SHERBORNE PREP LENT Term NEWSLETTER 2021
Stronger Together / Our School / One Community
What a time it has been for us all. I want to look at the positives because out of troubled times we must look at the good and learn from such events. Pupils have learned valuable lessons, and Year 8 created a list of their own reflections. Our community has been strong and has come together. Kindness has shone through. The children have shown great resilience and independence in so many ways and have continued to work hard. All will reflect and think about how wonderful it actually was to be in “normal” times. We all look forward to that day again, but this period will always be remembered. Well done everybody, enjoy this newsletter which is built around the strength we have shown as a community and the kindness we have shown to each other. Nick Folland, Headmaster
“
I would be grateful if you could pass on my thanks to all the teachers for working so hard to keep all the children included and keep their education going in difficult circumstances
”
REFLECTIONS YEAR 8 More time to appreciate what we used to have Healthier eating More sustainable living Better physical health Finding your own talents Less CO2 footprint Wildlife regeneration in many areas Time to think Bike rides and walks Spending quality time with family Proving the value of the NHS so we do not take it for granted Saving money Less busyness More thought into what you do and eat More time to rest Healthier cooking More time with pets Developing our IT skills Smog over India has cleared Valuing things more
MUSIC Head of Music, Mrs Fawbert and Head of Art, Mr Velázquez, have not allowed lockdown to stop them showcasing our fabulous music and art. Art exhibitions and music recitals were created and celebrated through assemblies each week. As we all returned for the last three weeks of term, we were welcomed back by the sound of our brass band, Year 8s playing and singing Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, and Year 7s singing and playing ukuleles.
Amelie
Hattie B
Archie S-B
Charlotte L
William H
Jack H-I
Pearl
Daniel G
Eleanor C
Matilda T
Mia
Ryan F
Fiona & Olivia K
We have enjoyed ‘Lockdown Art’ and ‘Art of the Week’. Also, pupils in Year 7 and 8 created poignant collages, inspired by Mrs Richards, our School Administrator who was responsible for our Covid testing. She offered obsolete barcodes for the pupils to discuss how we are dealing with the situation, and the result is a wonderful demonstration of our pupils’ creativity and their ability to transform complex ideas into unique art full of life.
E NG L I S H We celebrated both World Book and Poetry Days. Once again staff put on a pantomime, this time virtual, with a Roald Dahl version of
Snow White. “I just wanted to say well done coordinating the World Book Day themed events yesterday, both my children really enjoyed the day, finding the whole thing hilarious and were in good spirits right through the evening!” (Parent of pupils in Year 5 and 8) “Thank you for all your efforts in making WBD such fun from a distance. The reading photos always make me cry (I love them!) we just loved it! A big well done to all for the fantastic Snow White performance too. You must be exhausted!” (Parent of pupils in Year 3 and 5)
French Action Verbs
Pre-Prep receiving English speaking certificates
Y P ACE L N
REA A
N
N I D G
A Y T E IM
SCIENCE
SCIENCE POSTER COMPETITIONS
Science could be saving the day with the vaccination. The focus of the last few assemblies has been ‘Enquiring Minds’, the importance of science and asking questions. What have we learned from the past and what will we need in the future? Science poster competitions for National Science Week (above), work on the planets in line with the Mars Perseverance Mission, and medical advances. Some of our scholars have also presented on scientific innovation (top right). Look out Elon Musk! Year 3 made volcanoes, while Year 1 created incredible planet art.
SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION PRESENTATIONS
PLANET ART
2 0 2 1 SCHO Cassian A
Sherborne School
Charlie A
Sherborne School
Archie A
King’s Bruton
Hattie B
Sherborne Girls
Xander G
King’s Bruton
Samuel H
King’s Bruton
Jack H-I
Sherborne School
Jasper M
Sherborne School
Elio M
Sherborne School
Amélie P
Sherborne Girls
Toby R
Sherborne School
Archie S-B
Sherborne School
Harry S
Milton Abbey
Rosanna T
Sherborne Girls
Caio W
Sherborne School
Alexander W
Sherborne School
OLARSHIPS Honorary Academic Exhibition Music Exhibition Art Scholarship Academic Exhibition Music Scholarship Music, Sport, Academic Scholarship Design Technology Award Music Scholarship Academic Scholarship, Sherborne Prep Award Drama Exhibition Honorary Academic Exhibition Music Scholarship Drama Scholarship Music Exhibition, Sport Scholarship Honorary Academic Scholarship Academic Scholarship
We l l b e i n g Our mental health has been a hot topic this past year. Mrs Green our Head of Drama, decided to create virtual and live yoga sessions for pupils, parents and the staff. There are positives from this pandemic, and yoga will be here to stay. Our Pre-Prep’s Talent Show was a sight to behold on Friday with many a talent on display. Coralie’s tyre balance was quite remarkable and demonstrated her balancing skills using the tyres the children play with at breaktimes. Following the theme of balance, our Deputy Head (Pastoral) Annie Gent wrote for Independent Education Today on the balance schools are trying to achieve for their students. We are proud that our diverse curriculum, staff-pupil relationships and priority of pupils’ wellbeing was recognised in this
way. Finding the Balance
And our Director of Operations and Co-Curricular Huw Thomas, has been stimulating discussion regarding Physical Education provision in the curriculum and how Sherborne Prep is leading the way with our personalised FMS provision which allows our pupils to access the full sporting curriculum. Sport and Leadership This was exemplified in Physical
Education where teachers ensured
pupils kept active, whether they were at home or in school.
BOARD More than ever this year, we have seen the importance of the boarding community for our school. Whether initially providing the stability and peace of mind needed for those unable to travel home, or more recently the opportunity for those weekly boarders to return and be a part of that community again, it has been wonderful to see how everyone has pulled together within the boarding family. We have been lucky that living in this beautiful part of the world and having access to our forest school site has allowed us to make the most of the outdoors, whilst the staff have continued to work tirelessly with an unusual and ever-changing routine to provide both a varied and enjoyable set of activities within the house environment. We are ever fortunate to have access to the schools’ facilities at the end of the day and whether quiet time in the hall, movie time in the common room or a good run-around in the sports hall, it has been wonderful to see the children being able to interact with each other during this time. We look forward to welcoming more children back as the year progresses so we can make the most of the Summer Term together!
DING
Communication and Engagement With parents and pupils at home, communication has been key. Our Form Tutors and Boarding Housemaster have provided comprehensive summaries, photographs and feedback reports each week to their form’s parents. This has happened from Nursery through to Year 8, and we have even had our Year 5s talking about their experiences on the radio!
We have continued to be a community that cares about each other, and thinks of others. There have been several community action drives creating gifts, cards and tokens for members of the local community who have had a difficult time during lock down and we are continuing to work closely with the Sherborne Community Kitchen. On-line challenges have included ‘Try something new and give something back’. The spirit of kindness in our children has shone
through, and we have become certified as a ‘Boarding School Association
on Board Partner School’.
School and National events have been participated in such as: • House Challenges, Doing things for others • RSPB’s Big Garden birdwatch weekend • Scavenger Hunt • Operation Red Dragon • Brew Monday • Care Home gestures of kindness • Air Ambulance • Sherborne Community Kitchen
THE LENT TERM IN NUMBERS
180
FORM TEACHER WEEKLY UPDATES TO PARENTS
LIVE LESSONS TAUGHT
22
720
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
MONEY RAISED FOR CHARITY
£1000+
32, 400
MILES TRAVELLED AROUND THE WORLD!
#SPSFAMILY #SPSCOMMUNITY
Friends of Sherborne Prep This year has been different. Social events curtailed, but Steve Fisher, having had his pilot’s wings clipped by lockdown, set about organising a virtual round the world trip for Sherborne Prep’s little Red Dragon. Fuelled by everyone’s physical efforts including rowing, skiing, riding, swimming, running, and walking … Red Dragon set off, via the Deller’s in Singapore, Mr Shepherd and Ms Minogue in New Zealand then Mrs Meikle in China. It has been a blast, and following Red Dragon on google maps I for one have spotted some incredible places to add to my bucket list … now we just need Steve back on the flight deck to get us there for real! Read his article. In the process we have raised a good sum of money for the School and a brilliant local initiative set up by old Prep mother Jill Warburton Hogben… The Sherborne Community Kitchen. Borne out of the first lockdown to provide meals for those isolating, it has proven such a hit it is now a permanent fixture helping those most vulnerable in our community, and we are delighted to be supporting it. Our latest effort was a family Games Night on Zoom. Bad internet connections, endless calls to ‘unmute’ and the usual (and not always off screen) family rows notwithstanding, it was a hoot, with family fun including scavenger hunting, modelling and guessing the gender swapped teacher (disturbing). Absolutely fab to see all those who attended. We can’t wait for everyone to be together again. Looking forward to the end of term drinks party and to give all new parents a warm welcome. (Anna Mike)
Prefect Interviews Ian Adams’ (Head of Mathematics) interview by Toby R What inspired you to do maths? Many people think of maths as a black and white, right and wrong kind of subject. It’s not – it can be incredibly creative and the wonder of maths has unlocked so many of the secrets and mysteries of the world. Sometimes it’s hard for children to see the relevance of maths in everyday life but I love trying to bring a sense of ‘discovery’ to maths by making it relevant.
If you didn’t teach maths, what would you teach? I have a Geophysics and Geochemistry degree which means I’ve run Science and Geography departments in the past and I enjoy both of these subjects too.
Do you have any hobbies? I’ve always enjoyed windsurfing and hillwalking. I’ve climbed four of the world’s Seven Summits but I think that’s it for now, unless my knees recover soon!
What is your favourite topic in maths? I’m a huge fan of algebra. It’s at the root of everything and it can be an incredibly satisfying area.
In your opinion what is the best football team? I’d always be tempted to say my own team of course, Arsenal, but we know that’s not the case at the moment! The best teams in Spain never fail to entertain so I’d have to say Barca or Real.
Tell us something that not many people know about you? I’ve worked for three royal households and once had dinner on a small table with Vladimir Putin (and Beyonce!)
What is your favourite food? My wife’s!
What is your favourite book? What is your favourite animal?
Danny the Champion of the World
I’ve lived in East Africa for 12 years in total so my whole family and I have become extremely fond of elephants. We’ve even adopted one in Kenya.
Mr Adams also runs the popular Photography Club as part of our Saturday morning activities.
Jason Relf’s (IT Manager) interview by Olivia R What made you decide to come to Sherborne Prep? Trying to find a new job in a new county during a pandemic when many companies were closed was a challenge. Sherborne Prep presented me with an opportunity that I am pleased I accepted.
What did you do before you came to Sherborne? I worked as a school IT manager at The Towers Convent School in West Sussex until it closed last year.
If you were a chocolate bar, what would you be? (and why) Cadbury Dairy Milk. Simple and reliably the same with every chunk
Do you do any sport? No
What is your favourite drink? Coca Cola (Original or Cherry) or a hot mug of tea
Have you always lived in this country? Yes
What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Unicorn Cornetto
What is your favourite types of music? I like everything from classical through to current chart music. Anything that does not give me a headache. I am currently listening to Celeste’s new album. Mr Relf also drives the School minibus for our pupils.
NEW SHERBORNE PREP SCHOOL HEAD We are delighted to announce that the new Head of Sherborne Prep School from September 2021, will be Mrs Natalie Bone. Congratulations. Natalie is currently Head of Junior School at Sidcot School, having previously been a houseparent and teacher of mathematics at Millfield Preparatory School. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Reading and before entering teaching, was a professional dressage competitor and trainer as well as having a successful City career in investment management. Natalie is married to Matt, the Director of Art at Sherborne School, and they have grown up children, as well as several horses and dogs. We thoroughly look forward to welcoming Natalie into our community.
Acreman Street | Sherborne | Dorset | DT9 3NY Tel: +44(0)1935 812097 | Email: info@sherborneprep.org www.sherborneprep.org