SUMMER 2024
Welcome to Newton News Roundup
This Newton News Roundup marks the end of the school year. When we reflect on the Summer Term, we seem to have been busier than ever, with a huge range of events, trips and concerts which have enriched the children’s educational experience here at Newton Prep. The following pages offer an insight into all that we have been doing, whether it was our fabulous Year 6 production of Shrek, sports days, Film Night, residential visits, the Training Choir concert, our End of Year Prize Giving, or our End of Year Celebration, there has certainly been much to enjoy!
As we consider what a Newton Prep education offers to the children, I hope this edition of the Newton News Roundup give a sense of the joy, the enthusiasm, the variety, and the sheer love of learning, in all its manifestations, that goes on at the school.
To the class of 2024 – we will miss you. Thank you for all that you have contributed to the life of this school. Good luck! “ Thank you for all that you have contributed”
YEARS
2 & 6
First Aid Workshop
Flat Stan First Aid visited Years 2 and 6. The children learnt about which numbers to call in an emergency and about the recovery position. They practised CPR, whilst singing a song to help, and bandaged each others’ ‘injuries’.
History of Gargoyles
To conclude their topic of Faces and Distortion, Year 6 researched the history of gargoyles. Using this information to plan their design they formed their very own gargoyle from clay. Building, moulding and joining techniques were used to create distorted, exaggerated facial features. Finally, paint effects such as stippling helped to create the illusion of stone.
Such grotesque work, Year 6 - well done!
RECEPTION
Fairy Tales
Reception children were lucky to meet storyteller Amber who came to introduce the topic of Fairy Tales with an immersive drama experience. In the workshop, the children were taken around the hall to focus on different props for their own ‘Story Hunt’ of Jack and the Beanstalk, The Gingerbread Man and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It was lots of fun! Well done, Reception! Great storytelling and wonderful imagination.
YEAR 6
YEAR 3
Walton Firs Activity
Centre Residential
Year 3 had such a super time during the residential - from singing around the campfire, toasting marshmallows, hunting for minibeasts and making shelters, the children gave their all to each and every activity (despite being rather tired!).
YEARS 7 & 8
Holi Festival
Year 7, Year 8 and staff participated in a pupil-led initiative of Holi celebration, using the school garden. We got to take part in the powderedpaint celebration, with Mr Kumar playing a type of drum called the ‘Dhol’. Afterwards, we ate some Indian food, which everybody said was amazing! It was a spectacular afternoon.
Maalika V (8SA)
Computing Museum Visit
Year 5 visited Bletchley Park and the National Museum of Computing. They looked at the development of computers and how computers perform tasks quickly and accurately. They found out that the first ‘computers’ were actually people, whose job it was to perform calculations. Computers then developed as machines, becoming smaller and more powerful.
Dr Navneet Bhamra from the Cosmetic Dental Gallery Battersea spoke with all children from Nursery to Year 5 on the importance of good oral hygiene. The children learnt lots of facts about teeth and dentistry, as well as learning a range of important tips and tricks for keeping their teeth clean.
Dr Navneet commented on how inquisitive the children were about the topic.
Nursery had some special visitors – a few minibeasts and creatures all the way from the Amazon Rainforest! The visitors included a snake, a tarantula, a millipede and a frog. The children showed excellent listening throughout and some children were even brave enough to hold them!
YEAR 5
Film Night
Year 5 stars of the silver screen celebrated their work at the ‘N-oscars’ 2024, a dazzling evening filled with glamour, exciting surprises and a packed audience! The children received awards for their outstanding achievements in film making and we heard some fantastic, witty speeches from the directors. It really was a night to remember!
YEAR 6
Harry Potter Studios
Year 6 had a magical time at the Harry Potter Studios, learning that spells come in all ‘Snapes and sizes’! They had the opportunity to learn about the techniques used in costume design and the tiny details that are included - although they did admit that some of the clothes were looking a little Hagrid!
LOWER SCHOOL
An Illustrator Visits
Years 1-3 were delighted to welcome illustrator Sophy Henn to lead a ‘draw along’ based on her new Happy Hills graphic novel for younger readers. It was so much fun, and Sophy was an engaging, energetic speaker. Some Year 3 children were lucky enough to meet Sophy in the library at lunchtime before her event, so they were able to ask her lots of questions!
Reading Morning
Reception held their reading mornings this term, welcoming their grown ups to share stories with them in their classrooms.
YEAR 5
Imperial War Museum
Year 5 visited the Imperial War Museum to look at the World War I galleries. They had a fantastic time learning about how the war effort was not just that of frontline soldiers, but of the entire nation. The children were also fortunate enough to partake in a workshop creating documentaries on discoveries made during the First World War. It was a great trip and it supplemented their learning nicely.
RECEPTION
YEAR 4
Fort Purbrook Residential
Year 4 set off for their three day residential stay in Portsmouth. They stopped off at Butser Farm where they were taken back to the Iron Age and created Celtic jewellery, daubed walls of huts and learnt what it’s like to do archaeological fieldwork.
They then went to Fort Purbrook where they took part in lots of adventurous activities, such as laser tag, bouldering, orienteering and assault courses. This was a great opportunity for the children to bond and practise their independence. It was a great trip and the year group had lots of fun!
To celebrate the sound of the week being ‘v’, Nursery made a papiermâché volcano! The children worked as a team to mould the volcano and then paint it- using colours they had selected after learning about volcanoes. Their hard work and enthusiasm during this task was amazing; and the children looked forward to seeing their volcano erupt!
In their road safety workshop the children learnt all about why it is so important for pedestrians to keep safe when crossing the road and what they can do to look after themselves and other people when walking across or near a road. They had to act out safe ways of stopping, looking and listening and they learnt how to use different crossings with support from a lollipop person or other adults.
Reception went on their first school trip to visit Battersea Park Zoo. The children took part in a workshop where they learnt about herbivores, omnivores and carnivores. They then had a tour from the zookeepers. All of the teachers were impressed with the children’s impeccable behaviour and the inquisitive questions they asked.
RECEPTION
YEAR 6
Brittany Residential
Year 6 had a fantastic week on their residential trip to Brittany in France. The week was action packed with different activities and places to visit. Pupils got the chance to explore the town of Saint-Malo and understand the effects of World War II, touch stingrays at Le Grand Aquarium and taste locally made caramel and cheese at a dairy farm.
A highlight of the week for many pupils was spending time on the sandy beach playing with their friends. The visit coincided with the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. This gave pupils the opportunity to see for themselves and understand the importance of the region of Brittany.
View more photos on our Flickr page
Chicks and Ducks
Our Nursery children enjoyed the company of the chicks and ducks for a few weeks. The children were so gentle and caring with the chicks and ducks, holding them gently and watching their movements with quiet interest. They all did a fantastic job of looking after them by feeding them, cuddling them and even bathing them!
Fish
Year 3 artists were busy creating wonderful clay tiles. After planning and designing their own ‘fancy fish’ they set to work creating patterns by making imprints on the surface of the clay. After being fired in the kiln, metallic oil pastels were used to define the surface details.
The final step was to dip the entire tile into a bath of ink before rinsing. Fancy work, Year 3!
Year 8 visited the National Army Museum. Alongside a workshop on how the military uses robots, the pupils learnt wild, gruesome and extraordinary tales from warfare.
135 brave and bold individuals from Year 1 to Year 8 took to the stage in their LAMDA showcases. We saw an array of poetry, adaptations from novels and pupils acting scenes from plays, spanning a variety of genres. Congratulations to them all for being courageous, creative and for showing their pizzazz!
YEAR 7
Brighton Trip
The Year 7s had their end of year trip to Brighton. They walked past the Banksy artwork near the station, through The Lanes, sampling the quirky shops and cafés en route to the Pier. There, the pupils spent the afternoon on the rides and amusements and enjoyed a fish and chips lunch (apart from when the seagulls swooped in!).
YEAR 1
Compass Learning
Year 1 enjoyed learning about compass points in Geography. They had fun ‘taking a trip’ to a Kenyan safari and using compass points to navigate around the map. The children also described and used different features of a map.
YEAR 4
Polar Explorer Visit
Year 4 had a visit from a real life polar expedition leader, Alex Hibbert. Alex shared stories of his adventures and challenges of life in the polar regions, and how the harsh environment is changing due to climate change. The children were set a DT task where they had to design an appropriate flask to be used in the polar region. They then got to build and test their flasks out in the Science labs, using data loggers and thermal imagery cameras. It was a fun and inspiring morning all round!
RECEPTION
James Allen Visit
The children have been learning about all things dinosaur and they had a visit from the author James Allen. He shared his books Spookasaurus and Hugasaurus with the children and even read his new book, Misadventursaurus, which hasn’t even been published yet! This means that Reception were some of the first children to hear it - they gave it a big thumbs up!
Sports Day
Pupils showed outstanding sportsmanship and effort on Senior Sports Day. All pupils competed in a sprint, middle distance, throw and jump event with several school records set on the day. The day culminated in the House relays and recently added House tug-of-war which was a crowd favourite. View more photos on our Flickr page
Sports Day
Junior Sports Day saw great individual as well as team efforts. With London summer weather turning up just in time, everyone showed a lot of support and encouragement. Well done to all the pupils who participated, and the family and friends who cheered them on!
Newton News Round Up | Summer Term 2022-23 YEARS 3 & 4
View more photos on our Flickr page
YEARS
5 & 6
Junior Maths Olympiad
Our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils displayed remarkable perseverance and talent as they competed in the Olympiad and Kangaroo, alongside children up to Year 8.
Barnes Wetland Centre
Year 2 had a wonderful time at Barnes Wetland Centre! The children were lucky enough to see an otter feeding. They also took part in ‘Minibeast Safari’ workshops, played in the mud kitchen, braved the ‘Wild Walk’ and ended the day at the adventure playground. It was so much fun!
LOWER SCHOOL
Choir
Showcase
Lower School choirs performed to their parents. They each sang five songs, performing with confidence and energy. It was fantastic to see the progress they have made this year. 20 pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 took part in the last Lower School Recital for the year. It was a brilliant recital with a range of instruments including trumpet, drums, cello, violin and piano. Well done to everyone who took part.
YEAR 2
LOWER SCHOOL
Sports Day
Lower School Sports Day was a fun-filled day packed with various activities ranging from sack races to the fishing relay. Classes from Nursery to Year 2 came out to show their parents and carers their sporting prowess and all of the children were in great spirits. There was determination in the sprint races and comedy in the obstacle race.
YEAR 3
Taster Session
Year 7 pupils enjoyed some cooking and design technology sessions at Thames Christian School. Time was taken to construct Funky ‘Mondrian’ inspired clocks and a delicious chicken stir fry was prepared and taken away.
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 and even a bassoon, the pupils all performed with confidence and assurance as we were treated to a range of pieces by John Williams and Bach.
Hampton Court Palace
Year 3 explored 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 resources and learning more about bias and which sources should be trusted. Having a picnic in the gardens was definitely a highlight of the day!
YEAR 8
Norfolk Lakes Residential
Year 8 spent a week at Norfolk Lakes. Pupils battled the unseasonal cold and wet weather with humour, resilience and determination! Water activities included sailing, canoeing, rafting and the final battle royale on the giant team paddle boards! Indoor activities such as bouldering, archery and even axe throwing were all hugely popular.
View more photos on our Flickr page
YEAR 3
London Zoo Trip
Year 3 visited London Zoo for their end of year trip. The children loved seeing the animals, learning about all of the amazing conservation work of XSL, and spending a fun day out with their class.
YEARS 7 & 8
Speaker Series
Years 7 & 8 were visited by two speakers both from different industries. Philippe Blanchin is the Creative Director of Elle Décor Magazine. He spoke about the world of magazine journalism. Catherine Tong is an expert in the field of Fraud Prevention. The children impressed Catherine with their questions and curiosity.
UPPER SCHOOL Poetry Slam Competition
We had a wonderful few days of Poetry Slam House Competition at Newton, showcasing the children’s talent and creativity. They wrote original poems, highlighting themes important to them. They left the audience in awe - some literally with tears in their eyes - due to their expressive performances and powerful words. We are so proud of the beauty with which our children understand the world.
YEAR 2
Religious Studies
In Religious Studies, the children have been learning about Art and Religion. They looked at some examples of the beautiful tiles in mosques and how the pattern shows that Allah is infinite and will always exist. They then designed their own tiles and printed them in different colours to create their own patterns. Well done, Year 2, they look amazing!
YEAR 6
Shrek!
The Year 6 Production was an absolute triumph, displaying the incredible talent and hard work of all the children involved. With impressive characterisation, the cast brought the beloved characters to life, making each scene memorable and enchanting the audience from start to finish. The production was a true testament to their teamwork, creativity, and passion for the arts, leaving everyone who attended with smiles on their faces and memories to cherish. Well done, Year 6! Your performances were nothing short of spectacular, and your hard work truly paid off in this unforgettable production!
View more photos on our Flickr page
YEAR 8
Leavers’ Programme
The Year 8 Leavers’ Programme is a wonderful opportunity to mark the final weeks of the prep school experience. The pupils had an actionpacked few weeks learning new skills and taking on challenges, both in and out of school. A huge thank you to all the staff who gave up their time to plan and run such exciting activities.
View more photos on our Flickr page
Printing Project YEAR
LOWER SCHOOL
Kew Gardens
As part of their Science topic of Plants, Year 1 pupils delighted in visiting Kew Gardens. They enjoyed an immersive, multi-sensory experience, discovering some of Kew’s most unusual and rare plants. They explored The Hive, the Treetop Walkway and took part in a practical workshop learning all about plants and flowers.
As well as learning new skills, such as polystyrene tile printing, Year 4 extended their art vocabulary. They embellished their prints by adding decoration to the negative spaces often using concentric lines in contrasting colours. The budding designers were delighted with their finished artwork!
Tree of Treats
The Tree of Treats has been introduced into the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms. The children have been working hard to follow the Golden Rules to gain a House Token for their class. Once the tree is filled of tokens the class can decide on a special treat to enjoy together.
UPPER SCHOOL
Emmanuel Centre
The Prize Giving at the Emmanuel Centre was a wonderful occasion as pupils accepted subject prizes and prestigious awards, and shared their own perspectives on their time at Newton Prep. It was super to be able to share a celebratory drink with our Year 6 and Year 8 parents as we said our goodbyes.
Newton News Round Up | Summer Term 2022-23
View photos Flickr
WHOLE SCHOOL
End of Year Celebration
The children thoroughly enjoyed their End of Year Celebration at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square. It was absolutely joyous to be together, to hear sublime music sung by the incredibly talented Training Choir, and to hear poems and reflections from the children too.
View
YEAR 4
Trip to the Tower of London
Year 4 went to one of the most historic landmarks in the country: the Tower of London. This trip was both educational and fun, offering our young historians a chance to step back in time and immerse themselves in the rich history of this iconic fortress.
What a great last trip of the school year!
Move-Up Day
Children have been thinking about ‘moving up’ and what Year 1 will be like. In preparation, they wrote questions for their new Year 1 teachers, remembering to use question marks at the end of their sentences! They also had some Year 1 children visit Reception to tell them all about what Year 1 is like. It was fantastic to visit their new classrooms and meet their new teachers!
YEAR 1
Butterfly Life Cycle
In Science, the children have been learning all about the life cycle of a butterfly. Over the course of a few weeks they watched as the caterpillars changed into chrysalises, and then became beautiful butterflies. The children were then very excited to release the butterflies from the net into the wild. They needed a little encouragement but eventually they flew out and enjoyed the flowers.
3 rd
