From Mrs Hall

Musical Shells Toddler Session!
Our popular Musical Shells toddler sessions began again this week, delighting young music enthusiasts with rhythm, sound, and movement inspired by the story of Dear Zoo. The session was brimming with giggles and creativity!

A special thank you to our dedicated staff for crafting such a magical experience and to all the parents and carers who joined in the fun. These sessions are a wonderful way to nurture a love of music from an early age. We can’t wait to welcome even more little one’s next week! If you know families who might enjoy this musical experience, please help spread the word.

Winter Warmer Evening – A Cosy Success!
Last night, the Pre-Prep was transformed into a snug haven for our Winter Warmer event, and what a success it was! Many boys arrived in their favourite pyjamas, ready for an evening of storytelling, warmth, and community. Parents, boys, and staff gathered to share stories that sparked imaginations and warmed hearts. From classic tales to fresh adventures, the laughter and engagement created an unforgettable atmosphere. The glow of soft lighting, fairy lights, and the comforting aroma of hot chocolate (as well as the biscuit treats) added to the magic of the evening.

A big thank you to all the families who joined us for this special event, making it a true celebration of storytelling and togetherness. We’re already looking forward to the next one! Information sheets from the evening are available in the Pre-Prep library—please feel free to help yourself.

The Power of Adventure Books
Tying in with the storytelling magic of last night, I recently came across a fascinating study revealing that adventure books are the most popular genre amongst children. The study found that two-thirds of children feel inspired to be more adventurous after reading such books. Nearly half of parents said they encourage their children to read adventure stories to foster a sense of curiosity and love for the outdoors. The favourite settings for young readers were beaches (40%), islands (37%), and woods (36%). I have also left a list of the top 30 adventure children’s books in the library too.

Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology at Exeter Medical School, beautifully captured why adventure books resonate so deeply with children. Her research struck a chord with me, as it also reflects some of our Pre-Prep values:

“Reading plays a crucial role in fostering curiosity and creativity. Books introduce children to new ideas and concepts, expanding their world beyond what they already know. This not only sparks their imagination but also encourages them to approach the world with a sense of wonder and exploration.”

Wishing you all a restful weekend!

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Save the Dates !

Music Groups for Toddlers and Babies
Don't forget our toddler music group, Musical Shells and our Little Shells play sessions for pre-schoolers. We encourage you to spread the word to friends and family - all our welcome! (see flyers at the bottom of this newsletter).

Friday 28 February	15:00-15:30	Pre-Prep Cathedral Assembly; parents welcome.
Friday 7 February	19:00	PPA Burns' Night, Pilgrims' Hall (book on My School Portal)
Saturday 8 February	09:00	Pilgrims' Parley, The Octagon (sign up on My School Portal)
Friday 7 March	19:00	PPA Quiz Night (book on My School Portal)
Saturday 8 March	09:00	Pilgrims' Parley, The Octagon (sign up on My School Portal)

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Notices

Menus 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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Pilgrims' Shell Awards this week:

Year 2: to Arthur O-B for his perseverance and effort with his handwriting, which is becoming so much clearer and easier to read.
Year 1: to Edward for the kindness and generosity he has consistently shown to others this week. Well done, Edward!
Reception: to Henry R for making good progress with his learning, particularly with reading, and also to Henry B for making good choices with his learning at school.

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Reception

The main focus this week in Reception Class has been around The Lunar New Year/Chinese New year.  The boys have very much enjoyed finding out more about why and how this festival is celebrated.  The great zodiac race story of how 13 animals raced to cross the river and have a year named after them led to a thoughtful discussion about the poor cat who actually did not have a year named after it because it came 13^th due to the unkind rat pushing him into the river.  

Lots of class activities linked to The Chinese New year with temple building, and constructing with the Lego being very popular.

Thank you to the catering team for inviting us over to the dining hall to share a celebratory Chinese-style lunch with chopsticks and fortune cookies on offer!  A super experience for the boys to share.

A little aside from The Lunar New year, we have moved our Art focus on to learn about Anna Boberg, a Swedish Artist who produced a lot of work around the Northern Lights.  We have also been learning about what the Northern lights actually are!   There are some beautiful pictures that we have explored online.  You might like to take a look with your sons and explore the Northern Lights further.

Have a super weekend.

Mrs Sarah Huntley
Reception Teacher

Year 1

Chinese New Year 
We have had an exceptionally fun week in Year 1 celebrating Chinese New Year. The Year of the Snake has provided the opportunity for many exciting activities which the boys have loved whilst also helping us practise our fine motor skills. The boys were challenged to thread a snake using beads on a pipe cleaner, which was one of their independent challenge jobs in the classroom. Working with a grown up, they have used an old tie to make their very own cuddly snake! They have learnt to sew on buttons for the eyes and a tongue made out of felt. Stuffing it proved quite tricky; we were very lucky that the boys were so motivated by the project to keep going! The Chinese-themed Snakes and Ladders game has also proved to be a big hit.

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a festive lunch in the dining room complete with lucky red napkins, chopsticks and fortune cookies. Eating noodles, chicken and broccoli was quite a challenge when trying to use chopsticks. Thankfully, forks were on hand as backup!

Mrs Victoria Ford
Year 1 Teacher
 

Year 2

After a busy week, we found a moment of calm in our new outdoor classroom, setting the stage for a refreshing bird-watching session as part of the RSPB National Birdwatch activity. Surrounded by nature, we settled in, feeling the quiet embrace of the environment. To start, we read a story, grounding ourselves in the peaceful rhythm of the day. As we watched the scene unfold across the river, a male blackbird caught our attention, hopping along the bank, its sleek black feathers standing out against the greenery. 

Unfortunately, the weekend weather was not as kind and I know I found a lower than normal number of birds in my garden due to the wet and windy conditions. Thank you to those families who recorded their sightings on the RSPB website. 

Mrs Maxine Kent
Year 2 Teacher
 

Forest School

I think the boys are at their happiest in Forest School when mud is involved. This week, with the boys in Year R, I decided to celebrate the New Year and our planet with an ‘Earth Celebration Day’! The boys had great fun creating a birthday cake for our planet using lots of mud and other natural items. Stick candles were added, and we all enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to our planet at the end of the session.

The boys in Year 2 were given the challenge of seeing how far they could make a stick travel. They were only allowed to use a piece of string and 2 sticks. After a bit of trial and error, the boys soon realised they had the right equipment to make a bow and arrow. It proved challenging, but I was pleased the boys persevered with the activity, and they had fun competing against each other.

Mrs Fiona Walker
Forest School and LAMDA Teacher

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PPA Upcoming events

(Go to My School Portal, Bookings & Forms to book)

 

Pre-Prep for pre-schoolers