Yarm Preparatory School Issue 564

Friday 9th March 2018

Head’s Message . . .

It has been super to get a full week under our belts across the school in terms of academic lessons. Sadly a few fixtures have had to be cancelled and rearranged, but in the main the steady pulse of our busy school has returned. I believe we are all the better for this consistency and routine. World Book Day has certainly been one of the highlights of this week. To celebrate pupils and staff dressed up in a host of colourful costumes and a range collaborative reading based activities took place across the school. World Book Day is always a fabulous opportunity to promote reading and celebrate an enjoyment of books of all kinds. It was so lovely to see Year 6 sharing a range of stories with our younger pupils from Pre-Prep through the ‘story baskets’ they created; their dramatic use of expression and book themed props really brought the books they shared alive. A special mention must go to our U11 Netball team who have have had a very exciting week. On Tuesday they travelled to Uppingham School to play in the nationwide IAPS tournament which involves prep schools from across the country. They performed very well indeed and overall they came third , as a result they have progressed to the National Finals! They are there on Friday this week in amongst the top teams in the country for their age group. We wish them the very best of luck and are so proud of their efforts!

Head’s Challenge: Adam the sculptor has made a giant cube out of wooden boards measuring 2 metres by 2 metres. He can see all 6 sides from where he is standing. Where is Adam standing?

Bill Sawyer @HeadPrepYarm

Visit the Prep School Pages:-

www.yarmschool.org

Woodland

During heavy snow, blizzards, sun and freezing temperatures, 5J and 5B

headed down to the Senior School for their Woodland afternoon. Sadly it

was too dangerous to drive to Guisborough Forest and Walkway for the

day. It mattered not as the children had a fantastic afternoon trying to

spot tracks in the snow and building snowmen. Lunch and hot chocolate

was available in the yurt and a lovely time was had by all.

In year 5 we had a woodlands day and loads of excitement and

adventure. My favourite part in particular was making snowmen because it was great fun – Matthew 5B

On Tuesday in the afternoon 5J and 5B went on a trip to the woods. I really

enjoyed examining other people’s work and attempting to slide down an

enormous hill. - Harry 5B

We had an excellent time we rolled down hills and went on a walk. My favourite

part was the snowman competition. I especially liked drinking hot chocolate and

warming up after. Charlotte 5B

At the woods we had a snowman competition there were three categories ours

was the family. At the end we all had delicious hot chocolate. My favourite part

was the competition. Grace 5B

World Book Day Once again both pupils and staff threw themselves whole-heartedly into the World Book Day activities. The array of costumes was overwhelming, and it was lovely to see so many members of staff ‘enthusiastically’ embracing the themed day! Can you spot the different characters in the pictures? Year 6 made Story baskets and read them to the Year one children. This is Eva Speight’s account: I chose the book ,’You Choose’ because it could be for girls and boys as it is a book where the children can decide what happens next. This proved to be an excellent idea as the children really connected with the interactivity of the book and seemed to enjoy it. When the Year ones tumbled in, I felt slightly worried but I knew that they were probably more nervous than me! The first child I read to flew straight in and loved the props. The final child, however, was very quiet at the beginning; after I gave her a teddy to cuddle whilst I was reading the story, we had an amazing time. The whole experience was definitely worthwhile, seeing the children’s faces light up was amazing !

6P & 6G Guisborough Woods

As the snow began to thaw, 6P and 6G wound their way to Guis-borough Woods. Priorities were considered and lunch demanded by all. Snuggled in the embrace of an old railway carriage, we pondered on the adventure to come. Foals, energised by weeks of snow-enforced stabling, swept across fields littered with sleds; surely mo-mentos of gloriously happy times. Lunch consumed, packaging recy-cled (for it is of course Eco Week), we steamed on up a track once graced by engines of the industrial age. We climbed a path: steep, treacherous, exciting. As we looked out over the scene below, the sights of wind turbines made us ponder the journey we had made and consider from where we had come. Onward we trod, the beauty of nature unravelling itself with every step. We continued to climb, up past the woodsman surveying his prize, up past the dog walker amazed at our group, amazed at its size. As we gazed out to the distant sea, Roseberry standing tall at our backs, we had no doubts as to the glory of nature and no doubts as to why we had come. No afternoon could have been spent in more relaxed a manner and nothing could have made us appreciate more the tranquil beauty of where we live. ‘It was fantastic to get out and about for an energetic trek along one of the forest trails. I noticed that the woodland is currently being thinned out by forestry workers and they were dragging the trees out of the forest with tractors and heavy chains. The views from the farm on top of the hill were stunning. We had a hot chocolate in the picnic area when we returned back from our walk. I had a lovely day.’ - Adam Addison 6P ‘Guisborough woods was an amazing experience from amazing teachers ,who gave us hot chocolate and encouraged jumping in muddy puddles. It was so wonderful to see all the wildlife that you would not see in a normal garden and the views were incredible.This wouldn't have happened if it were not for all the teachers who organised the trip.’ - Ava Yates 6G ‘I thought that Guisborough Woods was an amazing adventure, because it was good to just walk around and to interact with your friends!’ - Nael Ahmad 6P ‘The hills were tiring, you could really see the effort in everyone's faces at the end. We all loved going in the deep pud-dles and deep mud to get as muddy and wet as we could. After we all sat down for a lovely hot chocolate, a perfect conclusion to the awesome adventure we had at Guisborough woods.’ - Annabel Powell 6G

World Book Day

If you love fantasy you HAVE to read The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. If you love mon-sters, tension and magic, this is the book for you! Theo Parker 4P

This jam-packed adventure is a holiday best seller! Harry’s headmaster, Dumble-dore, has left him an almost impossible mission. Harry and his friends have to hunt down all the horcruxes to have the power to defeat Voldemort. This includes risks, extraordinary escapes and incredible skills. Isaac Akowuah 4P

Follow the yellow brick road! Dorothy and her friends are on the run to the Emer-ald City but they have to overcome some tricky challenges along the way. Do you want to join Dorothy and her friends? Watch out for the witches! Gracie-Rhodes Hildreth 4P

You must read this book before you go into Year 5! It is the best book in the world and is an exciting adventure about a boy called Percy Jackson. Some of the battles are scary but Percy always has a plan. Aryan Nalawade 4P

If you have reached 10 years old and not read this book, that is disappointing! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a very adventurous book and you can’t stop reading it. Every page is full of excitement and mystery. Everything you’d ever want in a book! Siri Puthuraya 4P

Coming Up: Mon 12 Mar Stephenson House Duty

ABRSM examinations week

Reports to parents

French Theatre shows for Prep School (all day) - NEW EVENT

In2 Girls’ Hockey—Regional Finals (QEGS; 8.30am depart, 10.15am start, 2pm return) - NEW EVENT

Tue 13 Mar Year 5 trip to Fountains Abbey

U8 Boys’ Hockey v Ashville (away; 2.30pm start, 5.30pm return)

Wed 14 Mar Nursery trip to Shildon

6H Class Assembly—REARRANGED DATE

ABRSM examinations

Curiosity Emporium (Prep Hall; 12.35pm) - REARRANGED DATE

Thu 15 Mar Yarm U9 Netball and Football Tournaments (Prep School; 11.30am start, 3pm finish)

St Patrick’s Day Assemblies—NEW EVENT

Monks visiting Prep School—NEW EVENT

Digital Leaders—POSTPONED

Stockton Swimming Gala (Billingham Forum; 6-9pm)

Fri 16 Mar 6G Class Assembly—POSTPONED. REARRANGED FOR TUESDAY 20TH MARCH

U11 HMC Boys’ Hockey (Pocklington; 9am depart, 11am start, 3pm return)

U11 Boys’ Hockey v St Olaves (away; 12.45pm depart, 2pm start, 5.30pm return)

U10 Football v Dame Allan’s (away; 1.15pm depart, 2.30pm start, 5.15pm return)

U11A-C Netball v Bronte House (home; 2.15pm start)

Mon 19 Mar Parents’ Evening (4-6pm)

Last Year 3 swimming session of the year

Tue 20 Mar Parents’ Evening (4-6pm)

6G Assembly (Prep Hall; 10.20am) - REARRANGED DATE

Wed 21 Mar U11A Bow Football Tournament (Bow School; 12pm depart, 1pm start, 5pm return)

Reception trip to Centre for Life, Newcastle

Thu 22 Mar Year 6 visiting Yarm Parish Church (throughout the day; in forms)

Year 4 play to Pre-Prep

Fri 23 Mar 6P Class Assembly

Clubs and activities end for the term (except Monday gymnastics and judo)

Sport Relief Day and Mileathon

Year 4 play to Prep (Prep Hall; 10.55am)

Year 4 play to Parents (Prep Hall; 5.45pm)

U10/11 Boys’ Hockey v Teesside High—POSTPONED

Mon 26 Mar Arkwright House Duty

Brunel Charity Day

Activities carousel 5 begins

Last gymnastics session of the term

Tue 27 Mar Mrs Dunkley Dance Assembly (Prep Hall ; 9.50am for parents and Pre-Prep)

Grandparents’ Tea Party (Prep Hall; 4-5pm)

Last judo session of the term

Wed 28 Mar Year 6 St John’s Ambulance First Aid Training—NEW EVENT

Last day of term—no after school care

Mon 9 Apr Easter Holiday School begins

Fri 13 Apr Easter Holiday School finishes

Thu 19 Apr Summer Term begins

Brunel House Duty

Thu 5 Jul Summer Term ends at 12noon; no after school care