Weekly Newsletter 4th February 2022

Dear Parents

This week, the newsletter contains a new feature. Mr Hooker, our Head of Maths, has decided to pose a maths puzzle on the first Friday of every month. He is hoping that this is something that our older children will enjoy getting their teeth into, but for some younger budding mathematicians it could become a family discussion. I have seen this week’s problem and all I’ll say is that a combined knowledge of properties of triangles and forming algebraic equations will be needed. Don’t forget to scroll through this newsletter to find it!

You might remember that this time last week our under 11 netball team was at the IAPS tournament at Rugby School. There was much excitement as we were kept up to date with their progress. They breezed through their league and won a closely contested quarter final. Things were looking rosy when we were 3-2 up at half time but despite this the final result was our first and only loss of the day. Well done girls, especially for rallying and winning the third place play off. Our thanks, once again, go to Mrs Clarke and Mrs Burnett for their fantastic coaching and another long day.

Year 8 will be breathing a sigh of relief as they finish their Common Entrance mock exams today. It was their final full practice before the ‘real thing’ in June and some also had the added experience of taking academic, drama and art scholarships. Well done for all your efforts and I am sure that they will find next week’s consultations useful when they discuss their papers with their parents and teachers.

At the other end of the school, Year 2 has faced a different challenge at the end of their week as they have gone back to online learning for a few days, whilst their Covid cases calm down. Hopefully those who have been unwell will feel better soon and we can welcome them all back next week. Well done to all the teachers and children for the smooth transition to remote learning.

Another thing to look forward to next week is the Spring Concert on Wednesday, in the Chapel. Hopefully, Covid across the two schools will allow us a full complement of staff and children to provide us with another musical extravaganza. Last term’s certainly lifted the mood and showed the diversity of musical talent being developed across the school.

Today, it was 3G’s assembly and I am sure that Mrs Peek who was unfortunately away from school today would have been very proud. Assemblies are a chance for our children to develop their presentation skills, important for later life. Additionally, the assemblies are important in delivering a thought provoking message that adheres to our Pupil Profile. Today’s assembly on being responsible was delivered with confidence and no lack of enthusiasm.

On the theme of our Pupil Profile, we are excited to introduce the new ‘Barrow Hills Five Ways to Wellbeing’ during our Children’s Mental Health Week (7th-13th February). We have integrated our Pupil Profile into the New Economics Foundation’s ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of our community. These principles will be talked about openly and will in time become embedded into school life.

Lastly, we bid a fond farewell to Mrs Barraud, our Operations Manager, and wish her all the best in her new role at Farnborough Hill. Rachel, thank you for all you have done in your time here both as a parent and a member of staff.

Best wishes for the weekend.

Philip Oldroyd

Head

Pre-Prep

Dear Parents

It has been a little quieter in Pre-Prep this week due to Year 2 moving to on-line teaching. Thank you parents for your support and understanding. We hope to all be back in school again before we break up for half term on Friday.

It was super to see in the classrooms the activities connected to the celebration of Chinese New Year. In Nursery this week, I enjoyed a meal of noodles served very carefully with tongs by Anabella.

A wooden car and another reading nook have appeared in our playground; a leaving gift from Mrs Barraud which is very kind and we have assured her they will be much enjoyed. We wish her well in her new role and really appreciate all that she has done in so many different ways for Pre-Prep particularly in recent times.

Mrs Radcliffe told the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den in our assembly and how Daniel was brave and God protected him. This encouraged a super discussion of when we are brave ourselves and how we need to be brave like Daniel and to stand up for what we believe.

Have a super weekend,

Mrs Rachel E Harris

Head of Pre-Prep