Habs Weekly - Pre-Prep and Prep edition - Friday 23 September

Head of Prep School’s Message

As we approach the end of the week, one in which the weather is getting cooler and evenings darker a little earlier, it is once again an opportunity for me to reflect on just a few of the amazing successes of the Pre-Prep and Prep School.

On Wednesday, this week we held the first musical assembly of the year with three brilliant performances demonstrating true courage and ambition. It was a monumental occasion with our first ever Year 2 performance from Owen on the Piano, Winston in Year 3 performed a beautiful piece on the violin and Adam’s (Year 4) outstanding voice performance was a fantastic end to the assembly. Well done, boys and thank you Ms Gozzard.

This week also saw the launch of our 2022/23 co-curricular programme. Pupils at the Prep and Pre-Prep have access to over 40 clubs and societies, 7 Sports and 15 Music activities ranging from Book Making to Climbing: Debating to Parkour. For the first time ever, our Year 2 pupils were invited to join many of the mixed year group clubs. We find that our older pupils thrive from the opportunity to show younger pupils ‘how it is done’; role modelling our values of courage and curiosity within an inclusive and diverse community of learners, providing the younger pupils with the ambition to be just like their ‘big brother’ role models when they are a little older.

For me, this aspect of Habs Boys Prep and Pre-Prep life is equally as valuable as their time in traditional academic lessons. It is also important

that we use the term co-curricular, and not extra-curricular as although beyond the traditional academic curriculum, these activities complement and build upon it, ensuring an holistic approach to educating the whole child. Research shows that participation in co-curricular activities leads to higher self-esteem, increased social and personal skills, better behaviour, and academic performance. It is a chance for pupils to explore talents and discover new passions.

Tomorrow, Saturday 24 September, is the first of many sports events that we will be hosting this year, an internal Rugby Festival. Year 3 and 4 will be playing from 9 – 10:30 and Year 5 and 6 from 11 – 12:30. A big thank you to Mr Barnett and Mr Williams for organising, I am certain the boys will have a fantastic morning getting muddy, burning off some energy and building their communication, collaboration and physical skills ahead of our first external fixtures next week.

For all our families and colleagues celebrating Rosh Hashanah next week, wishing you a Happy New Year - Shanah Tovah.

Pre-Prep School Looking ahead...

Whole school

Harvest Assembly

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

We will be conducting a Harvest Assembly for the children at the Pre-Prep on Wednesday 12 October.

We will be donating food to Keech Hospice which provides care for children and adults with life limiting illnesses. If you would like to contribute, please kindly send in any non-perishable food items e.g tins, pasta, cereal or biscuits, by Monday 10 October.

School Council

REPRESENTATION

The Habs School Council is for pupils in Years 1 to 6. One person from each class will be elected by their peers to represent their class. The class representatives will be required to attend meetings at the Pre-Prep and occasionally at the Prep School.

If your child would like to represent their class on the School Council, please may they prepare a short speech to present to their class during form time on Wednesday 28 September.

Pre-Prep School Reminders...

Rearranged school photos

SEPTEMBER DATES

Due to the Bank Holiday on Monday 19 September the Reception and Year 1 photographs will now take place on Friday 7 October. Year 2 photos will go ahead as planned on Wednesday 28 September.

Snacks

Please may we remind you that only fruit and vegetables are permitted at snack time. Grapes are a good healthy fruit snack but if you include grapes in your child’s snack box, please remember to always cut them lengthwise first to avoid choking.

After School Care

POLITE REMINDER

A polite reminder that the school day ends at 3.30pm. If you would like to book your child into After School Care until 4pm you must notify the Pre-Prep office in advance.

Prep School Looking ahead...

Year 3 Roman Day

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER

Senior School Scholarships

Please click here to a letter regarding the

Year 6 Rugby

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

All pupils in Year 6 are playing rugby against Belmont, St Benedict’s and UCS on Friday 30 September. Parents are welcome to watch and kick off time is 2.30pm. The matches will all take place on the pitches situated near the Pennes changing area directly area behind the Prep School.

Pupils will be free to leave at the normal time of 4pm.

Swimming squad PROCESS

Reminders...

Parental Information Evening

Please click here to read a letter regarding an upcoming parental information evening on the safety of young people both online and offline. This will take place on Thursday 6 October and will be on Zoom. This is a Senior School talk that we believe is of relevance to Year 6 parents and those who have older children.

Breakfast and After School Care

BOOKING INFORMATION

Click here to book your child into the breakfast club or After School Care (ASCF) the week commencing Monday 3 October. Prearranged bookings can be made up until 12pm the Friday before.

After this time, please email ascf@habsboys.org.uk for Prep pupil bookings and preprepoffice@habsboys.org.uk for Pre-Prep pupil bookings.

Please note, there may be a small charge for ASCF after 4pm.

Please click here to view the Pre-Prep lunch menu.

Please click here to view the Prep lunch menu.

HOT LUNCHES AND TAKEAWAY BOXES

If your child is participating in a club at lunchtime and they would like to have a hot meal rather than a Grab and Go, we request you provide your child with a Tupperware/takeaway box and plastic cutlery so that they are able to have a hot option after their club has finished.

Tooled Up

INFORMATION

Motivating children to settle down and complete learning tasks isn’t always easy after school.

At Tooled Up, you can listen to strategies that can help you to develop children’s intrinsic motivation with clinical psychologist, Dr Vanessa Kurdi, or read Tooled Up’s accessible tips suggested by neuroscientists.

Tooled Up can also help pupils to stay positive at homework time, normalise mistakes to reduce anxiety and encourage what is termed ‘family talk’, which research shows can be a lever for academic attainment and boosting children’s self-esteem.

IMPORTANT

Please

School Community

Fundraising for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

Neil (3BG) will soon be running 1.3km to raise money for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre on Sunday 25 September 2022. Neil would like to encourage some of his school friends to join him. Although this is a nonschool event, if you are interested in your child taking part, please click here to register.

Performance assembly

We were absolutely delighted to observe three pupils take part in our school musical performance assembly on Wednesday this week. All the pupils, from Years 2, 3 and 4, performed fantastically and demonstrated great courage and confidence in performing in front of their peers who gave them positive and constructive feedback. Performance is an integral part of life at Habs as it fosters key character traits. We look forward to observing more pupils perform throughout the course of this term.

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

School photographs for Year 2 (individual and group)

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

Reception Coffee and Curriculum Meeting (9am to 10am)

FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER

School photographs for Reception and Year 1 (individual and group)

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Harvest Festival Assembly (Pre-Prep Hall)

Parent Consultations (3.30pm to 7pm)

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Parent Consultations (3.30pm to 7pm)

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Donkin Cup (9am to 12pm)

MONDAY 17 TO FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER

Half Term

Please note the Pre-Prep School will remain open for the staff development days on Monday 6 June

PREP CALENDAR DATES

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

Year 3 and 4 internal Rugby festival (9am to 10.30am)

Year 5 and 6 internal Rugby festival (11am to 12.30pm)

MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

Year 5 Rugby fixture

WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

School photographs for Years 3 to 6 (individual and group)

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

Lunchtime Live Years 3 to 6 (12.15pm to 1pm - parents welcome)

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

Year 6 Rugby (Prep School, 2.30pm start)

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Harvest Service (Bourne Hall, 2pm to 3pm) Drop-in Session (Prep School, 3.15pm to 4pm)

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Donkin Cup (9am to 12pm)

MONDAY 17 TO

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER

Half Term

* Selected pupils will be contacted directly.