Weekly Newsletter 26 February 2016

26 February 2016
From the Head Master
Scholarship Success
In the News
Many congratulations to Olympia Onslow who has been awarded an Art Scholarship to Cheltenham Ladies College – a fine achievement indeed. One of Olympia’s pieces of work is currently on display in the
Hunter Hall foyer. Entitled ‘Virus’, it represents a blood vessel and how viruses can affect the human
DNA structure. Please do pop in to have a look at her most interesting installation.

Knitting Club
Poetry

Sport News & Fixture
Amendments

Pre-Prep News

Art News
Many congratulations to Olympia again and Katie Newton who have won through to the finals of the St
Martin's Ampleforth Poetry Competition and they are both heading up to Ampleforth to recite their poem in a competition tomorrow. Very well done to the two of them and I wish them the best of
luck. You can read their poems elsewhere in the newsletter.

Music News

Poetry Recital

Visiting Author
CE Mocks
Year 8 children are, as I write, undergoing their French Oral mocks and, next week, their full Common
Entrance mock exams begin. I wish the children all the very best and simply ask that they try their hardest. The mocks are there so that the children can learn from their mistakes and know exactly what they
need to pinpoint before the real thing in June.
www.sprattonhall.com
Visiting Author
[email protected]
@sprattonhall
We are looking forward to welcoming Cat Weatherill to the school next Thursday, who will be selling
signed copies of her books. She is a well-known children’s author and I am sure it will be a most interesting visit.
sprattonhall
Parents’ Meeting
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Lottie
Brown who achieved her
Grade 2 Skate Excellence (Ice
Skating) during half term.
Well done also to Oliver Jones
who was awarded the Saints
Man Award for his age group
during a Northampton Saints
Training Academy in halfterm.
We have the Year 4 Parents’ Meeting on Monday and, as Year 4 parents will know, slots have been prebooked with certain members of staff. For those who have booked later slots, please do arrive by 7.30
pm in order to see other members of staff for whom slots do not need to be booked.
House Events
In addition to this afternoon’s Years 7 & 8 netball and hockey matches, on Monday it is the Years 5 & 6
Cross-Country at 3.00 pm and then on Tuesday morning the Junior French Competition. Good luck to all
those taking part and, as always, may the best house(s) win.
Music for Youth
Our groups who are performing soon in the Music for Youth in Northampton are having a ‘dress rehearsal’ in Assembly next Friday morning. I am very sorry to say that this is for the children only, as we will
not be able to fit in all the parents in addition to the school. Thank you for your understanding in this.
Open Morning
Next Friday from 10.00 am through to noon we are holding an Open Morning. Current parents are most
welcome to come and visit and have a guided tour of the school.
Thank you
Open Morning
Friday 4th March
10 am—12 noon
There will be an Open Morning for new and current parents on Friday 4th
March from 10.00 am—12.00 noon.
If you wish to visit the school and have a look around during this time, please
contact the Registrar, Mrs Amanda Fleming-Jones, on [email protected] to
arrange an appointment.
Spratton Hall Newsletter Page 2
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Knitting Club
The trials and tribulations of Knitting Club!
Knitting Club is one of the newer clubs on offer to Years 3 and 4 (no
grannies allowed!). We normally have around 10-12 pupils who have a
varied knowledge of knitting, from beginners to the super whizzy experts. Knitting takes time and patience but once you have learnt the
technique it is a skill for life!
All children begin by learning how to finger knit; this allows them to get
used to the actions needed for knitting. Finger knitting is a quick and
easy way to produce a long strip of knitting - you only need your fingers and a ball of wool! We then learn how to cast on to
needles and knit a small square. To help us master the
technique we use this short poem; ‘Rabbit goes down the
rabbit hole, he bounces over the stone, through the tunnel
and jumps out quick!’. We are then ready to start creating
our own knitted pieces. Over the different terms we have
made a wide variety of knitted items from bookmarks to
headbands, scarfs and animal purses. So grab your needles
and come along! Miss Savage
Music Department
Uppingham Orchestral Day
We had a wonderful day of music making at Uppingham on Thursday. Our
pupils joined with children from 20 other prep schools to form an orchestra 375 strong. They enjoyed sectionals with the specialist Uppingham
staff, before all joining together to prepare for the final concert at the end
of the day. Everybody had a fantastic time.
Regional Festival of Music for Youth - Saturday 12th March
Boys' Choir, Junior Song, School Choir and Jazz Band.
Thank you to everybody who has returned the permission slip. Please can
any outstanding slips be returned as soon as possible. All the
groups have been working very hard in preparation for this
event and they are all looking forward to performing.
ABRSM Exams
These will take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th
March. A timetable has been displayed in the Music Department and is also available to view on the website. Please let
Miss Morrell know if there are any problems.
Music Lessons
Individual music lessons are available on a wide range of instruments as well as singing. Please speak to Miss Morrell if
you are interested in your child learning an instrument.
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Spratton Hall Newsletter Page 3
Sport Department
Art Department
Results
Tea Cup Drawings
TEAM
OPPOSITION
VENUE DATE
RESULT
1st VII Hockey
Winchester House
Home
24.2.16
Lost 4-1
2nd VII Hockey
Winchester House
Home
24.2.16
Lost 2-1
3rd VII Hockey
Winchester House
Home
24.2.16
Lost 4-3
4th VII Hockey
Winchester House
Away
24.2.16
Lost 7-2
5th VII Hockey
Winchester House
Home
24.2.16
Won 6-5
6th VII Hockey
Winchester House
Away
24.2.16
Won 3-0
U11 A Football
Akeley Wood
Home
24.2.16
Won 5-1
U11 B Football
Akeley Wood
Home
24.2.16
Lost 2-4
U11 C Football
Akeley Wood
Home
24.2.16
Won 3-1
1st VII Netball
Witham Hall
Away
24.2.16
Lost 6-8
1st VII Netball
St Johns
Away
24.2.16
Lost 7-12
2nd VII Netball
Beachborough
Home
24.2.16
Won 5-2
3rd VII Netball
Witham Hall
Away
24.2.16
Lost 3-11
3rd VII Netball
Witham Hall
Away
24.2.16
Lost 1-6
4th VII Netball
Beachborough
Home
24.2.16
Lost 5-16
Sports Amendments & Notices
Saturday 27th February:
There will now be U10 B&C Football v Maidwell Hall instead of U10 A&B—see team sheets for details
1st XI Hockey v Maidwell (H) is now at 2.00 pm & 2nd XI
Hockey v Maidwell (H) is now at 3.00 pm.
Wednesday 2nd
March:
U11B/C VIII Football v
Lincroft (H) is now
AWAY at 2.30 pm and
replaces the U11 B&C
teams as stated in the
calendar.
There will be no Girls’
Team Practices after
Wednesday 16th
March.
At the start of each term this school year, pupils in Years
3-7 have had a 40 minute assessment drawing a tea cup.
You can now see all of the tea cups on display in the
Hunter Hall.
Global Canvas Art & Poetry Competition
I am delighted to announce that our ‘Wild Wonders’ entry to the David Shepherd Global Canvas Art & Poetry
Competition has been shortlisted and will be displayed at
the Natural History Museum in London on 17th March.
The following Year 6 and 7 pupils will be travelling down
to London to promote our entry:India Clarke
Josephine Knights
Luca Cinquini-Steel
Henry Wheeler
Zander Watson
Isabel Stock
Lauren Baucutt
Emily Parker
Zellie Young
Jacob Hull
Well done everyone, a fantastic achievement for the second year in a row!
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Spratton Hall Newsletter Page 4
Poetry Recital
We are very proud that Olympia Onslow and Katie Newton will be representing Spratton Hall this weekend at a poetry recital at
St Martin’s Ampleforth Prep School. They were both chosen as finalists in a poetry competition where they were asked to write
poems with the theme, Awkward Moments. Their poems will also be published in an anthology.
Another Term Done by Olympia Onslow
Awkward Moments by Katie Newton
I capture every single glance
And look along the line of fire,
Responding with indifference
To beat the little liar.
When you catch yourself singing the song
That everybody hates
That you loathe like the bitter cold
That you desire to erase from eternity
The library - a place to dwell.
Serenity, a leaf to turn,
And read or hide until the bell.
Then I return to learn.
When you catch yourself walking along the road in front of your ex’s
house
You catch their eye through the window
Their eyes burn into you like the scorching sun of Arabia
Then you move on, not a word said
A cruel word from ignorant,
Or push or giggle in the class.
For years I tolerate the jibe
Just praying it will pass.
The music room is warmth
Benign but seldom fun,
So there I stay and hum away
Then to the classroom, run.
So all the facts and fiction,
And all the treasured books,
Take me away, somewhere,
To avoid those dirty looks.
Why should I feel sorry,
For her and all her sheep?
Well I doubt that bullies really learn,
Or really feel, or deeply sleep.
When you sit on a dingy, empty plane
A man the size of a sky scraper sits next to you rather than any other
empty row
He falls asleep into your lap, too heavy to move
Too drunk to wake up
When you are bored stiff and call a friend to come over
It rings a few times, the air is tense
A woman picks up the phone
And tells you that they moved three years ago
When you stumble home after an eventful night
You forgot your key, so you ring the door bell
A man dressed in a night gown opens the door
And you realise that your house is the one on the other side of the road
Year 7 Visit to Normandy
Parent/Teacher Meetings
Could all Year 7 parents please ensure they have given
their child’s passport and EHIC health card to Mr Seguin
in preparation for their visit to Normandy on 7th March.
Can I please remind all Pre-Prep and Year 3 & 4 parents to make
their bookings for the forthcoming Parent/Teacher Meetings using
the online booking system. Please refer to the instructions on how
to use the system which were emailed to parents last week.
Thank you.
NSPCC Spring Disco
Friday 4th March
Junior Disco: 6.00 am—7.30 pm Senior Disco: 8.00 pm—9.30 pm
at Brampton Heath Golf Club, Sandy Lane, Church Brampton
Tickets will be on sale in the main hall before school on the following
days:
Thursday 25th & Friday 26th February
Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th March
Please note that this is not a school event and enquiries should be
directed to ticket sellers and not the school office. Thank you.
Thank you — Mr S Bradnam
Lost Property
Ottilie Dewar: green jumper and 2 cardigans (named)
Harrison Barrow: grey shorts (named)
Lauren Baucutt: tracksuit jacket (named)
Adam Bayliss: pair of blue/black/white Sondico rugby boots
size 3, 1 x Sondico Pro goalie glove (yellow), 1 x Grenville
House shirt (named), 1 x green/black rugby top (named), 1 x
grey jumper (brand new) - could Year 3 parents please check
bags at home
Found
Purple ‘Rapunzel’ glasses
4
Grey ‘Fitbit’ watch
5
Spratton Hall Newsletter Page 5
Lunch Menu for Next Week
Menu
Monday
Tuesday
Soup of the Day
Wednesday
Leek
& Potato
Soup
French
Onion
Thursday
Friday
Tomato
Soup
Mushroom
Meat
Meat Main
Main Course
Course
Sausage
& Bacon
Spaghetti
&
Pasta
Meatballs
Chicken
Fricasse
Wild West
Pie
Meat
Loaf in
a
BBQ
Chicken
New
Peppercorn
Sauce
Yorker
Roast
of Pork
Steak Loin
& Kidney
Pie&
Trimmings
FishFish,
Fingers,
Chips
& Peas
Chips
& Peas
Vegetarian Main Course
Mushroom
Stroganoff&
Cauliflower
Red Onion & Goats’
Cheese
TartPie
Leek
& Potato
Vegetarian Sausage
RollsBeef
Stuffed
Vegetable Burgers
Broccoli Polonaise
Chicken Pitta
or
Cheese
&
Vegetable
Meat & Vegetarian
Pitta
Selection
Stuffed Peppers with
Vegetable
Quorn Cous
MinceCous
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Feta Cheese
& Olives
or
Meat & Vegetarian
Roast
Pork
Selection
Jacket Potato Bar
Jacket Potato Bar
Cheese & Beans
Cheese & Beans
Minced Beef &
Vegetables
Brie & Bacon
Beef Curry
Chilli Con Carne
Chicken Curry
Prawn Mayonnaise
Pre-Prep
Pre-Prep
(Meat
(Meat &
& Vegetarian
Vegetarian Main
Main
Courses
Courses plus)
plus)
Roast
Ham
Ham
or
or
Grated
Cheese
Cheese
Sausage
Sausage Roll
Roll
or
or
Egg
EggBoiled
Mayonnaise
Grated
Grated Cheese
Cheese
or
or
Tuna
Tuna Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise
Roast
Ham
Ham
or
or
Egg
Egg Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise
Grated
Grated Cheese
Cheese
or
or
Tuna
Tuna
Desserts
Desserts
Bananas
& Butter
Custard
Bread &
Pudding
Yoghurt, Fruit,
Cheese
& Biscuits
Yoghurt,
Fruit,
BakewellMarble
Tart
Chocolate
Sponge
Yoghurt, Fruit,
Cheese
& Biscuits
Yoghurt,
Fruit,
Cranachan
Trifle
Vanilla Slice
PineappleCrumble
Upside
Rhubarb
Cake
Fudge
Brownie
Flapjack
Cheese & Biscuits
Cheese & Biscuits
Yoghurt, Fruit,
Cheese
& Biscuits
Yoghurt,
Fruit,
Cheese & Biscuits
Yoghurt,
Yoghurt, Fruit,
Fruit,
Cheese
Cheese &
& Biscuits
Biscuits
Yoghurt,
Yoghurt, Fruit,
Fruit,
Cheese
Cheese &
& Biscuits
Biscuits
Thursday
3rd
Friday
4th
Saturday
5th
Sunday
6th
1000—1200
Open Morning for
Prospective & Current
Parents
1330
U11A, U10
A&B Netball v
Witham Hall
(A)
Cancelled—
U10A
Oakham
Rugby 7s
Vegetarian Main Course
Salad Bar Options
Salad Bar Options
Selection of Cheese
& Bacon
or
Meat & Vegetarian
Cheese
&
Tomato
Selection
Croissants
Tomatoes
Tuna Mayonnaise
or
Egg
Mayonnaise
Meat & Vegetarian
Selection
Ratatouille
Roast Ham
or
Prawns
in
Marie Rose
Meat & Vegetarian
Sauce
Selection
School Diary for Next Week
Monday
29th
Tuesday
1st
Wednesday
2nd
Year 8 CE Mock
Exams
Year 8 CE Mock
Exams
0830—1530
Year 2 Visit to
Woburn Safari
Park
1530
U9 A&B Football
1400
v Bedford
1st XI Hockey v Oundle (H)
Modern (A)
3rd XI & 4th IX Hockey v Oundle (A)
1500
Years 5 & 6
House CrossCountry
1800—2000
Year 4 Parent/
Teacher Meetings
in the Dome
Year 8 CE Mock Exams
0830—1600
U11A Warwick Rugby 7s (A)
1430
U10 A, B & C Football v Lincroft (A)
U11B/C VIII Football v Lincroft (A) Amendment to calendar
1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th VII Netball v
Winchester House (H)
U11 A&B, U10 A&B Netball v
Winchester House (A)
1500
2nd XI Hockey v Oundle (H)
1700—1900
ABRSM Theory Exams in Room 3
World Book Day
Celebrations in Pre-Prep
Year 8 CE Mock Exams
Author, Cat Weatherill,
Visits Years 3-5
1000—1600
U11A Netball IAPS at
Uppingham (A)
1400
Maidwell Chase CrossCountry (A)
1000—1600
1st VII Netball IAPS at
Uppingham (A)
1500—1520
Pre-Prep Mothering
Sunday Assembly in
Hunter Hall
Cancelled—
U12 Netball
Tournament
at Oakham
1500
U9 A, B & C Football v
Leicester Grammar (A)
1620
Cancelled—Year 5 Boys’
Team Practice
5
Spratton Hall Newsletter Page 6
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It has been a joy
catching up with
all the children
again following
the half-term
break. The many
pairs of shiny
shoes, the smart
new haircuts, and
the pages of drawing and writing (not to mention the variety of trophies, medals and
certificates that have been paraded triumphantly before my eyes!) tell me that it has
been a busy and productive week for many!
It is also wonderfully refreshing to be finally arriving and leaving school within daylight
hours. As we move into the second half of the Spring Term, with bursts of warm sunshine and a sprinkling of golden daffodils around the school grounds, it has occurred to
me that the children are now, unbelievably, over half-way through their school year!
Already, we are starting to look ahead to our new September intake, with the class
allocation letters having been sent out to the parents of new little ones this week.
On Thursday, Year 1 delivered a fascinating assembly based on their topic of ‘Native
American Indians’. Wearing their head-dresses with pride, the children entertained us
with songs about canoes, blue lakes and mountains, before presenting us with an interesting array of facts about tepees, totem poles and of course, the mighty thundering buffalos!
It was wonderful to see so many parents share in their children’s work during our Book
Viewing Afternoon just before half-term. The time is now fast approaching for our Pre
-Prep Parent/Teacher Consultations, where your child’s learning will be shared with
you in greater detail. An email was sent out earlier in the week giving parents details
on how and when appointments can be booked using our online system at https://
sprattonhall.parentseveningsystem.co.uk
You may have spotted a familiar face about the Department this week, as we welcomed back Mrs Goodwin from her maternity leave. Mrs Goodwin is thoroughly enjoying being back amongst the children and will be spending her time supporting their
learning across the breadth of Pre-Prep.
Finally, the countdown is now on in the lead up to World Book Day on Thursday 3rd
March. There is already much excitement amongst the children as they swap details
of which story character they hope to come dressed as. The ripples of World Book Day
fever can also be felt amongst the Pre-Prep staff, with one teaching assistant already
having fashioned together a Cruella de Vil outfit and now eagerly trying to recruit
some volunteer Dalmatians on the playground! What an amazing day of fun it promises to be!
Mrs Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
Many congratulations to Oliver Jones (2L) who
gained the ‘Saints Challenge Award’ during a
Half-Term Rugby Camp.
Well done to Archie Parker-Jones (2D) who has
achieved his ASA 5m Rainbow Swimming
Award.
Further congratulations to Oliver Jones (2D)
who has achieved his ASA Stage 4 Swimming
Award.
Very well done to Noah Lowin (2L) who won an
enormous trophy for his speed and agility on
skis.
Monday 29th February, 8.30 am-3.30 pm –
Year 2 Study Visit to Woburn Safari Park
Wednesday 2nd March – Reception will be welcoming two police officers into their classrooms
Thursday 3rd March – World Book Day Celebrations, come dressed as a story character if you
wish!
Friday 4th March, 10.00 am -12.00 pm – Open
Morning for Prospective and Current Parents
Friday 4th March, 3.00 pm in the Hunter Hall –
Pre-Prep Mothering Sunday Assembly
Tuesday 8th March, 4.00-8.00 pm – Pre-Prep
Parent/Teacher Consultation Evening
Thursday 10th March, 4.00-6.00 pm – Pre-Prep
Parent/Teacher Consultation Afternoon
Thursday 10th March, 3.00 pm in the Hunter Hall
6
– Year 2 Assembly