March 4th - Plymouth College

Plymouth College
Preparatory School
Weekly Newsletter for 4th March 2016
From the Headmaster
The lock on the inner door
Compliance Inspection
When I decided we should have a lock on the
inner security door I did write in the newsletter
that we would be reviewing its use. At the
moment it is locked throughout the day and
although I feel we already have a very safe
site you can never have enough security. One
of the things we have to review is when we
open it in the afternoon. In doing so we are
balancing the need for knowing who is in the
building with our wish to remain a very
welcoming environment for our parents. Last
Tuesday was a good example of how our
innovative approach works. This was a special
occasion, not because we had an inspection,
but because for the first time this year all clubs
for the Juniors had been cancelled. Usually we
have a large number of pupils going straight
down the stairs to get to the sports hall.
However this was not the case on Tuesday
with the result that a far larger number of
Junior Parents were collecting children at
1600. For this reason we felt it was
appropriate to keep the door closed until about
1615 when the initial rush was over. I hope
parents will agree that such a flexible
approach is far more desirable than a decision
to keep the main door locked leaving parents
out in the cold.
As you are aware, an hour after we published last
week’s newsletter we got told that we were
having a Compliance Inspection this week. One
of the rules of inspection is that we are bound to
complete confidentiality until the report is
published in about three weeks time. I will take
great pleasure in sending it to you as soon as we
get it. Please do not get too excited; a compliance
inspection document is one of the most boring
items we will ever send you. All it will tell you is
whether the school is compliant in all the
necessary areas (e.g. education provided,
learning, safeguarding, health and safety). It will
not make any judgments on quality; these will
have to wait for our next full / integrated
inspection in 2-3 years. I could tell you all the
details about how ISI are evolving their
inspections but I suspect you have drifted off
already. Could I take this opportunity to thank all
parents who helped out during the week and
particularly all our staff and pupils who coped so
well under pressure. I said in last week’s
newsletter that this was going to a busy week and
that was before the inspection. Which brings me
to ……
Year 3 and 4 Concert
This was another super concert which I am sure
was hugely appreciated by parents. It was even
more praiseworthy given the extra pressures of
inspection week . Well done to all concerned.
Year 6 Development Education
Please note that due to the inspection we were unable to deliver this component of the Year 6
course this week as planned; instead it will take place next week.
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World Book Day hats—3rd March 2016
Heading for Success!
Many thanks to pupils and parents for their great efforts to celebrate World Book Day 2016
with such head-u-cational literary themed hats! Our judges had a very difficult time deciding
on the winners—it gave them quite a headache but they got their heads down and finally decided that the following pupils were (just) ahead of the game!
EYFS Winner:
Highly Commended:
Ellie Smethurst—Room on the Broom
Alicia Kalita—Frozen
Archie Hollett—Blue Dinosaur
KS1 Winner:
Highly Commended:
Megan Tinney—All Afloat
Joshua Dawson—The Twits
Rebekah Sutherland—Matilda
Lower KS2 Winner:
Highly Commended:
William Trathen—Alice in Wonderland
Bryony Wannell—Mrs Pepper Pot
Phoebe Rule—101 Dalmations
Upper KS2 Winner:
Highly Commended:
Trystan Aala—The Hobbit
Luke Haywood—Artemis Fowl
Millie Andrews—Jacqueline Wilson characters
Prizes will be awarded during the final Assembly of the spring term, Thursday 17th March.
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Friends Diary
Dear Friends,
A special thank you to everyone who helped wrap the
flowers for Mother’s Day. We hope that everyone enjoys
them, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of
the mums and grandmas a very Happy Mother’s Day.
The Swap Shop is still short of supplies of summer dresses and blazers for
the forthcoming summer term. If you are able to help with these items, please
leave them outside the Swap Shop or at Reception. Thank you.
Hayley Staples
Secretary of Friends Association
Date and Time of Next Meeting
Monday 7th March 2016 at 09:00 in the Junior Library
LAMDA Exams
Lost Property
Two LAMDA examiners, Ms Jennifer
Clulow and Mrs Nicola West will be coming
to the school next Friday 11th March and
the exams will run from 9.00am to 2.30pm
approximately, in the School Theatre and
Drama Room.
Dear Parents, I do hope you will not
mind me asking once again to check
your own child’s kit to ensure that any of
the missing items listed below have
been brought home by mistake. If you
find any of these items, please could
you drop them into the School Reception desk. Many thanks.
I would be grateful if parents could
encourage their children who are taking
exams to ensure they are fully prepared for
the day. Words need to be thoroughly
learnt and children taking Entry or Grade 1
verse speaking exams will be asked
meanings of words from both their poem
selections during the discussion part of the
exam.
Arabella Rogers in KGN has lost her
named blazer.
Alissa Morrison-Wells in 5DH has lost a
blue PE top, school overcoat and a
black, unnamed mouthguard.
A smart appearance and tidy hair will help
the children give a good impression.
Jack Beard in 6LM has lost his blazer
with a back to front Prefects badge. Not
named.
Thank you
June Pick
Velvet Prowse in 6LM has lost her
mobile phone. It is a black and silver
iPhone 6.
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Forthcoming
Events
Community Awards
This week the Community Awards were
given to:
KGN:
Rec:
Monday 7th March
Ruth Sutherland and William
Gregory for being well focussed
and
for
consistently
good
behaviour
Year 3 visit to Carnglaze Caverns
All Day
Tuesday 8th March
Tommy Wheeler for helpfulness
Year 2: Maggie Haffenden for reliable,
kind and thoughtful behaviour
Year 1 visit to Plympton Castle and Woodland Walk
All Day
Year 3: Nadia Beed for being polite and
sensible around the school
Wednesday 9th March
Year 4: Sophia Yung for being polite and
courteous
U11s A Football at Exeter Junior School
Tournament
2.00pm
Year 5: James Webb for a mature and
hardworking approach
Year 4 Tudor Day
All Day
Year 6: Jack Witherall for being kind and
enthusiastic
Thursday 10th March
Year 6 visit to Buckfast Abbey
All Day
RESULTS
U9s A Football at Exeter Junior School
Tournament
2.00pm
Wednesday 2nd March
U11s A Football v Stover at Home
(W) 13—4
U9s A Netball at Exeter Junior School
Tournament
2.00pm
U11s A Netball v Stover at Home
(W) 11—2
Year 5 Parents’ Evening in the
Conference Room
4.10—5.30pm
Thursday 3rd March
Friday 11th March
U9s A Football v Stover—Away
(L) 1—3
LAMDA Exams at School
All Day
U9s A Netball v Stover—Away
(W)
U11s A Netball at Exeter Junior School
Tournament
2.00pm
Do not forget to check your
calendar as we have a very
busy week again next week ...
Saturday 12th March
PREP SCHOOL OPEN MORNING
10.00am—12.00pm
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U9s A Football v Exeter Junior School at Home—25.03.16
U9s Netball v Stover—away—03.03.16
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Headmaster’s Commendations
Easter Egg Competition
Lilia Brodribb in 5DH for earning 20 House
Points
Please don’t forget to design and
make your fabulous Easter Egg for the
competition. The eggs will be on display in the Chapel from Monday 14th
March until 4.00pm on Wednesday
16th March when the judging will take
place.
With
two weekends
to design and
make
your
creations, we
are hoping for
a very brilliant
display
this
year.
Joanne Ho in 5DH for earning 20 House
Points
Harry Dodwell in 3CLB for reading 40
books
Aaesha Al Mehrzi in 6LM for earning 20
House Points
Makenzie Duke in 5DH for extremely helpful behaviour
Victoria Gauci in 4NF for earning 20 House
Points
Finn Keeling in 2AH for earning 20 House
Points
Lots of luck
everyone!
Amie Chung in 2AH for earning 20 House
Points
Easter 2016
Isobel Boulting in 2AH for earning 20
House Points
Cake Sale
Max Andrews in 2AH for earning 20 House
Points
The following children in Year 5 will be
holding a cake sale on Friday 11th March at
break time and after school to raise money
for Water Aid:
Rocky Prowse in 5JN for earning 20 House
Points
Makenzie Duke, Trystan Aala, George
Wells, Finn Broekhoven, Henry Kagan,
Rocky Prowse and Thomas Norminton.
Olivia Tinney in 6LM for earning 20 House
Points
Velvet Prowse in 6LM for earning 20 House
Points
Aaesha Al Mehrzi in 6LM for earning 20
House Points
Please don’t forget your pocket money to
buy some yummy cakes for this worthy
cause!
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