From Mrs Hall

It’s only when they are in full swing that Christmas becomes a reality, and the festive season can gather momentum. This year’s production of ‘Prickly Hay’ was fabulous. It was full of tremendous energy, beautiful group and solo singing, and confidently spoken lines. After each rehearsal and performance, I tried to take a step back and remember just how young these children are, reflecting on their incredible achievements in putting on such a brilliant show. Opportunities like these do wonders for developing the confidence of children and help them become used to speaking and performing in front of an audience. The whole play was held together by the children knowing their lines well and delivering them with great timing and even with comic effect! I could not have been prouder of the boys this week.

Pilgrims’ life is in many ways summed up by such performances as the children demonstrate what they can achieve if they are challenged appropriately, while anyone watching would have seen just how much the children enjoyed their productions. I am extremely grateful to all the staff who worked so hard to make these so successful and to all the parents for supporting us through attendance and preparations at home.

The Treehouse Theatre Company's performance of 'Cinderella' on Monday morning added another layer of entertainment, and it was wonderful to see and hear that the boys actively participated and enthusiastically shared their favourite moments afterwards.

We now turn to the final week of the term with our very special whole school Carol Service on Wednesday afternoon. Pre-Prep boys will have their Christmas party on Wednesday morning and a 'Fire Side Story Telling' session together after lunch. To enable Pre-Prep parents the flexibility they need on the day of the Carol Service, pick up for Pre-Prep will be between 1400 and 1500.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Pre-Prep Nativity photos and video will be available in due course, on Jim Pascoe's website. We'll let you know when!

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Pilgrims' Shell Awards

Year 2 - to Keijiro-for his word-perfect singing in Prickly Hay.
Year 1 - to Ben for his confidence and joyful approach to playing Joseph in the nativity.  
Year R - to all of Reception Class for a marvellous performance of Prickly Hay.

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Save the Dates!

Monday 11 December	Pre-Prep Open Classrooms 0830-0900
Tuesday 12 December	Pre-Prep Open Classrooms 0830-0900
Wednesday 13 December	End of term, 1400 Carol Service, Cathedral 1530
Tuesday 9 January	Lent Term 2024 begins

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Notices

Menus for next week are available here on My School Portal. 

Reminder: no food is to be brought into the school and/or given to boys at any time, especially at sign-out.

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From the PPA

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Year 2

Phew, we made it!  Well done, boys; what a busy week! You should all be very, very proud of yourselves! Your performance of Prickly Hay was amazing and you certainly looked like you enjoyed every minute. The songs were delightful and every single word spoken was clearly heard.

A moment of calm before the performance! Followed by French with Monsieur Power after our dress rehearsal.

Each day, the boys have enjoyed spotting our cheeky elf hidden around the classroom along with a clue as to who would open our Advent calendar.

As you would expect, much artistic work has taken place this week. Christmas trees have been painted, but perhaps more surprising were their own paintings inspired by Guiseppe Archiboldo. We cannot wait to share them with you next week during our open classroom sessions. 

Mrs Kent
 

Year 1- one photo to come Friday

Prickly hay, prickly hay, they laid Him in some prickly hay… 
I was utterly thrilled with Year 1’s performance of our nativity story on Wednesday. I am certain that you were all just as proud of them as we were. The boys had worked hard in the practices and showed such maturity in their behaviour when on stage in the real performance. All lines were said loudly and clearly and a lot of boys knew the words for most of the songs, which is impressive.  

Hooray for Prickly Hay! 
As you can imagine, the nativity took up most of our time in the early stages of the week. However, we have also managed to fit in a lot of other Christmas preparations. The boys have made some fantastic Christmas wreaths using their hand as a leaf template. Cutting out small paper hand shapes is no easy feat and, unfortunately, a few boys chopped off paper fingers in the process. Thankfully, all real fingers are still in one piece! Certainly good practice of fine motor skills.  

The class was overjoyed to see clay out on the table one afternoon this week; as they had so enjoyed our clay pumpkin work, we decided to use clay again to create some Christmas decorations.   
Finally, the week with a real Christmas feel ended with Christmas biscuit making, Christmas jumper day and our Christmas lunch.  

 

Messages 
There is no Home Learning that has come home today as I am sure the boys need a good rest this weekend after all their hard work preparing and performing in the nativity. Some activities will come home at the start of next week for the Christmas holiday. 

Mrs Ford 
 

Year R

Wow, what a super week we've had in Reception Class.  So much going on, with busy boys engaging and joining in well in many activities and, whole Pre-Prep events.

Wow, what a variety of super experiences to all share together at this festive Christmastime. The boys have been splendid company, and I am so proud of the way they have adapted to changes of routine and tired, nervous emotions. Well done, boys!  I hope you are able to have a relaxing and calm weekend to recharge those batteries ready for the last few days at school before the Christmas break.

Notice for after Christmas:
Mrs Walker has suggested that on Thursdays for Forest School, the boys wear 'base type' layers under their t-shirts and shorts, particularly if the weather is cold.  Could all boys also please have a hat and gloves that they leave in school ready for cold days too. Many thanks.

Mrs Huntley

 

 

Forest School

I can’t believe we are in our last full week of Forest School. The term has flown by, and the autumn leaves have really inspired us over the last few months.

This week, Year 1 had a slightly shorter session due to the Nativity play. We chatted about how hedgehogs hibernate around this time of year. Using a small ball of clay, the boys created their own hedgehog, and then worked with a friend to create a warm and suitable nest for their animal.

 

It was a bit of damp Forest School for both Reception and Year 2, but that didn’t stop us. Armed with tarps, pegs and bungees, both year groups had a go at trying to create some shelters that would keep us dry. Some of the boys had a go at trying to create some mini shelters for our little animals, making mud pies, making a dinosaur slide, as well as seeing how much rain they could collect.