The Bulletin Edition 19

World Book Day at Hampton Prep is always one of the most joyful moments in our calendar in the spring term. For a variety of entirely sensible (and only mildly mysterious!) logistical reasons, we found ourselves celebrating this year on Wednesday rather than the official Thursday. I like to think this simply demonstrates Hampton’s customary habit of being one thoughtful step ahead.

There was, however, something rather fitting about our collective timing being reflected in the staff costume theme. In a moment of what can only be described as “coordinated enthusiasm”, Head of English Miss Allott had suggested it might be a rather good wheeze if all the teachers appeared dressed as the same famously elusive character from Where’s Wally? Spotting one Wally is a challenge; encountering an entire school full of them before morning break is quite another matter altogether!

As ever, the true stars of the day were the boys and girls in both the Pre-Prep & Prep, whose costumes were imaginative, inventive and worn with enormous pride. Events like this do far more than add colour to the school week: they nurture a genuine love of books, stories and reading that sits right at the heart of what we value at Hampton Prep. It was a delight to see everyone so fully immersed in the spirit of the day, and long may that enthusiasm for reading continue to flourish.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Here’s a round-up of our Instagram posts from this week – take a look below!

Make sure to follow us on Instagram for regular updates and snapshots of daily school life.

The big story this week was the U11As’ trip to the Surbiton 7‑a‑side Rugby Festival. Unlike previous years, the tournament was played in glorious sunshine, and with teams from eight schools in attendance it promised to be a challenging afternoon. Unfortunately, the boys lost a player before their first game, with Oli unable to play. With great maturity, the team took this in their stride and set about their work.

As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Prep were delighted to welcome bestselling author Jenny McLachlan, creator of the much-loved The Land of Roar series. Jenny delivered a lively, humorous and inspiring workshop, sharing her journey as a writer and encouraging pupils to let their imaginations run wild. She spoke about the power of storytelling, the importance of resilience, and how ideas can grow into whole new worlds. A real highlight of the visit was the book signing. Pupils queued patiently with their copies in hand, excited to meet the author behind the adventures they have been reading. Having their books signed made the experience even more memorable.

Friday 20th March, 3-5.30pm Come and join local parent network, the Richmond Cargo Collective, for an after school chat about cargo bikes and how they can revolutionize your journey to school.  You'll be able to test ride some different bikes and find out all about them from local parents who have already taken the plunge. What do kids think of them? What style will suit you best? What are the most affordable options? Come and join our Cargo Collective and find out more. Bring the kids. Eat cake! Already have a cargo bike? We’d love to meet you! Do come along, say hello and give other parents the benefit of your expertise. 

What fun we have had celebrating World Book Day this year! One of the absolute highlights is always seeing the children arrive in their wonderful costumes. It was clear that many of you had gone to such thoughtful effort — thank you so much for your support. World Book Day has been celebrated in the UK since 1995, and more than 30 years on, it continues to bring such joy, colour and imagination into our school community.

This week, Kindergarten have been enjoying the classic fairy tale The Three Little Pigs. We explored a range of versions, from traditional hardback editions to modern picture books, and compared how each one told the story. Although the details varied, one thing stayed the same — the big bad wolf was always determined to gobble up the little pigs! Our discussions about the pigs’ feelings helped us think more deeply about our own emotions and reminded us how important it is to be kind to others. 

This week, Reception has been full of excitement, learning and memorable experiences. The children have been exploring our topic on ‘Planting and Weather’, showing wonderful curiosity as they observed changes in nature and took part in hands-on activities. 

Year 1 had an exciting, story-filled week! World Book Day was, of course, a highlight. We were delighted to see the marvellous array of colourful costumes and to hear the children speak so enthusiastically about their favourite books. After joining the Prep for the vibrant Book Day parade, the children returned to Pre-Prep to continue immersing themselves in the joy of reading. A big thank you to Dilraj’s mummy for visiting our class to read a children’s story in Punjabi. 

Many wonderful and creative book characters were in attendance on World Book Day in Year 2. Some may have wondered whether we had entered Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for the day! The children loved parading in their costumes at the Prep, as well as taking part in the World Book Day quiz. Year 2 rose to the challenge of leading their house teams in this fun activity.