Newton News Roundup Summer 2023

SUMMER 2023

Welcome to Newton News Roundup

This Newton News Roundup marks the end of the school year. When we reflect on the Summer Term, I cannot quite believe what we have managed to pack in. We celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III, the children competed in Sports Days, pupils in Years 4, 6 & 8 had their residential visits, and 28 members of the Training Choir went on a 5-day singing tour of Dublin. There have been concerts galore, class assemblies, chicks and ducklings in Nursery and, of course, the fabulous Year 6 production of Mary Poppins.

In these last few days, our thoughts have turned to our leavers. The End of Year Celebration at Cadogan Hall was a very special event.

I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of Newton News Roundup and getting a real sense of all that has gone on across the whole school. To the class of 2023 – we will miss you. Thank you for all that you have contributed to the life of this school. Good luck!

“To the class of 2023 –we will miss you”

WHOLE SCHOOL

Clothing Drive

The Newton Prep Eco Warriors held a charity clothing drive to promote Earth Day 2023 and support Little Lives UK in their effort to help disadvantaged children in London. The drive was a huge success with so many kind donations, and the charity was overwhelmed with the generosity. In total we received over 60 bags full of second-hand clothing that were taken straight to their facility for sorting and distribution to those in need.

YEARS 7 & 8

Speaker Series

Chile Mlemchukwu-Roberts from Aesop visited Year 7 & 8 as part of the Speaker Series which introduces our Key Stage 3 pupils to different industries and a range of careers that they may not have come across before. As part of their Global Marketing Team, Chile works on Aesop products’ prices, packaging and advertising. After her talk, the pupils were able to ask Chile questions and she was so impressed with the level of their questioning –they will be CEOs in no time!

RECEPTION

RJR Class Assembly

What a treat it was to see our first Reception class assembly of the year with RJR sharing some of their fairy tale knowledge. Thinking about Jack and the Beanstalk, they shared with great enthusiasm what they would wish to find at the top of a beanstalk – unicorns, Pokémon, footballs! The audience particularly enjoyed the Three Bears song. Well done to you all, it was fantastic!

Coronation Celebration at Holy Trinity

What an incredible day! The children sang like angels and those who were readers spoke with confidence in the very large venue that is Holy Trinity. Everyone entered into the spirit of our celebration with their typical gusto and commitment. A particularly moving moment was the procession of our brand new Newton Prep standards, as the choir sang Hubert Parry’s, I Was Glad.

In the run up to the Coronation the children created a paper chain of hope, thanks and wishes for the future, which we linked together during the service with joyful enthusiasm; a real memorable moment!

View more photos on our Flickr page

YEARS 7 & 8

Holi Festival

The school garden was transformed into a field of bright colours as the Years 7 & 8 took part in a Holi Festival celebration. It was certainly an afternoon they will never forget, which included cultural music, local food and, of course, plenty of laughter!

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

YEAR 3

Drop-in Morning

Thank you so much to all of the parents who managed to attend the drop-in morning. The children were so delighted to be able to show off their hard work!

YEAR 1

A Colonel Visits

Year 1 were very lucky to have Colonel Prichard come and visit them to discuss his role in King Charles’ Coronation (standing still in Parliament Square for 5 hours!) and to share some information on his life as a soldier. He taught the children how to salute and showed them (using a metre ruler) how he held his sword as King Charles and Queen Camilla went past in both the Gold State Coach and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

NURSERY Chicks and Ducks

Children in NSB and NBG enjoyed the company of the chicks and ducks for a few weeks. They looked after them by feeding them, cuddling them and even bathing them! They even had a fun activity weighing them to see which of the birds was the heaviest and which was the lightest.

Residential to Weymouth

Year 6 had a fantastic week away at PGL Osmington Bay. The sun was shining over the beautiful coast of Weymouth whilst the pupils got stuck into a whole range of adventurous activities. All of the PGL staff and Newton Prep teachers were so proud of the way the children conducted themselves. They showed fearlessness, compassion for others, resilience, perseverance, enthusiasm and excitement. Happy memories made by all!

Fort Purbrook Residential

The Year 4 students embarked on their first residential trip, and it was a huge success! The children were enthusiastic and excited to try new things, and they certainly made the most of their time away from home.

This was a great opportunity for the children to bond and practise their independence. Laser Tag was a thrilling experience, as was rock climbing, which boosted the children’s confidence. The string trail challenged the children to work together and problem-solve.

The children did an amazing job of embracing new experiences and challenging themselves.

WHOLE SCHOOL

Music Recitals

We have been very fortunate to have a number of our musicians perform for us recently in our regular Recital series. With a range of instruments from voice, piano, drums, violin, cello and even a bassoon, the pupils all performed with confidence and assurance. The Auditorium is a big space to fill, but they all did a fabulous job. It was also a record number of Lower School pupils performing with 25 taking part!

LOWER SCHOOL

Positions of Responsibility

We had a celebratory afternoon tea for those Year 1 and 2 children who took on a special role last half term - Eco Warriors, House Captains and Pupil Parliament. It was a chance to thank them for bringing enthusiasm and energy to their meetings and for offering such wonderful ideas and opinions.

YEAR 4

Printing Project

Being good at Art isn’t just about being able to draw well. Someone who is artistic will understand how to use colour and pattern effectively and will know how to create a balanced composition. The Printing Project gave Year 4 pupils an opportunity to showcase their skills in these areas. The design of the poly-print was based on a man-made object or piece of machinery.

UPPER SCHOOL

House Poetry Finals

We had a wonderful few days of poetry recitation at Newton, including an unforgettable whole-house reading of The Jabberwocky.

Our guest judges - Deborah Bicknell and Sophie Routledgewere both incredibly impressed by all the contestants. They were amazed by the challenging poem choices and recitations, which would be worthy of any Senior School pupil.

A huge well done to all our finalists and all the pupils who competed in the heats - what an exciting poetic race it was!

12 | Summer 2023

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

NURSERY

Zoo Lab

To support the Nursery children’s learning of Living Things, they were treated to an exciting encounter with some very special guests! Guided by an expert Zoo Lab Ranger, the children met slimy, soft and furry new friends and learnt new facts too.

YEARS 5 & 6

Primary Maths Challenge

Newton Prep’s Primary Maths Challenge Bonus Round competitors beat 58,000 Year 5 and 6s across the world to compete in the qualifiers with 3,700 others. A huge well done, this is really quite impressive!

YEAR 7

Latin Play

Pupils from Year 7 performed their play 'mysterium coronae amissae' to the whole of Upper School. Rex Carolus lost his crown, but fortunately the trusty palace maids and servants found it in a rather embarrassing location... Great fun was had by all, both rehearsing and performing!

Film Night

Year 5 film stars celebrated their work at the ‘N-oscars’ 2023, a dazzling evening filled with glamour and exciting surprises! The children received awards for their outstanding achievement in filmmaking and we heard some fantastic, witty speeches from the directors. It really was a night to remember!

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

UFO Crashes into Lower School Writing

Mysterious, sparkly objects appeared in the corner of the Front Playground one morning. Luckily, we had some intrepid writers on hand to recount what they had seen and infer what might have happened. Did aliens take a wrong turn over Battersea? The truth is out there!

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

RECEPTION

Battersea Park Zoo

The children saw lots of different animals including otters, meerkats and monkeys! They took part in a workshop where the zookeeper taught them about all the things animals need to survive and lead happy, healthy lives. They were then challenged to create a toy robot for the animals! After a picnic lunch, and a great run around in the play area, Reception finished off their day with a refreshing ice cream.

UPPER SCHOOL

Wind Band Showcase

Wind Band finished off our ensemble showcases this term. They performed a programme of film theme pieces including Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park and James Bond. It was wonderful to have so many parents come along!

YEAR 3

Beautiful Butterflies

Year 3 have created a collection of beautiful butterfly and moth paintings. Using just primary colours, they produced a wonderful palette of secondary colours. Using black and white paint, they added tints and shades of the colours they needed. Painting smoothly and carefully, they completed their studies using fine brushes to show surface patterns and details. Well done Year 3!

DT and Cookery Trip

Year 7 visited Thames Christian College where the children designed and made a clock in the style of the artist Mondrian. They used the drill to make holes in plywood and attach coloured plastic pieces. The other activity for the day was cookery. The children had to work together or alone, to chop their meat, marinate it, chop vegetables and cook noodles. The end products went down very well- many of the children were so taken with their creations that they ate them before they could make it home!

YEAR 6

Basketball Tournament

We hosted the Wandsworth School Games Battersea Basketball Tournament for Year 6 this term. Six teams competed in a 3v3 roundrobin with some excellent basketball on display. Basketball has exploded at Newton Prep in recent years, and the hard work paid off, with the Newton teams finishing in 1st and 2nd place!

YEAR 3

Hampton Court Palace

It was a beautiful day for the children of Year 3 to explore the grounds and gardens of Hampton Court Palace. They walked the same corridors that Henry VIII and his wives had walked, and explored the complexities of royal life. The children were also treated to a workshop investigating questions about Henry VIII’s life, looking at and discussing primary sources and learning more about bias and which sources should be trusted... or not!

UPPER SCHOOL

Chess Tournament

All children who entered the tournament should be congratulated for the standard of chess that they played and the spirit in which they competed. It ultimately came down to a battle between Alex and Daniil. After two incredibly tense matches that ended in draws, both competitors decided to share the accolade. Check mate!

Sports Day

Junior Sports Day saw excellent individual efforts, along with outstanding support and encouragement amongst friends. The PE department was particularly impressed with the kindness shown by all pupils on the day, and were overwhelmed by the resilience of all competitors.

UPPER SCHOOL

Bands Concert

Pupils in Years 6, 7 & 8 were specially selected to take part in a 5 week project that culminated in an afternoon of popular music making. They learnt songs under the direction of VMT Chris Nickolls. The concert was a musical delight with songs such as Under Pressure, Valerie and Seven Nation Army being performed. There was so much talent on display and it was great to see our pupils performing something a little different.

We were very lucky to have Cate Douglas, author of Poppy’s Tail, visit Reception. After reading the story (wearing a colourful tail herself!) and answering the children’s questions, she let them all have a go at wearing their own tail. The children put on some music and had a little dance in the library! We are sure that Cate has inspired some budding authors in Reception.

YEAR 2

Sphero Robots

In Computing, Year 2 were busy controlling sphero robots using the iPads. They had to negotiate a tricky course and earned 10 bonus points in the final putting hole. Well done Year 2!

Cate Douglas Author Visit

Sports Day

Lower School Sports Day was a fun-filled day of a variety of activities from the egg and spoon race to sack races. All classes from Nursery to Year 2 brought their enthusiasm and energy to the All-Weather Pitch making it a wonderful day for all involved.

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23 22 | Summer 2023

Sports Day

Seniors Sports Day was filled with excellent efforts across the board with records broken and sportsmanship on full display. There was a huge amount of House spirit from start to finish and the addition of our pupil media team provided fantastic entertainment.

NURSERY

Nursery Singalong

Nursery classes treated their grownups to a performance of songs and rhymes they have been learning throughout the year. They showed everyone how they can sing fast and slow, and they also performed songs with lots of different high and low sounds and actions. They even taught the audience the actions and words to one of their favourite songs All My Love. Well done to the Nursery children on a fantastic performance.

YEARS 1 & 2

Choir Showcase

The Year 1 & 2 Choirs finished off a great year of hard work and rehearsals with a showcase for parents. Between the two choirs 66 children performed a varied programme of songs to a very full Recital Hall. The choirs joined together to finish the performance by singing a beautiful rendition of The Salley Gardens. Both choirs have made excellent progress over the year; Miss Hindmarsh is extremely proud of you all!

RECEPTION

RCA Assembly

The sky certainly was not the limit as RCA took us on a journey into outer space this week! They told us all about the different planets and their special features. We had a 'visit' from Tim Peake and some excited astronauts, and there were some fantastic space songs to entertain the audience. The children projected their voices incredibly well to a packed Auditoriumway to go RCA!

Norfolk Residential

The Year 8s had a fantastic time at Norfolk Lakes Manor Adventure. The weather was kind, and the activities and instruction were absolutely superb. The highlight was no doubt the giant paddle boarding battle...which the staff lost!

Leavers' Programme

The end of Year 8 is a wonderful opportunity to mark the final weeks of the prep school experience. Our leaving pupils were treated to a wonderful range of activities with their friends and teachers to celebrate their time at Newton Prep.

YEAR 2

Trip to Barnes Wetland Centre

Year 2 went on a trip to Barnes Wetland Centre and they had such a fantastic time! The sun shone all day and they even got on a double decker coach to travel there - how exciting! They saw many animals including geese, ducklings and moorhens. The children thoroughly enjoyed their mini-beast learning session as well as hunting for them afterwards. The Wild Walk and adventure playground were also highlights!

UPPER SCHOOL

Young Musician of the Year

Congratulations to 24 Newton Prep musicians who participated in the Young Musician of the Year. The performances were so impressive, not just because of performing well under pressure, but because all performers had worked hard to get these as good as they could possibly be. Huge congratulations to Arnav in Year 6 who won the Intermediate Category and to Jenson who won overall title.

YEAR 6

The West End is Calling!

Year 6 were paid a visit by Sir Richard Eyre, the renowned director of the acclaimed musical Mary Poppins in London's West End (...and Bea’s grandfather!). In a memorable visit, Sir Richard offered invaluable advice and shared insights from his illustrious career. An engaging Q&A session left a lasting impression on everyone present. Sir Richard's wit, wisdom, and passion for creating theatre resonated deeply with the children.

Mary Poppins Jr.

The Year 6 production was an absolute triumph! The children brought the stage to life with their spectacular performances, demonstrating impressive acting skills, melodious singing, and captivating dancing. Their dedication and hard work paid off, creating an unforgettable highlight and cherished memory of their time at Newton Prep.

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

View more photos on our Flickr page

End of Year Trips

Year 7 pupils enjoyed a day trip to Brighton where they walked through The Lanes, spent time on the pier and had fish and chips by the sea (while fighting off seagulls of course!).

Year 5 pupils went to Ninja Warrior. This was a fabulous opportunity for the children to challenge themselves on the assault courses, and hit the air track for games and laughs. We were so impressed by the children’s behaviour and teamwork!

Year 3 ended their term with a visit to London Zoo. The children loved seeing the animals,learning about all of the amazing conservation work the zoo does and simply spending a fun day out together.

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

| Summer 2023

RECEPTION

SCHOOL

YEAR 1

Kew Gardens

It seemed as though the zoo had come to Newton Prep but in fact, it was just RPO disguised as animals! They all spoke with great confidence, sharing information about some of their favourite animals and they even taught the audience how to say some animal names in French.

Ooh la la!

28 pupils from Training Choir embarked on a 5-day tour of Dublin at the end of term. They performed in front of large audiences at iconic venues such as Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral and St Ann's Church. It was great to see so many parents there as well! The trip created long-lasting memories for all.

Year 1 were blessed with perfect weather for their trip to Kew Gardens. Whilst there, they took part in a workshop about plants, and had time to explore the extensive gardens, greenhouses and other features. There were many favourite things from the day!

RPO Assembly

UPPER

Training Choir Dublin Tour

Cadogan Hall

Pupils in Years 5 to 8 and their families gathered together to celebrate the end of the school year. It was a wonderful opportunity to honour the achievements of our Year 6 & 8s and to hear our oldest pupils speak with affection about their time at Newton Prep. We will miss them!

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

View more photos on our Flickr page

YEARS 6 & 8

Leavers' Concert

Our departing Years 6 & 8 Newton musicians were given a unique opportunity to perform solo pieces in one of London's most famous city churches, the Christopher Wren-designed St Mary-le-Bow. The talented pupils played and sang brilliantly!

Newton News Round Up | Spring Term 2022-23

View more photos on our Flickr page

YEAR 4

Mexican Fantasy Animals

A brand new project for Year 4 inspired by travels to Mexico, ‘Alebrijes’ are little carved wooden animals. The children made theirs out of layered cardboard with cut-out shapes and then used sponges to apply the paint and create the ombré effect. Then they added pattern with pens and masking tape. Lots of the Year 4 children considered this to be their favourite art project of the year!

Eco Warriors

This term the Lower School Eco Warriors have been talking about food waste and they led an assembly all about it. Some of the important messages they spoke to the children about were: think about portion sizes, watch the 'best before' and 'use by' dates on food and try to reduce, reuse or recycle/ compost. We are all responsible for reducing food waste. By making a few small changes, we can all make a difference!

NURSERY A message from the Nursery children

NBG and NSB would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of the parents and children for making 2022-2023 a wonderful year at Newton Prep. The children have grown and made so many special memories! We wish them all the best in Reception, where we know that they will make more new friends and have a great time. Have a wonderful Summer everybody!

LOWER SCHOOL

KEY DATES 2023-24

5 th September