Dear Parents / Guardians
This week, we welcomed back our students and staff. I trust you all enjoyed a relaxing and rejuvenating half term. We have a busy few weeks ahead of us; parents, please check the calendar to make sure you are aware of all of the events we have running this action-packed half term.
On Thursday we celebrated World Book Day, thank you to Mrs Lea for organising an exciting day. We were fortunate enough to be joined once again by local author Alex Foulkes. Alex discussed her career as an author with the children, and gave some fascinating insight into her writing process. We also held faith workshops for Pre-Prep, as well as Prep 3 and 4. The children enjoyed learning about different faiths and discovering the importance of diversity.
Photographs and Ordering
We have been asked to remind parents that they can access and order the recent House and Group Photographs online, using the information on the proof cards handed out to pupils. If any pupils have lost the relevant information, please contact Mrs Heron and the information can be reissued.
Looking ahead:
Wednesday 8 March sees our annual Poetry Competition, organised by Mrs Lea. All parents are welcome to attend, Mrs Davies will meet parents in the Lodge at 1350 for a 1400 start in Chapel.
Thursday 9 March Prep 5&6 will be involved in PSHE workshops.
Friday 10 March is an Exeat, so no after school clubs will run, but after school prep will be open until 6pm. This will also be a home clothes day, in aid of Beeches chosen charity Air Ambulance. Pupils are encouraged to wear something red and bring in £2 donation please.
Monday 20 March sees our Mother's Day service in Chapel. Parents are welcome to join us, please see the attached invitation.
Sports update from Mr Bettaney
It has been an extremely busy week of fixtures since the half-term break. Prep 4 travelled to play hockey and netball against Old Vicarage School. We have been so pleased with the progress the pupils have made and the coaching they receive from Mr Durston for hockey and Mrs Durston for netball is really playing dividends. Every pupil in Prep 6 played in a festival this week. Some of the boys were involved in a hockey tournament involving eight schools and the Prep 6 girls played in a netball tournament. Both teams did extremely well and we managed to finish mid-table against some much bigger schools. The remaining Prep 6 boys travelled to Shrewsbury to play in a rugby festival against some very competitive and well-drilled schools. Our performances were outstanding and we won four out of the five matches – a huge achievement.
We continue to have hockey and netball fixtures until the end of term and also our house swimming galas. Prep 5&6 are first up on 13 March and Prep 3&4 the following week. We have catered for all swimming abilities and have a varied line-up of events. Parents are more than welcome to attend and should gather outside the swimming pool for a 1400 start.
Music update from Mrs Dawson
A reminder about the Spring Concert on Monday 13 March at 1900 in the Drill Hall. Pupils in Prep Show Choir, Junior Band and Prep Band will be performing. If you are going to collect your child from school at normal time then please may I ask that you bring them back to the Drill Hall, in uniform, no later than 6:45pm. However, if you would like your child to stay after school, be supervised and have supper then please can you email me to that effect and with dietary requirements by Wednesday 8 March [email protected].
The prep pupils will be seated closest to the door and the prep ensembles will be performing at the beginning of the evening so, even though you are all more than welcome to stay for the whole concert, I understand you may want to leave early and therefore I ask that you quietly exit via the main door. All are invited to watch.
Other Updates: Friday 17 March is Red Nose Day, children are encouraged to wear spots and bring a £2 donation.
Denstone College Science Department will be running a series of activities for the duration of Science Week from 10 to 19 March including Prep 3 and 4 who will be making and testing indicators by connecting with local and national science projects.
PTFA UPDATE
Chocolate Bingo is returning to The Prep on Thursday 23 March from 1600-1730 in the Drill Hall. Tickets will be available on the door for £3 each. CASH ONLY, please. Parents are more than welcome to come along and play – it’s quite good fun! We would ask that Pre-prep children (and any Prep 3 who might need help quickly finding numbers up to 99) are accompanied by an adult. We are happy for one adult to supervise groups of two or three children if that helps those parents that are unable to attend.
Chocolate donations – To run this event, we need to ask for your generosity to donate the all-important chocolate! Ideally, we would like a mixture of small Easter chocolate bars (small bags of mini-eggs, multipacks of creme eggs or small chocolate bunnies etc) for single line prizes as well as Easter eggs to be used as full house prizes. These can be dropped off with Helen Heron from Monday 13 March.
An Usborne book sale will be held at the back of the drill hall during parents evening on Wednesday, March 22nd. There will be a wide range of books for all Prep aged children and the PTFA will receive a percentage of any profits.
Thank you - We would like to say thank you to all parents and helpers for your ongoing support. It really is appreciated! We are currently discussing with school how all of your kind donations will be spent and are awaiting quotes from companies about some exciting new playground equipment for both Pre-prep and Main Prep. Watch this space!
Speech and Drama Update from Mrs Beetham
We have now been informed that the Speech and Drama section of the Derby Arts festival will be held on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 May. Exact times of classes will be published in the next few weeks. Parents of pupils in Main Prep who are taking part are very welcome to attend the event at St John the Evangelist Church in Derby, as performers will be excused from school for their specific arts festival session.
Prep 5&6 Play
We are delighted to announce that our Prep 5&6 pupils are being given the opportunity to take part in a production of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Happy Prince,’ which will be performed as part of our Summer Serenade on Wednesday 21 June. Auditions will take place over the next few weeks and pupils wishing to join the cast will be expected to learn scripts over the Easter holidays and attend rehearsals after school on Thursdays 4-5pm with Mrs Beetham. Please note that all pupils in Prep 5&6 will be involved in the play covering all aspects of production including props, costumes & programme making, but only cast members will need to attend the Thursday after school rehearsals.
Prep 3&4 recital
Parents of all pupils in Prep 3 and 4 are warmly invited to join us in the Prep school hall on Thursday 18 May at 1430 for a celebration of all things speech and drama. This will be an opportunity for pupils to recite LAMDA poetry & prose from memory alongside showcasing some of the work we have done in drama lessons this year. Please complete the online form if you are able to join us.
Attachments:
• Mother’s Day Service
• Prep 3 visit to Cadbury World
• Uttoxeter Cricket Club, Summer Offering
