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Mrs Murphy’s News
Another busy week in Pre-Prep has drawn to a close, and I have been incredibly proud of the way the children have embraced a number of important events and learning opportunities. Our Year 2 pupils joined the older children at Prep for the Remembrance Service and conducted themselves with remarkable maturity, respect and reflection. They represented the Pre-Prep wonderfully, demonstrating a thoughtful understanding of the significance of remembrance and the values it teaches us.
This week, we have also been preparing to support BBC Children in Need. We have been exploring the meaning of the word adversity and considering some of the challenges that children and young people can face in their lives. Through age-appropriate discussions and activities, the children have developed a greater understanding of empathy, kindness and the importance of helping others. It has been heartening to see their thoughtful contributions and willingness to make a positive difference.
Our School Council’s draw to win a Pudsey Bear will take place next week, so please do not worry if your child would still like to enter, they will be on the door on Monday morning. Every entry helps to raise money for this wonderful cause, with all proceeds going directly to BBC Children in Need.
Next week is both Anti-Bullying Week and Road Safety Week, providing valuable opportunities to reinforce important messages about kindness, respect and keeping ourselves safe. To kick off the week, we invite everyone to come to school wearing odd socks in support of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
On the subject of road safety, may I offer a polite reminder to all parents and carers not to stop or park on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school gates. These markings are in place to keep children safe by ensuring clear visibility for pupils, families and drivers during the busy drop-off and pick-up periods. Even a brief stop can make it harder for children to be seen when crossing the road. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe environment for everyone by parking considerately and observing local parking restrictions. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
This week the Courtesy Cup and Badge went to Saroop (Year 2) for following the Golden Rules consistently and diligently. What a star you are!
and Stars of the Week were awarded to:
- Year 2: Amir-Ali for excellent listening in class.
- Year 1: Adi for coming in every morning and writing fantastic sentences with his common words.
- Reception: John B for his fabulous independent writing about Remembrance Day.
More awards followed the above and so our congratulations to:
- Year 2: Aric for his certificate and medal awarded for taking part in a piano recital as part of the Festival of the Performing Arts and to…
- Aarav who received a TREDS (teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship) at his rugby club last weekend.
I wish all our families a restful weekend and look forward to another exciting week of learning ahead.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, we have been learning all about Poppy Day and the importance of wearing poppies. Using books and our interactive whiteboard, we explored information about Remembrance Day and learned about the brave soldiers who fought in the wars. We talked about how the money raised from selling poppies helps us remember these heroes and supports serving and former service personnel, as well as their families. We watched a video clip showing how poppies are made and were surprised to learn that the factory is in Richmond upon Thames.
We learned about Flanders Fields and how bright red poppies grew there after the fighting had ended. The poppies became a symbol of remembrance because they grew on the battlefields where many soldiers had fought.
We also had lots of fun creating beautiful stained-glass poppy windows, which are now proudly displayed in our classroom window. As part of our Star Challenge, we continued to create repeating colour patterns using poppies. We enjoyed exploring red and black playdough and using it to make our own poppy creations. Additionally, we watched parts of the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in London and joined in the two-minute silence at 11.00am.
The highlight of our week was decorating a biscuit by spreading red icing and adding a chocolate button in the centre to resemble a poppy. We were very proud of our beautiful creations.
We have started our Motor Movers programme, using rhymes accompanied by whole-body actions. These activities help to develop the children’s gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and body awareness, while also supporting their listening skills and ability to follow instructions.
Finally, in class, we have been learning about the NSPCC’s Pantosaurus and the importance of understanding the PANTS rules for staying safe. We have enjoyed learning the fun Pantosaurus song, which helps us remember that our bodies belong to us and that we should always talk to a trusted adult if something makes us feel worried or uncomfortable.
You can watch the video and hear the song using this link: NSPCC Pants Rule
Our topic next week is The Gingerbread Man.
By Mrs Hand – Kindergarten Teacher
Reception
This week, Reception focused their learning on the theme of Autumn Festivals. On Tuesday, we enjoyed finding out more about Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and learning about some of the traditions and celebrations associated with this special event.
In Art, the children created beautiful Rangoli patterns and colourful Diwali firework wands. They carefully used their fine motor skills while colouring, threading and winding materials, and were very proud of their fantastic creations.
During our phonics sessions, we continued to develop our blending skills and practised the correct letter formation for u, l and f. The children are growing in confidence and are working hard to apply their phonics knowledge in their reading and writing.
We also enjoyed sharing the story Inside, Outside, Upside Down as part of our learning about positional language. The children had great fun helping a teddy bear and his owl friend explore different positions using a basket with a lid and a box. It was lovely to hear their imaginative ideas and expanding vocabulary as they enthusiastically described where the characters were. They then used this language to talk about and label their own teddy pictures.
In mathematics, we have been learning to tell the time using o’clock, as well as learning the days of the week and discussing the differences between day and night. The children worked collaboratively to create a giant clock using a hula hoop, carefully placing the numbers in the correct positions and using sticks as clock hands. They also made their own paper plate clocks to take home and practise their new learning with you.
On Wednesday, we learnt about the significance of wearing a poppy and the importance of Remembrance Day. We spent time reflecting on those who lost their lives in wars and discussing why remembrance is so important. The children created beautiful balloon-printed poppies and made additional poppies for a thoughtful and moving classroom display.
A real highlight of the week was welcoming Mr Barr to Reception for a special story time. He shared Gruffalo Granny, the newest story by Julia Donaldson, and the children were captivated from the very first page. They loved spotting familiar Gruffalo characters, joining in with the storytelling and talking excitedly about their favourite parts afterwards. It was a lovely way to celebrate our shared love of books and stories.
Looking ahead, over the next two weeks we will be learning about wild animals from around the world, exploring animal conservation, and finding out about the important role that zoos play in protecting animals.
By Mrs Johnston – Reception Teacher
Year 1
We have had another fantastic week in Year 1, with the children continuing to throw themselves into their learning and showing great enthusiasm across all areas of the curriculum.
In maths, we began our new topic on addition and subtraction within 20. We have been focusing particularly on doubles and near doubles, exploring how we can use what we already know to help us solve new calculations. The children have made a great start and are becoming increasingly confident in explaining their methods.
Our English learning has continued with rhymes and rhythm. This week, the children put their creativity to the test by writing their own versions of the classic story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. They thoroughly enjoyed taking a familiar story and making it their own, coming up with some wonderful ideas and imaginative alternatives!
In science, we continued exploring different animal groups and species, turning our attention to birds. The children learnt about the features that make birds unique and explored what they have in common.
Meanwhile, in humanities, we began building our timeline of the Great Fire of London. The children were incredibly absorbed in discovering how the events unfolded and were fascinated by the sequence of events. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement as we begin exploring this historical event.
For RE, we took time to mark Remembrance Day, learning about its significance and why we take a moment to remember and pay our respects. The children approached this with great thoughtfulness and understanding.
In life skills, we continued exploring the theme of celebrating our similarities and differences. These discussions are a lovely opportunity for the children to appreciate what makes each of us unique, while recognising the things we have in common and celebrating one another.
Finally, we began learning our 11 times table this week. If possible, it would be great for the children to spend some time practising on TTRS at home to help build their confidence and recall.
Another busy and rewarding week in Year 1! We are so pleased with the children’s enthusiasm and the thoughtful contributions they continue to make to our learning.
Have a lovely weekend!
By Miss Madden – Year 1 Teacher
Year 2
Another busy and purposeful week in Year 2!
In English, we spent time unpicking the difference between comprehension and inference questions. Armed with this knowledge, the children completed their circus-themed comprehension work and enjoyed discussing the text in detail. They then used their imaginations to write descriptive sentences about what they might see at the circus, carefully choosing exciting vocabulary to make their writing more vivid and engaging.
In Mathematics, the children have been developing their understanding of addition and subtraction. Building on their knowledge of number bonds to 10 and related facts, they have explored number bonds to 100, particularly focusing on multiples of 10. The children have also practised selecting efficient strategies to solve addition and subtraction calculations quickly and accurately.
The children have continued rehearsing for the upcoming Christmas production and have greatly impressed us with their enthusiasm and commitment. Please continue to practise lines at home, paying particular attention to knowing when their line comes and whose line they are speaking after, as this will help build confidence during rehearsals.
On Wednesday, Year 2 attended the Remembrance Service at the Prep School. The children represented Pre-Prep exceptionally well, showing respect and maturity throughout the service. They received many compliments on their excellent behaviour, and we were very proud of the way they conducted themselves. What stars!
Wishing you all a really wonderful weekend.
By Mrs Timba – Year 2 Teacher
On the Sports Field
Why do we love watching sport? Because of its potential to create pressure, drama and tension. It is in these situations that sport can provide great experiences and teach important lessons to pupils. This week, we were lucky enough to see this in the U10 fixture against Twickenham Prep.
In the A team game, both sides played football to a very high standard. Hampton played an end-to-end game, using the width of the pitch effectively and enjoying the majority of possession. TPS looked dangerous on the counter-attack, playing the ball quickly through the middle. The teams were evenly matched. Hampton Prep kept pushing and remained patient, with Akshen and Arthur reading the game well in defence, anticipating TPS attacks and breaking them down effectively. In the final few minutes of the second half, the chance came. Finlay M cut in from the wing and into the box before putting the ball past the goalkeeper. TPS responded immediately, launching an attack from the kick-off and scoring. Disappointing for the boys, but they displayed great composure under pressure throughout the match.
The B team fixture had all the tension of the A team game, but with even more goals. Karam stood out with a fantastic hat-trick. However, TPS were relentless and equally effective in attack, always responding to an HP goal with one of their own. With the score at 3–3 and only a few minutes remaining, the atmosphere was electric. With one minute to go, an HP shot rebounded off the goalkeeper. Ever the poacher, Teddy fired the ball into the back of the net to secure a 4–3 win. The match was a great display of teamwork and resilience.
Next week’s fixtures
Wednesday 18 Nov
- U11 A-D v Bishopsgate – Home – 2.30pm
- U10 A-D v Bishopsgate-Away-2:30pm
Friday 20 Nov
- U8 A-C v Bishopsgate – Home – 2.30pm
- U9 A-C v Bishopsgate – Away – 2.30pm
- Yr 5 6 Borough Cross Country, Teddington CC, 10am arrival, 10:30 am start
By Mr Salt – Head of Sports
Remembrance
Read more about our Remembrance Service by clicking the link below.
Sphero Bolt+ has arrived!
Year 4, Year 6 and Computing CCA pupils have been extremely engaged and excited to explore coding through our new programmable robots. Using football-themed challenges, they have been developing key programming skills by creating sequences, controlling movement, and incorporating lights and sounds into their code.
The hands-on activities encourage creativity, teamwork and problem-solving while making coding fun and meaningful. It has been fantastic to see the enthusiasm, confidence and enjoyment shown by all pupils as they bring their ideas to life, and we cannot wait to see this throughout the school as more pupils get to use them!
By Mr Hitchen-Hoy – Year 4 Class Teacher and Head of Digital Learning
