Prep Newsletter Friday 13th

March 2015

Dear Parents,

The importance of reading

Do you read for pleasure? Or is your reading for work purposes? The

core of our curriculum actively encourages all of our children to read as

we all know that extensive reading and exposure to a range of texts will

make a huge contribution to our pupil‟s educational achievement. “Young

people who enjoy reading very much are nearly five times as likely to

read above the expected level for their age compared with young people

who do not enjoy reading at all.” (Children‟s and Young People‟s Reading

Today, National Literacy Trust, 2012) We are very aware that reading with

others can help children to relax. It supports learning, helps to develop

confidence and promotes enjoyment and well-being. Reading can provide

an escape from day-to-day concerns in addition to increasing their

breadth of vocabulary, better understanding of other people, enhanced

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general knowledge and having a greater insight

into human nature.

We firmly believe in the importance of

developing children‟s reading and aim to

engender a love of books and reading. Whilst

public and school libraries are in decline we

have recently invested in both our Lower and

Upper Prep libraries and in our class libraries,

ensuring that all pupils have a variety of texts

and reading opportunities. Our attractive

libraries feature a range of fiction and nonfiction

books, computers, a table to work at and „snug‟

seating for quiet reading. Every class has a

timetabled library session each week and all

children are encouraged to borrow our books.

Book Week

Last week was amazing as everyone in the Preparatory School threw

themselves in wholeheartedly to inspire a greater love of reading. Across

all ages, dedicated to the enjoyment of books, there were assemblies,

making books, sharing and recommending books, reading favourite

excerpts, listening to the children‟s views about reading and watching

short films about authors and illustrators. Then on Friday the big

dressing up as a favourite character - Mrs Tabor even coordinated her

I often mention the opportunities that we offer in school to help develop

the whole child. In recent months we have had authors in to talk to the

children and take workshops. A popular project during the Summer Term

last year was enjoyed by Year 6, who had an inspirational visit from ex-St

Margaret‟s girl Bonnie Friend, a published author. Our Year 6‟s then

talked with the Reception class children to learn more about their

favourite books, storylines and characters. Taking this information they

worked in teams to write and illustrate a book for the 4 and 5 year olds.

Once each team‟s book was published they read their book to the

Reception children and gave them a copy. Other copies were made and

are now available and enjoyed in both of our libraries.

We take the business of reading for

pleasure seriously; therefore reading plays

a central role in our curriculum as we

recognise that being able to read is a key

life skill. With the right teaching and support

every child is able to read. Indeed, from the

first week in our Reception Class the

children are given reading books and are

heard to read every day. Children across the

Prep School have time in their school day to read independently, read aloud and be read to. Children are also

expected to read each day at home as part of their Homework. Research

shows that children who enjoy reading achieve highly across the

curriculum.

Today, our pupils in Year 5 and 6 will join those in Years 7 and 8 to hear a

talk from Caroline Lawrence, author of „The Roman Mysteries‟, about how

to write a great story. I am sure that all of the girls will have learn so

much from Caroline and will be inspired to write.

Mrs C Aisthorpe

Head of St. Margaret’s Preparatory School

120 Commendations

CONGRATULATIONS TO….. Afrah Anais Chuwen Elif Karisma Lucy Roxanna Safiya Sara Sarah Sienna Tara

Zara

hair to match the St Margaret‟s uniform she was

wearing! During Friday there was such a vibrant

energy. The girls and staff excelled themselves as you

can see in the photos in this edition. We were all

impressed with the time, energy and thought that had

gone into putting each outfit together.

Developing a love of reading certainly has huge

benefits for children. By teaching children to read well

and sharing a love of books we have the opportunity

to make a profound difference to our children‟s lives.

A couple of weeks ago the girls were challenged to have a photo taken

of them reading a favourite book in an extra-ordinary place. Well done to

Sarah who read her book in the countryside, Amisha who read in the loft

amongst the boxes and to Bryony, at the top of the Burj Khalifa, the

tallest building in the world (I think a little computer trickery went on

here!). Miss Caher also had her photo taken whilst she was reading.

LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)

Miss Muir and Mrs Lester are the Speech and Drama teachers in Lower

and Upper Preparatory, where they work with the LAMDA syllabus.

LAMDA is one of the UK‟s oldest and most respected awarding

organisations. Both teachers have extensive experience in the subject

and a long personal association with LAMDA and are totally committed to

the lifelong skills the examinations offer.

„LAMDA really helps to develop self-confidence and poise in

communication which is vital for anyone entering the work arena these

days. In addition, LAMDA opens up the opportunity to explore literature

and drama from a wide cultural heritage‟ says Miss Muir.

Lessons in Reception encourage an imaginative response to stories and

rhymes and an understanding of rhythm, expression and an awareness

of how speech sounds can be made clearly.

Annual examinations are part of the speech and drama curriculum for

Years 1- 6. In Year 1 girls take their first examination, and develop the

ability to share a poem and respond to simple questions with confidence,

while also enhancing their memory and recall skills. It is a great

opportunity to help them find their own creative voice in the way they

understand and share their pieces.

Over the next five years, girls are encouraged to explore a range of

performance and communication options. These include devised and

scripted drama so the girls have fun creating characters and making the

situations they find themselves in, believable.

Parents can be a great help as the exam session approaches by helping

their daughters to practise their pieces. Confidence in exams is often due

to being well-prepared, and committing lines to memory is a very

important part of this process. As teachers, we will make sure your

daughter finds the right way to express herself through poetry or acting

but she needs to know the piece in order to bring it alive, and we

appreciate your support in helping us achieve this.

Older girls will have the opportunity to perform their exam pieces to

parents as demonstrated in the recent Soiree with extracts from „The

Twits‟ and „Alice in Wonderland‟.

“Being a Speech and Drama teacher in the Preparatory School at St

Margaret‟s is a joy and a privilege. We never fail to be amazed by the

creativity and originality of the ideas that girls come up with in lessons,

and watching them develop their individual talent in this subject is

inspirational.” Mrs Lester and Mrs Muir

March

16th Year 6 visit to RAF Hendon

18th-20th

LAMDA exams

25th 09:00-09:45 Prep School – “Our Special People” Assembly, Senior School Hall

27th 14:00 Term Ends

April

21st Summer Term begins

May

4th Bank Holiday – no school

7th 09:30-12:00 School at Work Open Morning

8th-13th

Book Fair

Dates

020 8416 4501 prepoffice@smbushey.com

Lower Prep

“I loved dressing up as my character,

Annie, from “My Fairy Magic Story”, it was

so much fun!” Tabitha

“I liked the special

storytime with

Miss King where

we read our

character‟s

stories.”

Isabella

“We had a really

good day because I

liked seeing all my

friends dressed up

as their favourite

characters.‟

Summer

“My favourite character from “Friends

Forever” by Sally Grindley is Hoptail,

because he was kind and wanted to be

friends with everyone." Amaya

"My favourite

character is Elsa

from “Frozen”

because she has

a blue sparkling

dress like the

stars." Mohinika

Upper Prep

“I really liked it when the Year 6 girls read to us.” Lili

“I liked the costumes. The playground didn't look like a playground it looked like a movie set.” Ishiya “I liked it when we went into our Houses and showed everyone our books and costumes.” Neha

“I loved seeing everyone's

costumes.” Beatrice

“I liked seeing everyone dressed up

as different characters.” Iman

“I really liked

sharing my books and hearing about

other people's books.” Maya

“I liked the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.” Melina

“I liked making our bookmarks.” Anya

“It was lovely to hear about other student‟s books.” Sienna

“It was fun dressing up as a Roman.” Elif “It was exciting to share our books with our classes.”

Lucy

Well done to all the girls who tried the recent challenges on the Maths board. The next challenges are now on display. In Years 3 and 4 the following girls successfully completed the „Total 10‟ challenge and have been awarded a Commendation for their House.

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Maths Challenge

Gordon Raleigh Wesley Nicholson

Tara Remi Melina Mayuri Roxanna

Sienna Anya Elif Priya

Chuwen Anaya Afrah Sarah

Lucy Aliyah Karisma

In Years 5 and 6 the following girls successfully completed the „Magic Numbers‟ challenge and have been awarded a Commendation for their House!

Gordon Nikita Bryony