The Bulletin Edition 27

As we trot steadily through the summer term each year I always pause and reflect round about now upon everything we have been up to and what is yet to come. The Year 6 boys were magnificent last week in their excellent adaptation of Robin Hood, in the Hammond Theatre at Hampton. The entire production was a top-notch affair and afterwards I found myself marvelling once again at the sheer energy, excitement and sense of daring spirit that characterises life here at Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep, anticipating as we currently are how busy next half term shall be!

The Year 6 boys are soon to be whisked away to the Italian Alps on their much-anticipated residential outdoor activity week. Alpine trekking and white-water rafting await, alongside opportunities to stretch themselves both physically and mentally in one of Europe’s most breath-taking landscapes. This is the kind of experience that builds grit, independence and a sense of shared adventure, not to mention memories that we hope will last a lifetime.

Not to be outdone, later on in June our Year 5 pupils set off for the windswept beauty of the Dorset coast and their own camping residential trip. It is also outdoor learning for a few days at its finest, giving our pupils the chance to try new things, build camaraderie and embrace the natural world with – we hope – wide-eyed enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, our sporting calendar is in full swing (or perhaps that should be full bowl?). Year 6’s cricket tour to Guernsey will see them take to the pitch on island soil. This is a brilliant opportunity to represent the school, enjoy some spirited competition and experience the hospitality of our friends across the Channel.

The Pre-Prep and Prep Sports Days are shaping up to be splendid affairs next half term also, full of determination, teamwork and a healthy dash of competitive House spirit. The Prep Swimming Gala (usually held in September but postponed due to inclement weather nearly a year ago!) promises to be a splash-filled celebration of perseverance and progress at the Hampton Open Air Pool.

And then, as if all that were not enough, we shall bring the curtain down on the year with our legendary Hampton Prep Proms. This year’s theme? Show tunes! Expect toe-tapping numbers, dazzling performances and an abundance of flair as our talented children sing and dance their way into the summer holidays. I am not yet aware of what the staff number will be, but come the night, we shall also be ready to take part.

We place great value on these sorts of excursions and events, not only because they are tremendous fun, but because we believe they are essential to each child’s personal development; they help our pupils grow in independence, resilience and curiosity. So, hold on tight as the run-up to the end of term promises to be a whirlwind of both joy and excitement. We would not have it any other way!

As a sports department in a prep school, we note we are at the foundational level of building a lifelong engagement in sport with the boys here. We are developing the skills, fitness, physical literacy and enjoyment so as the boys grow into teens then men they can confidently access as many sporting opportunities as they can. Furthermore, from what I hear from all of you and the boys, it is evident they take part in a huge range of activities outside of school!

It’s hard to believe how quickly the first half of term has flown by! The children have worked incredibly hard and enjoyed a wide range of activities, making it a truly memorable few weeks. As we look ahead to the second half of term, we are excited for an action-packed schedule. There will be more trips to enjoy, our much-anticipated Sports Day, and we will finish the term with a major highlight— our Summer Concert and Prize Giving. We look forward to celebrating in what promises to be a wonderful end to the school year.

We began the week by reading The Rainbow Fish which has stimulated great talks about being kind and sharing with our friends. It also made us realise how great it makes us feel to make our friends happy like the Rainbow fish who gave away his beautiful scales to cheer up his friends -having realised that being beautiful did not make him happy. Making others happy by sharing what we have is both pleasing to them and makes us feel proud and content. Win, win! Making good choices is so important that we all decided as poor choices can lead to further problems and bad habits. We discussed how sharing is caring and that our Golden Rules tie in well with this theme.

Reception enjoyed learning all about earthworms this week. We were excited to get our worms in the post all the way from Yorkshire! We learned about the amazing job they do and why they are such a good friend to gardeners. We also discovered some amazing facts about worms and how their bodies are actually covered in tiny bristles which allow them to move both forwards and backwards. We also found out they have no eyes, ears or lungs and feel by touch and vibration. We decided to make the perfect home for our new worm friends and made a wormery from a large glass tank. We read the story, ‘Super worm’ by Julia Donaldson and wrote creatively about our favourite parts of the story.

In English, Year 1 have been exploring The Darkest Dark by Astronaut Chris Hadfield; a beautifully illustrated story about overcoming fears and dreaming big. The children were captivated by the story of young Chris and his journey to becoming an astronaut. Inspired by the book, they wrote their own book reviews, sharing their thoughts on the characters, the message of the story, and their favourite parts. Chris had been inspired by watching the landing of Apollo 11 and the children were excited to learn all about this momentous occasion.

This week, our Year 2 children led the Friday assembly, taking us on a colourful journey through the wonders of the rainforest as part of our “Bright Days” theme. With fascinating facts, dramatic storytelling from Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner, and powerful messages about conservation, they taught us how vital rainforests are to life on Earth. From howler monkeys to poison dart frogs, each child brought the rainforest to life – while also reminding us of the importance of protecting it. The assembly ended with an inspiring performance of Anthem for the Amazon, proving that even the smallest voices can make a big difference. Well done to all our young eco warriors!