Summer Term Week 1 Head of Prep Newsletter
Welcome Back!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It was heart-warming for me to greet our pupils bright and early on Tuesday morning for the start of the summer term! We hope everyone had a refreshing break and is ready for the exciting activities ahead.
As we embark on this new term, we want to give you a glimpse into what your children will be learning. Our summer curriculum maps are now available on the Parent Portal, outlining the subjects and topics that will be covered in each year group. From science experiments to creative writing projects, we're excited to inspire and engage our pupils in their learning journey.
Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who participated in our successful chocolate bingo event. It was a sweet success, thanks to Miss Plewes, our bingo caller extraordinaire, the PTFA for organising the event, and our wonderful parents for their support. The funds raised will bring nice extras that our pupils will enjoy.
Swimming Galas
The pupil house swimming galas are coming up! Prep 3&4 will dive in on Mon 29 April from 1400, followed by Prep 5&6 on Monday 20 May. Parents are encouraged to come and cheer on our swimmers.
Prep / House Photographs
Just a friendly reminder about purchasing photographs. Don't miss out on capturing those precious moments, this year's House and Group photos from Gilman and Soame are still available online. Please contact Helen Heron, [email protected] if you would like another proof card.
Prep 6 Leavers' Gifts
At this year's Speech Day and Prizegiving, we will be presenting our Prep 6 leavers with their House ties or pins for their progression to the College. This will mean that, unless you would like more than one of these items, you will not need to buy it ahead of September 2024. Parents will be made aware of House choices prior to the event.
School Fees
Thank you to those of you who provided feedback following the release of our School Fees on our website last week. On the parent portal you will see a 'Frequently Asked Questions' document which I hope will help families understand our decision making. Of course, the door is always open if you wish to discuss your individual circumstances.
Terms and Conditions
Our updated Terms and Conditions are now available on the school website. We continue to use the standard ISBA template. In line with best practice we will update these annually and signpost you to any significant changes.
New Staff
We are delighted to announce the appointment Mr Phil Jankovskis as Assistant Head at The Prep. Phil will join us in September from Christ Church Academy in Stone. Miss Jenni Turrill joins the College as the new Assistant Head of PE.
Ski Trip 2025
I am pleased to report that we still have spaces on our 2025 Ski Trip for anyone who has not yet booked their place. We will once again be visiting Alpe d’Huez, one of France’s top five ski resorts, where we have taken the school since 2004. We will be travelling again with Skibound, one of the travel industry’s most experienced and respected school travel providers. The trip will run from 29 March – 5 April 2025 and this will be open to those pupils in the current P6, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Form i.e. next year’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Form. If you are interested in a place, please contact [email protected].
Notice
Please be aware that the deadline for giving notice to leave The Prep and Denstone College has now passed and any further movement will be liable to fees in lieu.
DCTV
We have made a slight update to our data permissions, now with the inclusion of livestreaming of selected major events. Please log in to Parent Portal to update permissions for your child or children. For any questions regarding this update, please do email [email protected].
Fundraising & Development Privacy Notice
Please note that the Fundraising & Development Privacy Notice has been updated along with our main privacy notice to reflect these updates. Please click on the following link to read the revised policies: https://www.denstonecollege.org/about/policies. If you have any queries, please contact Jess Smith at [email protected].
Enterprising Women Careers & Networking Event – Wednesday 1 May 2024 at 7pm in School Room
Please join us for the first of our new “Enterprising Women” careers & networking events at Denstone College. We welcome speakers from a variety of sectors including education, real estate, marketing, and technology. This event is open to everyone, including parents, pupils and Old Denstonians; we hope this event will provide a fantastic insight into a variety of different industries. We will start at 7pm and finish off the evening with drinks, nibbles and networking. Please RSVP to [email protected].
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the Prep 3 & 4 pool party sleepover at Hartley House on Thursday 25 April. Please reach out to Kim King [email protected] for more details.
On Mon 29 April, you are warmly invited to join us for Prep 5 assembly in the chapel from 0840. Please meet in the lodge at 0830 to be escorted to chapel.
A polite reminder that all children should have a play tracksuit, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers and wellies in school at all times. This is an essential part of their school uniform.
Finally, we have a non-uniform day on Friday 3 May, raising funds for Beeches chosen charity, Rainbows Hospice. Voluntary contributions are appreciated and the theme for the day is colours of the rainbow.
Thank you for your continued support!
Warm regards,
The following attachments can be found on the Parent Portal by visiting https://denstonecollege.parents.isamshosting.cloud
- Reception to Prep 6 Curriculum Maps
- School Fees – Frequently Asked Questions
