Prep Chronicle 16 September 2024 by Effingham Schools Trust

16 SEPTEMBER 2024

Message from the Head of Prep

After the downpours of the first few days of term, we have been blessed with some better weather and the school was looking magnificent in the sunshine for Open Morning. I would like to extend my thanks to all of the pupils, parents and staff involved with hosting our visiting families. They were deeply impressed by the warmth of the welcome they received and the opportunities on offer here.

Sporting success has arrived early in the academic year with our U10s winning the King’s House Tournament and the U11s winning the Surbiton Prep Tournament. There have also been some amazing individual performances on the ski slopes. It is enormously encouraging to note that in the second full week of term, every child from Year 3 up has had the opportunity to represent the school in a sporting fixture.

Teamwork makes the dream work, they say, and Years 4 and up all enjoyed this week’s team building sessions on our Forest School site. Thanks must go to Ms Schembri and the staff at Wonderwood Explorers for organising a fantastic couple of days. House Assemblies were buzzing this week as the children began learning about the European Day of Languages. Our House Captains have now been appointed for the term and it is lovely to see the real sense of pride they are taking in wearing their new badges. There are further opportunities for responsibility with School Council representatives being selected over the coming weeks.

Yesterday saw us come together as a community with a special new school year Mass and Father Charles was once again effusive in his praise of the beautiful singing. Thank you to those parents and governors who were able

Team Building Activities

Upper Prep pupils thoroughly enjoyed their team building sessions over at our Forest School this week. The fine weather enhanced their experience.

Science Club resumes on Mondays for the Autumn Term with 18 dedicated scientists in the group.We undertake engineering challenges, scientific investigations and ecological experiments over the course of the Newcomer Thomas in 5NC was a worthy winner in our inaugural event, the “Hoop Flyer” challenge. We are looking forward to finding out more about Diffusion next week.

Year 1 Forest School

Year 1 enjoyed their first day of Forest School last Thursday. They engaged in various activities such as creating pumpkins and conkers from clay, playing in the mud kitchen, and exploring the natural surroundings. Some of the

Dr Verny White, Head of Upper Prep Science

Year 3 Forest School

Year 3 had their first Forest School visit of the school year on Thursday. The boys enjoyed exploring the site,

building dens, tree climbing and using the mud kitchen.

In Nursery this week, we have continued with our topic, ‘All About Me.’ The children had to look in the mirror at their faces, focusing on eye and hair colour, shape and

We have had a great start to the year, with over 50 fixtures having been played already. This includes every pupil from Year 3 to Year 6 having played at least once, in most cases twice. The schools we have played against include RGS Prep, Downsend, Milbourne Lodge and Hoe Bridge.

Winners!

Congratulations to both our U10s for winning the Kings House Tournament and the U11s for winning the Surbiton Prep Tournament. The U10 team scored 20 and only conceded one goal and the U11s scored over 20 goals without conceding a single one. Well done to both teams!

Skiing

Last weekend was the final round of the Snowsport South Championship at Aldershot. Year 6 pupil, Samuel B, finished second, losing out by five hundredths of a second to the winner! But it was enough for him to secure the championship! Samuel is the Snowsport South U12 Male Champion for 2024. This is his third championship in 3 years in the Snowsport South region. Huge congratulations to him. Year 9 pupil, Freddie B, has also been skiing very well and he too competed in the final round of the Snowsport South Championship at Aldershot. Freddie came 5th in a strong field which was enough for him to secure 3rd place in the U14 category. Very well

A Message from our Chaplaincy Team

This Week

Bible Reading

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Reflection

This week we focus on the theme of Resilience. We know there are times when not everything goes to plan. We forget the books we need, we fall out with a friend. Things do go wrong. We may not understand how God can be in those moments. Yet we must have FAITH in Jesus as He has promised to be with us.

St Therese of Avila put it this way:

Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, Though all things pass, God does not change. Patience wins all things. But he lacks nothing who possesses God; For God alone suffices.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous: to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek to rest; to labour and to ask for no reward.

Soup

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Monday

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