quickly to the new rules. It was clear through this last season that the boys just treat each occasion, no matter if the laws were different, as the same: a ball, some grass and an opposition. It will be tougher on the staff to adapt our refereeing; however, we will work hard to prepare for the start of the season. I will continue to update you on the changes, as they come through.

If any parents have children who wear glasses, and wish for further information about sports goggles, please contact me on d.simpson@cheltenhamcollege.org. The RFU have recently sanctioned certain sports goggles as being safe and legal in contact rugby up to U11 and, as soon as I have the full documentation, I will pass it on to any parents who request it.

Fingers crossed for a dry weekend and a return to the cricket field!

Mr D E Simpson, Head of Boys' Sport

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Individual Achievements The following boys have been invited to join Gloucestershire District and County U11s teams for the summer:

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Elie in Year 4 took part in Snowsport England 'Club National' U10s and 12s special slalom and came 1st in the U10s and 3rd in the U12s.

Gloucestershire U11s Ollie Elliott Finlay Hurst District Teams Ross Broughton-Johnson Eddie Buttress Jack Logan Harry Dawson Mr C Elliott

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Zak in Year 5 won the 2nd round of the Belgium Max Challenge, held in Genk.

Mrs O'Sullivan

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Photo Booth in Aid of TURF

A Big Thank You to everyone!

We raised an amazing £360 for our charity,TURF

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Notices We welcome the addition of 'College Coffee' to the Prep, situated in the parking area outside the Sports Hall.

Please do come along and sample their locally sourced products!

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FRIENDS OF THE PREP

invite you to join in the fun at the

HEADMASTER’S XI CRICKET MATCH, DOUBLES TENNIS TOURNAMENT & BBQ TEA Sunday 7 June.

Last year was such a huge success that we have decided to do it all over again, so please join us!

If you would like to enter the Headmaster’s Doubles Tennis Tournament, please call Emma Graveney on (mobile) 07956 517486.

Not to worry if you don’t have a doubles partner, we can pair you up once the entrants' list is complete.

If you are a cricketer and wish to participate, then Tim Buttress is your man (tim.buttress@hotmail.com or 07891 358062).

A delicious barbecue tea will be served at 15.30 Thank you and we really hope you can come, the event will be a lot of fun!

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Happy Birthday to the following pupils next week!

Edward Lait........... .....Age Gracie Ren........... ......Age Aleki Jeveons......... ....Age Isabella Isaachsen ���� Age Imogen Cutts...... ........Age Emer Hughes................Age Cole Gittins................Age

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Sunday, May 10, 2015 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 Sunday, 10 May 2015 09:00

Charity Tennis Tournament in aid of TURF. Years 3-8. (Linton Astro)

14:00

Boarders' Superstars (Full and Regular Flexi Boarders Only)

Monday, 11 May 2015 Week 5 (30) 11 - 17 May Year 7 Examinations 08:45

Year 2 Trip to SS Great Britain. Return 15:00

08:30

Year 8 Common Entrance Maths Listening Examinations

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 Year 7 Examinations 08:30

Year 8 Common Entrance French Listening Examinations

09:00

Year 3 Recycling Trip

15:45

Departure for Athletics v St John's on the Hill (A): Years 3-4. Start 17:00. Pick up 19:30

09:00

Reception Classes Trip to Bristol Zoo. Return 15:00

Wednesday, 13 May 2015 Year 7 Examinations 14:15

Middle School House Tennis and Rounders. Pick up 16:30

15:15

Departure for Rounders v High School for Girls (A): U13 IX. Start 15:45. Pick up 17:15

16:00

Tennis v High School for Girls (H): U13 12 pairs. Pick up 17:45

12:30

Departure for Cricket v RGS The Grange (A): Colts B XI, Colts D XI, Colts E XI. Start 14:15. Pick up 18:15

13:30

Departure for 1st Rowing. Pick up 16:30

14:00

Cricket Training for 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th VIII. Pick up 16:30

14:15

Cricket v RGS The Grange (H): Colts A XI, Colts C XI. Pick up 17:45

08:30

Year 8 Common Entrance Spanish Listening Examinations

Thursday, 14 May 2015 Years 5 and 7 Examinations Year 8 Common Entrance French and Spanish Speaking Examinations 08:30

Year 8 Assembly. Transition to College with Mr Simon Conner

Friday, 15 May 2015 Year 6 Examinations 14:00

Departure for District Track and Field Championships (A): Years 7-8. Start TBC. Pick up TBC - cancelled

15:00

Cricket v St Edward's (H): U9A VIII, U9B VIII, U9C VIII. Pick up 17:00

14:15

Chapel (Parents welcome)

Saturday, 16 May 2015 09:30

Open Morning for Prospective Parents

10:00

Cheltenham Prep School Tennis Festival (H): Years 3-4. Pick up 12:30

12:30

Departure for Tennis v The Dragon (A): U13 6 pairs. Start 13:30. Pick up 16:30

12:30

Departure for Tennis v The Dragon (A): U10/11 6 pairs. Start 13:30. Pick up 16:30

09:00

Year 2 Cricket Club. Pick up 10:00

09:15

Departure for Cricket v Dean Close U8A VIII, U8B VIII, U8C VIII. Start 10:00. Pick up 12:30

12:15

Departure for Severnside Athletics at Beaudesert (A): Years 4-8 squads. Start 13:30. Pick up 18:00

All changes and additions to the School Calendar are highlighted in yellow.

Cheltenham College Preparatory School Tel - 01242 522 697 Thirlestaine Road Fax - 01242 265 620 Cheltenham Email - theprep@cheltenhamcollege.org Gloucestershire GL53 7AB Website - www.cheltenhamcollege.org

Prep for The Week Issue Number 1796– 8 May 2015

Duty Mobiles: MS/US 07867 505721, LS 07789 938512, Kingfishers 07789 938514 Please email absentprep@cheltenhamcollege.org should you need to inform us of any absence from school

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