From Mrs Hall

We've had a great week to end this half of the term!

All the boys have continued to demonstrate the Pilgrims' values, including kindness and good manners, to name a few. We began our week with a continued discussion around the environment and how we can care for it. I read a story, ‘The Best Sort of Magic’ by Amelia Thorne, and posed the question to the boys, "Can you own a tree? If you own a tree, do you own the birds in it?" The boys answered very thoughtfully!

Trips to the Blue Reef Aquarium for Reception and the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth for Year 1 have added further value to the week. Enjoy reading about these trips in this newsletter and seeing much more on Tapestry.

The week ended on a high note with the Year 1 shipmates getting into full character for their dressing up morning as pirates! The whole Pre-Prep was also excited to share their exciting half-term experiences with you during their celebration assembly.

 

For Year 2 parents:  

As we look ahead to the final part of the school year, we would like to encourage our Year 2 boys to come into school independently. This step will greatly aid their transition to Year 3 in September.

Starting from Monday 3 June, we ask that you encourage your son to walk into the class on his own. This practice will help build their confidence and independence, ensuring they are well-prepared for the next stage in their education. Thank you for your support in this important transition.  Mrs Hall

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Save the Dates for June!

Monday 3 June	School resumes for Pre-Prep from 08:30
Friday 7 June	08:30 PPA Pre-Prep Coffee morning (see poster below) 10:00 Pilgrims' Play for prospective pupils 15:00 Pre-Prep Cathedral Assembly, parents welcome
Wednesday 12 June	Year 1: Father's Day in the Woods
Thursday 13 June	Reception and Year 2: Father's Day in the Woods
Saturday 8 June	LAMDA Exams (Pre-Prep)
Friday 14 June	15:45-18:00 PPA Book Sale (see poster below)
Monday 17 June	LAMDA exams
Thursday 20 June	09:00-10:00 Whole School Photo Year 2 trip to the Cathedral (Hampshire Ornithological Society)
Friday 21 June	PPA School of Rock event, details and booking form to follow
Saturday 22 June	PPA Charity Walk
Wednesday 26 June	17:00-17:30 Midas: Year 2 and Year 4 production
Thursday 27 June	17:00-17:30 Midas: Year 2 and Year 4 production

* * * * * * * * * * 

Notices

Menus for the first week back 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.}

* * * * * * * * * * 

From the PPA

* * * * * * * *

Year 2

Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed sharing their learning on Oceans with you during our Celebration Assembly this morning. Some chose their three favourite facts, while others clarified the five different zones of the ocean and a few gave you an insight into our fantastic trip down to Chichester Harbour and Dell Quay.

Well done, boys; we are proud of you all. Each of you spoke clearly and confidently. 

Have a restful half-term break and hopefully the sun will shine!

Mrs Kent 
Year 2 Teacher
 

Year 1

Year 1 had the most wonderful day out at the Historic Dockyard on Tuesday this week. The boys were fantastic and a real pleasure to spend the day with. They were so engaged throughout their visit on board both ships. We were extremely lucky to have both boats nearly to ourselves, so we could go at our own pace and see everything easily.

We had audio guides onboard HMS Victory which gave us a little more information at various points throughout our tour. Sometimes, the excitement of bleeping the device was more exciting! There were so many canons, 104 to be exact! We saw the spot where Nelson was shot and the surgeon’s quarters where he finally died. A lot of boys were particularly taken with his special bed that could become a chair! The size of the rudder was another highlight.

After lunch, we stepped on board HMS Warrior and were quickly greeted by a Victorian sailor who tried to persuade us to work for the Navy for £9 a year with food and hammock included. Quite a few boys liked the idea of sleeping in a hammock! There were even more canons on this ship…. Some boys even had a go at firing one before going down into the depths of the ship to see the engines. And, the washing machines!!

What a truly incredible trip. Thank you to all the boys for their interest and engagement, making it such a special day out.

 

Mrs Ford
Year 1 Teacher
 

Reception

This week started with a fabulous class trip to the Blue Reef Aquarium on a glorious sunny day.  What a superb time we all had - boys and staff alike!  

The boys listened and joined in well during the talk about 'Sharks and Rays'.  It was very interesting to hold a real shark's jaw and see the layers of teeth sharks have: five for one breed!  We were told that sharks lose a vast number of teeth over their lifetime, but they can grow them back!  We learnt about 'mermaid's purses', a particular shark walking on its elbows and how rays are part of the shark family.

The boys were so interested in all the sea creatures, their habitats and the antics of the fish and rays in particular. They were bubbling with excitement, enthusiasm, awe and wonder.  The boys also remembered to be patient while waiting for a creature to emerge from behind a rock or seaweed; they even spotted something new when we revisited some tanks.

The boy's behaviour was impeccable.  We were so proud of the respect that was demonstrated whilst being away from school and how they understood what we and the Aquarium expected from them.  It was a real pleasure to accompany the boys on their trip.  

Another super experience this week was our visit from Gina Rees, author and Illustrator of the story book, 'My Special Place'.  The boys were fully engaged while listening to Gina read her story.  They were also delighted when they were able to explore some activities that she set up related to farms, animals and the oceans.  Such a treat to have a local author share her work with young children.  Such an inspiration.  Please do explore Gina's website further.

What a superb week we have had to end the first half of this summer term.  

Happy half-term holiday, everyone!

Mrs Huntley
Reception Teacher
 

Forest School

The boys in Year R turned their hand to potion making this week. Everyone had their own little bowl and was allowed to collect resources from the forest floor to add to his potion. Water was then added to the pot and the potion’s ingredients were carefully mixed together. The boys thought about how it should look and smell, as well as the magical powers of their potion.

I love this time of year as the arboretum is full of some wonderful wildflowers. Year 1’s challenge this week was to see how many wildflowers they could find and subsequently identify. We also chatted about some of the traditions associated with some of the flowers we found. The boys had great fun with the daisy petals, playing ‘loves me, loves me not’!

Year 2 boys thought about the basic requirements that animals need in order to survive, one of which is a safe place to rest. We chatted about different types of shelters and what resources could be used. Working in pairs, the boys chose one of our animals from a bag and set about creating a suitable shelter for their creature. The boys thought carefully about the requirements and used the resources effectively.

 

Mrs Walker
Forest School