24 FEBRUARY 2025
Message from the Head of Prep
Welcome back! For those who were able to take a break, I hope that it proved to be restful and an opportunity to enjoy the company of family and friends. It has been a busy start to the new half term with visiting speakers coming to join us and Year 3 heading out to the Winchester Science Museum.
After our work on Safer Internet Day, it was very encouraging to see the children answer thoughtfully and sensibly when representatives from the NSPCC came to speak with various classes across the Prep to share the message of Speak Out Stay Safe. The children were reminded of the importance of speaking to a trusted adult about any issues that concern them, both in the real world and online. Following on from the theme of speaking out, in this morning’s assembly we recognised International Stand Up to Bullying Day. The children gave some fantastic responses to how they would react to seeing unkindness in school. We also looked ahead to March which marks Women’s History Month.
Well done to all of those taking part in this year’s Reading Challenge as they continue to work their way through a range of exciting titles, details of which are available in the library. The British Science Week poster competition begins soon with the theme ‘Change and Adapt’ allowing for plenty of STEM topics to be explored. Hockey season is in full swing with some great performances being turned in against some tough competition. Thursday afternoon saw us play host to a successful swimming gala. Good luck to all those involved with fixtures this weekend.
Mr Heaver
On Thursday, Years 2, 5 and 6 participated in the NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. workshops. We were very impressed with how the pupils engaged with the information and their existing knowledge of who their trusted adults were.
Thank you very much to the NSPCC for helping us to support the children through this valuable programme.
Miss Gallop
Year 3 Visit to Winchester Science Centre
Year 3 enjoyed a fabulous trip to Winchester Science Museum on Wednesday. Making a rocket fuelled by methylated spirits was a highlight. The boys enjoyed redesigning their rockets after learning about friction, mass and air resistance, to make them fly further. Rocket 159 flew the furthest, whooshing across the whole room! We ventured into space in the planetarium, visiting the awe inspiring planets and moons in our solar system, which wowed us all.
There were plenty of hands-on exhibits to keep us all entertained in the afternoon including sound booths, mirror experiments, crazy machines, a building site with a crane, a Lego earthquake simulation zone and a space zone.
Don’t let the boys tell you their highlight was lunch! It was a thoroughly fun and educational day all round.
Year 3 Visit to Winchester Science Centre
This Week’s House Cup Winners
Congratulations to Tylor House in the Lower Prep and Morton House in the Upper Prep for gaining the highest number of merits this week!
EYFS and Year 1 Come and See Afternoon
It was lovely to welcome our families from the EYFS and Year 1 last Friday for our ‘Come and See’ book look. The children loved sharing what progress they had made in their work and their beautiful classrooms.
Year 2 Assembly
On Thursday, the Lower Prep School and parents were invited to watch to 2JC’s class assembly. They chose the theme ‘Together as One’ which links to our value of the year, Community. The pupils all delivered their lines with such confidence and the variety of songs which they performed was most impressive.
A special highlight was seeing how they had worked collaboratively to create a beautiful picture of a bee.
Thank you 2JC for a thought provoking assembly.
This week in Nursery the children have been introduced to our new topic of Spring.
They enjoyed using the magnifying glasses to look for mini beasts at Forest School.
In their art session, they looked closely at a daffodil and used pastels to create their observational drawing.
Ms Luke, Director of Nursery
Prep hockey fixtures have taken place against Hoe Bridge and RGS Prep. Also, our U11A team played at the IAPS qualifiers. On Thursday, we had a great swim gala against Feltonfleet. Tomorrow, the U10s and U11s are in action against Cranleigh Prep.
Easter Sports Camp - April 7th to April 11th - Lions Sports Academy
Lions Sports Academy are running a camp this Easter at Cranmore. Please see flyer and use the link below for more information: https://www.lionssports.academy/bookingpage
Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week
Bible Reading: A Reading from the Gospel of Luke
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Reflection
This week we are confronted with a challenging message from Jesus. To not just treat other as we would like to be treated but to go a step further and love our enemies. This is certainly against our natural inclinations. Yet the divine nature is greater than our human nature. God loves each of us unconditionally and He looks at each and every one of us with eyes full of love. This week, as we begin to prepare for Lent, may we too be filled with the Divine Spirit and recognise God’s presence within us and within others. Now there’s a challenge. Lord, open the eyes of our hearts.
Prayer
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Come to school dressed as your favourite book character on Friday 7th March!
Those who prefer not to dress up may choose an alternative way of expressing their love of books, such as:
• bringing in three objects that represent a book character
• decorating an item (paper plate, potato, wooden spoonanything!) inspired by a book
• bringing in a book with which they feel a special connection
Cardio Tennis - Thursdays @ 9:30-10:30am
Please join coach Ivor’s cardio tennis sessions for adults on Thursdays 9:30-10:30am at ESTA, St Teresa’s!
Cardio tennis is a fun, sociable group fitness class with a tennis twist and is open to all abilities - come and give it a try!
Please contact Kirsti at ESTA to sign up esta@effinghamschools.org
Easter Tennis Camps at ESTA
ESTA is excited to be running 4 days of tennis camp over the Easter holidays from Monday 14th to Thursday 17th April at St Teresa’s.
The timings are:
Y2-4 @ 9-12pm
Y5&6 @ 1-4pm
Y7-11 @ 1-4pm
Camp days are priced at £40 with a 10% discount applied for the full week.
Private coaching is also available from 4pm each day.
We look forward to seeing your children on court over the Easter break!
Please contact Kirsti at ESTA to sign up esta@effinghamschools.org
Mon 14th - Thurs 17th April
The course is suitable for players from Grade 1 up to Grade 6 and is open to children from Year 4 to Year 9.
The programme will include:
String Orchestra
Swing/Jazz Band
Full Orchestra Rehearsals
Sectional Rehearsals
General Musicianship
Recreational Time
Further details can be obtained from: Mrs Caroline Yalden, Director of Music (c.yalden@st-teresas.com)
Main Chicken & Vegetable Korma
Vegetarian
Sides
Additional
Paneer & Spiced Root Vegetable Dhal
Slow Cooked Beef Lasagne
Roast Pork with Yorkshire Pudding, Apple Sauce & Gravy
Freshly Battered Fish or Jumbo Fish Finger with Ketchup and Tartare Sauce
Naan Bread Pilau Rice Green Beans
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Roasted Vegetable Lasagne
Garlic Bread
Roquette & Balsamic Tomato Salad
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Braised Lentil Cottage Pie with a Sweet Potato Top
Thyme Roasted Skin on Potatoes
Sauteed Cabbage
Vegan Frankfurters
Harry Potter's Hotpot
Dr Seuss' Green Eggs and Vegetable Frittata
Chunky Chips
Garden Peas
Peter Rabbit's Glazed Carrots
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Freshly Baked Bread
& Poppyseed
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
Dessert Lemon
Drizzle Chewy Flapjack Shortbread Fruit Smoothie
Bruce Bogtrotter's
