Habs Weekly - Prep and Pre-Prep edition - Friday 7 October

Head of

Prep School’s Message

Ms K Umpleby

As the weather turns autumnal, I am enjoying the opportunity to get wrapped up and outside in the fresh air, crunchy leaves underfoot. As I walk around the school and watch our pupils in the playground, I take a moment to consider all the benefits that spending time outdoors has for both children and adults.

Being active outdoors gives our children the opportunity to be creative and interactive with their play. This is one of the many reasons why we love having the children interact with Forest School - allowing them that creativity and curiosity whilst also being ambitious and courageous in their playtime in a safe environment.

The upcoming Donkin Cup is another chance for our pupils and staff to enjoy the crisp autumn as we support our pupils and peers in the annual cross-country races within the school grounds. It also provides further opportunity to engage with our wider community as we welcome parents to the event - I have heard it is a fantastic morning with a brilliant atmosphere so we are all excited to see you there.

With autumn comes our Harvest Festival, another big event in our calendar. While back in ancient Britain this would have celebrated the time of year when crops would have been gathered from the field and people reflected on the food that they have, we at Habs now use this time to be grateful for all

that we have. We also use this time to collect food for those less fortunate than ourselves, looking back to our philanthropic roots of when we were first founded. This year, we have been collecting food for those in need in our local community and through the Trussell Trust, Borehamwood.

We are all very much looking forward to welcoming our Year 2 to 6 parents to the Harvest Festival celebration on Wednesday 12 October. This is the first opportunity for our community to come together since the Covid-19 pandemic and we are excited for you to see all the hard work the pupils have been putting in to their musical practice and poetry readings as well as introducing our guest speaker, Mr Julian Milner, from the Trussell Trust who is also an Old Haberdasher.

Reception and Year 1 do also have their own Harvest Assembly on Wednesday, but due to limited space in the Pre-Prep Hall, we are unable to invite parents at this time. We hope, with the opening of our new PrePrep building imminent, that we will be able to welcome parents next Harvest Festival!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Pre-Prep School Looking ahead...

Whole school

Parent Consultation Evenings REMINDER

We are looking forward to meeting with you in the evening on Wednesday 12 or Thursday 13 October to discuss your child’s progress. Please arrive just before your appointment is due to start. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact Miss Edwards (preprepoffice@habsboys.org.uk).

Donkin Cup REMINDER

We are all looking forward to the annual Donkin Cup House Cross Country taking place next Friday on the Prep School field. Reception and Year 1 are to come to the Pre-Prep School at the normal time, the shuttle bus will run as usual in the morning and afternoon. The boys should come to school dressed in their white PE kits and trainers. Tracksuits may be worn over their PE kit and we will provide each boy with a coloured house T-shirt for the race. Please send in school rucksacks and snacks as usual.

The Reception race will commence at 11.10am, Year 1 will start at 11.20am followed by the Year 2 race at 11.30am. Please note change of start times. After the races there will be a short presentation and then we will board the coach back to the Pre-Prep School for lunch. If you have any further questions, please contact Miss Edwards on 0208 266 1950

Whole school

Pre-Prep Eco Council REMINDER

The Habs Eco-Council meet each month to discuss eco-friendly and environmental issues within school which prepares children to live their future lives with consideration for global issues. There is one eco councillor from each class in Years 1 and 2.

Why do we have an Eco Council?

• To ensure our school is eco-friendly and prepares children to live with reflection of the environment

• To make sure each class has a platform to voice their opinions

• To discuss and raise issues related to the environment.

If your child would like to represent their class on the Eco-Council, they will need to prepare a short speech to present to their class week commencing Monday 10 October.

Your child needs to include

• Their name and class

• A few reasons why they would like to be an Eco-Councillor

• A few reasons why they would make a good Eco-Councillor.

Please sign your child’s speech so that we know they have permission.

Pre-Prep School Looking ahead...

Reception

Coffee and Curriculum morning REMINDER

Thank you for your attendance at the Curriculum morning. It was lovely to share with you more about the exciting learning journey your child is embarking on. Please click here to view the Reception presentation.

Please click here for the detailed information shared regarding Phonics and Reading. Please read the information carefully and refer to it when needed. Please also do not hesitate to contact your child’s Class Teacher should you have any questions or queries.

Pre-Prep School Reminders...

Whole school

Harvest Assembly

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

We will be conducting a Harvest Assembly for the children at the Pre-Prep on Wednesday 12 October. Please arrive via the Main Entrance on Butterfly Lane where you will be directed to park. The Harvest Service will start at 2pm in the Bourne Hall. Please note, refreshments will be served in the Bourne Hall Foyer once the Service finishes at 3pm.

We will be donating food to Keech Hospice which provides care for children and adults with life limiting illnesses. If you would like to contribute, please kindly send in any non-perishable food items e.g tins, pasta, cereal or biscuits, by Monday 10 October.

Snacks

Please may we remind you that only fruit and vegetables are permitted at snack time. Grapes are a good healthy fruit snack but if you include grapes in your child’s snack box, please remember to always cut them lengthwise first to avoid choking.

After School Care

POLITE REMINDER

A polite reminder that the school day ends at 3.30pm. If you would like to book your child into After School Care until 4pm you must notify the Pre-Prep office in advance.

Pre-Prep School

Prep School

ahead...

Whole

Prep School Looking ahead...

Co-curricular QUERIES AND QUESTIONS

We hope your child has settled well into their co-curricular activities. Should you have any queries regarding this, please direct them to your child’s Form Teacher in the first instance. Any ongoing queries should be directed to Mrs Hilary Pullen at pullen_h@habsboys.org.uk

Donkin Cup

UPDATED TIMES

Parents and Guardians are welcome to spectate, and the race will start and finish on the fields directly behind the Prep School. The timings of the race are as follows:

• Year 3: 8.45am (2km and between 8 and 20 minutes)

• Year 4: 9.15am (2km and between 8 and 20 minutes)

• Year 5: 9.45am (2.8km and between 11 and 30 minutes)

• Year 6: 10.25am (2.8km and between 10 and 30 minutes)

• Rec: 11.10am (500m and between 2 and 5 minutes)

• Year 1 11.20am (700M and between 3 and 5 minutes)

• Year 2 11.30am (900M and between 4 and 6 minutes)

Presentation to all pupils at 11:40pm.

Pupils need to come into school in their PE kit and house top. Please can all pupils also bring in their school uniform in a separate bag as they will be changing into it after the race.

Prep School Looking ahead...

October half term Cricket MONDAY 17 TO THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER

Please click here to find out more about the JHC Cricket Camp during October half term.

Lunchtime Live

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 12.20PM TO 1PM

We have a Lunchtime Live concert on Thursday 3 November in the Seldon Hall, from 12.20pm to 1pm. This is a short concert and a wonderful opportunity for children to play or sing solo or small ensemble pieces in a quality concert venue. Families and guardians of performers are invited and children and teachers will come to support. All performers are awarded a silver star.

If your child wishes to be part of this concert, they must upload an audio or video track to the Padlet link which they will find on their Teams page. All entries need to be uploaded by the end of Wednesday 12 October.

Mrs Gozzard will email the parents of those who are invited to perform on Friday 14 October. We welcome all styles and genres and levels - the only requirement is that your child’s piece is ready to perform, rhythmically and melodically accurate with appropriate dynamic variation and without hesitations (and preferably by memory but this is not a prerequisite).

Prep School Looking ahead...

Y3

Year 3 Rugby Triangular fixture

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

All the pupils in Year 3 are playing Rugby at UCS on Thursday 13 October. Kick off time is 2.30pm. The pupils are playing two matches against Belmont and UCS and parents are welcome to come along and support.

Please ensure your child knows of their going home arrangements and that they write down in their homework diary one of the following three options:

1. Pick up from UCS Playing Fields, Cricklewood, NW2 2BH at 3.30pm

2. Pick up from Habs Prep at 4.45pm

3. Coach home from Habs at 5.30pm

Y4

Year 4 Norfolk House Rugby fixture CANCELLED

The Year 4 Rugby fixture against Norfolk House on Tuesday 11 October has been cancelled. Please ensure that your child’s going-home or after school arrangements are updated.

Prep School Looking ahead...

Y5

Year 5 Norfolk House Rugby fixture MONDAY 10 OCTOBER

All the pupils in Year 5 are playing Rugby v Norfolk House on Monday 10 October. Kick off time is 2.30pm. Parents and guardians are welcome to spectate. The matches will all take place on the Parks Pitches near the Girls’ School. The pupils will be free to leave at the normal time of 4pm.

Prep School Reminders...

to

Borough Council’s Christmas card design

click here to read a letter about

Y3 to 6

12 OCTOBER

Please click here to read a letter about our drop-in session for Years 3 to 6. Please note the drop-in sessions will be held for Years 3 to 6 only following our Harvest Festival assembly on Wednesday 12 October.

Senior School Scholarships

Please click here to read a letter regarding the application of Senior School scholarships.

Pre-Prep and Prep Reminders...

Harvest Festival DONATIONS

This year we will be supporting The Trussell Trust Borehamwood Foodbank. If you wish to contribute, please bring your donations into school from Monday 3 October in preparation for our Harvest Assembly on Wednesday 12 October at 2pm in the Bourne Hall. Blue crates per year group will be provided at the front of the Prep school for each child to drop off their donated items. Please click here for items required.

Please note, refreshments will be served in the Bourne Hall Foyer once the Service finishes and before the Drop-In sessions at 3.15pm.

Club payments NOTICE

Please remember to check any payment links sent via EvolvePay and to make payment for any paid clubs selected for this term.

Lunch Menu WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 10 OCTOBER

Please click here to view the Pre-Prep lunch menu. Please click here to view the Prep lunch menu.

Pre-Prep and

Breakfast and After School Care

Tooled Up

World Mental Health Day is coming up next week on Monday 10 October and there is a host of wellbeing resources within Tooled Up that can help support the pupils.

Resources include topics around helping your child to thrive both academically and mentally, lists of brilliant books and reliable sources of support for mental health and wellbeing. Interviews and webinars with leading researchers around issues such as young people’s mental health and the impact of digital technology on wellbeing might also be useful.

As always, if you’d like to discuss your child’s wellbeing, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to their Form Teacher, House Leader or Mr Thomas.

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

Open Day for prospective parents

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Harvest Festival Assembly

Parent Consultations (3.30pm to 7pm)

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Parent Consultations (3.30pm to 7pm)

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Donkin Cup (8.45am to 12pm)

MONDAY 17 TO FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER Half Term

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER Return to school

FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER Children In Need (Non-Uniform Day)

MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER

Reception and Year 1 Wellbeing Day

WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER Year 2 Wellbeing Day

Please note the Pre-Prep School will remain open for the staff development days

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Year 1 and 2 trip to Pantomime Cinderella at Stevenage Theatre

WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER

St Andrew’s Day

Winter Concert Rehearsals – Seldon Hall

FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER

Winter Concert – Seldon Hall

MONDAY 5 DECEMBER

Reception trip to Pantomime Beauty and the Beast at Watford Palace Theatre

WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER

Reception and Year 1 Nasal Flu Immunisations

For further dates, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.

* Selected pupils will be invited to participate via Evolve

PREP CALENDAR DATES

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

Open Day for prospective parents

MONDAY 10 OCTOBER

Year 5 Rugby (Home: 2.30pm)

TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER

Mini marathon with Girls’ School

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Harvest Service

(Bourne Hall: 2pm to 3pm) Drop-in Session (Prep School: 3.15pm to 4pm)

Informal chat with Mrs K Umpleby (Prep Hall: 4pm to 4.45pm)

* BPSFA Football Festival (Away)

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Year 3 Rugby (Away: 2.30pm)

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Donkin Cup (8.45am to 12pm)

MONDAY 17 TO FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER

Half Term

For further dates, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.