Weekly Newsletter 9th September 2021

Dear Parents

During the summer holidays, we discovered that we had been shortlisted for the independent school of the year award because of our outstanding provision over the various forms of lockdown and return to school both in an academic and pastoral capacity. Unfortunately we didn’t get selected as a finalist, but we are very proud of the accolade of being acknowledged for our efforts and adherence to our core values. Everyone should feel very proud and hopefully we can push a step closer next year!

On to this week, which has truly encapsulated the English weather as our first sports matches of the term were played in nearly 30 degree heat on Wednesday to be followed by Thursday’s fixtures in the rain! However, the weather was largely irrelevant as we enjoyed another return to normality with spectators back on the touch lines and everyone tucking into match teas afterwards. Well done to all the players for their efforts on the pitch; there was a mixed bag of results but all the games were played in a great spirit.

I have spent much of this week preparing to be away from school as my operation looms next Thursday. I will need to isolate myself in my house on Monday to Wednesday so I will be working from home and very much keeping in touch with everything that is going on; monitoring emails, zooming and making phone calls. However, from Thursday I will not be available for a while so please communicate with Justin Shreeve and he will ensure to direct you to the appropriate member of staff standing in for me. This time next week I will be in post recovery so I apologise for no Head’s message introducing the newsletter.

Back to school news… I hope that you enjoy browsing this week’s stories and notices. They are a fantastic way to keep up to date with what the children have been doing each week and to find out what events we have planned.

Having mentioned events, I am looking forward to the triathlon, open classroom and Welcome Back Barbecue tomorrow and catching up with as many of you as possible. This will be the first opportunity for the Barrow Hills community to come together for a social event for about a quarter of our families who have joined whilst the restrictions have been in place so it should prove to be a wonderful occasion to meet new people.

And finally, we all left chapel this morning feeling uplifted and joyful following 6G’s wonderful assembly and the first singing of the school song for eighteen months. It has certainly put us in good spirits for the rest of the day and the weekend. On Monday we will be welcoming the Reverend James Radcliffe, the Bridewell schools’ new Chaplain, to our assembly which will also have a joyful theme.

Kind regards

Philip Oldroyd

Head

Pre-Prep

Dear Parents

The first full week back has flown by! Already children (and staff) seem to be settling well into new routines and are always full of news of their day when asked. I hope they are telling you what they have been up to and that you are able to join us for our open classroom and BHCC Welcome Back Barbeque on Saturday to find out what we have planned for the term ahead. Don’t forget, for Reception – Year 2 that there is a fun triathlon earlier in the day.

We had our first Pre-Prep Assembly of the term this week and we discussed new beginnings and how they can make us feel. Some children were surprised to hear that grown-ups can often feel worried or have butterflies too! Playground ‘rules’ were also discussed with much reflection on sharing our Pre-Prep garden with wild animals (!) and not digging around the tree roots. Happy Birthday was sung to Ralph in Year 1. Mrs Hardy led the singing with ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’ which the children will be practising in class this week to surprise Mrs Hardy next week; it is one of my favourites.

Year 2 were asked to think about and discuss with Mrs Holmes the posts of responsibility that are now available to them. These are Head of House (Pre-Prep are to have their own House system – Oak, Willow and Maple, more information to follow), School Council Captains, Sport Captains, Forest School Captains, Library Monitors, and Wellbeing Monitors.

Mrs Harris and Mrs Crisell look forward to meeting Reception parents for a RWInc and Maths Information meeting on Thursday 16th September at 3.30pm in the Reception classroom. If you have recently joined Barrow Hills and would like to know more about the RWInc Scheme for your child, please do feel free to come too.

Forest School started this week due to so many requests! The rest of the activity programme is from next week, please see the activity booklet on the portal for further information. We still have some places in Judo on a Tuesday and Rugby Tots on a Thursday if you would like your child to give it a go.

The weather has been fantastic this week so thank you for applying sun cream at home and making sure water bottles are in school. Please make sure wellies and trainers are in school always for outside play.

I hope to see you and your children on Saturday.

Mrs Rachel E Harris

Head of Pre-Prep