Head’s Welcome – Mrs Owen, Head of Prep
We have marked Remembrance Day in a number of ways this week, starting on Sunday, where our pupils in the Chapel Choir sang beautifully in the whole school service. Our Chaplain, Steve Hill, spoke to Lower and Upper Prep pupils on Monday and Thursday, respectively, about Remembrance, and the pupils showed their understanding of the importance of marking this event. On Tuesday the 11th, we joined with the Senior School in a two-minute silence outside the Chapel, and we finished the week with the Year 2 Remembrance assembly. The children had worked so hard on practising their lines and making their own poppies; they should be proud of their performance in front of parents this morning.
Also this week, we have celebrated Anti-Bullying Week with the whole Prep School wearing odd socks on Monday to demonstrate how we are all unique and can celebrate our differences. The Year 6 Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, ably led by Miss Allan and Mrs Evans, have put together a wonderful week-long programme for us all, including an assembly, kindness tree decoration designing, mask making, kindness keyrings and superhero costumes. The pupils certainly took on the challenge of dressing up as a hero with gusto! There was a wonderful range from Lego Spiderman to Florence Nightingale and suffragettes to Freddie Flintoff. It was also touching to see some children dressed as their real-life heroes – their parents.
It has certainly been a week to reflect on those things for which we can be grateful and to celebrate one another’s strengths and kindness. Despite the current weather, I wish everyone a restful and enjoyable weekend.
Nursery Update – Mrs Maher and Miss Hayley
Nursery have had a fun and busy October, where our topic has been autumn/harvest. We had our Harvest festival, celebrated and talked about Diwali, and talked about Remembrance Day and fireworks night. The children have enjoyed going to outdoor learning, where they made stick sparklers with leaves, and we talked about how the season changes and looked at how the trees are changing. We have collected lots of leaves and conkers for us to play with in the mud kitchen and our texture tray. All the children have been great at spotting shapes in the environment around us, and we will now be moving on to our numbers as well.
Computing Update – Rachel Cheney, Head of Computing
Year 3
In Year 3 Computing, pupils have been learning about the importance of online safety and how to make smart choices when using the internet. We’ve been exploring the idea of online identities, thinking carefully about what information is safe or unsafe to share online. The children have also been introduced to the SMART rules (Safe, Meeting, Accepting, Reliable, Tell) to help them stay protected while chatting, gaming, or researching online. Through discussions and activities, pupils are developing the skills to use technology responsibly and confidently in a digital world.
Year 4
This half term pupils in Year 4 are learning how to carry out effective research online, ahead of commencing a small project linked with their IPC topic of ‘How Humans Work’. Pupils have learnt how to use search engines, filter results and use keywords to perform effective searches to find relevant and useful information. They are building on skills developed throughout the ‘Chocolate’ topic last term, where pupils researched different chocolate products and their packaging before creating their own digital designs for Willy Wonka. Pupils will then compile their research into individual PowerPoint presentations, which they will share with their class at the end of term.
Year 5
This term Year 5 are developing their creative computing skills through the Comic Life application. Linking with their IPC topic of ‘Myths and Legends’, pupils are researching, storyboarding and finally creating a comic book of a legend. Pupils have already shown great enthusiasm for this project and are working hard on the pages and front covers of their comic books. They have had the opportunity to explore a variety of old comic books as well as create storyboards for their own comics. Pupils are learning to build, insert and edit panels of content as well as review and improve their work in terms of visual appeal and story structure.
Year 6
Year 6 pupils are completing a research project this half term, linking with their history lessons and the IPC topic of ‘What Price Progress?’ Pupils are learning about social change and have chosen an area that they find particularly interesting, for example, gaining voting rights or fighting racism. They are using Microsoft PowerPoint to present their research findings. The pupils are developing their skills and confidence with this programme as a means of communicating what they have learnt to an audience. As with their Minecraft project last term, the pupils are enjoying the opportunity to work with their peers across devices.
Helping Children Grow Kindness and Stay Safe Online and In Games
Safeguarding Newsletter
As children grow, they’re learning how to handle big feelings, make friends and find their place in the world – both in real life and online. Along the way, they will make mistakes, and sometimes their words or actions may hurt others without meaning to.
As children grow, technology becomes a big part of their world – from sharing funny clips with friends to exploring creative online games. While these activities can be fun and sociable, it’s important for parents to understand age ratings and why they exist.
Safeguarding Newsletter – Prep — Wellingborough School
Key Calendared Events for the next two weeks
Monday 17th November
- UK Parliament Week (17-23 Nov) – Club/Form Activities
Tuesday 18th November
- Years 3-6 Charity Activity Break
Monday 24th November
- ABRSM Exams
- Prep Christmas Concert (16:30)
Tuesday 25th November
- ABRSM Exams
Wednesday 26th November
- Year 3 LEGO Stem Robotics Day
Friday 28th- November
- Nursery-Year 2 Christmas Activity Day (including visit from Father Christmas)
- Nursery-Year 2 Christmas Tree Delivery from ‘Andy the Elf’
To view the most up-to-date calendar information, please log onto Firefly – click here.
Please log onto the Sports Calendar for up-to-date timings, team sheets and all other weekday fixtures information – click here.
Charity Activity Break Years 2-6 – Mrs Waite, Charity Coordinator
The Year 5 Charity Committee has been working hard to design 13 fun and exciting games for pupils in Years 2-6 to enjoy on Tuesday, 18th November. Each game will cost 50p per turn, and all proceeds will go to Animals In Need, our Prep School charity for this year. Please remember to bring some loose change.
Thank you for your support.
Prep Christmas Concert
Seat reservations are now being taken for the Prep Christmas Concert, on Monday 24th November at 4.30pm. All our larger music ensembles will be performing (Orchestra, String Group, Musical Theatre Choir and Year 1&2 Choir) as well as a selection of solo and duet items. Parents of all performers have been sent an email with a link to the booking form. Please make your reservations by Sunday 16th Nov.
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Wellingborough School Business Directory
Please find the Business Directory at the following link: https://wellingboroughschool.org/community/business-directory/
